Should I stay or should I go?

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rduchateau2954

rduchateau2954

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My handgun collection is down to a .44 SBH and a 9mm Sig P938. I love everything about the all steel, hammer fired Sig... except shooting it.

2" left right handed, 2" right left handed. 7yrds. I'm out of finger tip real estate. I've got about 400 rounds through it so far, another 300 ready to go.

I gotta say, I'm getting antsy.

Last trip I had an employee shoot it. His first few were left, then dead on. I've been dry firing like a mad man the last week since my last range trip. Dry firing goes smoothly, penny stays on the slide.

I'm going to the range and shooting slow and smooth. I may even load one at a time. If it doesn't go well, it might be time to part ways.

IF that happens it opens a while box of possibilities. That's my only 9mm. Not only could I go different gun, I could go different caliber. I will start reloading soon to feed my .44 habit so now would be the time.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with my options. I've shot glocks/springfields/walther ...(full sized) ruger sr9/40 full size and c versions. Probably some others I've forgot.

I'm looking for a little wisdom from those of you that have been through this before.

Thanks,
Ryan
 
Give the HK P30sk a look. XDs. FNSc if you want to go bigger. Beretta 92 compact maybe.

And of corse Glock.... Whatever model fits you.

XDs works best for my large-ish hands.
 
Don't know anything about your shooting technique but if you're looking for a gun which typically has a decent trigger to start with, then I would say try out some of the higher end 1911s. I have a custom Colt Combat Commander and have had a Gold Cup that had fantastic triggers on them. I have also handled Dan Wesson, SIG, Ruger, and STI 1911s that had great triggers on them right out of the box.
 
I love everything about the all steel, hammer fired Sig... except shooting it.
Click to expand...

I too love all steel guns, to the point now where I don't have any Polymer ones left. Maybe stick with the versatile 9mm but change your ammo. Assuming you are using FMJ 115gr box ammo at the moment. Try going to 124/147 and see how they do for a box. I've found the 115 to be the most inherently inaccurate ammo even if going slow and steady from a bag at the range.

There might also be the factor that it's not the right gun for you. I've bought and traded away a number of great guns that just didn't fit me. P220SAS/Bersa Thunder/Beretta92F among others that I just didn't mesh with. The ones for me ended up being classic 226/228/229 with triple dot sites. The heinie 8s I never did shoot well with.

Even in 1911 frames, there are some I meshed with and some that I just never did feel that I was getting better with. I can put 50/50 in the X ring with my Sig Nightmare in 357SIG but shooting a SA Marine Corps Operator at the same distance (10 yards) it falls off to 42/50 in the X Ring. The SA is a quality gun but I didn't feel the same bond with it despite it being a "better" gun, it wasn't a better choice for me.

I passed on the 938 and stayed with the 238 as it felt better in the hand for my big bear paws and more importantly, I shot it much better even with rental units as I played with them at the ranges. If it doesn't feel natural to me, I will not keep it. I don't mind shooting a ton of different models, but now I find, either I mesh with the gun or I don't. just my two cents though.

I hope you get things figured out. All Steel guns are great, but sometimes, you need a different all steel gun lol.
 
I have been wandering around the gun world fo some 50 years. Have seen the choices go from either a revolver or 1911 in the sixties to all the choices we have today. For me, CZ makes the best 9mm for me, YMMV.
A close second place is a 9MM 1911, soft shooting with traditional style. Again YMMV
 
"...had an employee shoot it. His first few were left, then dead on."[rduchateau2954]

Bought a Walther P99, extremely comfortable ergos. Would not shoot straight, one dead on, next 2 shots 4" off. Normally with a new gun, I shoot one mag or cylinder, and if it shoots 1" or better at CCW distances I keep it. But I liked this gun a lot so I kept trying... after 300 rounds it was still shooting all over the map, shotgun pattern. Sold it.

Fast forward. Saw a SW99, same frame as the P99, (same ergos and trigger) used, bought it for a lot less, 300 bucks. Groups were way better, but only 1-1/4 inches. But since I liked the ergos and it was only 300 bucks I persisted and told myself I will give it one more chance to shoot sub-1" or sell it. Get to the range, and Colonel Puffington is there, a rotund gent in his 70s. He takes my gun (he had never shot a SW99 before) and proceeds to punch out a 3/4" group. Coulda knocked me over with a feather. Now I'm shooting sub-1" ... sometimes you gotta will the gun.

