Practice

[Mosin-Marauder]

Hello All, as some of you (most of you) already know, I'm going to be getting a new Pistol in the near future, a RIA 1911 in .45 (I'd prefer if we could not discuss my choice, thank you). Since it will be several months before I get the actual gun, I figured this would be a good way to practice in absence of an actual firearm. I have this all-metal 1911 Co2 Airsoft gun with (pretty much) all the function of the RIA 1911, Grip Safety, Ambi-Safety, Slide-Stop, and it is blowback, so the slide actually serves a purpose. I got it when I was younger, and I was wondering if this would be good practice before I got the actual gun. I'd like your opinions on this, thank you.

[DPris]

Can give you a rough idea of the way the dimensions fit your hand & familiarize you with part of the operation, but won't give you the sights, the trigger, the weight, or the recoil.

I suppose it could help somewhat in working on a consistent trigger pull, but you'll still have to learn the real thing when you get it.
Denis

[Mosin-Marauder]

Hello, Denis.
Thanks for your input. I was just curious as to whether this would help or not. Every little bit counts, I guess!
Thanks again.

[jimbob86]

I have a cousin that uses one of these .... I've shot it ..... I've found that a cheap Filipino 1911 "slag gun" is light years ahead of my cousin's "training aid" in terms of accuracy ...... I used a Ruger 22/45 as an understudy ...... that's not a realistic or economical option these days ......


The very best thing you can do in terms of more practice w/ your .45: reload. .45 ACP is a low pressure, forgiving round ...... buy components in bulk and shoot as much as you can ....

[Mosin-Marauder]

I've actually already been looking at some dies. Going this weekend to look at the actual pistol and might find some brass along the way. Who knows.

[1stmar]

Many competitors train with airsoft, it's a good way to learn trigger control and sight alignment. Keep the distance short enough that your practice is meaningful. Too far and accuracy will drop off and be counter productive. Check out you tube, videos out there.. Also some good training videos from Todd Jarrett, you may find some from miculek, leatham or Barnhart. All top shooters with good techniques. Even if you are not planning on shooting competition you can learn a lot from these guys.

[DPris]

Mo,
Have you fired a 1911?
Denis

[Mosin-Marauder]

No. Not even once.

[1stmar]

Will you be reloading for it

[DPris]

Then, and I know you don't want to hear this, either put a few rounds through one BEFORE you commit money or reconsider your position now.

The 1911 is, although for different reasons, something like your Mosin in being a poor choice for a beginner.
It is not a beginner's gun.
Denis

[Mosin-Marauder]

Yes, I just asked a fellow down in the auction forums if he would be willing to sell 200 pieces of brass. He has 1700 and I don't need that many. I could buy it though if need-be.

[Mosin-Marauder]

My dad's friend has Glock in .45 I'm sure he would let me shoot, If not, I think he knows someone else (the guy I bought my Mosin from) who has a 1911 who I know would let me shoot it. Would either be okay for a trial run?

[James K]

Practice with the CO2 pistol. When you find out about the cost of .45 ammo, even reloading, you could come to appreciate the cheap alternative. Plus you can practice at home (with any reasonable backstop) when you can't make it to the range.

Jim

[DPris]

Mo,
You're trying to jump from a .22 Short pot-metal RG into a .45 ACP 1911.

You have no basis for comparison & no foundation to build on.
If past indications concerning your Dad's relative lack of involvement with your Mosin carry over into the .45, you may easily end up doing yourself more harm than good in trying to learn a large pistol with a character of its own, mostly on your own.
And I am in no way putting your Dad down in saying this.

The 1911 is not a good choice for somebody in your position.
It's a large, heavy, powerful pistol, and a bad selection for an inexperienced 14-year-old to be learning handgun shooting with.

That said- no, the Glock won't give you the same feel as the Colt, and I don't mean just ergonomics.
It won't fit your hand, the trigger is different, and so is the recoil impulse.

If you want to understand and experience the .45 ACP in a 1911 pattern pistol, you shoot .45 ACP in a 1911 pistol.

