Taurus 1911 shooting low.(found problem)

[garyd1961]

I finally got around to taking a concealed carry class today. I used my Taurus 1911 with Heinie sights. It was shooting low and to the left .I aimed high and to the right and nearly shot the bullseye out of the target. When I got home I adjusted the sights and now it shoots straight but low.This is a new gun I bought a couple of years ago and only fired it to check function. I assumed the sights were ok but you could see the sights were off center.
I'm thinking maybe the dealer changed the sights or something. Shouldn't a new gun have the sights set pretty close? How do I fix the shooting low problem ? This gun has no high/low adjustments.
Thanks for any help,Gary.

[MalcS]

I didn't know, but apparently with Heine straight 8 sights you are supposed to put the front dot ON the target (and not a 6 o'clock hold below it).

If you cover the bull with the front dot, do she hit?

Mine seems OK, not that I've got many rounds through it yet.

[garyd1961]

Man that sucks, I could handle shooting low if the sights were high but shooting high you can't see your target. Are there any sights available that will fix this problem? Mine has the single dot in the rear and a single dot in the front. I really like these sights and would love to find an taller rear sight.
Mine looks like yours but is parked and has wood handles and serial # NAT 47XXX.

[MalcS]

I think I read that the sight dovetail is unique to Taurus (and different from other 1911s).

Some Taurus 1911s shipped with NOVAK sights.

HiViz apparently makes a set of 3 dot red or green fiber optics:

http://www.hivizsights.com/Search.aspx?k=taurus+

[JasonB]

Here is a tool for adjusting the elevation on the front sight to get it hitting point of aim.

http://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-2184.../dp/B00002N5M5

[tac-40]

I have a Taurus PT1911 and don't have any problem with the same sights you have. But I do have a question for you. Are you using the dot to aim at the target or getting a standard sight picture? The reason I ask is because they have different sight pictures for their use. Won't address the windage issue since you have made adjustments for that.

If you are shooting low using a standard sight picture you can file a little off the top of the front sight to shorten it and not mess with the tritium insert. After getting it sighted in, then a little cold blue to darken it up and you are fixed.

If you are using the dots, the the proper sight picture is with the front dot sitting at the bottom of the notch of the back sight, like this ]o[. However, this sight picture should make you shoot high since it raises the muzzle a tad. The dots are there only for rapid sight acquitition, not precision shooting.

And of course I am making an assumption that you already know that trigger finger position and engagement can push the shot left or right. And anticipation of the shoot can cause it to go low. I mention this because it had been a while since I shot my 1911 and the shoots grouped low right. It was because I have been shooting Glocks for a while and have a different trigger pull for them versus the 1911. Plus the thinner grip of the 1911 made it more succeptable to movement from changes in my grip tension (anticipation.

[garyd1961]

I'm aiming as you would with any sights as if there were no dots. Front sight centered and level with rear sight and target sitting on front sight. I am new to this gun and haven't shot pistols very much but I have been shooting shotguns and rifles nearly 40 years. I thought about filing the front sight but I'm shooting 3 inches low at 15 ft and I would have to take most the front dot out. I am going to try raising the front sight or covering the target with the front sight but thats going to be hard to get use to. Thanks for all the help, I will let you know what happens the next time I shoot.

[JasonB]

Originally posted by garyd1961
I thought about filing the front sight but I'm shooting 3 inches low at 15 ft and I would have to take most the front dot out.

Have you tried Taurus?

[AndyC]

Originally posted by garyd1961
I am new to this gun and haven't shot pistols very much

Check for a flinch - most folks unfamiliar with handguns push the muzzle down a bit in an attempt to control the muzzle-flip.

3" low at 5 yards is very unlikely to be the sights, as that would require a sight-height change of 0.1" to correct.

Edit: formula to correct sight-height:

                              sight radius X error
Change to sight =             ----------------------
                                    distance

On the other hand, it's possible that the pistol was sighted at 25 yards and the bullet is still below point-of-aim at the lesser distance - but it still wouldn't be 3" low.

[MalcS]

maybe the best thing is to put the pistol in a rest and see where the shots are going with the variables removed?

[jdmcomp]

just to get my dog in the fight, it could be the ammo you are using. Lighter bullets shoot to a different point then heavier.

[AndyC]

Somewhat, but I don't think you would see the difference at 5 yards.

