So I decided to buy a Rock Island Armory 1911 for my first handgun. I picked it up last tuesday and took it to the range yesterday with my roomate who is more versed in handgun shooting. It took a bit for me to get used to it but after about 50 rounds i was keeping a nice grouping with it splintering more and more wood off the target. The only problem was that it was shooting low left for both of us, really low left at about a foot low and two feet left at 25 yrds. It has fixed sights but i know they sell adjustable sights for it and i just wanted to know if all of you 1911 gurus out there think that would be a good idea or if you had any other suggestions.
I've got A RIA 1911 but my REAR sight is drift adjustable , and still shot low, so I took it to the Merrit Island gun company, the gun shop were I bought it and the owner Installed a taller rear sight and it shoots were" ya aim it" they are as good as any Mil-spec , Price makes no difference. ..........By the way the owner is an old jarhead and really knows his stuff .
No disrespect intended, but a 1911 makes for a pretty healthy intro to handguns, unless you've had some experience.
If your sight alignment and trigger control are correct, the rear sight can be drifted to the right, and the front sight lowered. That being said, I'd be tempted to guess that you gents might be jerking the trigger a bit. Try shooting it at 15 yards, from a solid rest, and see what you wind up with. Given teh number of RIA's owned by friends, I'd be somewhat surprised to find out that the factory sights are that far off.....
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay
No disrespect intended, but a 1911 makes for a pretty healthy intro to handguns, unless you've had some experience.
If your sight alignment and trigger control are correct, the rear sight can be drifted to the right, and the front sight lowered. That being said, I'd be tempted to guess that you gents might be jerking the trigger a bit. Try shooting it at 15 yards, from a solid rest, and see what you wind up with. Given teh number of RIA's owned by friends, I'd be somewhat surprised to find out that the factory sights are that far off.....
1911 was my 1st handgun
to tell the truth
7 years later
i still have a bit of trouble with it.
at least compared to a revolver.
if i dont shoot it a lot.
i kind of forget how to do it.
__________________ "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
No disrespect intended, but a 1911 makes for a pretty healthy intro to handguns, unless you've had some experience.
If your sight alignment and trigger control are correct, the rear sight can be drifted to the right, and the front sight lowered. That being said, I'd be tempted to guess that you gents might be jerking the trigger a bit. Try shooting it at 15 yards, from a solid rest, and see what you wind up with. Given teh number of RIA's owned by friends, I'd be somewhat surprised to find out that the factory sights are that far off.....
No disrespect taken, as I own several handguns and shot many 1911A1's and two 1911's, colts and Springfields , my 1911A1 was shot at 7yrds out to 25 yrds by several shooters (fellow member BURCH included) groups were low left as described above, and by the way Burch is no sloutch with this platform.
What Jay said. Mine shot a little low so I filed the front sight down a tad. When I first got it it was stringing shots horizontally low and right. Changing those chunky grips out fixed that. A 1911 do take some getting used to. Dry fire it and see what happens when the hammer drops. It shouldn't move from your point of aim. Don't drop the slide on an empty chamber it can damage the extractor.
If it is truly two feet left, that is too much for adjustable sights to make up. You would have to move the sight 'notch' well over half inch right. Your rear sight would have to be raised about .3" also to raise impact. I would send it back to the factory for repair.
No disrespect intended, but a 1911 makes for a pretty healthy intro to handguns, unless you've had some experience.
If your sight alignment and trigger control are correct, the rear sight can be drifted to the right, and the front sight lowered. That being said, I'd be tempted to guess that you gents might be jerking the trigger a bit. Try shooting it at 15 yards, from a solid rest, and see what you wind up with. Given teh number of RIA's owned by friends, I'd be somewhat surprised to find out that the factory sights are that far off.....
I dont have much experience with handguns, just with my roommates sig, he has had alot though and still had problems with it going to left too but not as bad as me, he hit a few bullseyes once he adjusted his aim. so i'm sure partially there was some error on my part. I'll definately try it from a rest next time i go out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel727
What Jay said. Mine shot a little low so I filed the front sight down a tad. When I first got it it was stringing shots horizontally low and right. Changing those chunky grips out fixed that. A 1911 do take some getting used to. Dry fire it and see what happens when the hammer drops. It shouldn't move from your point of aim. Don't drop the slide on an empty chamber it can damage the extractor.
It doesnt move from side to side as far as i can tell. I'm using the pad of my finger instead of the bone.
Last edited by El.Harpito; 04-16-2012 at 06:23 PM.
I would guess to say you are not consistantly jerking the trigger that far left. New shooters spread them all over if their technique is bad. I know my 1911's and that one needs factory attention.
Don't do anything to your gun's sights until you have some range time under your belt. One range trip really is not enough to justify changing things out.
The 1911 is one of the most difficult handguns to master but once you do it will be the pride of your gun-safe. I've trained many shooters with the .45 1911... and some never master the beast.
Twenty-five yards is a pretty good distance for a first time firing. Pull your target to 10 yards and work your way back to 25 yards over several range sessions.
I do believe adjustable sights are a virtue but don't depend on the sights to make you a master of the 1911...only practice and working with shooting position, shooting posture, wrist control, trigger pull, and good grip...and, as said before, alot of good range time.
Chances are, since the group is low and left, you are bending your wrist and by doing so you may be pushing the top of the grip which will force the muzzle downward and usually left-ward. Have your buddy closely watch your shooting hand during a range session; he should be able to see such a movement.
So master your shooting style first then replace your sights and start all over.
You've got a good handgun and it will give you much pleasure so practice often.
What'd I tell you 'bout them jarheads, they NEVER complain 'bout what their issued, They make what their issued do their BITCHEN with extreme predjustice, Hey It's their Nature.
If you're both getting tight groups which are consistently in the same place I'd suspect the sights. I'd shoot it some more, and have someone else take a few shots.
If the results remain consistent call RIA. They have excellent customer service, and Ivan has a reputation for being very helpful.
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Generally, with right hand shooters, shots low left are from jerking the trigger and/or trying to fight the recoil. likewise, those with weaker wrists tend to shoot high right if they're having problems controling the gun (right hand shooter).
this is just the nature of how your wrist will naturally move when gripping a handgun. usually low at 7 o'clock and high by 1 o'clock. just pick up a handgun with your right hand only and flex your wrist up and down and see for yourself.
I wouldn't bee too quick to start messing with the sights quite yet this early in the game.
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My RIA 1911 hits low, but dead center of POA. I just use alot of front sight on that baby. Also ammo could be a factor. Find what ammo is the most accurate & stay with it. Ps, Call Rock Island Armory and if anything is wrong with it, they will fix it. IMHO, They have the Best Customer Service in the Industury.
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Last edited by mossy500camo; 06-22-2012 at 01:28 PM.
Sorry its taken me so long to reply to this thread but I've been pretty swamped with work over the last few months. I took it to the range again and I now believe it was just the ammunition. It was the cheap stuff, steel casings i dont remember the brand, but i put some nice reloads I picked up from a gun show and those were as accurate as I was at least at the begining. One thing i did notice though is by the end of the trip when the gun was starting to get HOT it was loosing alot of accuracy and was having problems with jams. I know cold bores make for the best accuracy but on a side note has anyone had jam problems with this kinda gun? Like i said though it was fine until we started getting near 250 rounds.
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