Confession?

S

Shutthefrontdoor

Member
Joined
May 14, 2020
Messages
176
Reaction score
229
City & State/Province
SW Michigan
I hope the title didn’t create a false picture, but it’s a confession nonetheless. I’m in the process of building a collection and along the way I’ve amassed some late night GB purchases that while I don’t regret, they don’t fit my renewed focus on precision and accuracy, but that’s not my confession. Hopefully, I’m not alone - so here it is…

I fell for the .45 ACP round and first bought the best 4506 I could find, then a 4516, and then a Shorty 45. I’m sure you all know where this is going…

I can shoot the 4506 semi proficiency; I can do the same with the 4516, but the Shorty 45?

I’m all over the place. It’s so light, and loud! Obviously, as a newbie- I have my work cut out for me. Lots of learning ahead, but hey? Throw in a buddy, some ammo, and you have a fun afternoon of plinking and learning (something) (anything). What I learned was how different the Shorty 45 was in comparison to it’s all steel stablemates.

So there it is, I confess I can’t hit the broad side of a barn with the Shorty.

When the laughter dies down…. Any insight?

Because…

I just purchased several other PC classic semiautomatics (all steel, thank goodness) all yet to be fired.

Sweet Jesus! I confess, if it wasn’t guns I was talking about - I would
still barely know enough to be dangerous!

Did I mention I want to (giggle, eventually) compete?

I’m thinking around… 2023?
 
Wise advice above, from the old Marine!

Work the basics. And have a tight grip. And a locked wrist. Watch some of Mas Ayoobs grip advice videos on Youtube. The results of a good effort will surprise you. Good luck! Regards 18DAI
 
Interesting... but I'm not really sure that I see a very clear question.

Even still, I know what my answer would be.

I'd put the Shorty45 away. Because it's like this... regardless of what your skill level is right now, more practice is going to make you a better shooter. If your practice is quality practice, you'll improve, and you'll improve across the board. If you spend many sessions shooting your 4506 and you see improvement, you can pull the Shorty45 out later and almost surely shoot it better than you do currently.

Part of what makes practice good, quality practice is mindset. Positive feedback and noticing your own improvement will feed your confidence as a shooter.

If you keep blowing through ammo with a Shorty45 and your results stink, you aren't getting a lot from that practice and your confidence isn't much boosted.

Confidence is a huge part of successful shooting, it's always been a key part for me.

Figure out your goal and drive toward your goal. If you hope to compete, you'll have to first figure out -WHAT- kind of competition you're talking about.

And almost no matter what style of competition you get involved with... the Shorty45 isn't likely to be the featured competition gun on the line for anyone, and probably isn't going to be your choice either. (unless you just wanna be "that guy.")
 
My question was more of a confession of my ability to spend money more quickly then I can practice and gain proficiency.

I have no idea what competitions or leagues are in my area, but I am competitive; even if, I’m competing against myself. I have the drive, but I feel with my new found direction - I will make more time. Dry fire practice, at least! My buddy, and fellow forum member is a fantastic teacher as well as a deep humble well of knowledge. That really helps.

Of the guns I have amassed, I wouldn’t dream of competing with them. I see them all as functional works of American crafted art -all with stories, but past their prime in competition. But to become proficient with them while learning about competing? I’m into that. Oddly, or at least as it stands now? The Shorty 45 is the LAST gun I’d show up with. Hopefully, me being me - I’ll never be “that guy”.

Just looking to learn while following my developing passion.
 
My 4506-1 was the first S&W pistol I ever bought with my then new FFL. I was a dedicated Colt guy when it came to .45acp and didn’t think I was interested in a S&W .45.

It was and still is a most reliable and very accurate .45. Granted I worked it over and shot it a lot. A few times I thought I had a flyer totally off target but nope, it put two in one hole.

Try getting closer to your objective target and progressively back up. (If that’s possible where you are shooting.) Obviously you’ll have to compensate sight wise but that will help you anyway understanding point of aim at various distances.

I don’t know the distance you are shooting is but I’ve found all of my S&W .45’s are inherently very accurate. Even my “Value Line” 457 targets nice and sometimes as good as my Shorty 45.

You have some great .45’s so don’t give up on them or more importantly yourself. ;)

Jim
 
Thank you everyone. You are all too kind, and the recommendations will all be taken. The fun for me will come from finding the time to get to the range after soon to start "at home" trigger work.

On that, to be clear - it is okay to dry fire a 4506, 639, 5904, 945, 952, and on and on? Time to dive into the world of YouTube.

Thanks again for validating my beginner skill status, and as I climb out with some proficiency I'll start to post some range reports with pictures. I've got some amazing guns; time to earn some bragging rights!
 
Like 1911’s just fine. Got a G30S, half the time I’m not even on the paper, and started flinching to boot. Sold it.
 
Practice, practice, practice. That's my advice. At home, dry fire, I don't think you can hurt the S&W centerfire pistols with dry firing. If it makes you feel more comfortable, use snap caps when dry firing. I will say that the lighter the pistol, the harder it is to control during live fire. When I competed in USPSA matches, it was always with all-steel pistols. The extra weight dampened recoil and reduced muzzle rise and made fast and accurate shooting easier to achieve.
 
