945 Shooting Problem

[PeterM]

I've battled my full-size 945 for about 8 or 9 years. The gun is incredibly accurate but I can't shoot it accurately. I can go to the 15 yd. line and fire two or three mags and keep them all in the 10 ring without difficulty. After that, the groups fall apart and I start bobbing around with flinches no matter what load or bullet I have in it. If I move to the ten yard line, the problem is gone and I can shoot very accurately until I get tired. But ten yards is not shooting for accuracy for me-fifteen yards and beyond is what I like. I do not have this problem with a variety of other pistols and revolvers I shoot. I've gone through all the usual things like dry firing exercises, different loads and bullets. The trigger is right at 3 lbs. I think the weight of the gun may have something to do with it but then again, I have a counterweighted Model 52 that gives me no problems from 25 yards.

Any ideas here? Have other 945 owners run into this or is this just some weirdism of my own?

 

[TSQUARED]

I have not experienced any problems with the accuracy of my 945. I mounted a Docter red dot replacing the rear sight and have used it for the CF and 45 stages of bullseye pistol matches. I have been using the 185 gr. Star LSWCHP with 3.8 gr. VV N-310 and WLP for ca 790 fps with excellent accuracy out to 50 yards.

 

[PeterM]

I don't think it's the gun. It is very accurate. The problem seems to lie with me but I can't figure out why I "automatically" start flinching at 15 yards but can maintain accuracy at 10 yards.

 

[TSQUARED]

I don't think it's the gun. It is very accurate. The problem seems to lie with me but I can't figure out why I "automatically" start flinching at 15 yards but can maintain accuracy at 10 yards.

Pete,
You may be flinching the same amount but the dispesion becomes larger at the longer distance. You might try dry firing or loading a "dud" round in between your normal rounds and observing your flinch when it does not fire. It might be a classic mind over matter problem.

When my son first started shooting he was terrified of the 45 ACP and flinched regularly. I made some very mild loads (185 gr. LSWC, 3.8 gr. HS-700X, Rem 1.5 for ca 710 fps) which finally helped him overcome his flinch with the 45 ACP.
Tony

 

[SW CQB 45]

many accuracy issues related to the shooter are enhanced the further away you get from the target.

the 945 is a big frame and somewhat odd with the sunken in grip safety. follow through and consistency in gripping add to accuracy potential.

do you feel yourself moving prior to the shot breaks? (flinching or anticipating recoil)

dry fire or dummy rounds loaded by someone else instead of you and if you jerk when the gun goes click is a strong indication of shotgun patterning.

but you say the M52 works for you. how is the barrel fit? has someone else shot the 945 for accuracy potential?

 

[PeterM]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Others have shot this gun and I have benched it with superb accuracy. It just got back from a checkup at S&W and has a new barrel bushing. I know it must be me but what has me whipped is that I can outshoot this 945 with my CZ 75 SA at 15 yards. No problem with a STI 6" Trojan .45 or my 5" S&W .45 either with the same ammo which is all target velocity reloads.

I do a lot of dry firing but I'm flinching downwards and it shows as a steady track down the target.