Cleaned a timed fire target with my 97B"E" today, first one

[Joe L]

I've been out of town on business, so I was a little rusty on Sunday and didn't even shoot the .45.  But, today, I had an exceptionally good 600 practice match with the Kadet, so I got out the .45 and shot up the last of my ammo (more here by Thursday). 

First 10 rounds of timed fire (25 yards standing, single hand, 5 shots in 20 seconds twice, today in a cross wind) was a 94 with two "bad" shots that I knew were not good when I released them.  Marked them and shot the next 10 rounds more carefully, correcting what I did wrong, and had all 10 ring hits.  This is the first clean target I've shot with the 97, and only the 4th for me with any centerfire gun.  The other three were with the P-09.   

As always, the gun has been perfect since CGW sent it to me.  Shooter has worked hard to get a perfect grip shape and trigger reach, and to refine the trigger control for the "big" gun. 

I now have a DaveB grip on one side of the gun, and a rubber one on the other side, and the DaveB grip has been modified slightly.  Gun is ugly, and I don't mind at all---it absolutely confounds the 1911 fan boys at our local matches.  Not as irritating as the JB-Weld on the P-09 grip panels, but close.  I want my competitors thinking about my gun instead of their trigger control, LOL.

This is fun. 
This is not easy.  Target photo tonight. 

Joe

[Tok36]

Keeping the 1911 guys on their toes, just like it should be.

[Joe L]

Thanks, Tok36. 

Here is the target.  Shot first 10 rounds, scored and marked, 94.  Went back to the line and fired off the next 10 rounds, all in the 10 ring.  Average of 97, about what I usually do on good day.  The 94 was low, due to a couple of weeks of not shooting the 97.  The second 10 was "better".  Need more ammo.



Joe

[MissionaryMike]

It's amazing how well you shoot with both your 97 and 09.  Can you shoot as well with just iron sights?  Does the red dot help that much with your precision?

[Joe L]

MM--I got a SIG out of the safe last weekend and took it to the range instead of the 97.  It is an all stainless 9mm pistol similar in weight to the 97 but it has iron sights.  I was able to shoot it almost as well as the 97 in slow fire at 50 yards and timed fire at 25.  In rapid fire at 25, I was slower to get it back on target due to aligning the front and rear sights with the x ring so my scores dropped a few points.  I could practice a bunch and get close, but I think this is the reason why a red dot is used by most bullseye shooters.  Plus I have to use some glasses with a focal length set for the front sight when using irons. 

To me, the dot is a real improvement over irons for bullseye.  At any real distance, like 100 yards and more, the dot makes a big difference in how consistently one can aim the gun.  I've shot good groups at 100 yards with iron sights, but am much more consistent with the same gun with a red dot.  Maybe 2-3" smaller five shot group with the red dot, say 5" average with the red dot, 8" with open, 100 yards from a rest.  But that is just me and my eyesight, I think. 

The red dot has to have a small diameter dot.  "Tactical" red dots may have an 8 moa dot, way to fat for precision shooting.  I have a 3 moa dot in the Burris sights and a 2 in the Ultradot on the 22 Kadet.  I'd have a 2 moa dot in the Burris if it were available. 

Joe