Ravenwood - 06/18/05 12:00 PM
I bought a new Springfield M1911-A1 two weeks ago. I finally got around to taking it to the range today, along with my Taurus PT945. First I shot about 50 rounds through the Taurus. I just had the extractor replaced and I wanted to make sure it was functioning properly. A spent casing used to "stove pipe" about once per magazine. In 50 rounds it didn't mis-feed once, so it appears to be fixed.
Before removing the target, I pulled out the Springfield and after spinning it on the table, I put a full magazine through it to get a feel for the trigger and how it fired.
I was satisfied with the pull, but couldn't quite tell where the rounds were going, so I pasted a fresh target. Two 7 round mags yielded interesting results:
Click to supersize
Out of 14 rounds, I shot 2 strays to the lower left corner. There was one wild round from each magazine but even they ended up grouped together on the lower left. It just goes to show that even my flinch is pretty consistent. If you count them all up, there are 2 strays, 3 in the triangle on the far left, 2 more a little high, and 7 through the main group.
It obviously pulls slightly to the left. Had I brought some tools with me, I would have tried adjusting the rear site to pull it back to the center. I never have been a great shot, mainly because I'm too busy to shoot regularly. For now I'm satisfied with these results, and adjusting the sites will just have to wait until next time.
UPDATE: My biggest complaint about the 1911 was that the rounds seem to eject straight up and back at me. Nothing like a hot .45 shell casing down the front of your shirt to keep you on your toes.
Category: Toys for Grownups
Comments (6) top link me
Does it really pull to the left or is the trigger longer than what you are used to? A lot of 1911s come with super long triggers these days; if the trigger is too long for you it will almost always force your shots to the left or lower left. Easy way to check: cock your unloaded pistol and get your hand around it, finger on the trigger. Look down onto the top of the slide. If your trigger finger is not perpendicular to the slide, but pointing forward instead it means the trigger is too long. Conversely, if your trigger finger is pointing back towards you then the trigger is too short. Either swap triggers (call Brownell's) or learn to shoot using the very tip of your finger.
That's good advice. The trigger is a tiny bit long, but I think with practice or a slight site adjustment I could bring the grouping toward the center.
Posted by: Ravenwood at June 18, 2005 6:37 PMI'd bet that each of the two stray shots were the first round fired after reloading.
Lots of semi-autos do this - it's probably because the various parts line up differently after the slide is manually cycled, than when it is cycled by firing.
Posted by: Mike at June 19, 2005 10:03 AMI know for sure that the first round from the first mag was a stray, which seems to fit your theory.
Posted by: Ravenwood at June 19, 2005 1:57 PMIf you think a hot case down your shirt is exciting, try one lodged between your eyeglass frame and your cheek!
Your pistol shouldn't be ejecting straight back at you, though. It should be throwing them up and right and out. You might need to adjust the extractor tension.
Posted by: Kevin Baker at June 19, 2005 10:06 PMLong go I have a Springfield .45 and I remember mine did the same thing, sent hot brass into my face once in a while. But I also remember I never had a jam and always hit what I was aiming at. Never had the heart to change anything even though the trigger pull was kinda long...
Posted by: greeblie at June 20, 2005 12:38 AM(c) Ravenwood and Associates, 1990 - 2014
