How would I get the most bullseye accuracy out of a stock RIA 1911 9mm?

[DRYHUMOR]

A gold bead front and U shaped rear might help. The sights would need to be set correctly for height, with means a good smith.

 

[Canuck-IL]

It is very doubtful a stock RIA is going to have a truly properly fit barrel. The front barrel bushing is only part of the equation. Lower lug fitment, rear barrel/hood clearance, a properly fit lower link, headspace, and the barrel bushing are the holy grails of 1911 accuracy.

As the owner of a few custom BE guns, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the fit on several Rock Island pistols that I've handled or shot.

My guess is your going to get 2.5-3.0" groups at 25 yards. If so, this will not allow you to be competitive in true BE competition. A professionally set-up 1911/9mm can do an inch or less at 50 yards.

First you walk, then you run ... he's not trying to "be competitive" at 50 yards right off the bat - he hasn't seriously tried 25 yards yet!! If the gun from a Ransom or decent bag rest can outshoot him for now, that's more than good enough to get out there and practice.
/B

 

[baryon]

Just remember that a movement of 1mm at the muzzle when the slide is in battery translates into about 6.5" group at 25 yards.

 

[Magnumite]

Canuck-IL has a good handle on this. I would take his advice, you can tell he shoots bullseye. I used to shoot bullseye a good bit, but now its mainly a practice discipline for me...and it is a good discipline.

On the vision issues, if the optics seem out of line with your short term goals and you have a decent shooting gun, and the RIA Tactical I think has high visibility sights. So you need pair of perscription shooting glasses.
Tell your favorite optometrist you need glasses for competitive shooting and need to focus at the distance from your eye to about 6 inches past the forward edge of your fist when your arm is straight out to the side (front sight distance). Better still, have a family member use a tape measure to measure from your eye to the front sight when you are holding an unloaded pistol in your shooting position. Then tell the optometrist this distance to correct your vision. I see one optometrist who will let me bring in a slide to focus on at the determined distance when in my shooting form. I found out he works with several shooters. Anyway, your optometrist will help you out ... or go left wing and say..."no, I can't do that". If they go commie on you, find another optometrist. I did.

 

[Captain33036]

Hi Guys

Thank you for the great advice. Yes, indeed, I am just trying to out shoot an old friend right now and continue to practice for my personal best. I am quite comfortable with this side arm and have shot quite a number of different ones over the years. Nothing serious though.

The idea is to have this one be a platform for moving forward, seeing what works to increase accuracy and precision...for as small a sum of $ as can be.

The first decision point is/was: is this the right platform. I think it can be and no one in the thread has suggested moving on to another one. It's inherent accuracy seems to be quite good. This really was the larger question...stay with the RIA 1911 or get something else (but cannot get anything too expensive).

The next decision point was the upgrades. Barrel, fit, sights, trigger. Great advice...seems that the gun is fine as is and needs nothing except perhaps doing the trigger. I took a critical look at the trigger again and it seems as creep free as any but a high end one could be. I thought it was mushy...but that was a misperception.

Finally: sights/vision. This really is perhaps greatest challenge (we agree on practice and experience...but those are not platform related issues...they are a given). Great advice on glasses. I use +2.0 diopter reading glasses and have +1.0, +1.25 and +1.5 for shooting. Still experimenting with those...but finding that seeing the sights most clearly...is most helpful.

SO.....for distance shooting...25 yards...I have a suspicion that my challenge is going to be ...seeing the target clearly enough. At +1.5 or 1.25 diopters...it will not be too fuzzy...but a bit. SO..... I am still thinking Red Dot.

And as far as Red Dots...had thought about going as cheap as possible...getting a simple grip mount and using the cheap one I have. Is there any utility in doing that at all..or ...would it be simply inevitable to go to a mini red dot, slide mounted? I am thinking I would have to go the latter route....but wonder if the grip mount would be serviceable?

Thanks again...fun discussion.

[Note to clarify...the less than 1mm play was with the slide locked back..and pic was two separate groups of 5 rounds each. Thanks]

 

[Canuck-IL]

The grip mount is cheap enough to try but you will upgrade pretty soon. I wouldn't skimp on the dot - get an Ultra-Dot 1 inch with their lifetime warranty ... they're about 120-130, buy once, cry once.

Astigmatism is an issue with vision correction and it can fool with the shape of the dot. When I shoot in evening matches I almost never see a round dot - more of an amoeba or comet with a pronounced tail. That's after 8-10 hours on a computer. Conversely, with early morning matches I get a clear, round dot. Eye fatigue + astigmatism is tough on precision shooting. I still work at irons for HP shooting and had an optometrist write a script for safety glasses with a point of focus at the front sight. As Magnumite suggested, I brought in the actual guns (if the eye doc is picky you can mount the dot or a set of irons on a block of wood that mimics the appropriate grip and eye-front sight distance) and worked from those measurements.

The target can be left blurry but, as you noted, not too blurry. It can take a few trips to the doc to get it straightened out. I used a bunch of the cheap Walgreen's reading glasses to get close but the script safety glasses have the advantage of allowing a different lens in the off eye so I can actually use my scope. If you don't now, you should also practice with both eyes open... makes quite a difference in eye fatigue over the course of a match. I still need to use one of the flip-down white blinders to partially obscure the image in the off-eye ... for rifle shooting where the flip blinder is in the way, I just put a layer of opaque scotch tape over the top half of the off eye lens.

Just more to think about ...
/B

 

[Captain33036]

Hi Bryan

Thanks, your input is very helpful.

I think you are right about the mini red dot. One of the things that makes it ..somewhat... cost effective is that these can be used on any gun by just changing the base plate. And....since the RIA has a Novak type rear sight, I could use that base and then use it if I get any other 1911 with Novak sights. I think that is a good call.

And...would make it more fun, really. It would be nice to really be able to see both the sight image and target clearly...much less eye fatigue and ....more fun.

I may still look into custom shooting glasses, though I do feel quite good using the low diopter reading glasses. I could always knock out one lens...easy to try on a cheap pair (you can always find them at the dollar store)...or use different power contacts.


Thanks

John

 

[HighExpert]

I would suggest you not spend ANY money on it. It is basically a very limited platform. If you want a dedicated centerfire gun, buy a S&W Mod 52. My 52 will consistently shoot 1.3" at 50yds and usually better if there is no wind. You will never get your gun to shoot anywhere close to that without investing 2-3 times the money in it that a Mod 52 would cost. You will need a good .22 and a really good .45 to compete in Bullseye. I use Ultradot 30mm red dots on all my guns and have been very happy with them for over a decade. They will definitely help your aging eyes and will allow you to use a center point of aim instead of the 6 o'clock hold that most use with open sights. Mine are all slide mounted and have held up with no problems. You will have to bump your powder weight a little in order to comensate for the added slide weight. Hope this helps and your 9mm would make a great bedside gun.