Got some practice in at the range today

Racer88

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I went to the indoor range where rapid fire is allowed (as long as you can hit the target while doing so). No holster draws, though. So to simulate that, I punch out from "compressed ready."

I started with a slow / medium rate fire at a plain target at 10 yards.
Target-1.jpg


On my very first shot, I had a failure to eject. It wasn't a stovepipe, though. By the appearance, it looks like the slide didn't cycle all the way back or enough for the shell to hit the ejector. Weak charge in the ammo? What say ye? After this, no more malfunctions.

FTE.jpg


Then I tried some "Dot Torture" drills. I haven't done this in a long time. And, well.... it was humbling! I sucked ass on both of them. Oh well!
Target-2-&-3.jpg


Next is my new favorite kind of defensive shooting target - the "3D" silhouette. I mix it up with these. All rapid fire. Punch out from compressed ready and as soon as a sight picture is acquired - BANG! I don't wait for a "perfect" sight picture. Just a flash sight picture and fire. Speed is of the essence. Sometimes I'll shoot a 3 - 5 shot string at center mass (point shooting) and then one or two to the head (using the sights or optic). A variation of the "Mozambique Drill," if you will.

Target-4.jpg
Target-5.jpg


That makes 7,900 rounds through the PFC9 "EDC" pistol!

To finish off the hour-long session, I switched over to the "Cobalt Celtic" (with iron sights). Target at 10 yards. Rate of fire slow to medium. With most Glock type pistols, I use a "combat hold" (front sight covering the bullseye). Clearly this particular pistol / sight combination would do better with a "center hold." But I continued to use the combat hold just so my group would better represent my consistency / precision for my analysis of performance.

Target-6.jpg
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That makes 700 rounds through the "Cobalt Celtic" build.

The shooter next to me was watching and struck up a conversation. It happens a lot. Even though I consider myself an "intermediate" skill shooter, I'm usually shooting faster and tighter groups than the majority at the range. So I get attention.

They usually ask, "How do you do that?" And I usually answer, "Lots of private lessons and a TON of practice." Most of the time, the advice to take lessons falls on deaf ears. They want to believe there's a gimmick or "tip" that will turn them into marksmen. But today, this guy actually wrote down the contact info for my instructor! I may have gotten through to one! LOL!

Last time, the dude next to me (who peppered his target edge-to-edge at 5 yards) said, "Oh! You have an optic. I hear that's like cheating." No, you idiot. It's got NOTHING to do with the sighting system and EVERYTHING to do with grip and trigger control. The FUNDAMENTALS matter, not which sighting system you use.
 
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Then I tried some "Dot Torture" drills. I haven't done this in a long time. And, well.... it was humbling! I sucked ass on both of them. Oh well!
Dot Torture is my new favorite drill. Try closer, I think you start at 3yards then move back afterwards
 
Dot Torture is my new favorite drill. Try closer, I think you start at 3yards then move back afterwards

Yes, but this range's rules stipulate a minimum distance of 5 yards.
 
I have been on the road and had no range time for almost 2 months. Got home yesterday and the Shadow systems striker had arrived, given your experience I thought this was a smart upgrade, so I dropped it in after swapping their spring cups for the marine ones I had installed. Looking forward to trying it out. I have no where near the round count you do, but I figure it can't hurt!
 
Well... we'll find out (if it was smart)!
Good point. We really only know when mechanical changes are dumb. It isn't like the Glock OEM is guaranteed to fail at a certain amount of use. The stress test demo made an impression on me though.
 
As I didn't get pics, I'd like to add my own range report for today. Don't mean to hijack your thread, just embellish it... :)

I decided my long-winded hijack deserved its own thread... :)
 
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JJ explained the logic behind hip-shooting and how if an assailant is that close, you use the off-hand to keep them at distance and quickly draw from the hip and shoot as you won't have time to raise the pistol to aim. Very good stuff to know and practice. :)
Instinctive or "point" shooting is a whole other set of skills, which can be extremely valuable in self-defense. I've taken 3 full days of formal instruction in that discipline. We were making head shots with no sights at even 7 yards. Hopefully, I'll never have to use that skill in "real life."

From my targets above. These center mass shots were all made point shooting (no sights). Rapid fire in 3 - 5 shot strings.
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