Day at the Range - A Newbie Perspective

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SDG

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Well, I am not brand new but I am certainly no seasoned expert either.

I recently purchased a Smith 637 - my intended CCW piece and went out to a family members acreage to have a little fun. I also brought the Ruger 22/45 and my uncle brought out his G21. My wife had here 442 as well.

Well, first off, I had a ND with the 637. The gun was pointed down range and I had the hammer cocked. I decided to uncock it and somehow I did something wrong - I don't remember precisely. Maybe my thumb slipped, maybe I depressed the trigger before my thumb was ready - I just don't know exactly. Inattention was part of the problem. No one hurt though as the gun was pointed in a safe direction.

I remember reading an article about cocking revolvers during a SD situation and how that hair trigger is not a good idea - especially when under stress. I think that I see the point now. I am going to have to think long and hard about that one.

Then, since this was my first time with the 637, I proceeded to try and kill the paper that we had brought. The bullseye was fairly safe. My group was a little larger than I would like, but the real problem was that they were all 3-4" off to the right. Was it the gun? Was it me? I'm, not sure.

I then took up with the Ruger and found that the sights were off significantly. I re-adjusted and proceeded to get reasonably small groups - not great but OK.

Then I tried out the G21. What a difference. I proceeded to clean out the bullseye with the first mag. I was seriously impressed with the sights and with the gun in general.

So, to the point, I am not all that excited about my 637 anymore. I was very accurate with the Glock but the 637 couldn't find the target. What can you do when you have fixed sights that are difficult to line up due to their lack of markings? Is this a technique issue or is that just part of the J-frame bargain? Now, I know that the 637 is not a long range weapon but I don't think that 5 or so yards is too much to expect.
 
I know you mentioned your AD was in SA mode, but still - were you shooting the 637 DA or SA?
 
I was shooting both DA and SA. It didn't seem to make much difference. Now, I guess I should have shot my wife's 442 but that will have to come next time.
 
The snubnose revolver is a difficult gun to master. It is no surprise you did better with the Glock, which has a hand-filling grip, lighter trigger, better sights and less harsh recoil. But it won't fit in your pocket. ;)
 
Glad nobody was hurt and I applaud you for admitting error and asking for help.

For analyzing your shooting...Shooting correction target.

Important rules to learn...Jeff Coopers Four Rules
aaaaaand
It might be a good idea to get some professional help/training and then practice, practice, practice, That includes getting some snap caps and practicing your gun handling until you essentially -can't- make a mistake.

(When practicing with snap caps all live ammo must be locked away and you must check, double check, and check again before beginning dryfire practice. If you put the gun down and come back you CHECK AGAIN before resuming practice...be safe).
 
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While it is good to hear that no one got injured, a ND at any time is disconcerting and should be a red flag that something is seriously wrong!

In reading your post further and learning of your disappointment in your shooting with certain guns one question becomes obvious...

Where did you learn to shoot? Where did you learn about grip, stance, sight picture, trigger control and, most of all, safety? I suspect, though, that you have had little or no formal instruction in shooting.

Shooting a firearm, and a handgun in particular, is a lot more complex than it may seem. You have to do a number of physical actions, in the proper sequence, with the proper control. All the while being concious of your surroundings and directions.

While some have more aptitude than others - like some have natural aptitude for athletics, music or math - a solid base of fundamentals is a tremendous help in learning and understanding the intricacies of marksmanship. Find a good instructor, or if you have decided to own a gun for self defence consider taking a basic course at a acclaimed school such as Gunsite or Thunder Ranch. While the courses that these schools offer are not cheap, the skills and mental attitude they will teach you will stay with you for a lifetime and can possible save your life or that of someone else.
 
Start close to the target and develop a group, then move back to say 20'.That's about the maximum you will be proficient with a snubbie anyways. I know "experts" will say they can hit anything up to 75', but the snubbie wasn't designed or intended for that. Work on a smooth trigger pull and center mass point and shoot. Chuck.
 
As others have mentioned - snubbies are a tricky thing to get good with. Practice, practice, practice. I shoot my fiancee's every so often, and am consistently shocked at how quickly my skill fades with lack of trigger time.

Take your time when you shoot - make sure you're keeping the 4 rules in mind. Make it a point to know exactly what you're doing with your gun whenever you have it in your hand - inattention takes but a second to turn very, very serious.

If I may ask, how was the recoil from that G21? I'm considering purchasing one. Either that, or a G17. If it's not much different recoil-wise than my 1911, I'll just go w/ the G21 for simplicity sake.
 
Well, I have had some formal training - although not much. I recently got a membership to a local range and may check out what they have to offer.

As far as shooting goes, I am a reasonably good shot. I often aim at and hit targets no larger than my thumb with a pellet pistol. That is more or less what I achieved with the Glock. Maybe there is more of a challenge to the snubbie than I was expecting though.

As far as recoil on the G21 goes, I found it to be quite manageable. It felt approximately the same as the snubbie although on a different platform. My wife - average build for a woman - also shot it and found it to be manageable. The only thing was that the grip was quite large. It fills your hand and then some.
 
I found the problem. It appears that the front sight is misaligned somehow. The barrel is either not square with the frame of the gun or it is twisted somehow. I think that it is just not square. I guess we will be taking a little trip back to the factory.

I am sure that I still need lots of practice but it is good to know that I am not quite as bad a shot as the target indicated.
 
You got to be kiddin' me. A S&W with a flaw? How can that be? If you do enough reading here it would seem that any S&W is perfect and all Rossi, Taurus and Hi Point guns are junk. Surely you jest!:p
 
I just laid the gun on a flat surface. On one side, I can slide 2 quarters under the barrel. On the other side, it's a no-go.

The barrel is not square with the frame.
 
WOW

SDG: Sir; good posting. More of us needs to be honest with our outings.:D
It will take a little more patients to get the 637 to come in for you. Shooting my 638; I routinely mess around at the 100yd mark. Sir; practice.
This is the first post that I have read about SW barrel being overly turned. It happened at one of the Ruger post. WOW factor.
Follow up with your experiences:)
 
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