I'm looking at XDM and XDS in .40 and 9mm. There seems to be bang for the buck here ( :eusa_think:) and I wouldn't mind a little opinionated input from guys I respect who might know. Sigs and Glocks are out of my budget cap.
Thoughts? I plan on making the purchase by the end of February.
XDMs are pretty nice, I went with S&W M&Ps, but I hear nothing but good about the new XDs. You looking for a compact carry or full size?
Carry. Grip is integral, I have nerve damage in my spine making my right hand slightly "palsied".
A friend offered to sell me a stainless S&W model 627 in .357 mag for a couple hunnert less than retail, but besides it still being a couple hunnert over my cap the grip just felt like something I'd have to spend all my focus on...
(http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore/SmWesson2/upload/images/firearms/detail_md/170133_01_md.jpg)
The XDM is used and in the more stopping .40 cal, the XDS is new but in 9mm, and ALL the local shooters I know here are aginit for the "tiny" bore, though 9mm might be the heaviest stocked ammo in this area...aside from .223.
I've got another friend with a sweet, petite .380 that fits in a billfold holster, REALLY nice, but it's a SIG and he wants me to mortgage the house for it...duh...
So you like the M&P? I just priced a couple, they look like candidates, though I'll have to hold one to know.
If you are having grip issues, stay with the 9mm, 40s can be punishing to shoot depending on the pistol. And with the bonded HP ammo, most of the main semi auto calibers are equally effective.
For M&Ps, the shield is probably the one. I have a Kahr CW9 I carry most days which is economical as well, about the same size as a Shield. Having said that, I have a M&P9c, which is the compact double stack mag version of the full size, and also takes full size mags. But for carry the slim single stack pistols are just much more easier to deal with.
Revelovers are OK, but the smaller grip will make it even harder to handle especially if you go with a 357mag.
This is the kid of info I thought I'd find in these hallowed threads, though you got me thinking I need to do some more shopping. I haven't shot either of the Springfields yet, but from the surprise I got from the .357 I can just imagine the .40 popping right out of my hand!
My last handgun was an H&R revolver in .22mag. Real accurate, fun to shoot, but the 6 inch barrel took the concealed out of concealed carry.
There's a shop about a hundred miles east of here with a basement range, and they let customers test fire some of their guns, mostly the used ones. Their prices suck but it might be worth the trip to test my grip against caliber.
Thanks for the input on HP ammo. NO ONE I've chatted with mentioned this. I'll look into a Shield too...
Heh, its not that bad, but the difference between a 40 and 9mm is pretty considerable on some pistols. I shot a Glock 23 which is in 40, thought it felt pretty snappy, although I had Sig P229 in 40 that was not that bad, but its a heavy gun compared to any of the carry pistols. The worst was a subcompact XD, before the XDM refinements and trigger improvement. Hard to hold being small, long gritty trigger and pretty harsh recoil, it was one you shot a mag through and called it good. Anything light and small will bring more felt recoil.
My top 3 for value, i.e. bang for buck in carry pistols is the XDS, Sheild and CW9. The next bargain in budget pistols is probably the Taurus PT111 G2 which is only 200 bucks online right now, though I have never shot one, a lot people seem to praise them. As always its best to try anything before you buy if possible, unless you are from the school of hard knocks like me and be the guinea pig because you don't know anyone or have a place that rents close enough by.
Hey, don't be knocking that guinea pig title, you do fair well by it, and by the less-than-novice like myself. I owned a snubby .38 and a nice S&W 1911 .45 in 1982, and I don't even remember what either were like to shoot. I was 23. I haven't done much of anything with handguns besides the .22mag since.
The winds are changing here. The gubmint and LSS are shoving Syrians down our throats just 40 miles west, the vato gangs are takin over too (my sister had to move out of the fargo area recently because of the constant siren noise), crime rates and home invasions are exploding now, and it's time that we have constant access. If the price is right I plan to arm Terrin too.
Stetto, I'm not an expert by any means, but take a look at one of these:
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bersa-thunder-380-semiautomatic-pistol
https://bersa.eagleimportsinc.com/bersa/firearms/
My daughters both have the .380 and they love them. I have their military / police 9mm and I share the girl's opinion. Prices are not bad, they've been extremely reliable for us and it's a well made weapon.