"If it doesn't go well, it might be time to part ways. ... I'm a bit overwhelmed with my options. " [Ibid]

No kidding. The most accurate 9mm handgun I've shot is a Sig P239. Also like the Springfield Armory EMP... hard to choose between these two. For sheer fun (especially if you handload, possibilities are infinite), is the smallest 5-shot Taurus Judge Public Defender, at CCW distances (up to 7 yards). And you already have a 44 Mag.

Best of luck to you.
 
I recently traded away two nicely-tuned guns ; they came to me used, with many well-installedi after-market parts: a Glock 35 and an S&W M&P Pro in .40. (I had previously owned a tack-driving Glock 34 and have a S&W M&P Pro 9mm comparable equipped and tuned, and my success with those guns led me to these trades.) Unhappily, those almost physically identical guns just didn't work in my hands. I traded then to an acquaintance for two FNS-40s, (with cash making up the difference in values). We had both tried each others guns before doing the swap. I found I could shoot small groups with the FNS-40s (one is a Long Slide version). Adding insult to injury, both the Glock and S&W shot very small groups in HIS hands. The Glock 35 was my second try at that model.

Some guns just don't work for some people, even though everything indicates they should. Struggling to make one work that doesn't work can be a time-consuming and exasperating exercise in futility.
 
oneounceload said:
Maybe get a DA 44 to go with your SA one - makes reloading easier anyway.......
Click to expand...
Ahhh! Get out of here with your bad influences! Lol I thought about carrying a .44 but I don't want to ever fire one without hearing protection.

I hit up a buddy who is all about handguns. We are gonna meet up sometime in the next few days. He's gonna shoot my Sig to see what he thinks, I'm gonna shoot his to see if I do any better with his pocket guns.
 
rduchateau2954 said:
My handgun collection is down to a .44 SBH and a 9mm Sig P938.
Click to expand...

Are you dying? Or facing some other dire straits? Either way, my condolences.


rduchateau2954 said:
I love everything about the all steel, hammer fired Sig... except shooting it.

2" left right handed, 2" right left handed. 7yrds. I'm out of finger tip real estate. I've got about 400 rounds through it so far, another 300 ready to go.

I gotta say, I'm getting antsy.

Last trip I had an employee shoot it. His first few were left, then dead on.
Click to expand...

The p938 is a tiny little thing. Tiny little things are hard to shoot, and are typically seen as short range last ditch self defense weapons. Honestly, being off by 2" at 7 yards is nothing. I would consider it good enough for that gun.

What the range employee demonstrated is applied Kentucky Windage. In other words, he moved his point of aim based on where the gun was hitting for him.

Which gives us our second option: adjust the sights to be correct when you shoot with your dominant hand.


rduchateau2954 said:
I've been dry firing like a mad man the last week since my last range trip. Dry firing goes smoothly, penny stays on the slide.

I'm going to the range and shooting slow and smooth. I may even load one at a time. If it doesn't go well, it might be time to part ways.

IF that happens it opens a while box of possibilities. That's my only 9mm. Not only could I go different gun, I could go different caliber. I will start reloading soon to feed my .44 habit so now would be the time.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with my options. I've shot glocks/springfields/walther ...(full sized) ruger sr9/40 full size and c versions. Probably some others I've forgot.

I'm looking for a little wisdom from those of you that have been through this before.
Click to expand...

My wisdom: the p938 is a deep concealment firearm optimized for one type of self defense. If concealed carry with tight clothes isn't your mission, you may well want to dump the p938...but first figure out what your mission is.

If you want a range and home defense gun that can carry, I would start looking at the classics e.g. cz75b, 1911 (in 9, 10, or 11.5 mm), and so on. If you want a nice chunk of stainless steel for concealed carry that might be more ergonomic, consider the K9. I am limiting myself to all metal guns because that seems to be something you like.

In my case, I would consider the accuracy you described as good enough for the role of a gun like this and work on speed and control.
 
You make some good points.

I'm not sure if the employee Kentucky-ied it or not. He was sighting it in. Yes I said that right. It was the only place in town that had the tool to move the rear sight and that's the only way they do it.

I got it to carry it. I've got shotguns for home defense. So far I've just carried it around the house unloaded, but it just slips into a pocket real nice. I'll keep all this in mind as I go through these next 300 rounds.

Thanks
 
Everything in handguns is a trade off. Guns with short sight radius are more unforgiving with improper sight alignment. You just have to work harder at the basics to shoot where you want it to.

Try shooting a larger gun that gives a full grip on the frame and longer distance between front and rear sights. I bet your accuracy improves.
 
