Finally got to the range to test the new firing pin... and shake off the cobwebs!

[Racer88]

It had been over 2 months since my last range session! Yikes! I've been busy with a lot of other things. It was good to get back. And it was good to see that I've "still got it!"

Besides shaking off the cobwebs, the primary mission was to test my PFC9 "EDC" after installing a new Shadow Systems firing pin.

The previous OEM Glock firing pin broke. <--- clicky for story.

The good news is that the gun fired 250 rounds flawlessly. No issues at all.

First target. 50 shots. Not too bad!

After the first target, another shooter (young dude) got my attention and asked, "Are you former law enforcement?"
No. (I thought about saying, "If I was, I would have missed the target a bunch!" )
"How did you get so good?"
I shoot a lot and take lessons.

Then he said, "Oh, you have an optic. I hear that's like cheating."

"Not at all. If you suck without an optic, you'll still suck with an optic." Yep... I said it.

Then he made an excuse for himself about being right eye dominant and having a left-handed father who taught him to shoot. His target was at 5 yards and covered edge-to-edge with shots.

"Take some lessons. It will help."

2nd target. 50 shots. Getting tighter.

For 3rd target I switched to 3D target and did some rapid fire drills. Go from compressed ready (no holster draws allowed at this range) and fire 4 - 5 round strings. 50 shots.

Same target, 50 more rounds. This time from compressed ready to point shooting at center mass, then sighted head shots. 4 - 5 round rapid fire strings.

There were a few other shooters on the line, and I could feel the eyes upon me / my target! LOL!

For my last target, I went back to paper at 10 yards to test a sample box of New Republic ammo from Target Sports USA. I believe this is Hungarian-made ammo. It's priced a bit less than the US ammo, of course. It fired flawlessly. I might try more of it. I'll take this 50-shot group to finish the session!

 

[Racer88]

I've gotta say it sure felt good to get to the range after a 2-month hiatus! I find it very "therapeutic."

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Good shootin', Tex.

I have also had good results with Shadow parts. Love their fully assembled handguns too. Gucci Glocks. A little nicer to look at.

 

[Racer88]

I have also had good results with Shadow parts.

In the case of the firing pin assembly, surprisingly, the machined billet Shadow Systems firing pin is less money than the OEM Glock MIM firing pin.

I was fairly pleased with my shooting, considering it had been 2+ months. It's funny, though.... to observe the reactions of other shooters. I really think of myself as an "intermediate" shooter. But it's all a matter of perspective and context. Sadly, most of the shooters at any given range are really quite bad. Missing the paper at 5 yards. Literally. So, in comparison, I look like John Wick to them! LOL!

I try to convince them to take private lessons. An hour is about the same cost as a few boxes of ammo and will catapult their skills. Nooooooooope! "I've got a friend who's a cop who's gonna teach me."

Then this joker, who can't shoot a group at 5 yards, tells me that "using an optic is cheating."

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Cops and three letter agents are among the worst marksmen in my experience. Most do range time once or twice a year because they have to quality. The bar to qualify is pretty low. To be fair, LEO's are not hired to shoot people. Only in the movies. Lots of knucklehead civilians assume someone with law enforcement or military experience is a marksman. False. I have the utmost respect for cops and military vets. But many of them couldn't hit a barn 100 feet away. It's not their job past or present to be top shot pistol shooters or riflemen in uniform.

The exception might be cops those who are on a special tactical team, SWAT, etc.

 

[Racer88]

Cops and three letter agents are among the worst marksmen in my experience. Most do range time once or twice a year because they have to quality. The bar to qualify is pretty low. To be fair, LEO's are not hired to shoot people. Only in the movies. Lots of knucklehead civilians assume someone with law enforcement or military experience is a marksman. False. I have the utmost respect for cops and military vets. But many of them couldn't hit a barn 100 feet away. It's not their job past or present to be top shot pistol shooters or riflemen in uniform.

The exception might be cops those who are on a special tactical team, SWAT, etc.

That's why I laughed when he asked if I was LE.

I agree with all the above, of course. The local sheriff's department rifle range here used to be open to the public one weekend a month. It was the "deal" before we had a public outdoor range in this county.

I got to know the RSOs (sheriff's officers), who ALL would readily admit that most of the citizens shooting there (mostly enthusiasts who knew about the range, which was not advertised) were far better marksmen than they were. My then-14 year old daughter was better than most of the officers there by their OWN admission. They marveled at her skills. Her first 5 shots (ever) at 300 yards, which were at the Sheriff's range. The officers couldn't believe it.

 

[no4mk1t]

Another great way to learn is to participate in some form of competition at local clubs. Most events are open to non members and some disciplines will host shooting clinics for new shooters. This is how I went from being a casual plinker to eventually being on the state rifle team.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I agree with you @Racer88 , I frequent my local indoor rage, quit often. A lot of retired type folks, shooting, as I go in the morning, some LE guys too.

Rarely, do I see anyone that can put a group of shots together. Even at 3-5 yds, I watch them shoot, like they are missing on purpose,. Some of these guys have a bunch of gear, looking the "pro" part, but can't hit shit.

 

[Racer88]

I agree with you @Racer88 , I frequent my local indoor rage, quit often. A lot of retired type folks, shooting, as I go in the morning, some LE guys too.

Rarely, do I see anyone that can put a group of shots together. Even at 3-5 yds, I watch them shoot, like they are missing on purpose,. Some of these guys have a bunch of gear, looking the "pro" part, but can't hit shit.

The grips I see are often obviously inspired by Hollywood. As are the stances.

