How’d I do? Third time shooting with this Springfield 1911A1
Posted by 85lumber@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 47 comments
I know I’m not winning any competitions but was I decent?
fatogato@reddit
Practice good trigger discipline. Only put your finger on the trigger when you are ready to shoot. Bad habits like this is inviting a ND.
85lumber@reddit (OP)
Okay will do. Thanks!
EndlessSummerburn@reddit
There's a lot of good advice here and a lot of them dovetail into this bigger one: relax, brother.
When I was a kid, my uncle took me to the range every single weekend when it was PACKED. It sucked. I hated it. We had a range in his yard and I preferred hanging out there but he insisted we go and that I get used to it.
It really helped. Fear is the mind killer.
the_hat_madder@reddit
Technically, if that were a very slowly moving attacker, he/she/it would be dead...and so would someone or something over the left shoulder.
osubmw1@reddit
You did very poorly. You got beat the fuck up by that gun. Watch videos on grip, i would specifically look into a push/pull grip. Ben Stoeger has a few good ones I regularly send to new guys before they come out to train and start build bad habits.
Lose the gloves. They aren't doing you any favors. Don't worry about getting lead on your hands, just clean them when you're done. Dont eat, drink, or smoke before you do. I try not to eat or drink before I've showered or at a minimum used the de-lead wipes on my hands and face.
BigBoarBallistics@reddit
Biggest issue: you're anticipating the recoil and yanking the trigger as opposed to a smooth squeeze through. Dry fire will help with this.
Not much point of wearing gloves, you actually are probably getting less grip on the pistol as opposed to more.
Poor trigger discipline
This is more advanced advice but once you become comfortable with the pistol it's best to shoot with both eyes open, even with iron sights. There are youtube videos to help.
Happy shooting!
wlogan0402@reddit
Take the gloves off, learn trigger discipline, and practice more
ptfc1975@reddit
In addition to the comments about grip, you should work on keeping both eyes open.
besaba27@reddit
Here, OP:
https://youtu.be/qvOmkcN_ioY?si=4jfdXhn33NDbvv7R
https://youtu.be/qvOmkcN_ioY?si=8kQGspGLeJjoQbqt
https://youtu.be/zVjLEYVf2Go?si=Xi_7vBJSPHPuBjDd
Weird-Passage155@reddit
Nope. You need to take some lessons focused on grip. Your weak hand isn’t doing shit. Lose the stupid gloves and learn to connect to the pistol properly
85lumber@reddit (OP)
You are valid. I just wanted to avoid my hands getting covered in shit. But yeah you’re right
Ihistal@reddit
Mom's spaghetti.
Weird-Passage155@reddit
By covered in shit, you mean lead and powder fouling? Some rules for indoor shooting to minimize lead exposure:
The most important factor is the range itself. You need strong airflow moving from behind you to the backstop to pull smoke downrange. If you can’t feel it, it’s probably not strong enough.
Ask the range how often they change their air handling filters. If they don’t know or won’t tell you, don’t shoot there.
Wash your hands and forearms from the elbow down with D-lead or another metal chelating soap immediately after.
Get some D-Lead wipes and wipe down your face, eye pro, and ear pro after shooting.
I have some other tips for avoiding cross contamination, but these are my “crazy routine” that keep me from exposing my wife and pets to cross contamination from my clothes and shooting gear.
Daqpanda@reddit
That's a fair concern, but you want to learn a good grip, and gloves get in the way. Once you get your grip down you can add gloves if you need them.
Those gloves also looks rather loose. I like mine tight fitting, and while it's probably mostly preference, loose gloves can also get bound up in stuff.
ReReDRock1039@reddit
Just wash your hands after, you’ll be fine
lord_dentaku@reddit
Ditch the gloves. You should be training and practicing the same way you will be if you need to use the gun. If you aren't working in a field where you wear gloves regularly then you won't have them on if you need to use your gun. In addition to that, they just add another layer of complexity to your grip, which is your weakest point right now. I'd recommend a short course on handgun shooting because in person instruction will improve your grip and as a result your group more than just putting lead down range will. At this point you're just reinforcing bad habits that will cost you more to undo later.
Theworker82@reddit
Use more tension on your left hand to help support the pistol during recoil. You are also anticipating the shots. with the pistol cleared of all ammunition and magazine, practice dry firing until the pistol sights font move at all when pulling the trigger. then once you have that down, practice that a few hundred times to make it muscle memory.
85lumber@reddit (OP)
That’s a good idea. I should get caps for that
Theworker82@reddit
No need. You won't damaging your firing pin.
85lumber@reddit (OP)
Yeah that’s also what I read I just feel uneasy risking it for the biscuit tho
Theworker82@reddit
Using snap caps for dry fire practice will slow the process down a lot. Like most other modern pistols, 1911s are dry fire safe.
