Posted on 12/19/2016 9:11:11 AM PST by w1n1
The GI's of WWII Insisted the 1911's were Inaccurate!
There are numerous stories of GI’s returning from World War II complaining about the inaccuracy of the 1911A1, and since the 1911 can be one of the most accurate combat handguns why not put this myth to the test.
Luckily, great minds think a like Dave Royer and Larry Vicker put together a test to debunk this myth. So they pitted an actual WWII US .45 cal with WWII 45 ACP ammunition against Larry's custom Colt 1911. Doesn't sound fair but let's wait to see the results.
Results
Though there were some differences with the equipment on the custom Colt 1911 that Larry used, the accuracy of the weapon were similar for both 1911s. We can speculate that the "skill set just wasn't there for the soldiers that were using it". So if these soldiers were better trained on the 1911, the negative sentiments would have been different. See the footage here.
I think there are three reasons the GI 1911 was considered inaccurate.
1) Shooting handguns accurately is much harder than shooting rifles accurately.
2) Related to #1, the military doesn’t spend a lot of training time on pistol marksmanship. Of the skill soldiers need, it’s not that important.
3) The GI issue 1911 had *horrible* sights. The easiest accuracy upgrade that can be done to a GI issue 1911 is to put some decent sights on it.
That's a quarter behind that seven shot group.
For later.
L
If the sum total of your training with a weapon that you had probably never picked up or touched before...consisted of a 3-6 hour block of classroom instruction, followed by maybe...maybe a fifty round shoot at the range...what would you expect?
It was convenient to blame the inherent "loose" tolerances of the 1911 for a perceived gross inaccuracy of the weapon, but the "mental" tolerances of the shooter contributed more than anything.
Believe me, I speak from much, much experience...having conducted extensive training of troops on the 1911.
Nobody I trained ever failed to qualify with the weapon, using the US Army requirements and specifications.
Including the so-called "small-handed" weak females and a few males.
Exception being weak-hand shoot...which is difficult to overcome without a lot of training and shooting.
An accurate weapon is in the mind of the shooter as well as in the characteristics of the weapon.
I can shoot not less 45 out of 50 with any 1911 in existence and will make the claim that I can shoot 50 out of 50, if I have a ten-round familiarization with it.
It's all in the head.
A shooter with average talent can stay in the black all day at 25 meters. A well-tuned hardball .45 match pistol can stay within the 10-ring at 50 meters without a flier.
If you can't shoot a .45 well, you can't shoot.
Needed to learn to put some pressure on the trigger while aiming. Otherwise the jerk does make one think the aim is off. (But it was me.)
Like anything, it takes practice.
I carried a 1911 as a topside watch when the boomer was in port. I never fired it or removed it from its holster.
These are pointless. A trained shooter, able to squeeze off shots slowly, at a range under no pressure means NOTHING to a GI under fire or fighting for his life.
There is also another reason.
The 1911’s the army and Marine Corps used were not in the best shape. They were worn out. Loose slides will kill accuracy.
Your assessment of training time is on the money. Qualifying once a year for most soldiers and Marines doesn’t cut it. I went out and bought a Berretta M9 after I picked up SSgt and it became my TO weapon. Continuous practice is the only way to become and stay proficient.
Nailed It !
Oh Really???! Say that to my face at 50 yrds and I’ll put all 9 in your face said the Corpsman!
"I saids!"
lol
I have a Rock Island 1911a with "GI" sights. I am a decent shot with it at 15 yards wit it. Two of my sons are Absolutely Deadly with it at that range with it!
Get into a gun fight (hand gun) at up to 50 yards with them? You better be good because they would kill you!
Second round I qualified for this.
Maintained it for 23 years with every worn out .45 (and Baretta) they could hand me.
Both my daughter’s are small, 5’ 2”. I started them out on the 1911, both are excellent shots. Best gun in the world to learn to shoot with.
You are exactly right. Little time was spent with the .45, as opposed to days with the M-1, M-14, M-16.
Rifle shooting is very “natural.” Pistol shooting, of any kind, is much more difficult to do accurately unless one is thoroughly schooled in it.
The rifle (and the human body connected to it) is inherently more accurate than any pistol.
You nailed it. I grew up with a 1911 (was Dad’s and he left it to me) that was manufactured in the Springfield Armory in 1914. We used it in competition shoots and it is still accurate to this day. He committed a “sacrilege” by having it milled for adjustable sights and hand carved a set of grips to form fit his hand (now is perfect for mine). Only other mod was the common at the time trigger shoe. I still have the original magazines that are half blue and half natural metal. Never known it to misfire or jam and I trust it as a defense weapon.
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