I have always heard Bersas are a great pistol too. They must be because you don't see a lot of used ones for sale. The problem is there is so much choice in pistols now, and the striker fired double action pistols are easier to train on and get used to.
Thanks for the links Jaime, I'll take a look.
My head's spinning from choices. Thought I had a unit nailed and now I'm hitting websites and growing myself a list. For Terrins birthday I'm taking her over to Scheels and Reedsport and spend some time shopping. I'd like to pick a pair of identical pistols, that way it'll be easier for her to be familiar with mine as well.
Reeds has a Kahr CW9 in .380 for $319. I've read that the Kahr trigger is the envy of the industry, you concur Buckaroo?
Its OK, its really smooth in takeup with a clean break, but the reset is pretty long. Which I know you know exactly what the hell I am talking about. :icon_razz:
A short reset is favored by people doing rapid shots as it allows the trigger finger to move much less and helps keep the gun on target, but its a pretty good trigger even so, and easy to get used to. I still would go with 9mm, if for nothing else its cheaper to shoot, and you will want to shoot as much as possible to get confident and comfortable.
That's what I did, I took Vicki out to shoot, and she got along with my Kahr so I picked one up for her so we could share mags as well as be familiar with what I am carrying most of the time. Some women may have trouble with working the slide on semi autos, but mostly its just a practice issue.
Yeah, 9mm is pretty much what I've set "sights" on, something I wouldn't be afraid to shoot when I'm old and feeble. And you're right about the ammo, stores around here that not only haven't seen any .22lr in years have eliminated the shelf space and expanded 9mm and .223 to where the choices with those two cals are almost as bad/wonderful as the selection of compact carry semis out there.
10-4 on reset. I watched a couple reviews on yootoob and a guy was comparing a Shield against a CM9, both in 9mm, in a rapid fire test. He was slightly faster on the S&W, but he liked the break better on the Kahr and his opinion was that the trigger pull on the CM9 was worth getting use to. The difference between the CM9 and CW9, according to him, was 3/4" of overall length, which he said made the CM harder to holster. Price wise, no difference.
Reed's has the basement shooting range, Scheels is closer and I've done bidnezz with them before. They both boast expansive selection, but I've never experienced such fantastic customer service as I have at Scheels. Cabela's will never see my happy face again. I had a sales guy hang with me for three hours the day I bought the Benelli.
...I just don't want to wind up like a few of my friends who went through 5 or more guns before they found the "right" one....
I don't know what they feel like for you, but the CM and similar subcompact frames are just not big enough for me to grip right, I had at one time thought they were great, because you can pocket carry, but if I can't hit anything with it, its kind of pointless. So I stepped one size into the CW9 / shield size and get along much better. But you may like the sub compacts more, CM9, Ruger LC9S etc. But ideally since you are not gong to have several, maybe get one that's nice to shoot, whcih the subcompact tend not to be, so you don't run a mag or 2 through and call it good because its starting to get uncomfortable.
Jaime, I did check those websites, I'll be looking into the bersas too. Looks like a full day or more of fun and frolic at the local armor-er..... :devil:
Quote from: Onepoint on January 31, 2016, 02:25:07 PM
I don't know what they feel like for you, but the CM and similar subcompact frames are just not big enough for me to grip right, I had at one time thought they were great, because you can pocket carry, but if I can't hit anything with it, its kind of pointless. So I stepped one size into the CW9 / shield size and get along much better. But you may like the sub compacts more, CM9, Ruger LC9S etc. But ideally since you are not gong to have several, maybe get one that's nice to shoot, whcih the subcompact tend not to be, so you don't run a mag or 2 through and call it good because its starting to get uncomfortable.
Yah, logged and noted. I may well wind up with something not so concealable. Concealed has never really been the primary goal, compact, yes. We'll see how it goes.
