Obviously with my newly received VA Non-Res CHP, I had to go to the gun range, and I did that last night with a good friend of mine, Foxtrot Uniform (he told me to use it, I swear). With the cost of ammo lately, and now with my permit in hand, I wanted to closely examine if I had the best arm for carry duty.
The first handgun I ever purchased was a 1911. Something nostalgic and American about John Browning's design with your bugger hook on the bang switch, but as much as I love that arm, I never intend upon it to be much more than a pleasure / target gun. So that necessitated picking up an 4" service model XD in .40 from a friend who was selling it about 4 years ago. I've shot that gun plenty, but then the little birdy in my ear (read AKFan) has been telling me to ditch it for a 9mm Glock. Having shot an old G21 when buying my 1911, I about wanted to shoot myself with the Glock 21. I've been thinking of switching to an XD(m) in 9mm to compensate for the soon to be departure of the .40. I listened to AKFan and test drove a Glock last night.
After renting a Ruger LCR (Foxtrot Uniform wanted to give that one a run), a Glock 17 fourth gen, and a Beretta 92 (the latter two in 9mm), I have to say I'm done with the .40 game. High pressure rounds mean recoil and harder second shot placements. I used to be the kind of shooter who preferred more power at the expensive of sensible control, but as usual, AKFan has finally trained me to become a believer of doing things the "right way" versus the marginally harder way.
The G17 was a dream to shoot for a service model and could quite potentially become my future carry gun. Good, consistent trigger squeeze, with good break meant my first shot was dead center X on a full sized target. Follow up shots for the 13 rounds at a reasonable combat pace yielded 2 "fliers" in the 8 ring at 10 yards. I know I don't shoot often enough, but, the last time I shot my .40, I didn't have nearly that consistency. Maybe part of it was me, but not having the gun practically jump out of your hands every shot means you can focus on pulling the trigger and getting back on target rather than re-grasping the gun.
The 92 was also nice. If I had to pick a handgun in 9mm to strap up for "duty" operation, I would seriously consider this one. Being a DA/SA means the first shot (unless cocked and locked) is long and heavy, but it was consistently smooth as well. In SA mode, the trigger was like a chem class glass rod snapping in two with short travel and reset. I contend it may be better than my 1911. If I didn't have to compromise and stick to a budget, there is the chance I'd be buying two new guns, but I don't have a need to be that spendy at the moment.
In summary, a night at the range with a buddy is always good therapy. Especially when you get to come home to a loving wife who wants to go out to dinner afterwords with her friends. Hat tip to a gem of a chick who even ponied up for dinner and congrats to her and her new fiance on their engagement.
Until next slice of life, keep the "front towards enemy."
Showing posts with label Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Training. Show all posts
06 August 2010
Slice of Life: Day at the Range with Family
Ahhhhhhhh. A Saturday with range time! It has been far to long since I got to put a few live rounds down range, and I was able to accomplish that with a visit to my parents this past Saturday. Their undisclosed location has enough land where I can safely and legally practice with my arms and without the hassle of having to deal with unwanted company. It even affords me an opportunity to hangout with my old man and sometimes teach him a thing or two.
Don't get that wrong however, he still kicks my ass every time we hit the skeet range or sporting clays course, but that's not a surprise. He was practically raised with a goose gun in his hand and the older I get, the more I appreciate that about him. It also means that his wing shooting is more developed and more refined than mine will ever hope to be. Then again, he has hundreds of hours in the field compared to me and repetition is what this sport is all about. Drill it until you can't get it wrong.
I have been hoping that my wife, who isn't the biggest fan of arms, would become more interested in learning about shooting. If nothing else, it would do some good for her to be able to dismiss some of the emotional and irrational fears that she has with firearms. Both my dad and I were unsuccessful in attempting to get her to shoot a .22 pistol on Saturday, but that means I will just have to try harder. Death by 1,000 paper cuts! (Love you dear).
Obviously, the cost of ammo these days is one of the prohibiting factors in lack of arms training, and it showed on Saturday. While, I've been doing some aiming drills with my AK from time to time in the basement, I need to remember to do the same with my pistols. I was all over the place with my XD in 40 cal from 25 yards. Moving in to get on to the paper yielded slightly better results. I like that arm, but I hate it's trigger. Long, hard, and heavy with a squishy break are not the best attributes for a trigger of any kind, especially on a handgun. I have been toying around with trading or selling it for either a Glock, XDm, or perhaps a Rugger SR9, all in the more affordable to shoot 9x19mm.
Compared to that XD, a 1911's trigger is a dream. Unfortunately, at $.40 a round, I tend to keep that ammo pretty well built up in reserve for the "emergency" stash. The solution? A .22 LR conversion slide, barrel and magazine. Just need to get spousal approval for such a purchase (along with the other items on the non-discussed "dream" list). Of course, dear readers, if you're so gracious in gratuities, I have no problem accepting donations for the "gear" pile (shameless plug, not obligatory, more tongue in cheek of course).
I did get to test out two new pieces of gear. My Eagle Industries AK47 6 Mag Chest Rig and my tactical sling. Lessons learned on gear? K.I.S.S. The sling works for it's intended function, but it has too much "fluff" on it with the quick detach and a three point design. It got caught up on the chest rig going from ready to aim nearly every time. No matter which way I sliced it, it always seemed to be in the way on the forward hand guard when using it from a "two" point position. Single point didn't have that issue, but there was still the strap running the length of the rifle which seemed to be in the way. I'm not ready to throw it away yet, but I will keep my options open. Perhaps after I take an AK carbine course and get some instructor feedback, I might look for a better sling option.