 

[Racer88]

Another great way to learn is to participate in some form of competition at local clubs. Most events are open to non members and some disciplines will host shooting clinics for new shooters. This is how I went from being a casual plinker to eventually being on the state rifle team.

I've been very turned off by the people (I've encountered) that work and participate in competitions. I've tried a few rifle competitions.... mostly assholes. Not my scene. They did not make me (or my daughter) feel welcome.

 

[no4mk1t]

I've been very turned off by the people (I've encountered) that work and participate in competitions. I've tried a few rifle competitions.... mostly assholes. Not my scene. They did not make me (or my daughter) feel welcome.

I have had exactly the opposite experience. The guys I have met in High Power are still my friends almost 40 years later. One was my Best Man at the wedding.
New shooters are encouraged. Loaner gear (including a rifle and ammo are available the first couple matches to get them started)
Coaching, normally not allowed, is provided to teach them the ropes, here again, just for a few matches to get them familiarized.

Matches I have attended at other clubs and ranges have also provided help and encouragement to new shooters. All of these have been at established shooting clubs and not something put together by a public range.

 

[Racer88]

All of these have been at established shooting clubs and not something put together by a public range.

Same here. Private range and club sponsored. Not nice. Not welcoming. These were NRA High Power matches. I'll never go back to one. A bunch of assholes with $10k - $20k rigs frowning on my inexpensive rigs and factory ammo. Their bipods cost more than my entire rig. Funny thing... I did not come in last place!

 

[no4mk1t]

Same here. Private range and club sponsored. Not nice. Not welcoming. These were NRA High Power matches. I'll never go back to one. A bunch of assholes with $10k - $20k rigs frowning on my inexpensive rigs and factory ammo. Their bipods cost more than my entire rig. Funny thing... I did not come in last place!

This sounds more like shotgun shooters. Man, you were at the wrong club. Sorry this soured you on the sport.
And yes, there is always the "equipment whores" who think money can buy a good score.

When I first gave Rimfire Metallic Silhouette a try, I "brought what I had", which was a stock Ruger 77/22 with a fixed power 6X scope and Winchester Super-X ammo from K-Mart. Just wanted to try something different. I have always been a better than average offhand shooter in High Power, so this sounded appealing.

Most of the long time shooters had Anshutz rifles with fancy scopes and some flavor of Eley ammo that cost 10 times what my Super-X cost. Pretty soon I was placing in matches and actually won it one time.
Silhouette is an 'instant gratification" shooting sport. No scoring paper targets, you either hit it and it falls, or not. Harder than it looks though. If you can hit 50% of the targets, you are doing real good.
If you get the chance to try it, go for it.

So, Baron Von Richthofen had something when he said, "It's not the crate, but the man in it".

 

[brian]

I will say you have inspired me to order a few of the Shadow systems strikers to put into a few of the P80s that I may employ as carry. I'm not as concerned about a range toy firing pin breaking, but a defense weapon ...

I hear ya on the range time being therapy. I've been on the road for a month and haven't even dry fired anything.

 

[Bobster]

I have had exactly the opposite experience...
New shooters are encouraged...

Matches I have attended at other clubs and ranges have also provided help and encouragement to new shooters. All of these have been at established shooting clubs and not something put together by a public range.

At the Action Steel shoot I went to Saturday and previous matches this has been witnessed. It is all about having a fun, but SAFE shooting experience. Some of the best shooters are the young'uns.

Regarding "impressive rigs", at last week's "Zombie" match, the RSO had a DAGGER FS and regularly scores in the top 10 with it. It is not always about the "tool" but how you use it...

 

[Bobster]

I'll do a small write-up on Saturday's Action Steel but in conversation with a fellow shooter in my squad I determined he was a neighboring county Sheriff's Deputy. His county's police range and driver training asphalt happened to be next to the gun club I belong to, both owned by the county. "So are you going to give me a 'Get out of jail FREE card' if I get pulled over in XXX county?" I quipped. "Don't worry about that, the only way I'll pull you over is if you are driving like an asshole." Turns out he is part of traffic detail and drives an "unmarked" car which is a stock, but police-equipped, Chevy Traverse--stock photo shown.



Anyhow, he remarked how he was there to better his skills but noted many of the other deputies didn't practice enough and would "sweat" the yearly? pistol qualifications. He had a Gen2 G34 he had just had "tinkered" with: optics cut slide, etc. I forgot to ask what his duty piece was.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I've had both good and bad experiences in competitive shooting. The bench rest/long range crowd was very unwelcoming. Bunch of fat old guys with $20k rifles who take 10 minutes to make a shot and think their shit doesn't stink.

Three gun and pistols... better. But like in any match competition there's always the 60+ apple shaped asshole with the comb over, wears Mork suspenders, has visible asscrack while shooting, still sports a 1970's mustache, and were the kid whose books got thrown out the window every day in high school. Their last name is always something like "Frauenschlager". For some reason, many of them love to let you know they are former LEOs. What that tells me is they sucked at being cops, other cops didn't like them, and for one reason or another they got the boot. They form cliques made up of like minded doughboys at matches. If you win or place, they cant bring themself to congratulate you. This used to piss me off when I was younger but I learned to just laugh at these self-important clowns. Even then I could shoot better than them with a cheap gun on my worst day. And my pants fit.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Looks like a good deal on the firing pin, just a Glock stripped firing pin, paid about what you paid for the complete unit

 

[Racer88]

Looks like a good deal on the firing pin, just a Glock stripped firing pin, paid about what you paid for the complete unit

Felt like I was cheating not having to install the spring and spring cups!

 

[Stephen G]

AMEN
When yer good YER GOOD
And when you suck you suck.

Only to help the sucks is putting forth the effort to NOT suck