If I could afford an arsenal I guess I'd spend less time shopping and researching, and I do have a small but effective half dozen long guns (but for that Win. 1897 16 ga. chambered in 2 7/16"). I sold the .22 mag to a meat guy I do bidnezz with, he uses .22 mag to put down hogs, and we be hurting for more portable personal protection. Not a bigot, but the world is turning itself up in volatility and we do live within the borders of one of the more drug ridden and dangerous Indian reservations.
Nope the world is a dangerous place, even out here in the boonies, and you can only really depend on yourself if it comes to it. So arming your self is only reasonable. Fortunately lots of choices and many are budget friendly. Everyone who has done it says training is the next best money spent. I think they are probably right, though I have not done any.
Here in Minnesotakstan one must take course to open carry or concealed, concealed necessitating money, time and additional cowtowing to the bureaucracy.
We'll do what it takes. Makes me want to scream like a little girl, but we comply...for now.
Yeah, unfortunately gubbmint gets their pint of blood, and makes you kiss the ring to exercise your rights. We have constitutional carry here, so we can carry both open and concealed without any worries about permission, but going into CO or NE I have to watch myself, though I will carry concealed once in while anyway.
Went to the lgs today and I gotta say the Shield felt better than everything. This shop was sparse on selection, they claimed they couldn't even get the Taurus, Bersas or Kel Tecs.
Their prices were restrictive too ($400 for the Shield, which seems to be $50 more than elsewhere). I'll get a hand on the others when we get to Scheels on Monday. That Shield felt really nice in my hand, can't wait to shoot one!
I found a local guy certified to train for CC, and have learned there's only one test to pass, open carry, concealed, Utah, Florida and Arizona permits are all just additional fees. Depends on what you want/need and are willing to pay.
It did surprise me that a box of .40 shells is $5 more than 9mm in this shop...
Around here 40s are just a little less the 45ACP. But I can find 9mm for 25-30 cents a round normally. I like the M&Ps, like i said if I didn't have the Kahrs already, I would probably be pretty serious about a shield for carry.
I forgot to mention that I tried the Glock G43 and a Kimber 9mm (I forget the model but it didn't matter, at $1200+ I just wanted to know what the hubbub is with them).
The gun guy was telling me how the G43 was going to be compact carry firearm of the year. It had almost exactly the same weight and balance of the Shield, but the grip felt naked, where the Shield felt nice and secure in my hand. He did say he sold more Shields in 9mm than any other handgun in the store, part of which is because he can't get the pt111 or any Kel Tecs in any numbers. Those few he gets are in-the-door/out-the-door.
For the money the Shield beat the Glock. We decided that Terrin will acquire her gun after carry training, she can hold and shoot the Shield and a number of other choices of brand and caliber, if she likes the Shield best then so be it.
Of course we aren't going to Fargo til tomorrow (shhh! Terrins 50th!), and a bersa, taurus or kel tec may just take the lead over the m&p.
I doubt it though. The Shield really tripped my, uh...trigger... :disturbed:
Oh, and I got my first looky-look at that RIP ammo. Looks really nasty, but at over $2.60 a round I think I'll pass...
Heh, yeah bonded HPs work fine, and are plenty expensive enough anyway .
We're supposed to be in Fargo right now, shopping and celebrating a birthday. We are not.
Terrin woke up this morning with a searing pain in her side. We've spent the entire day at the clinic, having tests done and talking to surgeons. They "think" It's appendicitis, but not sure, so we're waiting for the C-T scan to commence. It's likely we'll be shuttled to a hospital later to have something removed.
Hell of a 50th.....I'll let you guys know how this ends....
:eusa_wall: Man I hated that, if that's what it is, I think mine was about 3 years ago or so.
Ok, they just took her in for an appendectomy, I came home to clean up any dog pee (wasn't any) and get a sammich. My 15 year old daughter forgot her phone today so still doesn't know.
This wasn't how I planned this....
Prayers for Terrin, My appendix ruptured just before my 49th birthday, was in the hospital for a solid week and off work for 9 weeks waiting for the incision to heal as they had to leave it open. Billie Sue changed the wet to dry packing twice a day for the entire time.