Toshinit@reddit
Snap caps can be good for loading into magazines during live fire training tho
Theworker82@reddit
Absolutely. I just dont think Op is ready for that part yet.
qkdsm7@reddit
Exactly this. My squeeze as a RH shooter is, say, \~60% left \~40% right, and also entire left hand clear of the trigger finger. You're on your way!
Low-Landscape-4609@reddit
You're not controlling recoil well at all. Remember, your strong hand should have less pressure than your support hand.
You're strong hand provides front to back pressure and your support hand provides side to side pressure.
LegitimateLeave3577@reddit
Shoot with both eyes open
shaffington@reddit
lose the gloves, fix your grip
BlueOrb07@reddit
Is left hand to grip, not just as a table to rest your shooting hand on. It’ll help control recoil exponentially more.
ZeroPointSpecter@reddit
Your support hand isn't doing a lot of supporting. You need to have it actually clamp in and support the grip, you’ll get way more control out of it.
bmm115@reddit
Hello fellow Chairman's Club member!
fideles quoad decedemus
ZeroPointSpecter@reddit
o7
Studia Pretiosa
PapaPuff13@reddit
I would get some thin ass gloves to shoot with. You need to get the left hand grip tight and not letting go of grip. I also recommend getting a stress ball for your hands to build strength.
DonutAdmirable9831@reddit
Why are you wearing gloves also try to shoot with both eyes open
bmm115@reddit
Not sure why you're being downvoted when you're looking for feedback. Keep it up! Look into snapcaps and place one on top of your slide. Unloaded, pull the trigger and make sure it's staying steady and up right. Also there are laser training cartridges that may be of interest for practicing your aim and not flinching
Thewhitelight___@reddit
You're doing great. I'd just focus on proper technique, ideally you shouldn't need to adjust your grip after every shot, but that comes with practice.
85lumber@reddit (OP)
I’ll be practicing more! Thank you!
SN0TLR0K3T@reddit
Get them arms extended all the way out
Whibble-Bop@reddit
Lose the gloves, you need to be able to get a feel for the gun. Additionally, you need to work on not absolutely YANKIN that trigger.
Some advice an old shooting instructor gave me a long time ago is, at least for learning and accurate target shooting, let the gun surprise you when it goes off. What I mean is, instead of saying "I AM GOING TO SHOOT NOW" and yanking back on the trigger, focus on lining your sights up on the target, and applying gentle pressure to the trigger with your index finger. Just focus on your sight picture and keeping the front post on the target while you increase the pressure on the trigger. The gun should lightly surprise you when it goes off, but it helps to ensure you're not jerking the gun all over the place.
Your grip isn't great, it's sort of a teacup-type grip, which is renown for doing... absolutely nothing for recoil management. You need to push the gun outward with your dominant hand, and wrap your four support hand fingers around your dominant hand fingers, with your thumb firmly resting on top. Your support hand should be pulling the gun back toward you. So - dominant hand is pushing, support hand is pulling. That will help keep you from losing your grip on the gun.
anotherhomelesslocal@reddit
Yo Mr white
ReReDRock1039@reddit
Lose the gloves, try not to make that face
Shalevskey@reddit
It looks as though your support hand is just floating there. Gotta grap on and support yourself!
Personally, I'm not a fan of shooting handguns with gloves. I reccomend you bare-knuckle it when learning.
Cryptic1911@reddit
Need to work on your grip. Keep your right thumb on top of the safety lever and that will give you room on the left side to get your left hand up higher and get more purchase on the grip / frame. You can see most of the shots, your left hand slides off. Near the end, you're basically teacupping with your left hand.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U6EhLFJ2xKk
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ScAZTzeP5cc
Muckmenofficial@reddit
Looks like you’re tensing up and anticipating the recoil a bit, I also noticed on your second shot you started taking slack out of the trigger but then let it reset and give it a full squeeze and fired, but when you started taking up that slack initially I saw the muzzle jerk pretty hard, and that’s the leading cause of accuracy problems. It’s mostly a mental obstacle to get over then anything physical, don’t worry about what happens AFTER firing BEFORE you even fire, the recoil will be there either way whether you tense up and mess the shot up or not, personally that’s what I tell myself and it helps. Also keep your fingers wrapped tight (not so tight that you shake though) and keep your thumbs pointed in the direction where you the bullets to go.
OkiePNW@reddit
Look up some videos and tips on recoil control and anticipation. Otherwise, keep at it! You’re off to a good start and any issues can be trained through with practice and dedication.
85lumber@reddit (OP)
Sounds like a plan thank you!
V-DaySniper@reddit
Put your left index finger over your right hand middle finger instead of gently resting it on the front of the trigger guard for a tighter more stable grip.
85lumber@reddit (OP)
Thanks I’ll give it a shot!