My new 1911A1. Got some questions for you guys.

[Jack Lawman]

Originally Posted by Terry Tiell

...make sure you stand with both of your feet shoulders width apart and make sure both feet are even meaning neither one is ahead of the other. Hold with both arms straight out so your 2 arms and shoulders form a tri-angle also try slightly bending at the knees and slightly leaning forward...

This is known as the "Isosceles Stance"... a great defensive stance and my preferred stance. Bending the knees slightly is critical. It puts your weight on the balls of your feet keeping you ready to move quickly and surefootedly as the situation dictates. This is not the preferred stance for bullseye type competition, but many will shoot as well out of this stance as any other. More on the subject:
http://www.americanrifleman.org/arti...ooting-stance/

Originally Posted by Terry Tiell

Low left according to Mike is from jerking the trigger.

In my experience, shots hitting low left are primarily the result of anticipating recoil. I guess you can say shooters jerk the trigger when they anticipate. Randomly mix live rounds with dummy rounds in a magazine. Some go boom, some go click. You can watch people (righties) push their pistol down and to the left as they anticipate recoil, but only get he click. It's a good exercise. You have mastered it when the gun goes click and the pistol remains dead still. Now you are focusing, pressing the trigger, and following through.

Here's a picture I lifted off the internet and cannot credit the source. It's a good representation of focusing on the front sight: