First Impressions 2007
Written by Randy Mays
Photographed by Randy Mays (most of the time)
This page contains impressions and opinions about all sorts of guns and related topics.
West Yellowstone, Montana Saturday January 13, 2007 at -30 Degrees F
Island Park, Idaho A Few Miles South of West Yellowstone
Stock Ruger 22/45 and a 22/45 Receiver with a Tactical Solutions Upper Assembly
Somehow, with a lot of help from doctors
and nurses in Idaho Falls and Washington, DC, I managed to survive
2006. One of the lessons from last year was to find something
useful and enjoyable to do every day. All the pictures that
include snow were taken on Saturday January 13, 2007. The top
picture is from West Yellowstone, Montana, and the other two were taken
in Island Park, Idaho. The temperatures were way below zero, but
out here in the Rocky Mountain West people find outdoor activities
regardless of the temperatures. Friday night January 12, the
temperature in West Yellowstone dropped to -45 F.
The pistol shown on the left is the first acquisition of 2007. The Ruger 22/45 .22 semi-auto pistol is a classic and will be used to train new shooters. The pistol shown on the right is a modified 22/45 with a very lightweight upper section and threaded barrel. More will be written about the pistol on the left in the coming days, when it warms up enough around here to go to the range.
My experience last year with the Whitney Wolverine, and a couple of S&W .22 pistols reminded me that everyone should have a Ruger .22 semi-auto pistol in their collection. This is a reliable, easy to operate pistol that will last a long time. The controls on the Model 22/45 and the grip angle all contribute to the impression that this is a 1911 type pistol. Skills learned with the 22/45 are easy to transfer to a 1911 in any caliber.
Even though January is not yet over, I already have two more guns on order. One is the Arsenal "AK-47" style rifle with a folding stock. This particular model uses .223 ammunition rather than the traditional 7.62 by 39 mm round. AK type rifles have had problems with this caliber in the past, but this one has received good reviews and it worth a try. While the AR-15 type rifle has it's strong points, accuracy being one of the strongest, it is a bit fragile and can be affected by harsh environmental conditions. The AK design, on the other hand, has proven over many years to be reliable under the worst possible conditions a rifle may encounter.
The other gun on order is a SIGARMS Model 220 "Carry" SAS. I already have a Model 229 SAS in .357 SIG and .40 S&W calibers (same gun, two barrels), but appear to be gravitating back to the .45 ACP. The SAS model has no sharp edges, and features the "DAK" trigger.
After shooting so many different pistols and revolvers over the years, I guess I've settled on a preference for triggers that are simple to operate, triggers that work the same way every time. This is not a bad preference because it allows for purchasing new guns on a regular basis as long as the triggers are simple and consistent. Glocks fall into this category, along with the Springfield XD, FN (and Browning FNP), Kahr, and others. This year FN will have a new .45 and so will Kahr. The new Arsenal rifle has a two stage trigger, but even this manages to fit the criteria because it works the same way each time. The mantra of "slack out...press" works with the Glock and should work with the new AK model.
This preference does not take away the need to master other types of triggers, in particular the "Double Action/Single Action" setups on the Beretta and SIGs, and some variations of the HK USP model. Students, and we get a lot of beginning students in our classes, need to master whatever pistol they brought. One thing instructors need to be able to do is pick up any firearm, know how to operate it, and place a shot right in the center of the target the first time. That requires an understanding and appreciation of guns we might not prefer to use ourselves.
The SIG 220 Carry SAS has arrived. It has been too cold outdoors to try it out, but it appears to be a very nice pistol, well balanced. The proof is at the range, of course, and that will have to wait until the wind chill warnings have subsided.
It is now April 13, 2007. While other parts of the Web site have been updated, this part has not. I still haven't had a chance to try out the Taurus 1911 or the SIG "Carry" model. Today, in anticipation of an IPSC match tomorrow and a trip to Front Sight next month, I took a Walther P99 to the range along with a Glock 34, both with new night sights. The trip was unnecessary since both guns were sighted in after the sights were installed. It was still fun to shoot the Model 34 with the Ameriglo "Operator" night sights. The front sight has a white ring around the tritium vial, but the rear sight is all black (with the tritium inserts). This makes it easy to pick up the front sight. The width of the rear sight notch is more than normal, so sight alignment, for me anyway, is easier. It's hard to beat both the Walther (even if you don't watch James Bond movies) and the Glock 34 (if you want to win matches).
Glock 34 and Walther P99
The FN Police Model
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The pistol shown on the left is the first acquisition of 2007. The Ruger 22/45 .22 semi-auto pistol is a classic and will be used to train new shooters. The pistol shown on the right is a modified 22/45 with a very lightweight upper section and threaded barrel. More will be written about the pistol on the left in the coming days, when it warms up enough around here to go to the range.
My experience last year with the Whitney Wolverine, and a couple of S&W .22 pistols reminded me that everyone should have a Ruger .22 semi-auto pistol in their collection. This is a reliable, easy to operate pistol that will last a long time. The controls on the Model 22/45 and the grip angle all contribute to the impression that this is a 1911 type pistol. Skills learned with the 22/45 are easy to transfer to a 1911 in any caliber.
Even though January is not yet over, I already have two more guns on order. One is the Arsenal "AK-47" style rifle with a folding stock. This particular model uses .223 ammunition rather than the traditional 7.62 by 39 mm round. AK type rifles have had problems with this caliber in the past, but this one has received good reviews and it worth a try. While the AR-15 type rifle has it's strong points, accuracy being one of the strongest, it is a bit fragile and can be affected by harsh environmental conditions. The AK design, on the other hand, has proven over many years to be reliable under the worst possible conditions a rifle may encounter.
The other gun on order is a SIGARMS Model 220 "Carry" SAS. I already have a Model 229 SAS in .357 SIG and .40 S&W calibers (same gun, two barrels), but appear to be gravitating back to the .45 ACP. The SAS model has no sharp edges, and features the "DAK" trigger.
After shooting so many different pistols and revolvers over the years, I guess I've settled on a preference for triggers that are simple to operate, triggers that work the same way every time. This is not a bad preference because it allows for purchasing new guns on a regular basis as long as the triggers are simple and consistent. Glocks fall into this category, along with the Springfield XD, FN (and Browning FNP), Kahr, and others. This year FN will have a new .45 and so will Kahr. The new Arsenal rifle has a two stage trigger, but even this manages to fit the criteria because it works the same way each time. The mantra of "slack out...press" works with the Glock and should work with the new AK model.
This preference does not take away the need to master other types of triggers, in particular the "Double Action/Single Action" setups on the Beretta and SIGs, and some variations of the HK USP model. Students, and we get a lot of beginning students in our classes, need to master whatever pistol they brought. One thing instructors need to be able to do is pick up any firearm, know how to operate it, and place a shot right in the center of the target the first time. That requires an understanding and appreciation of guns we might not prefer to use ourselves.
The SIG 220 Carry SAS has arrived. It has been too cold outdoors to try it out, but it appears to be a very nice pistol, well balanced. The proof is at the range, of course, and that will have to wait until the wind chill warnings have subsided.
It is now April 13, 2007. While other parts of the Web site have been updated, this part has not. I still haven't had a chance to try out the Taurus 1911 or the SIG "Carry" model. Today, in anticipation of an IPSC match tomorrow and a trip to Front Sight next month, I took a Walther P99 to the range along with a Glock 34, both with new night sights. The trip was unnecessary since both guns were sighted in after the sights were installed. It was still fun to shoot the Model 34 with the Ameriglo "Operator" night sights. The front sight has a white ring around the tritium vial, but the rear sight is all black (with the tritium inserts). This makes it easy to pick up the front sight. The width of the rear sight notch is more than normal, so sight alignment, for me anyway, is easier. It's hard to beat both the Walther (even if you don't watch James Bond movies) and the Glock 34 (if you want to win matches).
Glock 34 and Walther P99
Today's IPSC match in Idaho Falls was
tailor made for the Glock 34, including a stage I didn't fire that, as
luck would have it, was thrown out because it was taking too long for
the squads to complete the stage. The other stages were ok,
and I didn't have all that many missed shots, and did have some
decent and, who knows, maybe even competitive, times.
One of the local gun stores is located on the right hand side of the road on the way back in to town from the range, so I stopped to see what was new. Needless to say, because there is a picture of shotgun below these words, I had to try out a new shotgun. This time it was the FN Police Model.
One of the local gun stores is located on the right hand side of the road on the way back in to town from the range, so I stopped to see what was new. Needless to say, because there is a picture of shotgun below these words, I had to try out a new shotgun. This time it was the FN Police Model.
The FN Police Model
Gee whiz, it looks like a Remington 870,
right? Well, sort of. The slide release is behind the
trigger guard, and the safety is on the trigger guard. I like the
slide release in this location because it's easier to operate than the
slide release on the Remington 870, and the FN slide release is very
similar to the one on the Mossberg guns. This is very valuable
during a "shell exchange." This exchange occurs when you have one
type of shell in the chamber and you need to have something else - so
with this type of gun (pump action), you load the correct round into
the magazine, release the slide (release the action), and rack the
slide. The round that was not appropriate for the shot is
ejected, and the round needed is now in the chamber. Bingo, the
"shell exchange" is complete.
I had a chance to fire the new FN this afternoon, firing tactical (low recoil) slugs at 50 meters. The gun has rifle sights and those were very close to the mark right out of the box. This is a very good shotgun.
Benelli Super Nova
I had a chance to fire the new FN this afternoon, firing tactical (low recoil) slugs at 50 meters. The gun has rifle sights and those were very close to the mark right out of the box. This is a very good shotgun.
Benelli Super Nova
Although I have had the Benelli Super
Nova for awhile, some physical problems prevented me from shooting it
until today (4-22-07). I was at the range taking a look at the
two pistols to be described below and decided to fire a few slugs from
the Benelli at 50 meters. It is a very nice shooting, low recoil
shotgun that I think I like a lot. The only problem I ran into is
that there is still a plug in the magazine tube so I was limited to
loading a total of 3 rounds in the gun at a time. When I got back
to the Worldwide Hq of RandyMays.com, I ordered a magazine extension
from Cabela's.
Kahr TP45 (lower) and Taurus 1911 (upper) and El Cheapo .45 Ammunition
Kahr TP45 (lower) and Taurus 1911 (upper) and El Cheapo .45 Ammunition
Target
Used for Breaking in New Guns. No attempts at accuracy, just
"flash sight pictures."
The new Kahr TP45 has one apparent, but
very useful purpose - to dispatch .45 caliber bullets from an easy to
conceal pistol with a 4" barrel. As with all new Kahrs, you need
to break in the gun by shooting a lot of rounds. I had a few
problems with, of all things, Winchester .45 ACP in the white boxes -
the ones that don't cost too much at Wal Mart. I had no problems
with MagTech .45 ACP at today's session. Since this brand is
available at our local sporting goods store in 250 round boxes, I think
I'll stick with MagTech.
I fired nothing but MagTech in the Taurus to get it broken in, and it ran fine. I am used to a wider thumb safety on my Colt .38 Super 1911 so I got a nice cut on my thumb from the slide cycling, but it wasn't in an area where there was a nerve, unlike paper cuts on fingers that can be very, very annoying. For some reason this particular Taurus will not drop Wilson Combat magazines, but works ok with Colt and, no surprise, Taurus made magazines. Curiosity satisfied, I'm ready to sell or trade the Taurus to someone who has smaller hands and who wants a very good deal on a decent .45. I plan to keep the Kahr and even qualify with it for my Nevada permit. The best holster I've found for the Kahr so far is a G-Code paddle holster made for the Glock 17. The irony here is that the holster is a better fit for the Kahr than for the Glock. Go figure.
Maybe the Best 9 mm Pistol in the World - SIG P-210
I fired nothing but MagTech in the Taurus to get it broken in, and it ran fine. I am used to a wider thumb safety on my Colt .38 Super 1911 so I got a nice cut on my thumb from the slide cycling, but it wasn't in an area where there was a nerve, unlike paper cuts on fingers that can be very, very annoying. For some reason this particular Taurus will not drop Wilson Combat magazines, but works ok with Colt and, no surprise, Taurus made magazines. Curiosity satisfied, I'm ready to sell or trade the Taurus to someone who has smaller hands and who wants a very good deal on a decent .45. I plan to keep the Kahr and even qualify with it for my Nevada permit. The best holster I've found for the Kahr so far is a G-Code paddle holster made for the Glock 17. The irony here is that the holster is a better fit for the Kahr than for the Glock. Go figure.
Maybe the Best 9 mm Pistol in the World - SIG P-210
The SIG P-210 is one of the most famous
and maybe the most accurate service pistol in the world. Designed
for the Swiss Army and adopted by Denmark and special German military
units, the P-210 commands very high prices. The model shown in
the picture started out as a Danish army gun, and has had a Nill
beavertail and Nill grips added. The basic P-210 "bites" the
shooter and that's the reason for the addition of the beavertail.
The magazine release is buried under the wooden grips and on the bottom
of the stock. This is not a very practical gun for practical
shooting (IPSC and IDPA), but it is Very Accurate and fun to shoot.
Maybe the Best Affordable 9 mm Pistol in the World - CZ-75B Single Action
Maybe the Best Affordable 9 mm Pistol in the World - CZ-75B Single Action
This old CZ-75 B single action model
keeps showing up in these Web pages at the darndest times. Today,
May 12, 2007, between breakfast at Bubba's in Idaho Falls, and the
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal event (both huge community
activities for a small town), we had a 6 stage IPSC classifier. I
went out a couple of days ago to practice for this and chose the CZ-75B
to use in the match - over the many Glocks and other guns mentioned on
this Web site over the years. The CZ-75 is reliable, accurate,
and easy to shoot. Because it has a steel frame, the recoil is
not a factor. Using a proper Weaver stance with isometric tension
on the gun, the recoil bounces the gun up and then right back
down. Frank Jakubowski and his digital camera caught the gun in
recoil before I could get a second sight picture. If you look
close, some of the barrel is still out in front of the slide, so the
action has not cycled all the way. This is high speed action
photography to say the least.
The CZ-75 and SIG P-210 have two things in common. The slide runs inside of the frame. This is considered Good in terms of accuracy. The CZ-75 has a lot of small parts inside, while other guns like the Glock and Kahr have far fewer parts. In a former life I learned that the KGB officers who guarded the Soviet leaders preferred the CZ-75 pistol to anything made in Russia. Like other specialized units, they get to choose their firearms and the CZ-75 design has an excellent reputation.
This leads to a note about the latest acquisitions. First is the EAA Witness Match in .38 Super. Here is a picture, and please note that this gun also has the slide running inside the frame. It is correct to describe this pistol as a CZ-75 "clone."
