Went to range Saturday

[Denzien]

I will not be as in-depth here as I wish I could be.  This was only my 3rd time ever shooting pistol, and I was focused on form and good habits more than the operation of the gun.

Had a pretty successful day at the range with my much more experienced friend, though.  Between us, we had my P-09, his Glock 21, his Remmington 1911, and he rented a Chiappa Rhino at the range just to see what it was like (everything but the trigger was quite nice.  Very heavy trigger, and a peculiar rough or notchy feel).  The Chiappa is not represented on my target.

Overall, the P-09 functioned very well, though I did have two jams which has been attributed to some slightly bulging Winchester ammo that would not feed.  Fired about 30-40 rounds before retiring it for the session.  Very disappointing.  I will probably go through the remaining stock of these and try to weed out the ones that will not feed before I go back to the range.





After dinking around a bit on a silhouette target, we switched to this one.  This was set at about 7 or 8 yards.

I first shot the CZ five times in the upper left, then switched to the lower left for the next 15.  I'm still trying to get a handle on my flinching, and this is a much better grouping than I have previously shot with 9mm, including with a CZ 75 I rented a month or two ago in my second ever range trip.

Next I shot my friend's Glock 21 in the upper-left and shot high and left of the target.  The trigger was interesting, and I can understand why striker-fired pistols are so popular.

Finally, I shot the 1911.  I was low with this one, which my friend admits might be the sights, but I was very consistent with it with just a few fliers.  I've always wanted a 1911, but the one I want is much more expensive than the P-09, so it'll have to wait. 

I did not shoot the CZ again because of the jamming issue with the ammunition I brought.  I wonder if I would have had better consistency with it after getting myself under control with the 1911.

[Denzien]

Went to the range again today.  After a thorough cleaning and lubing following the previous session, I had another FTF in the first 10 rounds.  After that though, I shot 130-150 rounds without issue (including the round that had previously jammed).

I'm still getting used to shooting pistol in general, so I was still at 7 yards, but I shot a ragged hole near the center target in SA and another ragged hole in the lower left target in DA only.  Moved it out to 15 yards and did OK there until fatigue kicked in.

Though I've only taken it out twice, so far I like the gun.  I'll get a pic of the target when my phone gets charged.

[Riptide439]

Keep those P09 reports and updates coming.
Prictice is will break that bugger in. My P07  didn't start to break in until about 500 rounds.

[FakeCZName]

Denzien: I have always been a rifle shooter--big and small. My father was a Fed. Law Enforcement officer and introduced me to pistol shooting.

So, I hope you will benefit from this: About the flinching. That is a bigger problem than anything else in marksmanship. I'm glad you are enjoying your P-09; but if you follow my advice you can eliminate your flinch and shoot every gun better. Switch to a .22 LR pistol for a while. Shoot about a hundred rounds with the .22. Watch your groups shrink into one hole groups (eventually). After you have become comfortable with shooting the .22, then dry fire your P-09 in the same way you shoot the .22. then have someone load it for you but not tell you when it is loaded and shoot it at the range. If you still have a flinch it will show up when you drop the hammer on an empty chamber (because you will not know when it is empty). As long as you flinch shoot only .22. When you shoot centerfire, make yourself take a breath and slowly exhale half of it as you squeeze trigger. Concentrate only on accuracy and not flinching. Do not rapid fire. One slow careful shot at a time until flinch is gone.

If you do this--you will shoot all guns better. Not just pistols. all guns.

[Denzien]

Thanks for the thoughts, FakeCZ.  That very idea had crossed my mind at some point, but this requires purchasing another pistol and a different type of ammo    Shame there isn't a .22 conversion for the duty pistols.  I'm going to head to the range during the week at lunchtime to run a few more rounds through it, keep the sessions short and try to quit when I get ahead.


Finally got the pic from my cellphone:




I don't remember what I was trying in the upper-left, but I think I was becoming fatigued.  I started this target at 7y in the center, then moved to the lower left for DA practice and then to 15y.  Plus some miscellaneous things.

Need to start working out to build up my stamina.

[Denzien]

Think I'm getting myself dialed in somewhat.  Still jumped the recoil a few times...sometimes badly
I also rented a CZ 75B from the range to compare.  I didn't keep the silhouette I shot first, where I alternated between 75B and P-09.  I was able to shoot the head better with the 75.  The weight probably helped keep my aim slightly steadier, and it felt great in the hands.

Prior to this range trip I was holding softly, as if I was trying to convince myself that the gun could not fly out of my hands - and to force myself to relax.  I'm starting to use a more positive, stronger grip and I noticed that I did best when I maintained relative grip strength of 60/40 (40% strong hand) which seemed to allow me more freedom with my trigger finger.






^^^ I was not going slow

[1SOW]

Targets are already showing improvement.
Buy a snap cap or three.
With two or more mags, load them and insert a snap cap or two randomly as you load..
Put them behind your back and shufle them.  Shoot as you have been.  When you get to the snap-caps, they''ll "show you" any flinch or recoil anticipation.  They'll also let you know when you stop anticipating the shot.   A side benefit is practice clearing a FTF .  Useful tools.
I've found really concentrating on the front sight at and after the shot helps flinch.  Watch the front sight    Don't think about the bang, concentrate on SEEING the front sight rise and fall back to the target--stay with it full cycle.  When it settles back on target, shoot again.  Try starting at 7 yds and when satisfied, move to 10 yds.

[Denzien]

Targets are already showing improvement.
Buy a snap cap or three.
With two or more mags, load them and insert a snap cap or two randomly as you load..
Put them behind your back and shufle them.  Shoot as you have been.  When you get to the snap-caps, they''ll "show you" any flinch or recoil anticipation.  They'll also let you know when you stop anticipating the shot.   A side benefit is practice clearing a FTF .  Useful tools.
I've found really concentrating on the front sight at and after the shot helps flinch.  Watch the front sight    Don't think about the bang, concentrate on SEEING the front sight rise and fall back to the target--stay with it full cycle.  When it settles back on target, shoot again.  Try starting at 7 yds and when satisfied, move to 10 yds.

Great suggestions, thanks!