The firearm thread

[Mr Merde]

Haven't you just described an M14??

Civilian version. Not allowed M14 here in NZ, not to fire anyway.

[Mr Merde]

Cheers mate.

Yup, most pistols after 1985 (I believe) were designed to fit in the palm of an average hand and the little and ring fingers are used to pull it back in alingment. This is from what the tinternet told me...

S

Check out Col Colts pistols from about 1851 onwards. They have the nicest grips for control of a single action going. no one has bettered them yet.

The 1860's pistols just fit the hand and handle like a dream. The 1873 models again just work.

[Hans]

I have to agree I'm a fan of 45acp as well. Very effective, yet slow/silencers!/, cheap and generally sorted. Glock 36 for me as far as work goes. Any number of 1911 versions/clones/ for pleasure. A lot of 9mms don't fit my hand either. Too wide due to two rows in the clip...

[Wolf]

Shoot a P99, fantastic pistol, comfortable and ergonomic (As hard as a deadly thing can be) I wasn't allowed to fire it but fairly accurate too from what Ive been told.

Now we're talkin'!

Great reputation, feels good in the hand (haven't fired one, though) - a very natural point for me (YMMV). I own a CP99 - the .177 cal CO2-powered version - and the only thing I don't like about it is that it's CO2-powered (I'd prefer pneumatic for an air pistol).

I'd love to have a go with a real 9mm P99. Knowing how it points and fits my hand is only part of the equation. Handling is an entirely different matter, and I'm not discerning that by firing a gas-operated CP99.

[jrandom]

P99, fantastic pistol...

I'm sorry.

The P99 is a fine pistol, I'm sure, but I just can't get over the fact that it looks like a Hi-Point.

[Sniper]

Looks nothing like the same you heathen

[Mr Merde]

I love putting that title in. Really tongue in cheek.


So where do I go from here?

Teaching by remote something so hands on as pistol shooting is quite a hard exercise.

It comes across so dry.

One thing I have noticed with new shooters is taht they start off with such enthusiasm and then tail off when they see little improvement.

It takes time so by all means have fun. Play around with different targets, If you can shoot at different distances.

Start at 10 meters and gradually move back to 25 or evedn more. Dont let anyone tell you that pistols are not accurate at distance, Elmer Keith, Ed Mcgivern and some of those old time shooters could hit targets at 600 yards with pistols having 2-6 inch barrels. Its all in the shooter.

Ed McGivern still holds the record for the fastest time with a double action revolver. 6 shots in 45/100ths of a second. All holes could appaerntly be covered by "a silver half dollar".

I used to shoot groups of 4" at 100 yards standing and firing from an isoceles position. I'm not a real good shooter.

At my club I was one of the average shooters. On a UIT target I would score from the high 80's to the mid 90's. That is every shot in at least the 9 and 10 ring at 25 yards.

Practice raising your arm whilst holding a can of beans or similar. Dont hold for more than 5 seconds. Lower it between "shots".

Practice with your eyesight. pick a few points at various distances and heights. Teach your eyes to be able to focus on them rapidly.

This is especially true for action events where you may have to change targets quite quickly.

Find the stance that you feel comfortable with. We are all different. Lean into your stance. I have seen a lot of newbies in all aspects of shooting leaning away from the firearm, doing this is going to make you miss as your body is already anticipating the recoil. I had a Tompson Contender in 7mm TCU. It kicked like a mule until I realised that I was anticipating the recoil and leaning away. Changed my style and the recoil whilst noticable, didnt affect me so much. Recently I shot one of the new .500 S & W revolvers and a 45-70 revolver single handed. Again the recoil was fierce but controlable. I watched a good shooter, half my size double tap the .500 S & W. He had no problems.

If you have one, then learn your gun. They all feel different. They all handle differently. Get to know it so that when you pick it up you will know instinctively how it feels.

When I was training for skittle shooting, a rapid fire event, I used to sit watching TV with my .45 auto in my hand. Constantly raising it to firing point. It got to be a habit to raise it to just the riht height. It then became just a matter of fine tuning the sight picture as I fired. FWIW my best time for 5 skittles off a 1 meter wide table was 10 seconds. The septics were doing it in half that time.

When going to a shoot be it competition or training, take time to make sure you have all the equipment you will need. Readyness pays off. 2 years ago I rushed to get ready. Got down to the competition in Kati Kati and realised that I had left the cylinders back in Auckland. DUH!!!!!

I will call this a day for this little booklet

Once again please give me feedback. Tell me your experiences. Tell me your training regeimes. Talking to ones self is easy but very close to self abuse. Not really fullfilling. Critise my writings. I am 50 years old and still consider myself on the uphill climb of a learning curve.


Mr

[Swoop]

Dont let anyone tell you that pistols are not accurate at distance, Elmer Keith, Ed Mcgivern and some of those old time shooters could hit targets at 600 yards with pistols having 2-6 inch barrels. Its all in the shooter.

I've been saying that around here for a while... the "I know better because I train at three metres" brigade will have a field day with a statement like that

As for the M-14. There are quite afew around with semi-only capability rather than the original select fire capability.
Watched a rather impressive downhill shot, at a decent distance, from one of these some years back. The shooter was still rather hung-over and forgot to bring along his mags that morning, so used it single shot... The goat was none the wiser of this though!

Good write up Mr Guano! Keep them coming!

[Mr Merde]

I've been saying that around here for a while... the "I know better because I train at three metres" brigade will have a field day with a statement like that

As for the M-14. There are quite afew around with semi-only capability rather than the original select fire capability.
Watched a rather impressive downhill shot, at a decent distance, from one of these some years back. The shooter was still rather hung-over and forgot to bring along his mags that morning, so used it single shot... The goat was none the wiser of this though!

