Took the XDM to the shooting range

masraum · 06:34 PM

I took my new Springfield Armory XDM 9mm to the range today. I went with a buddy from work that's got S&W 357mag revolver.

The day I bought it, I went and put about 75 rounds through it. Today was my first serious attempt at paying attention to what was going on with my grip, and eyes/focus, etc..., trying to really pay attention to what I was doing to try to make things better.

I've been reading as much as I can online, and have been dry firing the gun to practice my grip and trigger control.

It's a dirty, dingy, hot & muggy indoor range with poor ventilation. I was shooting through foggy safety glasses the whole time and breathing in prodigious amounts of gun powder smoke. I can't wait to go get my membership to the private range that everyone around here recommends.

I think we rang about 250 rounds through my gun and about 100 through his. I think he shot about 30-50 of the rounds through my gun and I got to shoot several through his. The trigger of his was really nice and smooth and light whether I fired DA or SA. Actually, SA in his took a little getting used to.

I felt better than the first time I went out, but still have a long way to go.

This was at 3 yards. The headshots were with my buddies gun shooting DA. I wish my bullets made those nice clean holes.
The shots around the X were with my gun, and the shots in the upper torso were my attempt at controlled pairs aiming for that top 8 (trying to make the most of the targets)

This was about half and half left and right handed only at 3 yards. (usually only load my mags to 15 rounds)

This was 7 yards

This was my attempt at controlled pairs at somewhere around 10-12 yards (tried to get halfway between the 7yd and 15yd marks). My aim was for the head, center and the 7 down at the bottom.

So, if I'm ever "attacked" by someone who's 30-35' away that will stand still while I shoot them (while they're attacking me, but also standing still?). I should do ok if I have a full magazine or two. (which would be 38 bullets in my gun)

It's apparent that I'm pretty consistently shooting to the left. Something that I need to work on. I felt like my grip was much better than when I went shooting with redbeard, and the other two times that I've been shooting. I think that helped. But I think it's inconsistent. I need to work on slowing down and really thinking about everything with each shot, I think.

My buddy did really poorly with my XDM. I was surprised because it feels so good to me. But I don't think he's got much handgun experience either. And I noticed on the first two times that I went to the range to try different guns that I shoot very differently with different guns. My buddy probably needs some instruction, and an XDM just may not be the right gun for him.

Now I'm going to go clean the thing.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Looks more than adaquate to me for a defensive handgun. Perhaps drifting the rear site a bit to the right would move your groups over.
Jim

HardDrive · 08-22-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

Looks more than adaquate to me for a defensive handgun.

LOL. Ya think?

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-22-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

It's apparent that I'm pretty consistently shooting to the left. Something that I need to work on. I felt like my grip was much better than when I went shooting with redbeard, and the other two times that I've been shooting. I think that helped. But I think it's inconsistent. I need to work on slowing down and really thinking about everything with each shot, I think.

This might help--try it before you start making any adjustments:

Diagnostic targets

ZLP · ZLP's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

Looks more than adaquate to me for a defensive handgun. Perhaps drifting the rear site a bit to the right would move your groups over.
Jim

Negative, he needs to work on his trigger control and the groups will move to the right.

masraum · 08-22-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

This might help--try it before you start making any adjustments:

Diagnostic targets

Thanks, I think I remember nostatic posting that or something like it before. I made pretty much the same post on a gun forum that I've started reading. Someone posted this in response to my post.

http://www.targetshooting.ca/docs/grp-analysis.pdf

I think that the link above and the image that you posted together should be very useful for me getting my precision to improve.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Steve, you need to buy a .22 now, and work on grip and trigger control. It is the only affordable way.

m21sniper · 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zlp

negative, he needs to work on his trigger control and the groups will move to the right.

+1

Breath control and trigger control are key. Once you shoot quarter sized groups at 7yds then you can start worrying about moving your sights around. Until then, there would be little point.

m21sniper · 08-23-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Steve, you need to buy a .22 now, and work on grip and trigger control. It is the only affordable way.

I was just shooting one of those nice little walther .22 autos yesterday. My my what a nice little pistol that was.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I got that exact P-22 for my wife to have something to do at the range while I shoot the expensive calibers. Jordi helped her turn a corner with it about a year ago and she's been a decent shooter ever since. Sure is cheap to to hand her a 500 pack of .22 and know she won't come close to going through it all.

m21sniper · 08-23-2009, 07:29 AM

Yeah, i really liked it, esp. the model with the laser built into it. REALLY nice little pistol, and surprisingly inexpensive too.

charleskieffner · 08-23-2009, 07:40 AM

OH MY!..................that target is really DEAD! congrats!

charleskieffner · 08-23-2009, 07:43 AM

since ya got 250 rds thru it. tear it all apart and NOTE any wear spots,high spots,binding etc. address this with smithy. if ya need trigger job or any other goodies now is the time.

after rebuild shoot what grouped best a few times, clean it, and leave it the hell alone. use only ammo that grouped best for the rest of its life. unless plinking.

masraum · 08-23-2009, 09:13 AM

Thanks all for the advice. Yeah, I suspect at this point, the gun is far more accurate/precise than I am. Rather than compensating via the gun/sight and enforcing my bad habits. I'll just keep practicing until I get rid of my problems.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I shot the P22 last night (got it for Calvin) and it is too small for my hands to be comfortable. The Buckmark otoh is damn near perfect.

While not a handgun, this is a pretty dead target (from 7m):

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

My room mate has P22. I have not gotten to shoot it yet but I do like the feel in my hand. I have shot one of the buckmarks and they are amazing. The only plus for the P22 for targets is that it is lighter. Go see which one fits your hand better and buy ya one. You won't regret it for targets.