EAA Witness Match .38 Super
The CZ-75 and SIG P-210 have two things in common. The slide runs inside of the frame. This is considered Good in terms of accuracy. The CZ-75 has a lot of small parts inside, while other guns like the Glock and Kahr have far fewer parts. In a former life I learned that the KGB officers who guarded the Soviet leaders preferred the CZ-75 pistol to anything made in Russia. Like other specialized units, they get to choose their firearms and the CZ-75 design has an excellent reputation.
This leads to a note about the latest acquisitions. First is the EAA Witness Match in .38 Super. Here is a picture, and please note that this gun also has the slide running inside the frame. It is correct to describe this pistol as a CZ-75 "clone."
EAA Witness Match .38 Super
Many years ago in my first ever IPSC
match, I had a Witness .45. This was a double action first shot
then single action for subsequent shots (a "DA/SA"). After the
match I had the pistol converted to single action only (like the
current "Match" model), and later sold the pistol. When EAA came
out with these news models, I remembered the good attributes and got
another one. Finding a holster appeared to be a real challenge,
but lo and behold, Blade-Tech sells a belt holster for the EAA Witness
Match. Even with the expected several weeks' delay inherent in
ordering from Blade-Tech, this is still going to be a good gun and
holster combination. The EAA Witness Match is Big compared to the
CZ-75, but not quite as big as CZ's own large IPSC gun. The EAA
gun is about as big as I can handle, but that presents a good challenge.
The other new gun is a rifle, the Arsenal SLR-106FR. Here is a picture.
Arsenal SLR-106
The other new gun is a rifle, the Arsenal SLR-106FR. Here is a picture.
Arsenal SLR-106
Most "AK-47" type rifles are chambered
in 7.72 by 39 mm caliber, but the 106 is 5.56 mm (.223). The
"106FR" model has a muzzle break and a side mount for optics, and a
folding stock. I'm not sure if I'll need the folding stock for
any reason other than making the rifle fit in a car a little easier,
and there's not much call for that in eastern Idaho (bear spray being
the self-defense weapon of choice in these here parts...). For a
fun rifle that's useful (accurate) out to 200 meters, this one looks to
be a winner.
Notes from the weekend of June 2-3, 2007. Saturday we had an NRA First Steps Pistol Orientation. That's a very basic class. We always do a quick demonstration of the various competitive sports like IDPA and IPSC. I brought a Walther P99 QA model for the demos, and it worked all right, but I guess I will always prefer the Glock 17 for that sort of activity.
Sunday afternoon provided an opportunity to try the two .45s that came into the collection in recent months. These are the Sigarms P220 SAS Carry model and the Springfield XD .45 Compact.
Sigarms and Springfield .45 ACP Pistols
Notes from the weekend of June 2-3, 2007. Saturday we had an NRA First Steps Pistol Orientation. That's a very basic class. We always do a quick demonstration of the various competitive sports like IDPA and IPSC. I brought a Walther P99 QA model for the demos, and it worked all right, but I guess I will always prefer the Glock 17 for that sort of activity.
Sunday afternoon provided an opportunity to try the two .45s that came into the collection in recent months. These are the Sigarms P220 SAS Carry model and the Springfield XD .45 Compact.
Sigarms and Springfield .45 ACP Pistols
The XD had been sent away for a "make it
like a Glock" trigger job, so I was anxious to see how that
worked. The trigger felt pretty good, but the real proof was at
the range. The P220 has the "DAK" trigger, the same as the P229
.357 SIG pistol I've used before, and the same trigger that's being
specified for guns used by several federal agencies.
I started with Winchester "white box" (Wal Mart) ammunition, with 230 grain bullets. Shots from both guns went into ragged holes in the targets. I expect anything from SIG to be accurate. I was surprised at the results from the XD. It is accurate also.
The big surprise came when I switched to the Winchester 185 grain bullets. The recoil was much less, and both guns were a lot of fun to shoot. This is a good sign because many defensive loads use the 185 grain bullets. As expected, neither gun malfunctioned. I am very pleased with both, and would recommend either to someone who wants a very good pistol. The difference between an XD with a good trigger job and an XD with the factory trigger is night and day.
CZ-75B .40 S&W Single Action
I started with Winchester "white box" (Wal Mart) ammunition, with 230 grain bullets. Shots from both guns went into ragged holes in the targets. I expect anything from SIG to be accurate. I was surprised at the results from the XD. It is accurate also.
The big surprise came when I switched to the Winchester 185 grain bullets. The recoil was much less, and both guns were a lot of fun to shoot. This is a good sign because many defensive loads use the 185 grain bullets. As expected, neither gun malfunctioned. I am very pleased with both, and would recommend either to someone who wants a very good pistol. The difference between an XD with a good trigger job and an XD with the factory trigger is night and day.
CZ-75B .40 S&W Single Action
The CZ-75 pistol design is just a
classic no matter how you look at it. This page begins with a
photo of a CZ-75 single action 9 mm pistol in use. I'm curious
what a .40 S&W version will be like and there's just one good way
to find out. The new CZ-75B .40 S&W single action pistol
arrived today. When a couple of additional magazines show up,
I'll take all the parts and pieces to the range and try it out.