Good write up Mr Guano! Keep them coming!

Here is another useless piece of information I have picked up over the years.

Early Colt revolvers were sighted in for distances we would consider long range nowadays.

The Walker Colt was perfectly capable of accuracy up to 200 yards.

The 1851-1873 revolvers all left the factory with their sights set at 50 yards.

In US Bullseye shooting, normally done with a .45 auto, if you cant shoot a 2" group at 50 yards you wont even figure in the ratings. Thats one handed shooting not weaver stance or isoceles.

Mr

[Mr Merde]

Tonight is the first night for a long time I havent had something that needed doing.

So how did I spend it?

Sat here in the workshop refreshing the posts and working on my replacement grips for my pistols.

Scored some antler last month and decided to make from scratch some new grips for my SAA's.

Bloody hard stuff to cut. Snapped a few coping saw blades already.

Finally have them roughed out. Now to get the sander ready and start the real work.

Anyone out there in shooting land got some antlers lying around that they want to get rid of please think of me.

My first attempt is bound to stuff up.

I was hoping for some sort of discussion in the firearms thread but this didnt eventuate. Oh well there will always be another day.

Swoop, thanks for the support. It gets awfully lonely out here in the depths of Sth Auck. Felt for a while as though I was preaching to the converted or even a mirror.

I'll talk shooters or shooting or ballistics or reloading at the drop of a hat.

please someone drop a hat.

[Mr Merde]

I...

As for the M-14. There are quite afew around with semi-only capability rather than the original select fire capability.
Watched a rather impressive downhill shot, at a decent distance, from one of these some years back. The shooter was still rather hung-over and forgot to bring along his mags that morning, so used it single shot... The goat was none the wiser of this though!

Good write up Mr Guano! Keep them coming!

I thought that the M14 even when converted to semi only could still be put back to select. This is why Springfield make the M1A1 as it is and always will be semi auto only.

Looked at the Norinco version of the M1A1 but Gun City are asking stupid prices for them, especially more so when the sell in Canada for CAN$350 each.

It wasnt so long ago that the US government was giving these rifles (M1A1) away in the civilian marksmanship project.

I have a M1 carbine and would love the M1A1 to pretty closely have a matched set.

I have been thinking of 3 gun military competitions lately and would love the M1A1 for this. Along with a mlitary style pump action shotgun and a .45 semi auto.

In WW1 the US Army had battalions equiped with shotguns. One man shooting and another loading. They used buckshot (ie 9 .38 caliber balls). They were so devastating, moreso than machine guns, that the Germans complained that they were unfair. Early WMD.



Mr

[Storm]

Clunk- my hat just dropped

Seriously, many thanks for the above info on how to "get good"- I am wanting to know a bit more about pistol shooting in general and found your advice quite un-dry

[Mr Merde]

Clunk- my hat just dropped

Seriously, many thanks for the above info on how to "get good"- I am wanting to know a bit more about pistol shooting in general and found your advice quite un-dry

Whats this? Someone dropped something.

I'm going to, over the next few days, cover the 4 items I see as basic to learning to shoot pistol. If at any time feel free to butt in, correct me, question me or even take the piss.

What I will cover is basic stuff applicable to all aspects of the sport, if anyone out here needs specifics on any particular discipline then ask and I will try and do my best.

Storm

What discipline interests you?


I am a firm believer that in order to get good everyone should learn what we jokingly refer to as the "heavy breathing" side of the sport, once they have passed basic safety of course. That is the UIT style target shooting.

The best training one can do is "dry firing" ie going thru the motions with an unloaded firearm or with dummy rounds. Its all about repitition.

I bet those of you who have been riding for a while would find it hard to explain all the movements and such you perform when actually riding. Its become almost automatic. That is the secret to getting really good with pistol. Not thinking.

Imagine it if you had to think of every action when riding. You would get bogged down with trivialities. Pistol shooting is the same. I want to know that the pistol is at the right height so I can concentrate on getting my sight picture. I want to know I am controling my breathing so that I can concentrate on squeezing that trigger and achieving the supprise break.

Tomorrow I will cover the second of my 4 points.

I ahve to say it again , I am not an expert. just a really enthusiastic amateur. I can point you in the right direction as I have already made all the mistakes that you will.


Mr

[Wolf]

Looks nothing like the same you heathen

Not remotely the same. The Walther is a stylish and well-made weapon, the Hi-Point is cheap ugly crap.

I've wanted a Walther pistol for years, always liked them. My previous favourite pistol was the P-38/P1 (depending on when it was made), quite liked the P5 and now my favourite pistol is the P99.

I've also had a long-term desire to own various Walther rifles, air pistols and .22 competition pistols.

Walther GMbH kindly sent me a cloth "Walther" patch and a selection of their publications, free of charge, when I wrote expressing an interest in their products. When the hat that the patch was on got lost or nicked, I requested (and got) a free replacement patch. I finally got my Walther (well, Umarex, nowadays after the buy-out) pistol - only the CP99 but one day I hope to get one of their rimfire or centrefire weapons. The rimfire is negotiable but I'm sure you can guess which centrefire I'm aiming for...

[Swoop]

I thought that the M14 even when converted to semi only could still be put back to select. This is why Springfield make the M1A1 as it is and always will be semi auto only.

Looked at the Norinco version of the M1A1 but Gun City are asking stupid prices for them, especially more so when the sell in Canada for CAN$350 each.

No. The M-14 cannot be converted back to original spec' select fire without the lug under the receiver still being in place and also having the transfer bar in your posession. Both were removed to comply with our regulations.

I used to own a Norinco M-14, many years ago. A decent, heavy rifle. Lovely piece of work!