lsudave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,042
We're all fantastic marksmen on the internet here 
, even if we don't actively intend to come across that way. I suppose some of it is pride, we want to brag and show off a little when we do something we thing is good, and we tend to keep the failures minimized.
I went to the range today, and something happened that basically kicked me in the groin (or at least, my ego).
I'm no great shooter, but I like to think I'm decent enough for a casual shooter. I used to shoot 22lr rifles as a kid in some NRA events, I know the basics, etc. I can get decent groupings offhand with most pistols.
So my latest endeavor is old .32 ACP pistols, they tend to be inexpensive and classy. Got a CZ 27 that shoots almost on par with a Ruger Mk II (that my son actually found in the store, and it became his birthday present); I wanted another and added a Savage 1907. Offhand experience for both of us was pretty embarrassing, we're talking almost 1 ft "groups" at 7 yds, after I put 50 cent groups with the CZ. Some of that is the sight, so I dabbed a little white paint on the front sight, and by really, really focusing and taking my time, I was able to pull it down to around 6"., an improvement but still nothing to be thrilled about. And all over the board, not just to one side or up/down. My son, who's not as steady as I am, had worse experiences. He and his friend can't shoot the darn thing at all, and they swore it must be "messed up". I thought maybe the crown was bad, but I couldn't find anything of note.
Well, I broke down today at the range. It was empty, and they had a few benchrest holds (I don't know the exact name of it). But I sat down, braced myself really good, and lined up the pistol at 7 yds (it wasn't a vice, but just something that will keep your hand still). I shot a 5 rd test, at a 6 inch splatter target, with a 1 inch red bullseye, with Fiocchi red box FMJ. The first shot was dead center but two inches high, on the 8/9 ring- I had too much front sight showing. So I lowered the muzzle a hair to where the front sight was almost invisible (especially to my older eyeballs
)... the next 4 were dead on. As in, it looked like I shot 1 .45 ACP into the bull. Well, so much for the gun being "off", or for me being any good . My son was shooting his Beretta 92S in the next bay, and I called over for him to look. "Sweet" he called back, "which one is that?".He was speechless when I told him.
It's now my mission to get tight groups offhand with that pistol. I'm obviously doing something wrong, but it's not even a consistent left or right etc. But I plan to keep bench shooting it, until I can slowly transition to shooting it offhand. I figure whatever I'm doing, I do to a lesser extent with everything else, and if I can clean it up on the Savage, I should see the results across the board.
Anyone else have experience with something like this?
, even if we don't actively intend to come across that way. I suppose some of it is pride, we want to brag and show off a little when we do something we thing is good, and we tend to keep the failures minimized. I went to the range today, and something happened that basically kicked me in the groin (or at least, my ego).
I'm no great shooter, but I like to think I'm decent enough for a casual shooter. I used to shoot 22lr rifles as a kid in some NRA events, I know the basics, etc. I can get decent groupings offhand with most pistols.
So my latest endeavor is old .32 ACP pistols, they tend to be inexpensive and classy. Got a CZ 27 that shoots almost on par with a Ruger Mk II (that my son actually found in the store, and it became his birthday present); I wanted another and added a Savage 1907. Offhand experience for both of us was pretty embarrassing, we're talking almost 1 ft "groups" at 7 yds, after I put 50 cent groups with the CZ. Some of that is the sight, so I dabbed a little white paint on the front sight, and by really, really focusing and taking my time, I was able to pull it down to around 6"., an improvement but still nothing to be thrilled about. And all over the board, not just to one side or up/down. My son, who's not as steady as I am, had worse experiences. He and his friend can't shoot the darn thing at all, and they swore it must be "messed up". I thought maybe the crown was bad, but I couldn't find anything of note.
Well, I broke down today at the range. It was empty, and they had a few benchrest holds (I don't know the exact name of it). But I sat down, braced myself really good, and lined up the pistol at 7 yds (it wasn't a vice, but just something that will keep your hand still). I shot a 5 rd test, at a 6 inch splatter target, with a 1 inch red bullseye, with Fiocchi red box FMJ. The first shot was dead center but two inches high, on the 8/9 ring- I had too much front sight showing. So I lowered the muzzle a hair to where the front sight was almost invisible (especially to my older eyeballs
)... the next 4 were dead on. As in, it looked like I shot 1 .45 ACP into the bull. Well, so much for the gun being "off", or for me being any good . My son was shooting his Beretta 92S in the next bay, and I called over for him to look. "Sweet" he called back, "which one is that?".He was speechless when I told him. It's now my mission to get tight groups offhand with that pistol. I'm obviously doing something wrong, but it's not even a consistent left or right etc. But I plan to keep bench shooting it, until I can slowly transition to shooting it offhand. I figure whatever I'm doing, I do to a lesser extent with everything else, and if I can clean it up on the Savage, I should see the results across the board.
Anyone else have experience with something like this?