It fits the same holster as the 9 mm version. The CZ-75 is such a
strong mechanical design that I expect the .40 S&W rounds won't
bother it at all. Now, to be innovative, I think I'll write to
Jarvis and see if the can make a .357 SIG barrel for this pistol, and
whether they think that's a safe idea.
Bad news about the Arsenal SLR-106 .223 rifle... When I got around to getting serious about taking it to the range, I noticed that the trigger pivot pin slips out of the side of the frame. In rifle lingo this is "bad." So, not being able to figure out an easy fix for this, I called Impact Guns in Ogden, Utah and will send the gun back to them. Impact has a "Lifetime Warranty" on guns that they sell and that's a good deal sometimes. The CZ-75B shown above came from Impact Guns. Their Internet order desk was very helpful in obtaining this model for me.
It's July already, and July 20 to be exact. The annual "Single Stack Classic" match in Missoula is over and I came in something like 15th out of 41 shooters using the Colt .38 Super 1911 pistol. That pistol is shot maybe twice a year, and last year's score was a little bit better. Maybe I should practice with it a few more times.
Good news about the bad news SLR-106. The guys at Impact Guns fixed it. A spring was out of place. Still have not had a chance to shoot the gun, but it appears to be ok.
There are now two EAA Witness pistols to evaluate, one on .38 Super shown above and an almost identical 10 mm version. It will be fun to take these to the range one day soon, along with an old standard gun that I thought I'd never have again, a Sig 220.
Bad news about the Arsenal SLR-106 .223 rifle... When I got around to getting serious about taking it to the range, I noticed that the trigger pivot pin slips out of the side of the frame. In rifle lingo this is "bad." So, not being able to figure out an easy fix for this, I called Impact Guns in Ogden, Utah and will send the gun back to them. Impact has a "Lifetime Warranty" on guns that they sell and that's a good deal sometimes. The CZ-75B shown above came from Impact Guns. Their Internet order desk was very helpful in obtaining this model for me.
It's July already, and July 20 to be exact. The annual "Single Stack Classic" match in Missoula is over and I came in something like 15th out of 41 shooters using the Colt .38 Super 1911 pistol. That pistol is shot maybe twice a year, and last year's score was a little bit better. Maybe I should practice with it a few more times.
Good news about the bad news SLR-106. The guys at Impact Guns fixed it. A spring was out of place. Still have not had a chance to shoot the gun, but it appears to be ok.
There are now two EAA Witness pistols to evaluate, one on .38 Super shown above and an almost identical 10 mm version. It will be fun to take these to the range one day soon, along with an old standard gun that I thought I'd never have again, a Sig 220.
The newer Sigs have rails for "weapon
mounted lights, but the rest of the gun is about the same. I
thought about getting the new Elite model, but while the Elite adds
some cool
features like a beavertail, a "Short Reset Trigger," and maybe a night
sight, the 220 is ok as is. With a Blackhawk holster, this is a
nice setup.
Most of the time when you get a new pistol from Kahr, any problems will go away after the initial 200 round break-in exercise. The TP45 continued to have failures to eject well past 200 rounds, so it went back to the factory for service. The gun came back within a week or so with a note that said the recoil spring and extractor had been replaced. I wrote some e-mail to the fellow who gave me the initial return authorization and asked if they were having problems with the intial design's recoil spring and extractor. His reply said, almost verbatim, "we replaced the recoil spring and extractor." It kind of makes you wonder if anyone can read English these days, because he provided information I already had and answered a question I did not ask. I can be somewhat sympathetic when this sort of thing happens in a conversation with an English speaking computer support specialist sitting halfway around the world, but when English is, or appears to be, someone's first language, then a strange answer to a simple question is even more puzzling.
By the way, is it just me or does anyone else wonder why Glock didn't reduce the grip frame size on the Model 21 a few years ago instead of coming up with a new .45 cartridge that would fit in a smaller grip frame size gun? We are all interested in new technology and new ways of doing things, but if you have a need, and in some cases, an urgent need to launch a .45 caliber projectile, then guns like the 1911 design or the more "modern" Sig 220 pictured above will do that with a minimum of fuss (and additional expense).
More pontificating follows... Many of my fellow NRA instructors (and some of us have taught at other places) don't make a big deal out of gun handling. We just do it. In watching the members of a recent beginner level NRA class handling guns, prior to receiving some helpful tips on doing it right from their line coaches, I was, to coin a phrase, alarmed and dismayed by the way people were juggling guns around and taking all sorts of extra time to do simple things - like loading and unloading a pistol or revolver. When you attend a class at Front Sight, and I hope this is true at other shooting schools, a lot of time is spent up front just making sure people can operate the gun before any shots are fired. I have reached a Profound Conclusion: we need to spend more time on this simple stuff, on the very basic basics like keeping fingers off triggers unless the sights are on an identified target and a conscious decision has been made to fire the gun. Everything we teach from the very beginning should mirror what may someday need to be done in a hurry under pressure so that the student doesn't know there is another, slower, more complicated way of doing the same thing.
