A bit embarrassed, has this ever happened to you?

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MrIzhevsk

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Hi all,

I took one of my friends today who is a new shooter. Never shot/held a gun, nothing, even raised in an anti house. Well I didn't feel like taking my .45 because thats just not the way to start somebody off.

We ended up renting an M&P full size and going with that. I got back home today and noticed my grouping was better with the M&P by a fair amount than I was with my Jericho. I'm a little mad at myself for this, I've shot over 500 rounds with my Jericho and I normally get a decent group, but this was my first time ever picking up an M&P and I was better with it :eek:

I'm starting to wonder if its the gun and not myself...anyways, has anybody else ever gone through something like this?
 
Today I shot a 1911 for the first time in months or years and shot a group tighter than I've ever been able to do with my 92fs in the 6 months I've owned it. It was a stock Remington 1911.
 
I once borrowed a 9mm M&P, a holster, and ammo -- never having shot more than a round or two through one before -- and shot the best time/score I'd ever recorded on the IDPA Classifier course.

Some days it just "clicks" with some guns.
 
I have a full size m&p 9mm. Fits my hand just right and an easy gun to shoot. I'm no marksman but when I go to the range I can make a smile face on the silhouette target.
 
^ hmm, thats an interesting thought. Makes sense too. I'm just mad, the Jericho fits in my hand well, and I dry fire a lot and make sure to focus on not flinching and trigger pull in such. I just feel like I should be better, or perhaps the gun isn't meant for me.
 
I have a 1911, and just bought an M&P 9c not too long ago. Got out shooting it for the first time the other day, and shot significantly better with it than the 1911. It is probably just because I am a terrible shot to begin with, so the smaller, more familiar caliber in 9mm is easier for me to shoot....
 
Yeah, six years ago I went to the range with my G23, and my friend was shooting the center out of the target with his 4" Kimber 1911.

He let me shoot it, and my first thought was "well, this is going to get expensive". I owned several 1911s at the time, but none of them made me look as good as that Kimber.

I have owned/shot/sold a number of pistols since then, and a lot of 1911s. The ones that continue to work for me are Kimber 1911s. After owning eight or so, I still have four, and will probably own more in the future.

Bottom line--let go of your ego, and shoot what works for you.
 
How did your friend do with the M&P?
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Actually he was incredible with it. For a first time shooter he was consistently putting his first two shots in the same hole! He nearly outshot me and I've been shooting for 12 years now.

I was actually a little stunned at how well he did.
 
Weird how that happens...to be outshot by a talented newbie.
Had it happen at least 3x.
 
Guns that seem to naturally fit the hand well seem to shoot better without as much practice. It makes perfect logical sense. The 1911 and XD are examples.
 
I'd rented an XDM .40 4.5" several times, but when I bought the 3.8" I developed a flinch. Borrowed a .45 4.5" XDM and had no problems, but still had to work to overcome my flinch. Even with the "same" gun, you can have this issue.
 
I tend to try a lot harder and concentrate more when shooting a new gun. This is especially true when shooting a friend's gun.
 
You have just perfectly described the saying, "The gun shoots better than me". It all depends on the ergonomics of the gun and your hand size. I can never shoot a Taurus as well as I do with my XD9 or Glock. Taurus is not a bad gun, it just wasn't made for my hand. About a year ago, I was shooting my Glock 17 in the gun range. They guy next to me was shooting an XD9. I had to ask him if I could try his gun. I have never shot the XD before, but at 10 yards I was making ragged holes with it. They guy complemented me for my good groups. I told him that it was the gun. Of course, I bought the XD when I left that range. If I were you, I would consider trading in the Jericho for the M&P.
 
If I were you, I would consider trading in the Jericho for the M&P.
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But thats the thing, the Jericho is my first handgun, I'd just feel bad for giving up on my first gun, I'd rather keep it and learn to shoot it better.
 
But thats the thing, the Jericho is my first handgun, I'd just feel bad for giving up on my first gun, I'd rather keep it and learn to shoot it better.
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And that's a tough spot to be in sometimes. I have guns I really want to like, but which -- after extensive practice and head-to-head trials -- I have proven that I cannot shoot as well or as quickly/efficiently as other designs in the same caliber. Much as I feel a sentimental attachment, I have to be honest and agree that that sentimentality is the only reason I've still got the less optimal gun. That's fine, as long as the less optimal gun isn't your defensive sidearm and/or only gun. If you can afford "safe queens" and "plinkers" as well as your serious guns, there's no real reason to sell them. It's not like they take up much room. :)
 
But thats the thing, the Jericho is my first handgun, I'd just feel bad for giving up on my first gun, I'd rather keep it and learn to shoot it better.
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I have a Stoeger Cougar .40 that I REALLY like, but does not handle and point as well as my other handguns. Yes, it has great grips, but when I aim with it, it doesn't point to where I am actually looking at. My other guns, especially my Taurus PT1911, when I look at the target, unholster the pistol, raise the gun and point to exactly where I am looking at without readjusting the gun.
 
I went through something like that with shotguns. Used skeet scores to determine which one worked for me. Ended up with a brand I would have never considered. Just like shoes, one brand may work better for you than I.
 
I've always like full metal guns over 'tupperwares' and have been known to bash them a bit when I hang around with friends.
However, since I'm amongst good people I guess I'll admit that the third time I ever shot a handgun I was able to make one fist sized hole at 15yds with a Glock 21SF. Not bad considering that I had trouble before hitting milk jug sized targets at 7 the other times.
 
Not terribly relevant but, I shoot much more skillfully with my Glock 21 than I do with my Glock 17, or any other handgun for that matter.

Man I love that G21, although it is much bulkier and a lot less comfortable and ergonomic than the g17, I just shoot it like its my job and just seem to get better and better every time I shoot it.
 
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