Well, I finally got to the range ... Plenty of internet study, but nothing prepares you for the first time you're on the range, someone elses shot goes "BOOM" and you feel it reverbate through your chest and think to yourself, "Can I really do this?!"
Well, for those of you interested in a small story, it was my buddy and me with my mother in tow (she felt it was finally time to learn to shoot for home protection), all three of us new to handguns, with my only experience dating back to childhood with a .22 rifle.
Between us, 2 M&P9's both ordered from Bud's ... Prior to shooting, we field stripped and put some CLP on the friction (Oil Here) points.
True to form, my first shot was my best ... damn that target gets small out there, and over the course, I was really surprised to see just how much variance there can be, even if your aim is fairly steady dead center, from how you pull, squeeze, jerk, or anticipate that trigger.
I think I was most excited when successive rounds hit close to one another, even if not dead center of the target ... I could really appreciate consistency, but after awhile, it got difficult to see where or even if I hit the target. I'd have to rely on other eyes to say, yes, that was in the orange, or low and in the white. Any hints to seeing this better, short of putting a new target up every 5 rounds?
For the life of me, I don't know how the competition folks keep that barrel down ... I was expecting recoil to push back or at the very least, flex my wrists, but to my amazement, it's like the whole pistol is trying to jump straight-up!
Okay, yes, I'm a newbie, so you can get your *snickers* and *jeers* in, but all the reading in the world can't substitute for the experience of actually shooting.
My issue, and the same goes for my mother as well, is that I can be aiming dead-on, but the pressure required on that final portion of the trigger pull to get the striker to engage really interferes with my aim. I'm thinking about a trigger job, which I believe would improve this part of the "act of firing" but I'd like to be able to shoot it stock well first.
It wasn't long before the sights were blury, and "moving" despite my best attempts to hold the pistol still. I was tempted to play the "red barron game", trying to pull the trigger when the target "flew" its way to the center of the sight picture, but I soon found out that it doesn't work. Damn I hate it when I miss the target. It's frustrating, but I guess it all comes down to trigger control, and that's where I need to practice A LOT!
Between the 3 of us, I believe we came close to 100 rounds total, but I think my buddy got most of 'em. After a little over an hour, I was literally, exhausted. I'm guessing it gets easier and better with time, but it took a lot out of me mentally, and I doubt I could have held a full glass of water without spilling it! LOL!
I've got plenty of questions, like how to reduce the recoil so I can get back on target much faster. I swear those competition folks make it look like there's no recoil in their pistols whatsoever. If I were to try to shoot a second round quickly, it would probably hit the ceiling.
I've ordered some of Brian Enos' #1 Slide Glide lube and will use the CLP for cleaning. Any suggestions exactly on how to clean? The instructions in the cleaning kit were a bit sparse, and I don't want to make any rookie mistakes that could endanger the life, accuracy, and condition of my wonderful M&P9.
Mom is hooked, and yes, she outshot both my buddy and me! What is it with women and handguns?! Perhaps they're just more patient than men and can squeeze that trigger with finesse.
I'll post some followup questions later ... It's the day after, and I'm still a bit tired, but mentally energized from putting something important into practice.
Looking forward to your advice, recommendations, and helpful suggestions!
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Best Regards,
Cet.
Well, for those of you interested in a small story, it was my buddy and me with my mother in tow (she felt it was finally time to learn to shoot for home protection), all three of us new to handguns, with my only experience dating back to childhood with a .22 rifle.
Between us, 2 M&P9's both ordered from Bud's ... Prior to shooting, we field stripped and put some CLP on the friction (Oil Here) points.
True to form, my first shot was my best ... damn that target gets small out there, and over the course, I was really surprised to see just how much variance there can be, even if your aim is fairly steady dead center, from how you pull, squeeze, jerk, or anticipate that trigger.
I think I was most excited when successive rounds hit close to one another, even if not dead center of the target ... I could really appreciate consistency, but after awhile, it got difficult to see where or even if I hit the target. I'd have to rely on other eyes to say, yes, that was in the orange, or low and in the white. Any hints to seeing this better, short of putting a new target up every 5 rounds?
For the life of me, I don't know how the competition folks keep that barrel down ... I was expecting recoil to push back or at the very least, flex my wrists, but to my amazement, it's like the whole pistol is trying to jump straight-up!
Okay, yes, I'm a newbie, so you can get your *snickers* and *jeers* in, but all the reading in the world can't substitute for the experience of actually shooting.
My issue, and the same goes for my mother as well, is that I can be aiming dead-on, but the pressure required on that final portion of the trigger pull to get the striker to engage really interferes with my aim. I'm thinking about a trigger job, which I believe would improve this part of the "act of firing" but I'd like to be able to shoot it stock well first.
It wasn't long before the sights were blury, and "moving" despite my best attempts to hold the pistol still. I was tempted to play the "red barron game", trying to pull the trigger when the target "flew" its way to the center of the sight picture, but I soon found out that it doesn't work. Damn I hate it when I miss the target. It's frustrating, but I guess it all comes down to trigger control, and that's where I need to practice A LOT!
Between the 3 of us, I believe we came close to 100 rounds total, but I think my buddy got most of 'em. After a little over an hour, I was literally, exhausted. I'm guessing it gets easier and better with time, but it took a lot out of me mentally, and I doubt I could have held a full glass of water without spilling it! LOL!
I've got plenty of questions, like how to reduce the recoil so I can get back on target much faster. I swear those competition folks make it look like there's no recoil in their pistols whatsoever. If I were to try to shoot a second round quickly, it would probably hit the ceiling.
I've ordered some of Brian Enos' #1 Slide Glide lube and will use the CLP for cleaning. Any suggestions exactly on how to clean? The instructions in the cleaning kit were a bit sparse, and I don't want to make any rookie mistakes that could endanger the life, accuracy, and condition of my wonderful M&P9.
Mom is hooked, and yes, she outshot both my buddy and me! What is it with women and handguns?! Perhaps they're just more patient than men and can squeeze that trigger with finesse.
I'll post some followup questions later ... It's the day after, and I'm still a bit tired, but mentally energized from putting something important into practice.
Looking forward to your advice, recommendations, and helpful suggestions!
Best Regards,
Cet.