And now back to our regular program... Due to an illness, I've not updated this page in awhile, but today (October 13, 2007) I need to mention a "first impression" not based on shooting a pistol, but based on handling one at a local gun store. I've already bought and sold a 9 mm S&W M&P pistol this year, after sending it to Bowie Tactical for a trigger job. Some people like light triggers, but I don't so I sold the gun to someone who does. There's nothing wrong with the stock trigger on the M&P. I just couldn't help but tinker with something that should have been left alone.
S&W M&P .45
Today I saw an all black version of the pistol shown here. Notice the thumb safety. I wondered what it would be like to hold this pistol with a "thumbs high" grip, the grip you wind up with in a good Weaver stance, and "stack" both thumbs on the safety. Well, my first impression is that this is doable. With the other safety devices on the M&P, there's no real need for the thumb safety. It was added to make the gun attractive to a potential military contract that never came about. Several other gun manufacturers came up with similar .45s, and now some of these are being marketed to civilians. I like the M&P with the thumb safety, because even though the trigger works, more or less, like a Glock or Springfield XD trigger, if you also shoot 1911 type pistols you can operate the M&P the same way. This leads to the creation of important memory cells in the brain that may work the same way, regardless of the gun in hand, during stress.
The M&P has three interchangeable stock ("grip") adapters, and I like the largest one. I think I will like the largest one even more with a .45. When this illness thing is over, I may explore the M&P .45 a little more. There are a couple of other new pistols that need a look also, including the CZ 40 P.
CZ 40 P
Ruger SR9
Most of the time when you get a new pistol from Kahr, any problems will go away after the initial 200 round break-in exercise. The TP45 continued to have failures to eject well past 200 rounds, so it went back to the factory for service. The gun came back within a week or so with a note that said the recoil spring and extractor had been replaced. I wrote some e-mail to the fellow who gave me the initial return authorization and asked if they were having problems with the intial design's recoil spring and extractor. His reply said, almost verbatim, "we replaced the recoil spring and extractor." It kind of makes you wonder if anyone can read English these days, because he provided information I already had and answered a question I did not ask. I can be somewhat sympathetic when this sort of thing happens in a conversation with an English speaking computer support specialist sitting halfway around the world, but when English is, or appears to be, someone's first language, then a strange answer to a simple question is even more puzzling.
By the way, is it just me or does anyone else wonder why Glock didn't reduce the grip frame size on the Model 21 a few years ago instead of coming up with a new .45 cartridge that would fit in a smaller grip frame size gun? We are all interested in new technology and new ways of doing things, but if you have a need, and in some cases, an urgent need to launch a .45 caliber projectile, then guns like the 1911 design or the more "modern" Sig 220 pictured above will do that with a minimum of fuss (and additional expense).
More pontificating follows... Many of my fellow NRA instructors (and some of us have taught at other places) don't make a big deal out of gun handling. We just do it. In watching the members of a recent beginner level NRA class handling guns, prior to receiving some helpful tips on doing it right from their line coaches, I was, to coin a phrase, alarmed and dismayed by the way people were juggling guns around and taking all sorts of extra time to do simple things - like loading and unloading a pistol or revolver. When you attend a class at Front Sight, and I hope this is true at other shooting schools, a lot of time is spent up front just making sure people can operate the gun before any shots are fired. I have reached a Profound Conclusion: we need to spend more time on this simple stuff, on the very basic basics like keeping fingers off triggers unless the sights are on an identified target and a conscious decision has been made to fire the gun. Everything we teach from the very beginning should mirror what may someday need to be done in a hurry under pressure so that the student doesn't know there is another, slower, more complicated way of doing the same thing.
And now back to our regular program... Due to an illness, I've not updated this page in awhile, but today (October 13, 2007) I need to mention a "first impression" not based on shooting a pistol, but based on handling one at a local gun store. I've already bought and sold a 9 mm S&W M&P pistol this year, after sending it to Bowie Tactical for a trigger job. Some people like light triggers, but I don't so I sold the gun to someone who does. There's nothing wrong with the stock trigger on the M&P. I just couldn't help but tinker with something that should have been left alone.
S&W M&P .45
Today I saw an all black version of the pistol shown here. Notice the thumb safety. I wondered what it would be like to hold this pistol with a "thumbs high" grip, the grip you wind up with in a good Weaver stance, and "stack" both thumbs on the safety. Well, my first impression is that this is doable. With the other safety devices on the M&P, there's no real need for the thumb safety. It was added to make the gun attractive to a potential military contract that never came about. Several other gun manufacturers came up with similar .45s, and now some of these are being marketed to civilians. I like the M&P with the thumb safety, because even though the trigger works, more or less, like a Glock or Springfield XD trigger, if you also shoot 1911 type pistols you can operate the M&P the same way. This leads to the creation of important memory cells in the brain that may work the same way, regardless of the gun in hand, during stress.