Not knocking on you, Mo, just trying to explain some things you're not looking at.
Denis

[Mosin-Marauder]

I'll see about getting another pistol. Sorry.

[DPris]

No need to apologize, just trying to educate you.
You tend to see things from something of a "That's COOL!" viewpoint, and without having any real knowledge of what's involved you get impatient & try to go for what appeals.

Sometimes that works & sometimes it doesn't.

Do your research before you leap.
Denis

[Dave P]

I don't know any reason why a 1911 should be bad choice. Its kinda big, but not huge. Recoil is very manageable. Cheap to reload, too.

If that is what you want, go for it!

And practice: try the old "penny on the slide" trick. Put a penny on top of the slide, and dry fire. Be sure the penny does not fall off as you squeeze the trigger.

I may have a spare die set.

[DPris]

The 1911 is a bad choice for a first handgun (beyond a .22 Short), for the reasons stated.

Mo has no real experience in shooting a handgun & the 1911 is, again, not a beginner's pistol to learn on.
Certainly not for a 14-year-old boy starting from Square One without adequate coaching & teaching.
Denis

[Jim567]

Two months ago I took my daughter pistol shooting for the first time.
She is 105 lbs. 15 years old.
The .22 was fun for her.
The Sig M11/A1 9mm was cool.
BUT ---
Shocking to me, her favorite was the Sig .45.
She loved it, told me it was her favorite.

Shot 35 rounds through it after 50 through the .22 and 30 or so 9mm

She had problems with elevation towards the end her arms were getting heavy.
Recoil never bothered her!!!! She shot it as well or better than the two others and enjoyed it the most.
So ---
The Sig is not a 1911 but - her wee paws had no problem. The Sig P220 is a big pistol.

Instruction needed though - 1911 or otherwise.

[Mosin-Marauder]

My dad is going to ask his friend/co-worker if I can shoot his 1911 sometime soon. I'll see if I like it, if I don't, oh well. I'll get something else.

[DPris]

Jim,
You were there, Mo's Dad isn't always as involved.
You started your daughter with a .22, Mo won't be doing that.
You moved up to a 9mm, Mo won't be transitioning that way.
Your daughter won't be trying to shoot a 1911 exclusively, as her only pistol, on an ongoing basis. Mo is trying to do that.
You were shooting guns that you own & understand yourself, that's not entirely the case with Mo's father.

And presumably, you took & will continue to take the time to be there & coach her as she learns to shoot.
Mo's Dad may or may not be as actively involved, and he may or may not have sufficient experience with the 1911 to truly teach Mo what he needs to know on that pistol.

As I said- in Mo's position, not a good choice.
Denis

[Mosin-Marauder]

I've shot one pistol in my life, funny story behind that by the way. It was my dad's .22 Semi-Auto. I was hopelessly confused. Of course, I was 7. I had seen on my video games that the pistols went up in the air when you shot them (my perception of recoil) so I intentionally pulled the gun up as I fired, at the end of that little session, the target was still in tact and the leaves in the trees had holes punched through them .

[g.willikers]

Ignore everyone but yourself.
If you want a 1911, get a 1911.
In the final analysis, the choice of gun isn't all that important.
Not nearly as much as the skill of the one using it.
All skills are acquired the same, old fashioned way - from a good teacher and lots of practice.
You can learn on any gun.
And the airsoft will indeed help.
I use mine all the time.

[Mosin-Marauder]

Just wish I had a good teacher. :P
(you're all Great teachers).

[tahunua001]

I'm not really sold on the training capabilities of compressed air guns. in the navy we used laser guns with compressed air to simulate recoil to get us ready for live fire training but really, it didn't seem like a feasible training aid to me. I would think the airsoft gun would be much the same. I shot a lot of airsoft and paintball as a teen and it gave me a lot of bad habits, the mentalities kindof negate eachother, the "toy" side fosters spray and pray mentality, while the firearm side fosters, well placed shots.

a real gun is going to behave completely different in your hands and the trigger feel is going to be completely different. it may be useful in the same way that dry firing is useful but I really wouldn't use it as a primary training aid once you have the gun on hand.