[garyd1961]

It's been raining for the last three days. I will try to get out and shoot this weekend. I'm going to use a rest and try different pistols to see if it's me or the gun. I'll let yall know what happens.

[JasonB]

Try a different shooter too.

And on a similar note, what happens when you close your eyes and bring it up to eye level? Are the sights aligned or is the front a little low?

[JasonB]

Originally posted by AndyC
Somewhat, but I don't think you would see the difference at 5 yards.

I dunno, if zeroed with 230 and using 185 or less there could be a noticeable elevation shift.

[AndyC]

I've never found a difference myself but I'm happy to be proven wrong

[garyd1961]

I didn't make it out to shoot over the week end. I have a field where I can go to shoot but deer season has started and it's a favorite place for local hunters to hunt. I only go on Sunday afternoon during deer season.
They are planning to build a shooting range close by but the local gov. is against it. The shooting range will probably be ready in a couple of months in spite of the local fuds.

[garyd1961]

I shot my Taurus 1911 again today. At 30 ft and covering the bullseye with the front sight I am still shooting 4 inches low. Oh yeah, I was using a table in the back of my Nissan pick up for a prop. Are there hight adjustable sights available for this pistol?
Good news,I also shot my L1A1 that I gave $150 for the rec. and the guy threw the barrel in for free. He said the barrel was over gassed and the receiver wouldn't feed. I shot several 3 shot 3 inch groups with no problems at all. It runs on # 4 for me

edit-I have decided to get someone else to try this pistol before I do anything else. I have a cousin who is very good with pistols I will get him to shoot it. If he has the same problem then I will contact Taurus. I don't think new sights will help this. Thanks, Gary.

[garyd1961]

Found the problem, "Me". My cousin shot my 1911 at 30 ft and first shot was 4 inches low. He said I see the problem and put the next four of six shots within 2 inches of bullseye. Thats shooting no prop and rapid fire. Two were a little over 3 inches off. He said he noticed on the first shot he pulled the barrel down on account of the grip safety. That must be what I have been doing since he hit the exact same spot I've been hitting.
My cousin is one of those guys you have to see to believe. He has no training but can out shoot about everyone I know. He doesn't even know how to strip and clean his guns but he can shoot.

[AndyC]

I hate to say I told ya - so I won't

he pulled the barrel down on account of the grip safety

Balls - he flinched too

Glad you found the issue, though - I hate not knowing why stuff is going wrong but when the lightbulb finally stutters to "on", it's a relief. Now you can work on fixing your fl... grip-safety

[BroncoMafia]

Low and left: classic flinch (anticipation of the shot pushes it low) with bad trigger control/grip (squeezing the grip too tight with right hand sympathetically pushes trigger left).
I just finished a 4 day pistol class where half the line was shooting nice groups low and left for the first 2 days.

Good thread with attachments of diagnostic pistol target

work on fundamentals:
sight alignment
sight picture
proper grip
trigger: smooth press to the rear/surprise break/reset

[Deltaten]

I dunno...
Somwhere's I recall him saying he was using low-ball or meatball hold..like flat tire hold but lower???

Mebbe onna strictly target piece; but I regulate all mine to hit right across the "X" when leveled across the sights..

Izzat wrong; or am I confustabulated?? I mean; why hold four rings down ta get the X?
Sure, it obscures half the bull; but if I do my part, there's no confusion as to where the hole's gonna be!

What say Andy? Depending on the size of the bull, his distance to target and discounting flinch...it *could* be that?

[JAB75]

I have a couple of 24/7 pistols in .45acp with the Heinie straight 8 sights...out-of-the box dead nuts accurate with a paint the target hold with the front sight dot.

My IMBEL/SA GI 1911 is the same way...the sights suck, but once aligned, cover the target with the front blade, use a consistent hold and trigger pressure and its easy to hit the 10x at 25 yards.

-JAB75

[AndyC]

Originally posted by Deltaten
I dunno...
Somwhere's I recall him saying he was using low-ball or meatball hold..like flat tire hold but lower???

What say Andy? Depending on the size of the bull, his distance to target and discounting flinch...it *could* be that?

Oh heck - you know, I'm so used to shooting POA/POI, I allas forget others might use the classic 6 o'clock bullseye hold. Good point, Paul