Finally got to the range with the P-09, target photo, no video, still good

[Joe L]

Finally, after weeks of cold/rain/wind in The Hill Country, the Lonestar Range and Academy was open this week.  I went out this morning at range opening time and had the 100 yard rifle range to myself.  I decided today was "remedial trigger time day" so no video, I just wanted to see if I could still shoot the good ol' P-09 with the factory barrel and CGW trigger parts as well as I used to.  This is the original P-09 I got from 75Plus over 10 years ago.  Factory barrel and a dovetail mounted Burris FastFire 3 with a 3 moa red dot.  This is the first full size polymer gun that I purchased, and I shot it in local bullseye matches for two years before getting a CGW 97B"E".  I won a lot of matches with this pistol. 

It is also the first pistol I tried to shoot at 200 yards, again with excellent results. 

Here is target 1 of today's practice session, two 10 shot groups, slow fire, from a wrist rest.  The first group is marked with a slash, the second with a circle.  Considering how long I've been away from the range, this was a surprisingly good result:
      6 of 20 in the 10 ring
      15 of 20 in the 8 ring or better

But I did have 4 "bad" shots--one barely off the paper high right, one in the 6 ring high right, and 3 in the 7 ring.  But 3 in the x ring was a pleasant surprise. 

       

I shot two more 20 round targets before packing up and leaving.  I adjusted the zero two clicks left after the first target and that centered up the groups, but eye strain started to get to me by the third target and the group grew a little to 12 hits of 20 in the 8 ring. 

But, I didn't jerk any shots, didn't let off any shots unexpectedly, and generally just had a great day at the range with my favorite "old" pistol, so I am very happy. 

I might go back on Thursday and try to video a few good targets.  I miss not having the video to match up my comments with the results when shooting 10 round groups at 100 yards.  When I add in the video chores on top of just trying to shoot reasonably well, my results may drop off even faster than they did today, however. 

Thanks to 75Plus for getting me to try the polymer hammer gun in the first place.  He just couldn't warm up to it.  I did.  I think it found a good home here with me.

Joe L

[M1A4ME]

Joe, we've seen enough videos we believe you.

I think you're the only guy I know of on gun forums that shoots pistols at 100/200 yds. with the groups you get.

Even your bad days are better than most peoples good days.

[Joe L]

Thanks.  I do work at it. 

I went back to the range on Thursday with the P-09 after the 60 rounds on Wednesday and got in another 60 rounds total on three 20 round targets.  Results were very similar to Wednesday.  I shot video but made some technical errors so I may wait on the video until I iron some kinks out and get used to the setup once again. 

I am having the first shot from a slide lock reload hitting high problem that I've always had with this pistol, indicating the chamber end lock up isn't quite as good as it could be, similar to the P-10C and S.  I may try the same shim method on the P-09 that I used on the other pistols and maybe replace the recoil spring.

Another problem I'm still having is loosing concentration just as I release the shot and sending it either a little high or a little low.  I can call these shots so it is mental, probably related to the onset of eye fatigue due to shooting 10 shots at a time instead of 5.  I get a little weary and just "give up" on a shot and let it go instead of aborting, resting a minute or two, then going back and trying it again.  I do it even with a scoped rifle.  I just need to get back to accepting a tiny bit of wobble and let the shot go with a good trigger pull.

[Alcoy]

Joe, I agree with M1A, you are the only I know that shoots pistol at those distances.  I always look forward to reading/watching your range reports.

[M1A4ME]

Joe, that "hating to wait" thing is pretty common.  I regularly tell my wife to just stop, put the pistol on safe and lay it down on the table to take a breathing break.  Or, put it on safe, drop it down to a .45 degree angle and breath a few breaths before bringing it back up.

I catch myself doing that, too.  I'm close, just a bit more and I can get the dot where I want it to take the shot.  It's tough sometimes to slow down and do what you know needs to be done.

[Joe L]

Yep.  In my case, too many years of rapid fire -- five shots in ten seconds--when I didn't have the option of settling down.  This whole exercise is great mental training exercise. 

Joe