Wow Carl, I can't even imagine watching Terrin go through that. Yesterday was bad enough without the bursting part. We spent hours and hours for tests to get done and get analyzed and get consulted on, the ONLY symptom she showed was the pain. No fever, no high white blood count, no nothing.
But she went through the operation really well, came out of recovery around 9 last night. Phentenol (sp?) became a fast friend pretty quickly.
...And her nurse is a gun gal. She agrees on the Shield, but sez I will kick myself if I don't find a Bersa Thunder 9 to get my hooks around. She's a big fan of double stacks, I guess. :eusa_clap:
So I got the kids rounded up and found our driveway about midnight. What a day. You only turn 50 the one time, dontcha? Gawd I hope so!
Mine I had started a fever about noon or so, started to feel like I had stomach cramp, started throwing up and then passed out on the way out of the bathroom by 9pm, and finally I was told I was going to the hospital. I got lucky, mine ruptured as they removed it but they caught it all before it contaminated my abdominal area, I was up and around in a few days. Still sucks though, surgery is never fun and the worst was trying to get and keep down their dye so they could take pictures, uhg. :-X
Hope Terrin heals up quick, and you and the kids get over the scare soon as well. :)
I suppose there are always other days to buy guns.
Man! You guys make me so glad we changed our plans the other day.
They set her free last night about 9. She did recover quickly. We both got the first consecutive 8+hours of sleep in recent memory.
...But we won't be going shopping for sidearm any time soon. Our ObamaScare deductible, if it doesn't bankrupt us over this special birthday celebration, has made any of those kinds of purchases impossible for now. Timing is everything.
I'm just glad to have the girl home, safe and sound...
Yes, aren't you glad you are taken care of by our benevolent big brother? I had no insurance at all when mine came out, you know the thing they say that will bankrupt us and leave us homeless? The hospital helped us knocking down what we owed overall and helped arrange a loan to make payments, and they were 1/4 of what I am forced to pay a month, or I should say everyone else is forced to subsidize my obamacare plan, that if I used it I would have to get another loan to pay the deductible and co pay. Go big Brother. :disgust:
None of that means anything when you worrying about someone hurting though, glad shes mending.
Thanks Eric.
We haven't got a bill yet, but we know the "copay" amount and our deductible will force us to take out a loan and we'll be investing in one of the quality ramen manufacturers for a time. Of course our next need to use our wonderful Affordable Care policy will be on or shortly after 1-01-17.
My loving mother made the comment yesterday, "Oh, everything will be so much better once Bernie is elected"...
:eek5: :icon_evil: :disturbed: :eusa_doh: :disgust:
I guess I don't have to explain why, but Terrin wants me to go ahead with the M&P Shield.
Had to have it ordered though, all they had in stock had the thumb safety.
Is a Heimdall holster a good investment? I've seen enough hip leather to make my eyes glaze over.
Also, I need a little advice on ammo: The price on a 1000 rounds of Tula 115 gr. fmj seems pretty nice right now, but the reviews are all over the place. Am I better off with the domestic range/target stuff?
To be honest, I am not in love with HHH holsters. For one they are made of lighter weight Kydex than a lot of them are, which is not such bad thing in some cases. I went with a Ranger rig for one of the Kahrs, But they forgot to send along some of the hardware, and when I asked about it, they promised to send it and forgot again. You would think they would make sure for one of the admins of the place that gives them free advertising they would make sure to get it right, but I guess not. Combine that with fairly long wait time and I think you can find better service elsewhere.
I guess it depends on what holster you are looking at, the concealed IWB or an all leather holster. Those hybrid holsters that have the kydex and leather back are the most comfy for In the Waist Band carry.
Tula, or any steel cased ammo is not going to be as consistent as brass cased stuff. It also wears a little more on the gun. For me, I have about an average accuracy that I don't notice that much difference between a lot ammo, but I like the brass cased stuff a little better, it may pay to shoot some of what ever 1st before you buy a thousand rounds of it, it may be problematic in any particular gun. I have always had good luck with Winchester white box and blazer. I have shot some wolf and tula too in most of them, I find it is slightly under powered compared to the brass stuff, so point of impact is a little lower at distance.
Good thoughts, thanks.
