First time range report (shooter's shop)

[flugsvamp]

After reading the other thread here on recommended shops in SE Wisconsin, I drove an hour over from Madison to Milwaukee to visit The Shooter's Shop. I met Pete, who was really polite, friendly and helpful. Being a handgun novice, he took the time to show me how to correctly hold it so I wouldn't rip my fingers off in the process.

I was interested in the Springfield XD-9, but asked him what else he'd recommend, and he suggested that I try out the Glock as well and see what type of grip angle I preferred. Since I've never shot a handgun before (just rifles) I didn't exactly have a preference.

So I went down to their basement indoor range and shot a box of 9mm - half through the xd9 first, then the second half through the glock. I was definitely not used to the muzzle flash or recoil at all. The impression I came away with was that the trigger on the glock was much longer and stiffer, I was definitly starting to wince/anticipate recoil as the pressure increased. (Pete later pointed out I was completely releasing the trigger after every shot). Also, the glock seemed to 'jump' in my hand considerably more than the springfield. In spite of this, Pete seemed to think my grouping with the glock was better - but that may be because I was starting to get used to the shooting.

Afterwards, I decided on ... neither. Instead, I took Pete's advice and signed up for an individual training class - probably the best idea in the long run.

See attachments for my first ever attempt at handgun shooting.

 

[dxkj21]

Hey bud, my pictures of targets are from the same place!! I had a thread around here about it somewhere....


Anyway... I think I know what is up... you shot through the first 25, got your bearings, and then did better on the 2nd 25... its hard to say what suits you better or not... I shot the same XD you did and didnt do super well, but it was firing nice.

Both of those are polymer guns, similar in a few ways... I would recommend trying the CZ75b that they have for rent, its a heavier gun, and some like it better (steel frame vs polymer or alloy)

Anyway i think that was a good grouping with the glock for your first time !!

Ive gone twice, and shot 100 rounds each time, and finally had someone show me how to hold the gun and squeeze the trigger right , so we will see how my next 100 go..

 

[trickyasafox]

congrats on your first pistol outing!

 

[tater_salad]

hey, glad you liked shooters shop. what time were you at the range, 2 of my friends and I went down there today from around 4:00 to 4:30 pm and shot our xds (two 9's and a 40)? did you sign up for the training class through shooters shop? if so, what are the details (cost, length of time, number of classes, etc.) I was thinking about signing up for a class, and signing my wife up too... BTW, good grouping w/ the glock for your first time!

 

[TimboKhan]

Thats some pretty nice shooting for a first try. You did group better with the Glock, or so it would appear, but you know, if I were you I would look at more than just those two guns. If your willing to spend the money on a glock or an xd (neither of which are bad guns, although I personally don't care for Glocks), then check out some of the other offerings in 9mm. At that price point you have a wide variety to choose from: Hi-Powers (which you may absolutly love, many do), CZ, Taurus 24/7, Ruger, Walther among others. Maybe you will end up back to the XD or the Glock, but hell, have some fun trying out the other stuff too....

By the way, I was never a big fan of the XD either, but I handled a long-slide version of the XD and just about took it home. I have no idea what the difference between that and the "normal" XD was/is other than the slide length, but I really dug it.....