Friday, November 15, 2013

Becoming Addicted

About a year ago I took up shooting as a hobby to cover golf on rainy days. My first purchase was a semi automatic 9mm Smith and Wesson M&P. I love the gun and have made it mine with a few changes. While at the range I usually also rent a revolver. I tried a bunch and didn't like the small ones. I zeroed in on a Ruger GP100 357 with a 4 inch barrel.

After a lot of research I decided to buy a revolver and bought a Ruger Blackhawk 357 with a 4.6 inch barrel and made in stainless steel. This is single action revolvers with modern upgrades. One reason for single action is that it takes more time to load and unload. And shooting in single action is, at least for me, much more accurate than double action.

After several range trips I decided it needed different grips as while the original grips are great looking they were to small. It was a great up grade. I also painted the front sight red and outlined the rear sight in white.



Sunday, September 8, 2013

9/11 Museum

Just saw a story on CBS 60 minutes and have to vent. They were discussing what to put in and what to hold back because it was too horrific.

In my opinion they should take a walk through the OKC bombing museum.

I feel that at the 9/11 museum 20% of the visitors can't make it through it and 100% of the people coming out should be crying.

WE WILL NOT FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

M&P Update

My Smith & Wesson 9mm is a tad over 6 months old. I love the gun but you have to customize it to make it your own.

When I was looking at what to buy I really liked the finger grips and trigger on the Glocks but they just didn't feel right in my hand. I have added a Hogue hybrid grip that has finger grooves and it is really comfortable. I bought it on eBay for $11 delivered. I figured if I didn't like them I was only out $11. Turns out it was the best $11 I've spent (recently).

Now for the trigger. M&P are known for long trigger pull that is 'gritty' as the trigger bar slides up the striker block. Also the articulated trigger makes it sloppy. I had learned to shoot it fairly well and wanted some help in being more consistent. APEX has come out with a trigger kit that solves all the inherent trigger quirks and makes the M&P trigger shoot like a 1911. A much shorter pull with less weight required.

While I would have loved to install it myself I decided to have a pro do the work. I picked it up today and went straight to the range. WOW, I wish I had pictures of my target. With careful aim, 10 ring was no problem. Rapid fire and I was shooting 4 inch groups.

More to follow.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Smith & Wesson M&P 9

Well, I needed something to help lower my blood pressure after the election and I needed something to do when the weather was so bad I couldn't play golf. I have always had an interest in shooting but never found a place to shoot that was convenient.

I went on a search and found a place called Range USA not to far from home. I did some research and they had an indoor range and rental guns. I thought I'd give them a try. I am glad I did.

You need to know the following happened between the November election and the shooting in Connecticut on December 14th.

I walk into the store, find a guy and say I haven't shot a pistol in 45 years and I think I want to take up shooting pistols as a hobby and I asked 'What would you do?" He asks if I will be shooting more the 4 or 5 times a month and I respond yes.  He then recommended a monthly membership that for $50 will get me unlimited range time and rental gun. Since range fee is $10 and rental gun is $10 it sounded like a deal. He then says to shoot the rentals and decide what I want to buy. Fortunately they have over 50 rental pistols in both revolvers and semiautomatics. The only stipulation was you had to use the house ammo in the houses guns. No problem as the ammo was cheap.

I asked the shop guys about availability of handguns so I'll know if I will have to wait after I order something. They say they have good stock on most popular semi autos and can get anything else, within reason, from the distributor in 3 days. They said they are having a mini run but that's not unusual after a democrat is elected president and things should settle down in a month or so.

Well I start shooting the most popular 9mm semiautomatics, Glocks, Rugers, SW, Baretta, Taurus, Khar and Springfield. 9mm because that's cheap and  shooting 22's doesn't do anything for me. I am becoming a regular and they guys say I have shot everything in the case except the revolvers. So instead of buying what I decided on, a Smith andWesson MP9L, I wanted to buy American and it was between that and a Ruger SR9. I start shooting the revolvers they have and I fell in love with a Ruger GP100 357. I didn't like the snub-nose revolvers and did like the 4 inch barrel. 357 because its not a 22 and can shoot cheaper 38 ammo.

While I was still trying to make up my mind, the tragedy in Newton Ct took place.

Within a week the only new guns left in stock were $1000 1911's. I tell them what I am looking for and they would let me know when something becomes available. I am in the store on Dec 20th and they just got in a SW 9mm. I wanted a L version but bought the regular full size on the spot. Glad I did because I love the gun. Only issue is that is was a Massachusetts version with 2 10 round magazines and a 10 pound trigger pull. I spend $20 on the internet for a new trigger spring and they install it for nothing. Range USA rocks!!!

On December 20th I place an order for 2 17 round magazines that cost $23 each. Two days later I get a back order notice. They are impossible to find and if I wanted to I could get some 10 rounders on eBay for $75 each.

I guess I picked the wrong time to pick up a new hobby. I guess I'll have to wait a few months to buy the revolver.

I have over 1000 rounds through the gun and I can hit what I am aiming at and find shooting strangely relaxing. It helps that Range USA is a great place to shoot with a great staff. The people who shoot there are white, black, brown and yellow. They are young and old, male and female. They range from white collar to redneck. If the rest of this country got along like the people at the range we'd all be better for it.