I picked up a 50 lot of HPR 115gr hollow point and a 20 lot of Winchester PDX1 Defender in 147gr, just to see the flip difference in the rounds. I imagine I'll be testing others before finding MY defensive round.
That Defender ammo, at $22 per 20 is likely not gonna be it.
I use hornady critical defense or critical duty, or some federal JHP. Most of that stuff lasts forever because I shoot about a mag or 2 worth to see where its hitting and call it good, and do most of the shooting with cheap 115gr FMJ.
Funny, the selection at my ammo store of choice has everything Hornady but pistol rounds. I was specifically looking for it, wound up opting to try the HPR. The box reminded me of The Hornady box I guess, but I don't know what these are going to shoot like. I ONLY shoot Hornady through my .243, though I do have different bullet weights. I even have a box of Superformance Varmint in 58gr, mostly because I haven't broke down and shopped a varmint gun yet....
I also like that Hornady is ready for the zombies.... :disturbed:
The guitar player in the band has an excavation/oil business in Texas, where he just got back from on Saturday. His foreman down there has an NFA permit and knows how to use it. Chuck brought back video of the guy's gun vault and I got to see it last night....Made me think of you, Honcho. This guy has every firearm I'd ever heard of, and most of the ones I havent, including a Mauser "broom handle" and (he claimed) every small arm used by every country in WWII, all operational. This video was akin to a tour through a museum/gun lovers candy store.
T and I are going to Texas in April, some small suburb of Austin, and I'll be within about a hunnert miles from him. I'm going to ask to visit..... :devil:
If you want a plastic holster check out the Blackhawk serpa's. http://www.blackhawk.com/products/holsters-duty-gear.aspx They are awesome for weapon retention. Love mine, for that fact, but don't like the plastic feel. For a very nice leather holster check out DM Bullard Leather. http://dmbullardleather.com/
Those Bullard holsters do look nice, Carl. Definitely a candidate!
We're (Terrin, me and the Puddinface) are going to be in Pflugerville for a three or four day weekend after tax season. Any Texas Fubarians within hollerin distance of there, maybe we hook up for some grins?
Stetto, you'll only be a few hours from me here in the swamp. Email or call me when you get here and let me know where you'll be, so we can make the trip out to hook up with you. Or, we have a spare bedroom and you're more than welcome to bunk with us if you need a place to stay.
Cool beans Jaime. Terrin has a new client in Pflugerville (ain't the Internet a marvel?!?), and these folks have a guest house and the amenities, but the offer is greatly appreciated! It's way past time we met up!
Are y'all driving or flying? I am only about 3 hours from the Austin area. Would definitely like to meet up, if your driving you will probably come relatively close on your way down.
Carl, we're arguing the flying/driving issue now. 3×800 in plane fare is a lot more than the gas to drive a rental down.
Developing...
Could this be the start of a mini-Fubar get together?
Stetto, my days off are Sunday Monday and Tuesday every week. Add Wednesday every other week. There could be unforeseen circumstances preventing me from working if you happen to be there on any other days.... :icon_mrgreen:
We're about an hour and a half out of Austin.
Hey Roger! I kinda wondered what it takes to weedle you out of the low growth! Come to think of it, you and Jaime are the only current Texas contingent Fubarians I haven't met yet (What ever did happen to Ray anyhow?).
It'd be neat to coordinate something. I am spot-welded to Terrin's itinerary, but my last trip to Texas was muchos anos ago....
S&W took too long delivering the gun I ordered so I went up the road and gave Reeds Outdoors my business.
Got the Shield in 9mm, saved enough on the deal for 200 rounds of Fed American Eagle FMJ.
Have gone through about 24 rounds and I gotta say she be sweet!! I am definitely a noob with the slide, it's got a stout spring.
Cool, I like my m&ps, if I run across the right deal I will get a shield as well, even though I don't need it.
It was sad, I was home, burning through the 3rd mag, my local guy called and left a message that his shipment came in an he would match the Reeds offer. I felt really guilty, even tho it was S&W's fault for delaying. I'm going to go in and buy a belt holster from him tomorrow and promise to deal with him on a Ruger SR22 when the time comes. The local guys are good to me, I just got impatient with the shipping end.