I have a 45Recon , which is like the Shorty45 , and I couldn't hit s*** with it . I myself blame the sights , I much prefer adjustable rears . I ended up putting a Sig Romeo , or guzzitaco did , on it and it made it an awesome shooting PC piece . He did the same with one of my 745's , and that opened up a case of whoop** with it . My 945's and my 845 have the stock rears on them which I have no problem with , they are great . But I had LPA's put on my 4006CHP and a 4566TSW which really woke them up . I'm leaning towards putting them on my 4006PC , but in all honesty that thing shoots pretty awesome with those non-adjustable rear sights . What it'll come down to is what will work best for you . Shoot them and find out . You will truly enjoy shooting those PC guns , that's for sure !
 
Shutthefrontdoor said:
Did I mention I want to (giggle, eventually) compete?
I’m thinking around… 2023?
Click to expand...

I offer some contrarian advice.
You cannot "practice" to be fully ready to compete. "Thinking around 2023" is a year wasted going click click. I think Spring 2022 at the latest, depending on your tolerance for winter weather.
You need to know WHAT to practice and the best way to learn that is to show up, shoot, and get soundly beaten. Nobody else will care so long as you can be safe and follow directions.

I shoot IDPA and USPSA. These are "action shoots" with a lot of movement and scattered targets, but not very far away.
Here are club finders for Michigan.
IDPA Clubs - Page 2 of 62 - International Defensive Pistol Association

Just a moment...

Well, that one didn't save Michigan, but you can enter it and even your zip code.

There is also NRA Precision, the traditional bullseye sport with an emphasis on pure accuracy. I will leave finding a range as an exercise for the student.

You don't have to have the latest and greatest specialty gun, either.
For IDPA and entry to USPSA, I would take the 5904 of the ones you list.
If bullseye, your 952 for Centerfire, 945 for Big Bore, and swap that nasty Shorty for a Model 41 in Smallbore.
 
Last edited:
Shutthefrontdoor said:
...

I can shoot the 4506 semi proficiency; I can do the same with the 4516, but the Shorty 45?

I’m all over the place.

So there it is, I confess I can’t hit the broad side of a barn with the Shorty.

…. Any insight?
?
Click to expand...

It's a belly gun, not a Target Masterpiece. Just get very familiar with drawing and manipulating it, and pay attention to what
18DAI above said. Then get a CCW and carry it.
 
Last edited:
Ameridaddy makes a good point about compact handguns. It's not that the compact S&W pistols are inherently inaccurate, in fact, many of S&W's first compact 9's (469/669) were actually more accurate that the full size 39, 59, x39, x59 pistols due to the short barrel and fixed barrel bushing. What does hinder accurate shooting with compact pistols is the short sight radius. With a long sight radius, small deviations in the sight picture are obvious, but with a short sight radius, small deviations are imperceptible, making it seem that the pistol is inaccurate.
 
Everyone talks about dry fire practice, and I will too but what do you learn from it aside from trigger control and sight alignment. Let me suggest some real practice which will provide all three items necessary for good dry fire practice. These being, sight alignment, trigger control, and instant results.

Mark on a wall at eyeball height a small dot not much bigger than a pencil point. That is your bullseye for practice. Now put a pencil (not longer then the barrel by 1/4 inch) in the barrel of your selective firearm and using the bullseye you put on the wall aim at the bullseye and fire the pencil into the wall. I use a small pad of paper to aim at and fire into, trying to create a single mark on the paper. It's harder than you might think. The muzzle of your firearm should not be more than two inches from the wall. You could also use a ballpoint pen, but be sure to use a pad of paper when you do as Mrs. Frontdoor will be right upset with you for marking up her wall.

This is great bullseye practice and can relate directly to any other style of competition as you will have practiced the fundamentals and become proficient with them. As for the other suggestions put the shorty aside until you have practiced enough with the full size guns to cut the size of your pencil point group to the smallest you can achieve.
 
Upon the advice given (and seriously, thank you everyone) I plan on dry fire exercises, breathing, and trigger work along with taking a step back and pulling out my .22 Victory before any really bad habits set in.

Merry Christmas everyone 😎

Oh, and I’ll post the range results!
 
Put shorty away and get a 945, or an m52, or a m41…

Seriously, I am fairly proficient, but I have this 3” m24 that I can only shoot 4” groups or worse at 25yds. My 8 3/8 629dx goes into half dollar size groups at 25yds.

It will just take practice…. Lots.
 
You mention that the shorty 45 is light and loud. It may be that you are just anticipating the recoil. I'd work on the 4506 of the bunch and dry fire a lot. When you get real good with the 4506, move on to the 4516 and get good with it. Then pick back up the shorty 45 and I bet you will have improved and the light and loud feelings will have subsided.

Good luck and don't give up and get rid of that shorty 45 (unless you have a hankering to sell it to me!).
 
I would advise watching Mas Ayoobs video "Wedge hold" on Youtube as well. It helps A LOT with shooting compact big bore pistols.

I have used it to help several students to improve and I use it myself. It works. Good luck! Regards 18DAI
 
in that you are in SW Michigan I would have to say it sounds like that Shorty 45 is defective and not very accurate. I normally would not take on a defective pistol like that, but just because I am such a nice guy... :)

really though, the smaller the pistol the harder it is to shoot accurately. It can be done, it just takes more work and attention to the fundamentals.
Keep working at the basics and accuracy will come.




If not I will give you a couple hundo for it...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

JRB416
My New Ed Brown 1911
Replies
9
Views
329
bananaman
bananaman
Fvernic
This may or may not have already been done
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Baxter6551
Baxter6551
S
M25 Classic 45 Colt
Replies
11
Views
1K
SlamFire
S
X
457 New To Me
Replies
10
Views
1K
GaryS
GaryS
D
Possibly defective M&P 9c?
Replies
9
Views
2K
Saudade
Saudade

Latest posts

Back
Top