The M&P has three interchangeable stock ("grip") adapters, and I like the largest one. I think I will like the largest one even more with a .45. When this illness thing is over, I may explore the M&P .45 a little more. There are a couple of other new pistols that need a look also, including the CZ 40 P.
CZ 40 P
While I have a CZ 40P, I've not had a
chance to go to the range with it yet. It operates like a SIG
Sauer, because it has a de-cocker on the side and no external
safety. The initial double action trigger is heavy, but it works
ok. I'm not sure I'm going to keep this one, but was curious to
see how it works.
Ruger SR9
This is a brand new gun released the
week of October 15, 2007. Ruger has decided to enter the
"striker-fired" competion with Glock and S&W's M&P, and maybe
at a lower "street" price. The Ruger has an external 1911-like
thumb safety. My only concern is based on looking at the
trigger. It appears to be shorter in length, similar to the
trigger on the Kimber KPD striker fired pistol. I prefer the
longer triggers (longer physical lengh, not length of travel) on the
FNP pistols. If the trigger length on the Ruger pistol turns out
to be ok, and there's no way to tell until I can hold one in a store,
and the trigger reset is short and "definite," then I'd consider
getting an SR9 to use in training classes. Either way, it's
always nice to see a new pistol come on the market.
It's November 3 and I had a chance to see an SR9 in person at the local gun store today. It's a small pistol compared to their other models, much slimmer, and the stock ("grip") feels pretty good. It's not fair for me to compare other guns' triggers to the Springfield XD I had worked on so that it feels like a Glock, because I'm sure other people don't like (because they don't understand) Glock triggers and this is a personal preference. Even so, a smooth trigger press and short reset are good no matter what the brand, and the SR9 had a better trigger than I had been led to expect.
The magazine release works ok, but the thumb safety is...well...I think I would not use it. Unless I can "ride" it when both thumbs, as I do with the 1911, then I'm going to wind up with my grip lower anyway, and might as well just leave it off. I had been concerned about the actual physical length of the trigger itself, but my first impression is that it's ok.
For the money, this is a not a bad gun. I haven't shot it yet, but the sights look ok and Rugers tend to be pretty accurate. I'll be curious if this gun scales up to .45 ACP, because it would make a nice .45 pistol.
FN FNP9s
It's November 3 and I had a chance to see an SR9 in person at the local gun store today. It's a small pistol compared to their other models, much slimmer, and the stock ("grip") feels pretty good. It's not fair for me to compare other guns' triggers to the Springfield XD I had worked on so that it feels like a Glock, because I'm sure other people don't like (because they don't understand) Glock triggers and this is a personal preference. Even so, a smooth trigger press and short reset are good no matter what the brand, and the SR9 had a better trigger than I had been led to expect.
The magazine release works ok, but the thumb safety is...well...I think I would not use it. Unless I can "ride" it when both thumbs, as I do with the 1911, then I'm going to wind up with my grip lower anyway, and might as well just leave it off. I had been concerned about the actual physical length of the trigger itself, but my first impression is that it's ok.
For the money, this is a not a bad gun. I haven't shot it yet, but the sights look ok and Rugers tend to be pretty accurate. I'll be curious if this gun scales up to .45 ACP, because it would make a nice .45 pistol.
FN FNP9s
Awhile back, Browning came out with a
PRO-9 pistol. This is a DA/SA (double action first shot, single
action subsequent shots) pistol made by FN in South Carolina and sold
under the Browning name. These were not expensive so I got
one. When I took it to the range, I had trouble firing it single
action. Any pressure on the de-cocker lever kept the gun from
firing. This is not good for someone who shoots single action
pistols with the thumb resting on the thumb safety (as I do). I
was alarmed and dismayed, of course, and ordered an FN FNP9 in Double
Action Only. That's the gun in the top of the picture. Note
there is no de-cocking lever or thumb safety. This is a typical
law enforcement pistol with a heavy double action trigger press, ok,
but still not what I was looking for. Thanks to some help from
the guys on the FN Forum I
learned that there is a Single Action Only version of the FNP 9.
That's the pistol in the bottom of the picture. It arrived today
(November 7, 2007). The trigger press and reset are great, both
short and positive. I have not fired the SAO version yet, but
don't expect any surprises.
Notice in the picture that the backstrap on the pistol can be curved or straight. Straight mimics the 1911, and I'm not sure if I'm going to make that change to the SAO model or not. It will take a range session to determine that. The DAO version is a very good "carry gun," because you have to work at pressing the trigger. The SAO looks to be a lot of fun for IPSC and IDPA just because it has a very nice single action trigger and fires 9 mm ammunition. These pistols come with THREE magazines. I don't use the term "hi cap" anymore, but these magazines hold more than 10 rounds.
There are not a lot of holsters for the FNP - yet. The Uncle Mike's holster for the Springfield XD fits the gun pretty well, and I understand that Blade-Tech, as usual, can make a holster for this pistol.
I have had a fondness for the FN pistols since the FortyNine came on the market. Unlike some manufacturers, FN did a good job of making the DAO model work as it should (no fake misleading reset point in the trigger mechanism).