PuddinFace took a shot. She liked it. That's all I need to know...there's a break in with mags and slider springs, but this li'l handgun is the BOMB!
Oh, and as far as 115 gr fmj goes you can shoot all day without a Charlie horse in your wrist. Frisco was right, it's the big one, only concealable... :notworthy:
Yep, basically they are the same size as the CW9 Kahr which handle really well.
Now for the learning curve. I've put 100+ rounds through the gun since Friday, and I'm not even going to embarrass myself by posting pics. Low-left, almost every shot, and trying to compensate makes it worse the other way. Before I made the fatal mistake of trying to adjust the sights I talked to one who might know. Come to find out that a LOT of people know. Apparently my trigger technique needs work.
In the meantime I have a few paper plates that don't even look like they've been used for target practice. And that was at only 15 yards....
Probably pushing, but could be grip too. Make sure its unloaded, and practice dry firing to train out any anticipation of recoil. Remember to focus on the front sight after you line everything up.
These charts are not always the answer, but sometimes may help, just don't start over thinking it or you will chase the rabbit. When you grip it right, it should be aligned with the forearm and point straight forward.
(http://www.fubarhill.com/temp/pistol%20shooting%20chart.jpg)
Thanks, the chart tells me much.
I also have a thumb on my left hand that is all too slowly learning where not to be when a semi-auto cycles. :eusa_doh:
Oh yeah, I picked up a holster. Not thrilled with it, it is a Blackhawk, but a nylon, not a Serpa. I will say that holster holds the Shield like Daddy's little girl! It just doesn't release the gun very fast.
I see that Azle Texas is a suburb of Ft. Worth, and we will be driving very close to there, and DM Bullard Leather is in AZLE.
Karma? You tell me...
I would reconsider Serpa or any of the kind that have a button activated by the trigger finger. Several people have shot themselves drawing. I do have a couple from RSR, the ones that come with some Sigs that have that kind of mechanism, but the button is farther to center, and when you draw it puts your finger higher on the frame not close to the trigger. Still better holster with mechanical locks are the Safariland GLS or ALS holsters that use other fingers to unlock. But for belt holsters its still hard to beat leather. Since I carry a lot open, I use a Desantis dual carry a lot. Not the most comfy to carry in the waist band, but it can be and its nice and solid on the belt and its very reasonable. If I carried concealed more, I would probably go with one of the Hybrids.
Are you shooting right handed? When you grip, both thumbs should be pointing forward on the frame.
Yah, right handed, but my left thumb tends to migrate to lay on top of my right, just high enough to skin myself. This has happened twice in 150 shots, too many if only once.
I am trying to generate some good firing habits, dry firing does a lot to get me more comfortable with racking the slide besides getting my trigger technique under control.
There's no problem with the strap release on this Blackhawk other than it is cheap plastic. No possibility of accidental firing there. This holster is really good at keeping the trigger guard out of the way of draw, but is REALLY SNUG.
I've spent some time checking on what customers think of their Bullard leather. Haven't read a negative on anything they make yet.
I bought a belt and holster from Bullard Leather for my Kimber 1911's. Absolutely amazed at how comfortable it is to wear compared to the Blackhawk Serpa.
Ok guys, Tula or not Tula. Lots of deals on the stuff, but the feedback is crazy in both directions. So far the American Eagle stuff has had a failure rate of zero, but price, even as low as $12/50 is becoming restrictive.
I wanna shoot more. I've ordered a Bullard holster, something that seemed more important to invest better money in, but I have to conserve on ammo $$. SWMBO is watching...
Opine, oh shootists of the realm........... :notworthy:
...edit....And then there's reman, like Leadhead.
I have shot some of the Tula, its dirty and under powered, but not so inaccurate you would notice when training. I don't know how much you want to spend, but there have been some decent deals on bulk online. https://www.freedommunitions.com/ free shipping on your 1st order as a new customer, and wait until they give a 5% discount which they do weekly, then you can have brass cased reman for not much more than Tula.