The chest rig on the other hand, while over kill for the range, worked great. I hauled 4 full mags with me and used the other two indexes for pistol mags. No rattle, no clang, and loaded out with 4 mags it fits better without all the weight from 6 mags of Combloc ammo. Now, to train up and go to a three gun shoot (yes, I know, it's overkill for that too). AK report? It's an AK. I goes bang. It makes holes in targets and from 30+ yards (or my personal, don't come much closer distance if SHTF) I am affective with it by keeping full mags inside a pie plate (except for a few fliers). I can even say I have better groups with it than my father can manage. I'm trying to work on him to get one, but he just doesn't appreciate fine Soviet engineering. Made to function with cheap ammo and anyone who has gotten blood in their vodka stream.
All of that stuff said, the shooter needs to do his job and shoot more. Which is one thing I have resolved to do over the rest of the year. Considering I have an indoor range not that far from my residence, I will start to make it a regular trip a couple times a month for handgun practice. Additionally, every time I make a trip to my parents and the weather is half way decent, I'll take the AK along. While affective from SHTF range, I want to work on up to 100+ yard distances, for the "just in case" set of skills. Perhaps I need to find an Appleseed shoot?
Was it a good day? Yes it was, and I really need to do that more frequently!
Don't get that wrong however, he still kicks my ass every time we hit the skeet range or sporting clays course, but that's not a surprise. He was practically raised with a goose gun in his hand and the older I get, the more I appreciate that about him. It also means that his wing shooting is more developed and more refined than mine will ever hope to be. Then again, he has hundreds of hours in the field compared to me and repetition is what this sport is all about. Drill it until you can't get it wrong.
I have been hoping that my wife, who isn't the biggest fan of arms, would become more interested in learning about shooting. If nothing else, it would do some good for her to be able to dismiss some of the emotional and irrational fears that she has with firearms. Both my dad and I were unsuccessful in attempting to get her to shoot a .22 pistol on Saturday, but that means I will just have to try harder. Death by 1,000 paper cuts! (Love you dear).
Obviously, the cost of ammo these days is one of the prohibiting factors in lack of arms training, and it showed on Saturday. While, I've been doing some aiming drills with my AK from time to time in the basement, I need to remember to do the same with my pistols. I was all over the place with my XD in 40 cal from 25 yards. Moving in to get on to the paper yielded slightly better results. I like that arm, but I hate it's trigger. Long, hard, and heavy with a squishy break are not the best attributes for a trigger of any kind, especially on a handgun. I have been toying around with trading or selling it for either a Glock, XDm, or perhaps a Rugger SR9, all in the more affordable to shoot 9x19mm.
Compared to that XD, a 1911's trigger is a dream. Unfortunately, at $.40 a round, I tend to keep that ammo pretty well built up in reserve for the "emergency" stash. The solution? A .22 LR conversion slide, barrel and magazine. Just need to get spousal approval for such a purchase (along with the other items on the non-discussed "dream" list). Of course, dear readers, if you're so gracious in gratuities, I have no problem accepting donations for the "gear" pile (shameless plug, not obligatory, more tongue in cheek of course).
I did get to test out two new pieces of gear. My Eagle Industries AK47 6 Mag Chest Rig and my tactical sling. Lessons learned on gear? K.I.S.S. The sling works for it's intended function, but it has too much "fluff" on it with the quick detach and a three point design. It got caught up on the chest rig going from ready to aim nearly every time. No matter which way I sliced it, it always seemed to be in the way on the forward hand guard when using it from a "two" point position. Single point didn't have that issue, but there was still the strap running the length of the rifle which seemed to be in the way. I'm not ready to throw it away yet, but I will keep my options open. Perhaps after I take an AK carbine course and get some instructor feedback, I might look for a better sling option.
The chest rig on the other hand, while over kill for the range, worked great. I hauled 4 full mags with me and used the other two indexes for pistol mags. No rattle, no clang, and loaded out with 4 mags it fits better without all the weight from 6 mags of Combloc ammo. Now, to train up and go to a three gun shoot (yes, I know, it's overkill for that too). AK report? It's an AK. I goes bang. It makes holes in targets and from 30+ yards (or my personal, don't come much closer distance if SHTF) I am affective with it by keeping full mags inside a pie plate (except for a few fliers). I can even say I have better groups with it than my father can manage. I'm trying to work on him to get one, but he just doesn't appreciate fine Soviet engineering. Made to function with cheap ammo and anyone who has gotten blood in their vodka stream.
All of that stuff said, the shooter needs to do his job and shoot more. Which is one thing I have resolved to do over the rest of the year. Considering I have an indoor range not that far from my residence, I will start to make it a regular trip a couple times a month for handgun practice. Additionally, every time I make a trip to my parents and the weather is half way decent, I'll take the AK along. While affective from SHTF range, I want to work on up to 100+ yard distances, for the "just in case" set of skills. Perhaps I need to find an Appleseed shoot?
Was it a good day? Yes it was, and I really need to do that more frequently!
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