S&W M&P 340 .357 Magnum and S&W 642 .38 Special +P Revolvers
SIG P250
Notice in the picture that the backstrap on the pistol can be curved or straight. Straight mimics the 1911, and I'm not sure if I'm going to make that change to the SAO model or not. It will take a range session to determine that. The DAO version is a very good "carry gun," because you have to work at pressing the trigger. The SAO looks to be a lot of fun for IPSC and IDPA just because it has a very nice single action trigger and fires 9 mm ammunition. These pistols come with THREE magazines. I don't use the term "hi cap" anymore, but these magazines hold more than 10 rounds.
There are not a lot of holsters for the FNP - yet. The Uncle Mike's holster for the Springfield XD fits the gun pretty well, and I understand that Blade-Tech, as usual, can make a holster for this pistol.
I have had a fondness for the FN pistols since the FortyNine came on the market. Unlike some manufacturers, FN did a good job of making the DAO model work as it should (no fake misleading reset point in the trigger mechanism).
S&W M&P 340 .357 Magnum and S&W 642 .38 Special +P Revolvers
The Smith and Wesson "J" Frame, also
known as the "Chief's Special" and the "Sub Nose," has been around for
a long time - so long in fact that S&W is now marketing the older
models to the nostalgia market. For those of us whose nostalgia
impulses are limited to the Colt 1911 series, the newer "J" Frames are
a lot more attractive. Shown above are two examples of new
production J Frames. The gun on the left is a very lightweight 5
shot .357 Magnum revolver and the one on the right is also lightweight
and spec'd for .38 Special +P ammunition. In the real world, and
in my opinion (and the two are identical as far as I am concerned), the
best ammunition for the J Frames is the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain .38
Special +P. This ammunition was designed for optimum performance
from the short barrels. Firing a .357 Magnum cartridge in a very
lightweight revolver can be Painful, and while you might not notice
that under stress it can be very annoying during practice.
Besides, the time between aimed shots is less with the .38
Special. These guns are for back-up use, but a lot of people
carry them all the time along with a 5 round speedloader and feel as
"armed" as the guys whose pictures appear in the gun magazines carrying
very uncomfortable and much larger guns.
The 340 has a tritium front sight that's easy to see. The 642 has a front sight the same color as the rest of the metal, so it's very hard to see. At close range this doesn't matter, of course, but in low light the tritium does offer an advantage.
The 340 has a tritium front sight that's easy to see. The 642 has a front sight the same color as the rest of the metal, so it's very hard to see. At close range this doesn't matter, of course, but in low light the tritium does offer an advantage.
SIG P250
I don't know how many time I think I've
stumbled onto the ideal pistol, and I may have stumbled again.
The SIG P250 was designed for use in Europe and went through a lot of
modifications and testing so that the basic pistol could be adapted to
the 9 mm, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 ACP oriented U.S.
market. The first P250 came into our local Sportsman's Warehouse
the other day and I couldn't resist getting it. The ergonomics
are great, and the trigger is a like a Kahr or a revolver (with a
Miculek spring kit installed) - very light Double Action Only with a
full length reset. Ok, if you look up the page a bit you'll find
great praise for the modified Springfield XD trigger that feels like a
Glock and for the very short movement of the FNP Single Action Only
trigger. That's fine; I like those pistols, too. The P250
came with night sights. It's about the same size as a Glock 19,
but doesn't fit a Glock holster. I think it's bigger than it
needs to be for a 9 mm, but the entire frame is interchangeable with
other sizes, and so is the trigger!
I've been looking at the Ruger SR9 and when the trigger "breaks," the entire gun moves just a tiny bit. You can overcome some of this with a good isometric grip, but it's still annoying. The FNP, the XD, and the P250 just sit there, sights not moving, when the gun goes "click." That's a very good indication of what it will do when it goes "bang" also.
Too bad nobody makes holsters for the P250 yet, but it won't be long. This is a great pistol that should be a big seller. Later on, it will be possible to change the barrel and the frame and the magazine and get other calibers, because the "pistol" (the part with the serial number) is "just" the action itself. The rest of the gun is spare parts that do not require forms to be filled out when purchasing. What a great idea.
Would I take the P250 to war instead of the Glock 19? No, not yet, but my "first impressions" are very positive.
Still the First Choice
I've been looking at the Ruger SR9 and when the trigger "breaks," the entire gun moves just a tiny bit. You can overcome some of this with a good isometric grip, but it's still annoying. The FNP, the XD, and the P250 just sit there, sights not moving, when the gun goes "click." That's a very good indication of what it will do when it goes "bang" also.
Too bad nobody makes holsters for the P250 yet, but it won't be long. This is a great pistol that should be a big seller. Later on, it will be possible to change the barrel and the frame and the magazine and get other calibers, because the "pistol" (the part with the serial number) is "just" the action itself. The rest of the gun is spare parts that do not require forms to be filled out when purchasing. What a great idea.
Would I take the P250 to war instead of the Glock 19? No, not yet, but my "first impressions" are very positive.
Still the First Choice
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