P-07 ready for bullseye match

[Joe L]

Well, last weekend's trial match went so well, I decided to fix the one thing that bothers me about the P-09/07 and that is the reach to the trigger in single action mode is about 3/8" too short for me.  This results in me having to work at putting pressure on the trigger exactly straight back.  So, I added some Sugru to the grip just below the dovetail, and then added some epoxy to the front of the trigger.  I did something similar to the P-09 two years ago and it worked great. 

Here is what it looks like now.  Not pretty, but functional.





Here is the trigger position after contact with the sear.  This feels good with the new dimension.  I can put my fiinger in exactly the same place each time I pick up the gun now. 



The goal here is to get a perfect and repeatable grip on the gun where the trigger finger hits the same spot on the trigger every time and then the dot doesn't move as the hammer is released.  Over the last two years, I've learned that how the gun fits in my long fingered hands is critical to consistent trigger pulls.  If I see the dot move as I release the shot, I change something.  When I can put the gun down, pick it up, and dry fire it without the dot moving, I do it several more times and see if I am consistent with the trigger pull. 

This is not pretty, this is not craftmanship.  This is an experiment, a crude prototype, and will be reversed next week...probably.  After all, this is a 3.8" barrel carry gun, but, this weekend, it is a bullseye match gun.  Once. 

Joe

[GregP220]

Go get 'em!

[Joe L]

I've still got to make some adjustments. 

I went to the range at noon and shot a 60 round practice match, outdoors, in the wind, lots of wind.  I need to widen the glob of epoxy I put on the trigger and that is about it, unless I can figure out a way to install a pretravel limit.  I need the pretravel limiter to allow me to place my finger correctly without having to slide it in a little deeper after taking up the pretravel. 

I shot a 94 timed fire target and a 92 rapid.  These results are actually very encouraging.  Consistency was not there yet, however, as I struggled at the long line compared to Sunday.  Some of that was the wind. 

Grip shape and trigger reach are good. 

The gun is lighter than the P-09 and the P-09 is lighter than the 97.  The differences show up in recoil on the rapid fire targets (5 shots in 10 seconds).  A Tactical Sport would have a real advantage here. The extra weight is why I switched from the P-09 to the 97 in the first place.  Plus the bigger holes. 

Bottom line is I am going to have to have a perfect day controlling the trigger while shooting the P-07 instead of the 97 to win the match.  I will get to practice one more time before Saturday morning, probably in 20 mph winds, but that is OK. 

This is fun.  This is not easy. 

Joe

[FakeCZName]

Joe: I carry my P-07 to protect me and my family. I don't compete. But after shooting it so much, I am confident with it, more than any other handgun. I know I could defend myself with my other handguns...but when I really want to hit the center of my target, I would choose my P-07 even over another very popular longer-barreled pistol.

You get my meaning. The gun is good. You are good. Get a good night's sleep beforehand and you will do admirably...with a good chance to smoke them.

Just aim and squeeze...its that simple, isn't it? Smok'em!

[Joe L]

FakeCZName--yep, you are right.  The targets from today were almost exactly like I had with the P-09 when I first tried it, so I am actually very happy with the little gun right now.  With the wind, I only had a fair day with the Kadet.  That is the standard, for me. 

After shooting the little P-07 a couple of times at 100 yards, there is no question about the mechanical lock up of the gun.  It is good, very, very good.  Like every P series gun I've shot so far. 

For a home/defense/carry/instructional gun, the P-07 seems to me to be the perfect size, at least in 9mm. 

Tiny details, tiny details, make the difference in the bullseye shooting discipline.  That is why I enjoy it so much. 

Joe

[nicky]

Joe,I have been thinking about building up the trigger with Sugru & I'm wondering why you used the epoxy.

[gdawgs56]

I like that trigger idea! The stock trigger breaks too far back for my longer fingers. Even with using the large backstrap I have to focus on not putting my finger too far. I guess I'm too used to my SP01's breaking point.

Might have to try that out.

[Joe L]

Joe,I have been thinking about building up the trigger with Sugru & I'm wondering why you used the epoxy.

I don't know if the Sugru will stick well enough.  You should try it and tell us!  I used the epoxy because it has worked fine on the P-09 for two years. 

By the way, I made a tape dam around the trigger and filled it in more this afternoon.  When it dries, I will shape it essentially straight and flat, full width.  Today at the range the trigger felt like a marble under my finger tip.  That didn't help.  I thought too much about the distance and not enough about the shape.  Photos in the morning. 

I also added some grip tape at the edges of the grip.  That feels great, and should help at least mentally in rapid fire.  I also added some loctite to the sight screws  and mount screws, just to make sure nothing comes loose this coming weekend. 

One more practice, I hope that is enough.  Today was good progress, really good. 

Joe

[M1A4ME]

If you can have the red dot, the epoxy and the sugru - can you add a light with batteries to the frame rail - for additional weight out front?

[Joe L]

M1A4ME--I actually considered it.  I've got a light on a P-226.  But that is too much visual distraction for a bullseye match, even for me.   I've got to be a little more subtle than that.  Let me get one more practice in.

How about I try some 8" vise-grips clamped to the rail during rapid fire?     Nah, might become a safety issue during the match if they come loose during recoil.  It's annoying enough getting hit by other people's brass. 

The only other change I made was to put the extended base pads on both magazines.  I need the length, even for a bullseye match. 

Joe

[Joe L]

Shot our local bullseye match today with the P-07 in centerfire and the Kadet in rimfire. 

1st place rimfire
1st place centerfire
1st place overall

Only 7 shooters showed up today, kind of what I expected, but still, good results.  Score with the P-07 was down compared to the CZ-97B"E" but I made my point and completed my experiment with the desired results. 

Joe 

[FakeCZName]

Wow! That is great. Any of the other shooters shoot a CZ?

[Joe L]

Wow! That is great. Any of the other shooters shoot a CZ?

These guys all shoot 1911's of one kind or another.  Not that there is anything wrong with that.   One fellow had a very nice S&W revolver today.   None except the match director (who shot IDPA)  had even seen a CZ until I showed up with one two and a half years ago. 

They can understand that the fixed barrel Kadet would shoot well.  Most do.  But the P-09 was definitely a source of consternation during the 2014 season.  The CZ-97B"E" was at least a .45 and was all steel and heavy like a 1911.  But it still resulted in lots of questions, like, "Do you have a custom 1911 on order and are you just shooting that until it gets here?"  Fortunately, most of the guys that showed up today weren't surprised or bothered by the P-07, as they know I may shoot a SIG P-226 or a 75B or a plastic gun on any given weekend. 

I even contemplated shooting a .357 SIG once a couple of years ago.  But I sold it (SIG P-226 with .357 SIG, 9mm, and .40 barrels) to a fellow bullseye shooter before I could do that.  It is a little noisy under a shed anyway. 

[Joe L]

I have now retired the P-07 from bullseye competition!! 

I installed the new CGW night sights this morning and put the Burris FF3 3moa red dot and Springer Precision mount back on the 9mm 75B 10x bushing slide. 

Today I will check the night sights on the P-07 and the Red Dot on the 75B slide.  Will be fun.  The 9mm 75B slide then becomes my back up match gun to the CZ-97B"E" and the P-07 is back to trainer/teaching/carry gun status...where it belongs. 

I really like the P series guns.  This was a good experiment.  I'm retiring the P-07 at the peak of its performance, however.

Joe

[Earl Keese]

Did you remove the sugru as well or do your trainees have large hands as well? I wear 2xl gloves so I can relate, my pinky hangs off the bottom of the 07 without the mag extension.