I'm having issues making the weight decision in a bulk purchase.
So far all I've put through the Shield is 115 gr., but I've read where the 124 and even 147 gr. can have a positive hand in accuracy.
If that's true, do I keep shooting 115 to force myself to develop tighter patterns, or do I go whole hog into 124?
The SD rounds I've already got are in all three, Hornady XTP +P in 124, Win PDX1 in 147, and a brand called HPR out of Payson AZ, JHP in 115. The idea was to try a couple of each and find a soulmate in sd rounds. Obviously I haven't gotten around to that.
I know, I know, I need to go shoot these heavier weight rounds before I spend $$ on a bulk range ammo purchase...I'm just lonely, office-girling all by myself in Mama's office...
I DO have Terrin convinced that she needs the protection, that's a good thing. She wants to try one of those little .380 numbers though. I'm working on her.
You know, Stetto, it was funny that Pat suggested we get the guns we have now. She tried my daughter's .380 but didn't like it because she thought it was too small, so she got the compact version of the 9mm Bersa that I have. Shorter barrel and a 13 round mag, but the 17 round mag from my gun will fit into it. And damned if she isn't a better shot than I am....
One of these days I'd like a short barrel shotgun and an AR of some kind.
Thanks for that, Jaime, I'm showing her your input. I'd so much rather shoot the same ammo, it eliminates so much minutia.
You should really shoot some 124gr stuff 1st before jumping in. There is not much difference between it and 115gr from what I can tell. I usually just go with the cheaper 115gr stuff to ploink an practice, and save to good HP heavier stuff. I don;t really care for the 147gr etc, the 124gr works fine.
I am only so good with a pistol anyway, groups are not really an issue, if I have a group the size of my hand, but all center mass, I am happy.
So way over a month ago I made my first order through Freedom, a thousand rounds of reman 124. I haven't had the time to shoot even 1.
Thought I'd share why I haven't posted about it.
I should have ordered from them over fathers day, I want to buy a 1000 of the same. But I messed around and they back to normal price, but they are good fro running specials regularly so I suspect I will have my chance at free shipping again. Don't feel bad I have not picked up a rifle yet since fed or march when I shot a possum.
I'm waiting for life to be my own again. Around the end of April my Liberties as patron of the house were stripped from me for preparation of graduation activities and several family functions over which I have no control. I do still have shotgun rights, I had to insist. The chipmunk population here is exploding and they strip my choke cherry trees before the fruit is ripe. I dispatched 3 of them in about the same number of minutes this morning. Love the Benelli.
...I do think about shooting every day, not much consolation...
Finally got to put some rounds through the Shield this morning. You're right Eric, I don't notice any difference between 115 and 124 either. I'm fingering the trigger closer to the tip of my finger too, seems to make a vast improvement in accuracy. I actually hit a couple dead-center from 20 yards.
Wish I had more time for this.
Yeah me too. My cousin came up last Saturday and we spent most of it shooting. I had built a AR in 308 which has been problematic, so we worked on it for a while trying to pin down what it was doing, then switched over to the 223s and shot some distance. He had bought a new 18" custom AR from someone in CO and we put our 18" rifles to the test, which was funny because we both out shot each other which each others rifles. But when we took the gong out to 400 yds, I hit it 1st because I know where my rifle shoots a little better, and if you miss there was little feedback because of the tall grass. It was fun, I have not shot much this year at all and have not shot distance in a long time.
He bought a suppressor about the same time as his rifle last winter, finally got it this spring after a 6 month wait on the govt so I got to see what a factory made one is all about.
I also had a new dueling tree to try out, that was fun as well.
Hope you get out more trigger time in.
T & I finally got around to carry class last night. 5 hours of one of the most animated instructors we could have expected, I'm sure he developed the approach to save himself from having to wake applicants up from hours of incessant drone.
That followed with about but not more than, 10 minutes of shootin' up a silhouette. Terrins center of mass shots were better patterned than mine, but she made no good head shots and mine took off an ear and both eyeballs.
Now we go shopping for iron for the Darlin' Bride. I'm trying to talk her out of the subcompact, as did the instructor last night. She does like the Shield, but only with the 7-round mag.
So we got a peek at the guy's many conceal holsters, around a half dozen of them, then he stuck his hand in the box and said "and here's the best, most comfortable holster I've ever used"....and pulled out a little black Bullard Bodyguard. I didn't think the yokels up here knew Carl!!
Anyway, he let me take 6 shots with his XDS. I definitely prefer the Shield.
I have never shot the XDS, but I have heard they have nice triggers. I would still probably go with a shield if I ever trade my CW9.
I'll likely bring it along in May, though for some reason I haven't asked you yet, Wyoming doesn't have reciprocity with MN. I'm not sure how that complicates anything, but I can always unload and box it.
I may apply for Florida, which will complicate my wallet, but... :disturbed:
His XDS is a blocky thing compared to the Shield.
And no, I didn't bring the ProMag magazines along, will shoot with those here and report back when I do. Weather isn't cooperating right now. :eusa_wall:
You can load it and leave it on the dash or in plain view for that matter, WY is not overly picky about transport, and you can open carry here regardless.
Quote from: Onepoint on February 09, 2017, 04:19:37 PM
You can load it and leave it on the dash or in plain view for that matter, WY is not overly picky about transport, and you can open carry here regardless.
Even non-residents?
A lot of things have changed since Minnesota shifted to "shall issue". A permit is now a permit, conceal or no, and enforcement of "no guns allowed" signs in markets and shops is pretty much not done, unless the holder is being a moron. I decided to quit being a moron for that very reason....
Yeah, the only thing they differentiate residents on is the constitutional concealed carry. But there is actually no law at all regarding open carry. You might hit a gray area when you are hunting and traveling with a loaded firearm if you happened to get stopped, game and fish frowns at shooting off the road, but just traveling, nope.
Actually found time this morning to run FMJ through all those ProMag 8 and 10 round mags I bought way back when.
Don't know about longevity, but these all loaded and unloaded without a hitch brand new. I like this Shield more every time I pull that trigger. The 10 round mag has a "loose-ish" spring in it, doesn't really give a lot of resistance until the 3rd round, but there were no misfires through three loadings. The first load I put in them was the day I got them, so they held a full load for what? A couple months?
It was good to shoot again.
Promags are one of those hit and miss things, some work, some don't. If they work then they are great for practice, you can always carry the factory mags when you CC. It turned spring here, all of the sudden I have to wo...wor... do stuff, but some long warn days an I will get time to get out and throw some lead down range before long.
I have an IWB coming today, from CYA. I'm going to eventually own a number of holsters, I know it, and this one was fair inexpensive and had overwhelming positive reviews. Made of "Boltaron".
A friend told me leather IWB's had a tendency to stick against his sweaty hip. I sweat...
We still haven't got around to shopping for Terrin, she wants to try others than the Shield. Just no time to shop right now.
I just don't carry concealed enough to get used to it in the waistband, plus I do not wear untucked shirts or baggy pants, so I do carry IWB once in while, but mostly it's boot or pocket carry or OWB under a coat. So the holsters I have are the compact and dual purpose type, I use the Desantis dual carry a lot. But I think without a doubt the most comfy IWB are the ones with the leather against the skin side, especially the hybrid type.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3~EAAOxy3FVR6B1B/s-l1600.jpg)
Are you a lefty? Smokin deal on one on ebay right now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FoxX-Leather-Kydex-IWB-Hybrid-Holster-S-W-M-P-Shield-9-40-Leather-Left-Hand-/222485131303?hash=item33cd25b027:g:Rq8AAOSwHHFY~B9-
Heck Eric, I've got get used to carrying at all, much less know where and what. This CYA is ok for the gun and fits in my jeans alright, no binding, but I need practice with access and draw. Right now I look like a tubby little Barney Fife trying to get around/under/through the shirt. I'm definitely more comfortable PHYSICALLY carrying OWB, but that's not a common thing in these parts at all.
Times are changing here on the rez, the heroin problem is creating a lot of foolish opportunists. Home invasions are increasing and more strange faces are being seen around town. Terrin still hasn't chosen a gun, don't know what to do with her.