[AWDeanSr]

I went to the range today and fired about 50 rounds of 230 grain Remington UMC, 10 rounds of 185 grain Rem. Golden Sabers and 10 rounds of 230 G PMC out of a Taurus PT145 which has a 3.25 " barrel . At 3 yards I was able to shoot the bulls-eye out of my target with 3 mags and had about five flyers which were within 6" of the bulls-eye.I do not profess to be an excellent shot!

Took the target out to 5 yards and my accuracy was pathetic. fired 10 rounds and hit the target 5" low 5 times in about a 7" grouping..where the other 5 went who knows? My question is should I expect better accuracy at 5 yards out of my short barrel or should I be looking at something else as being my problem.

 

[DMM]

Can't vouch for a Tarus, but with a Kimber Ultra (3") Holding a 8" group at 15 yards two handed is not difficult. I do prefer a Kimber Pro (4")which makes that 8" group at 25 yards using the same UMC ammo relatively easy. Thghtening down to 5" takes focus. Check the manual on the sight picture POA or 6:00. With a Springer EMP 9mm (3") I get the same results but the sight picture is completely different than the Kimbers. All three weapons have match barrels. For me at least, using a three inch 45 takes concentration.

 

[tiwee]

Shoot from a rest. That will tell you it is likely not the pistol. The pistol will project the round exactly where it is aimed at the instant of ignition.

I am older and find accuracy is better at the beginning of the range session than later. I had a 35 year period away from pistol shooting. Now I am trying to make my way back. The laser is a wonderful help for me. I will never be like I was before, but I am safe at self defense distances.

 

[nutz4utwo]

I would guess that your issue is more with you than your firearm. :smile:

Ballistics over the distances between 3 yards, 5 yards, 15, or 25 are nearly identical. Ideally, if you double the distance you shoot at, your group size will double. In practice I find it a little more difficult to shoot at things further away so my groups get slightly more than double at twice the distance. Wind, bullet spin, bullet drop, parallax, cant, and the like don't start to be significant until long distances (more than a few hundred yards). Even handgun sight alignment makes little difference at 5 yards. There are guys who can shoot snub nose revolvers at 100 yard distances. They are exceptional, but it goes to show short barrels are just fine.

Modern pistols are inherently capable of grouping 5 inches at 25 yards. Good ones are even better!

Hence, considering the poor grouping at 5 yards, the shooter is most likely the cause.

Avoid fatigue. Take breaks. Try for consistent grip (as high as possible), consistent sight alignment, and a good trigger pull. That is really all there is to it. Moving where you put your finger on the trigger sometimes has big effects in accuracy.

Dry fire is free and valuable. Mixing in snap caps with live ammo at random is great to cure flinching. Practicing these fundamentals with a .22lr pistol might be cheaper than your .45 and helps avoid flinching habits.

Keep at these short distances until you have very consistent results with no flyers. Than gradually move your target back.

Best of luck! I have to practice my fundamentals frequently or I shoot terribly.

 

[AWDeanSr]

Thanks for the advice guys..I agree it is me that is the problem. I also agree with the idea of getting a 22 pistol to get more trigger time. Another thing I noticed was that I was flinching, think I need to invest in some better ear protection.

Most of my experience with firearms was with the M16 while in the the army. I took about a 15 year break from shooting. Feel like I am a rookie all over again!

 

[RETSUPT99]

Can't vouch for a Tarus, but with a Kimber Ultra (3") Holding a 8" group at 15 yards two handed is not difficult. I do prefer a Kimber Pro (4")which makes that 8" group at 25 yards using the same UMC ammo relatively easy. Thghtening down to 5" takes focus. Check the manual on the sight picture POA or 6:00. With a Springer EMP 9mm (3") I get the same results but the sight picture is completely different than the Kimbers. All three weapons have match barrels. For me at least, using a three inch 45 takes concentration.

Yes, you should expect better accuracy out to 5 yards.:yup:
But do keep in mind...
In a WalMart parking lot, 7 - 10 feet is all you're going to need to hit CoM...my Kimber Ultra is deadly accurate way beyond that distance.:comeandgetsome:

 

[AWDeanSr]

Yes, you should expect better accuracy out to 5 yards.:yup:
But do keep in mind...
In a WalMart parking lot, 7 - 10 feet is all you're going to need to hit CoM...my Kimber Ultra is deadly accurate way beyond that distance.:comeandgetsome:

I was tickled with what I was doing at 3 yards...moved it out to 5 and was devastated :aargh4:

I wear glasses, thanks to my poor eyesight...I do not plan on engaging anyone past 21 feet. However, I know I need to be confident in my ability to hit where I am aiming at that distance.

 

[chenemf]

After 50 rounds with the short barreled Taurus, your hand and wrist will be tired from the recoil.

Try shooting at 5 yards when fresh at the range and see if your shooting improves.

