Hello all! After shooting my brother in laws rock island, I just had to have a 1911 for myself. So, about a month ago i purchased a pt1911fs. I've put about 200-300 rounds through it now and it functions flawlessly! And as many others have said, eats any type of ammo I feed it. I'm extremely happy on that and of things. However, it is horribly inaccurate. For every 8 rounds only 2 are on target. Couldn't even begin to tell you where the other 6 are going. The barrel bushing doesn't seem to have an unusual amount of play in it IMHO. It is the first 1911 I've owned so I really can't say for sure. Is it possible the sights are really that far off?
New guy in need of some advice
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Welcome aboard from Florida the "GunShine" state. :icon_ lala:
State of over "1 MILLION" Concealed Carry Licenses and counting.
No offense intended as I have no idea of your experience level. So I'll just ask, have any other experienced (as in accurate marksmen/instructors etc.) shooters fired it and gotten the same results?
I find that before thowing out the baby with the bath water or whittling on sights it's best to have a few experienced shooters "test drive" the gun to ensure it isn't "Pilot Error" causing those bullets to stray from the bullseye.
Something as simple as changing ammo brands or bullet weights can make a big difference in a gun's performance too.
State of over "1 MILLION" Concealed Carry Licenses and counting.
No offense intended as I have no idea of your experience level. So I'll just ask, have any other experienced (as in accurate marksmen/instructors etc.) shooters fired it and gotten the same results?
I find that before thowing out the baby with the bath water or whittling on sights it's best to have a few experienced shooters "test drive" the gun to ensure it isn't "Pilot Error" causing those bullets to stray from the bullseye.
Something as simple as changing ammo brands or bullet weights can make a big difference in a gun's performance too.
One of the first I checked. Can't even get the thing to break loose. Figured I stop before I broke the wrench or rounded out the hex.
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If it was me, I'd work my way out to 25 yards. If your goal is to get accuracy and consistency at 25 yards, which for a 1911 is no problem in my opinion, I'd set up a target at 7 yards, see if you can get a feel for where they are going, left, right etc, adjust if needed. Then move it to 15 yards, check again. Adjust if you need to, then move it to 25 yards.
That way hopefully it will give you an idea if you are shooting, left, right, high, low...
Also 200-300 rounds isn't all that many in my opinion, it could be that you are still learning how she shoots and she is still getting broken in. If it was me and I did the above and after 1000 or so rounds I was still having the same problem, then I would do as mentioned by the others and have someone who has lots of experience try it. But I am also stubborn and try and fix things myself at first!
If your PT 1911 is working like mine does, good grouping at 25 yards should be no problem. Mine does it and I am definitely not a sharpshooter! My PT 1911 actually makes me look the best out of anything I shoot, and she could do alot better in someone else's hands I am sure!
That way hopefully it will give you an idea if you are shooting, left, right, high, low...
Also 200-300 rounds isn't all that many in my opinion, it could be that you are still learning how she shoots and she is still getting broken in. If it was me and I did the above and after 1000 or so rounds I was still having the same problem, then I would do as mentioned by the others and have someone who has lots of experience try it. But I am also stubborn and try and fix things myself at first!
If your PT 1911 is working like mine does, good grouping at 25 yards should be no problem. Mine does it and I am definitely not a sharpshooter! My PT 1911 actually makes me look the best out of anything I shoot, and she could do alot better in someone else's hands I am sure!
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First welcome to the forum!
how well did you shoot your BIL's Rock island??
as for the sights being off, well they could be but then you would be missing the target with all 8 rounds, not 6.
simple IF the sights are off that far the gun would still group somewhere, now the size of that group is pretty much the shooters errors.
the reccomendations already made are logical, move the target into a range that you can print on paper and shoot reasonable groups.
Until you begin to shoot reasoanable groups there is no way to know where to move sights, point of aim or anything else really.
Now yes the pistol or ammo could be the problem, but I would expect to win the big lottery well before finding a pistol or ammo that was that bad.
how well did you shoot your BIL's Rock island??
as for the sights being off, well they could be but then you would be missing the target with all 8 rounds, not 6.
simple IF the sights are off that far the gun would still group somewhere, now the size of that group is pretty much the shooters errors.
the reccomendations already made are logical, move the target into a range that you can print on paper and shoot reasonable groups.
Until you begin to shoot reasoanable groups there is no way to know where to move sights, point of aim or anything else really.
Now yes the pistol or ammo could be the problem, but I would expect to win the big lottery well before finding a pistol or ammo that was that bad.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll be sure to use it the next time I can get out and do some shooting. I'll also have my father in law fire a few off. See if he ends up with better results. He's an experienced shooter. At least, more then I am. I've seen him achieve 1/2" to 3/4" groupings at 50yrds with his old Colt M1917.
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Ditto on the finger grooves. Very inexpensive. My 1911s are my best shooters, both from the factory dead on.
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Also do you normally shoot 9mm the 1911 is a great gun but is a major step up for someone that is not used to a 45. I think if you get closer and use a bench rest you will learn a lot about your new gun. Congrats by the way on a great gun. I hope all turns out well. Many new 1911 owner need a learning curve.
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As a relatively new 1911 owner, I'll have to agree. It takes some time to get to know the gun and once you do, you'll love it.
I purchased a new SS AR model which was dead on accurate right out of the box.
Later, I purchased a used AR B model from a LGS because my wallet kept jumping out of my pocket when I saw it.
I suspected there were issues with it right away because the rounds consistently impacted to the right of POA. On closer inspection, the rear sight was canted to the left like this one. I ended up sending the slide back to Taurus to have the sight replaced, which they did.
It was still shooting to the right. Some of it was me. I had to work on my grip.
But then I discovered if I compensated to the left, the rounds impacted POA. I ended up drifting the rear sight to the left and the front slight a little to the right. Extreme maybe, but this is a used gun. Anyhow, this is the result just a few days ago @ 7 yards. Its my EDC now.
Give the gun some time and get to know it before you start adjusting sights. If you do, use a heat gun first which also does a good job to weaken Locktite, even the red stuff. The Taurus hex wrench is useless. Get an inexpensive Weaver gunsmithing tool set. I paid $10 for the one I have. With the proper driver, you can bear down on the set screws and remove them without stripping them. I think 1/32 is the front set screw size but you shouldn't have to bother it on a new gun.
Sorry for the long delay in replying. Been really busy this last month. I was finally able to get out and do some shooting this weekend. Turns out, it was the ammo the entire time. I had somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000-1200 reloaded rounds that my previous .45 liked. 4gr red dot w/ 220gr cast RN bullet (lyman/Ideal mold #452374.) (Warranty be damned!) Anyway, the pt1911 HATES that load! Discovered this after I smartened up and surrounded the target with cardboard. Why I didn't think of that sooner, I don't know. Most of the rounds where hitting a good 6-8" off POA! So, I went out a bought a box of Winchester ammo. Problem solved. This gun is the most accurate I have ever owned! The POI being almost dead on with the POA. Unfortunately, I now have about 900 rounds of useless ammo lying around. Lyman reloading manual don't fail me now!
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18,383 Posts
Congratulations of resolving your problem.
With 900 rounds just sitting there I wonder if something like this might be worth the cost and effort
Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller
With 900 rounds just sitting there I wonder if something like this might be worth the cost and effort
Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller
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36,963 Posts
Now, that sounds like the Taurus PT1911 that we all know and love.
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