Last edited:
BSA1 said:
Everything in handguns is a trade off. Guns with short sight radius are more unforgiving with improper sight alignment. You just have to work harder at the basics to shoot where you want it to.

Try shooting a larger gun that gives a full grip on the frame and longer dis dance between front and rear sights. I bet your accuracy improves.
Click to expand...
I get that. I was shooting pop cans at 75 yards with my 7 1/2" SBH the other day leaning on a tree. I think a part of my problem is I grew up with rifles, revolvers, and other guns made to accurately kill furry or feathered critters. So to go out and shoot like I have been doing at 7yards is a big let down.
 
OP
2" left right handed, 2" right left handed. 7yrds. I'm out of finger tip real estate.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you might be pushing the gun. If it were me I would be using more finger not less.
At any rate I don't think 400 rounds is enough to even get to know a pistol. Put some rounds through that thing.
 
Another thing to keep in mind...

Kyle Lamb (Guns & Ammo) and a retired military Special Ops type, has had a couple of articles recently about grip. You need to read the articles (May 2015 was the first) -- I'm just presenting one of his key ideas and I'm not doing his comments justice:

When shooting two-handed, he makes the point that the off-hand should be playing a far bigger role in controlling the gun than is usually the case. He says it ought to be doing about 6%-70% of the work of controlling and guiding the gun, while the off hand should have a less-tight grip on the gun. The reason: if you strong hand is gripping and guiding the gun with great force, it's difficult to have the trigger finger relaxed enough to smoothly press the trigger. (He also mentions, as some here have, that having the weak-hand thumb pressing against the gun too forcefully will push the weapon away from that thumb.)

It made sense as I read it, and it SEEMS to work when I try it at the range.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rduchateau2954 View Post
My handgun collection is down to a .44 SBH and a 9mm Sig P938.
Are you dying? Or facing some other dire straits? Either way, my condolences.

Haha Ed you had me spill my drink when I read that! Anyway, as others have mentioned 2" @ 7yds with a pocket nine is hardly worth complaining about. I fully understand your frustration as one who grew up deer hunting and shooting long guns. Pistols are different, way more difficult to shoot a ragged hole with a P938 or even a 1911 @ 20ft than to shoot a 1" group @ 25yds w/ .22 rifle or @ 100yds w/ scoped .308. IMHO the 938 results you are having are totally in spec. YMMV :)
 
Walt Sherrill said:
Another thing to keep in mind...

Kyle Lamb (Guns & Ammo) and a retired military Special Ops type, has had a couple of articles recently about grip. You need to read the articles (May 2015 was the first) -- I'm just presenting one of his key ideas and I'm not doing his comments justice:

When shooting two-handed, he makes the point that the off-hand should be playing a far bigger role in controlling the gun than is usually the case. He says it ought to be doing about 6%-70% of the work of controlling and guiding the gun, while the off hand should have a less-tight grip on the gun. The reason: if you strong hand is gripping and guiding the gun with great force, it's difficult to have the trigger finger relaxed enough to smoothly press the trigger. (He also mentions, as some here have, that having the weak-hand thumb pressing against the gun too forcefully will push the weapon away from that thumb.)

It made sense as I read it, and it SEEMS to work when I try it at the range.
Click to expand...
Lol I think I just read that article! It's on my "to do" list at the range.


I'm not dying but I did inherit a few guns I don't like to shoot, so they just sit in the safe. Drives me nuts but I can't bring myself to sell them so if I have any other guns that I don't use or don't like down the road they go.
 
Some guns take a little getting used to. But IMO, if you can't put bullets where you want em within a few range trips, the guns just not for you. Sometimes it's really disheartening, but you'll find something better.
 
Try adjusting your grip and I agree, maybe more trigger finger. When I say adjust, that's very small adjustments.
I shoot with more pressure on the gun with my weak hand. Probably 70\30, 60\40 range.
 
I bought an extended magazine for my 938. It has a "pinky rest" that really helps the controllability of the gun without adding a lot of size to it. I can shoot a lot better with the extended mag.
 
Oddly enough, i recently got a p938 and your situation is nearly identical to mine. Im getting a wee bit better, to the point that im shooting 10" groups at 10 yards... Still up in the air on whether i keep this or not.
 
Sounds like a frame size fitting problem and not a light/heavy trigger issue. I have similar accuracy issues with my new Beretta Pico. Trying to find a way to grip it that stays stable when i pull the trigger. At the same time, the grip technique must be easy to achieve in an emergency quick draw situation.
 
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