 

[RETSUPT99]

I was tickled with what I was doing at 3 yards...moved it out to 5 and was devastated :aargh4:

I wear glasses, thanks to my poor eyesight...I do not plan on engaging anyone past 21 feet. However, I know I need to be confident in my ability to hit where I am aiming at that distance.

Get yourself into a 'point shooting' course...you won't need those glasses or your sights.:image035:

 

[AWDeanSr]

After 50 rounds with the short barreled Taurus, your hand and wrist will be tired from the recoil.

Try shooting at 5 yards when fresh at the range and see if your shooting improves.

The flyers @3 yards happened in my first mag. My Taurus has the heine straight 8's, so I had to adjust my aim so that I was covering the Bullseye with the front post. Also made sure I was following through with my trigger pull. Got poi at poa.

Used same grip,stance, sight picture and trigger pull at 5 yards I didn't really feel tired. But I did feel rushed for some reason. It could be as you said, that I was tired and that was making me rush my shots.

I also wonder if heating up the gun caused some of the problems...I went through the first 50 rounds quickly.


I have been dissecting my trigger time ever since I left the range.:blink:

 

[tbrenke]

The problem, I am sorry to say, is most likely yours.
my XD40SC fires very well with over 200 rounds at a time.

and at 25 yards.
there is no substitute for practice.

 

[dukalmighty]

You can practice trigger pull at home,make sure gun is unloaded,then make sure gun is unloaded,then make sure gun is unloaded,then pick a spot on the wall and line your sights up,then squeeze the trigger while keeping sights on target,repeat as necessary until you are able to keep sights on target without flinching,also 22's are good practice guns to develope good shooting habits

 

[TheShadow]

What's the round count of the PT145?

Is the barrel shot out? You can visibly see by looking down the bore. If there's not much difference between lands and grooves the barrel is shot out and accuracy is out the window.

 

[AWDeanSr]

What's the round count of the PT145?

Is the barrel shot out? You can visibly see by looking down the bore. If there's not much difference between lands and grooves the barrel is shot out and accuracy is out the window.

Only 263 rounds through it, it's not even broke in yet.

 

[Cold Warrior]

No kidding! Did it break your wrist?

 

[BugDude]

Squeeze the trigger using the pad of the index finger, don't pull it with the inside of the first joint. DAO is a long hard trigger pull and can be difficult to keep on point of aim. Especially with the kick of a 45 round in a ligt gun. Practice, practice, practice. Dry fire is free and can be done while you watch TV. Triple check unloaded first and point in safe direction concentrating on point of aim. Did I mention triple checking unloaded and point in safe direction? If not, triple check unloaded and point in a safe direction.

 

[AWDeanSr]

Squeeze the trigger using the pad of the index finger, don't pull it with the inside of the first joint. DAO is a long hard trigger pull and can be difficult to keep on point of aim. Especially with the kick of a 45 round in a ligt gun. Practice, practice, practice. Dry fire is free and can be done while you watch TV. Triple check unloaded first and point in safe direction concentrating on point of aim. Did I mention triple checking unloaded and point in safe direction? If not, triple check unloaded and point in a safe direction.

I was squeezing with the pad of my trigger finger and I have been using snap caps to smooth out my trigger pull. What do you mean by "don't pull it with the inside of the first joint"?

I appreciate all of the advice and I am open to all pointers and suggestions. I agree I need to practice, practice, and practice some more

 

[dukalmighty]

I was squeezing with the pad of my trigger finger and I have been using snap caps to smooth out my trigger pull. What do you mean by "don't pull it with the inside of the first joint"?

I appreciate all of the advice and I am open to all pointers and suggestions. I agree I need to practice, practice, and practice some more

He means don't stick the first tip of finger past the trigger to where the joint of finger is resting on trigger,that will cause you to move the finger when shooting causing gun to move off target,using pad of finger will keep gun on target while squeezing trigger

 

[bladenbullet]

my first few times to the range with my mil pro had me pulling shots low and left regularly...lots a=of dry fire practice holding on a target at home trained me to be able to move my trigger finger without affecting the rest of my hand...once you get that your accuracy will improve immensely...relax a bit...let your trigger finger do the work...

i have 2 methods of dry fire practice...
draw a bead on something small across the room and squeeze the shot off while keeping the object in my sights...when the trigger is right there is no movement of the sight picture...
place the gun almost against the wall on a target (+) and sqeeze the shot off without the muzzle moving off the +....

the trigger can be tricky on em but once you get the hang of it its second nature....dont anticipate the shot...it should just come as you are squeezing the trigger...

 

[Rotorflyr]

Straight 8 sights suck...

Get rid of those (imho) crappy straight 8 sights.......:wave:

I changed mine over to Williams Fire Sights and vastly improved my accuracy with the PT145. :danceban: