Range Report: Four Gun Mediocrity, 9/6/23

[BassCliff]

Greetings ladies and gentlemen,

As I mentioned to @Belt Fed, here are my embarrassing targets from today. I shot the 9s and .45 from 10 yards and the .22 from 15 yards. I started the session with the XD9 and the XDM Elite Precision, alternating every 10 shots.

If I remember correctly, I used the 2A Warehouse in the XD9 and the LAX Ammo in the XDM. I shot 50 rounds through each. The .45 ammo was also from LAX. I've bought a lot of loose ammo in cans from those vendors, hence the reused cartridge boxes.

Just for fun I brought out a special target. I have to print this, then trim the pages, and tape it together. The 4" reactive circles are supposed to help me "aim small, miss small".

I sent the hooded bad guy out to ten yards so I could have my way with him, several times.

As I mentioned, I put 50 rounds through each XD. The XD9 was for center mass and the XDM was for head shots. I alternated between the two pistols, just for fun. I had a couple of targets that weren't too bad but did not manage to keep all 10 rounds in the 4" circle on any target today. Drat.

For target #2, both pistols had seven hits on the circle.

Target #3 was pretty good for the XD9 (9 hits) but I really slipped with the XDM.

For target #4 the XDM had 9 hits but the XD9 results were pretty stinky.

OK, last target for the 9s today. The XDM wasn't too bad but I managed only half the hits with the XD9.

OK, now to put 50 rounds through the Garrison .45. I started with 7 head shots and 7 on center mass, sort of.

The next target had 10 hits on center mass and 7 head shots. Well, close anyway.

This is just a glam shot using the last target. I managed to keep all 10 hits inside the 8" reactive circle.

This is the entire last target, 10 hits on center mass and 9 (attempted) head shots.

I actually think I missed the top circle four times. Anyway, because of the weird combination of magazines I have for the Garrison, three 7 round and two 10 round, there are always 9 shots left at the end. One of these days I'll order some more magazines for the Garrison, CMC 8 or 10 rounders. I just ordered two more magazines for the XDM. But I digress. Let's get back to the crummy targets.

Last time I was here, two weeks ago (wow, you can tell missing a week did me no good at all), I was shooting the Mark IV at 25 yards. This session I worked it at 15 yards hoping to get some big ragged holes. Meh, not so much. This is 100 rounds on center mass followed by 10 rounds on the three top circles.

I had several malfunctions with the Mark IV using the Aguila, more than I thought I should. I'll give it a good cleaning and try a different ammo next time. I must admit (or is this just an excuse?) that these old eyes get tired after a while. Next time I will have a better plan, other than just to have fun, and concentrate on two guns at the most. I was having too much fun with the Mark IV, double and triple taps with a couple of magazine dumps thrown in just for grins and giggles. I have a three hour advanced defensive clinic on Monday so I'll get serious for that.

Thanks for coming along with me today. I'll take next week's practice session a little more slowly. I just wanted to shoot everything today before Mrs. BassCliff got home so I hurried a bit. Shame on me. But I made it home on time!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Belt Fed]

All dead bad guys no matter how ya look at it, some mighty fine shootin there sir.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

All dead bad guys no matter how ya look at it, some mighty fine shootin there sir.

You are much too kind. But that's OK. I can take it.



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Annihilator]

Maybe you need a Glock.........lol......targets look ok to me

 

[Belt Fed]

Maybe you need a Glock.........lol......targets look ok to me

Or Hi point.

 

[Recusant]

I wouldn't loose sleep fretting about those holes outside of the reactive circles. They would certainly be lethal IMHO.

 

[Annihilator]

Or Hi point.

 

[TidalWave]

Looks fine to me Cliff !!!
Remember, in a real scenario that “target” won’t be standing still anyway !

Here’s a couple pics of my Monday .
Also 10 yds.

 

[mikep]

crow bar dude is no longer a threat. that's good shootin'.
bring the distance into 5 yards for the mark iv and shoot at a 1" circle. only move it out further until you can land all 10 shots in that 1" circle. slow down and take your time focusing on sight alignment and pulling the trigger straight back. this has helped me with shooting my 9 and 45. that mark iv is made for precision shooting and tight groups.
did you decide on a fiber optic front sight for it?

 

[KillerFord1977]

 

[mikep]

Maybe you need a Glock.........lol......targets look ok to me

What’s a glock?

 

[KillerFord1977]

What’s a glock?

 

[Belt Fed]

What’s a glock?

Think it's one of them sexual pronouns the left are so hung up on.

 

[BassCliff]

View attachment 43335

Hi,

Back when I was doing formation skydiving every week the saying was, "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast". I'll have a much more intensive, focused, slower paced practice session next time. Fewer rounds, fewer guns, with a plan to build on fundamentals.

Most of my training is self-defense with a combination of speed and accuracy. But I do like to exercise some pure marksmanship once in a while. I'll make sure my next practice session builds toward that end.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[BassCliff]

Hey there!

You guys are a kick!

Maybe you need a Glock.........lol......targets look ok to me

Thanks, I guess the targets don't look terrible. I'm always striving for improvement, except when I start having too much fun. For some reason, I've never had the urge for a Glock. I don't want to start anything. I realize they're huge in the plastic fantastic world. My S-I-L has a G17. I'll give it a try the next time we get together.

Or Hi point.

Now, for some reason I do have a curiosity about the Hi-Point. There's just something about that value-priced American made firearm line that beckons to me. Seriously.

I wouldn't loose sleep fretting about those holes outside of the reactive circles. They would certainly be lethal IMHO.

Indeed. One can only hope that performance won't deteriorate much under stress. I pray that I'm never under that much stress.

Looks fine to me Cliff !!!
Remember, in a real scenario that “target” won’t be standing still anyway !

Here’s a couple pics of my Monday .
Also 10 yds.

Hey! Thanks! I appreciate you sharing your targets. Those are pretty good too. Nice work.

In a real scenario I won't be standing still either. We train to "get off the X" and other movement. When I was training outdoors we had moving targets on rails. Those were a blast.

crow bar dude is no longer a threat. that's good shootin'.
bring the distance into 5 yards for the mark iv and shoot at a 1" circle. only move it out further until you can land all 10 shots in that 1" circle. slow down and take your time focusing on sight alignment and pulling the trigger straight back. this has helped me with shooting my 9 and 45. that mark iv is made for precision shooting and tight groups.
did you decide on a fiber optic front sight for it?

Thank you. The bulk of my training is to "stop the threat". I also try to improve my accuracy. I try.

At the older facility we can't shoot that close, 5 yards, on the long range. I'm not sure why but there's a 10 yard minimum. At the newer facility we can shoot at 5 and 7 yards out to 25 yards. But I will methodically train with both my target pistols (XDM Elite Precision 5.25" and Ruger Mark IV Target 5.5") using your suggestion. I'd like to improve enough to at least not be embarrassed if I wanted to take part in one of the local league competitions.

Yes, I have decided to get a fiber optic front sight for the Mark IV but haven't decided which one. I guess I'm leaning toward the Tankemkross solution. They seem to specialize in Mark IV aftermarket stuff. I'll let you know.


Thank you all for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[mikep]

Hey there!

You guys are a kick!



Thanks, I guess the targets don't look terrible. I'm always striving for improvement, except when I start having too much fun. For some reason, I've never had the urge for a Glock. I don't want to start anything. I realize they're huge in the plastic fantastic world. My S-I-L has a G17. I'll give it a try the next time we get together.



Now, for some reason I do have a curiosity about the Hi-Point. There's just something about that value-priced American made firearm line that beckons to me. Seriously.



Indeed. One can only hope that performance won't deteriorate much under stress. I pray that I'm never under that much stress.



Hey! Thanks! I appreciate you sharing your targets. Those are pretty good too. Nice work.

In a real scenario I won't be standing still either. We train to "get off the X" and other movement. When I was training outdoors we had moving targets on rails. Those were a blast.

Thank you. The bulk of my training is to "stop the threat". I also try to improve my accuracy. I try.

At the older facility we can't shoot that close, 5 yards, on the long range. I'm not sure why but there's a 10 yard minimum. At the newer facility we can shoot at 5 and 7 yards out to 25 yards. But I will methodically train with both my target pistols (XDM Elite Precision 5.25" and Ruger Mark IV Target 5.5") using your suggestion. I'd like to improve enough to at least not be embarrassed if I wanted to take part in one of the local league competitions.

Yes, I have decided to get a fiber optic front sight for the Mark IV but haven't decided which one. I guess I'm leaning toward the Tankemkross solution. They seem to specialize in Mark IV aftermarket stuff. I'll let you know.


Thank you all for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Here’s another wrinkle… there is company called One Ragged Hole (i’ll double check) that sells aftermarket rear sights for the Mark series that are ghost ring sights. I bought one and tried it. I like the standard notch sight better and also shoot it better. But it was easy to install and remove and was not expensive. People doing steel challenge with irons use them because sight acquisition is fast with the ghost. Just another thing to play around with.

 

[mikep]

Here’s another wrinkle… there is company called One Ragged Hole (i’ll double check) that sells aftermarket rear sights for the Mark series that are ghost ring sights. I bought one and tried it. I like the standard notch sight better and also shoot it better. But it was easy to install and remove and was not expensive. People doing steel challenge with irons use them because sight acquisition is fast with the ghost. Just another thing to play around with.

Here’s the link if interested:

One Hole Sights | Warren Custom Outdoor - Unique Made in USA products for the outdoorsman

Warren Custom Outdoor - Unique Made in USA products for the outdoorsman

www.warrencustomoutdoor.com

 

[Annihilator]

What’s a glock?

Handgun Perfection!!

 

[Annihilator]

What’s a glock?

View attachment 43336

Think it's one of them sexual pronouns the left are so hung up on.

 

[mikep]

Handgun Perfection!!
View attachment 43355

Thanks. Never heard of it.