Ok, what's my problem with Hollowpoints?

[Rugerlvr]

I went to the range today. I recently filed my application for a Utah Concealed Firearm Permit, and I've got a few guns I think I'd like to carry. I've always had a few boxes of hollowpoints laying around, and I load those in my guns for home defense, but I've never actually shot them.

My instructor (THR's Correia) said in class that if you're gonna carry with different ammo you better practice with that ammo at least a little, and cycle through your defense ammo regularly. Makes sense, so I took my old hollowpoints to the range today.

I started shooting my 642 with Magtech 158 gr. LRN at 15 yards. No problems. This is a new gun, and the iron sights are surprisingly accurate with that ammo. Then I whipped out the Remington Golden Saber +P 125gr hollowpoints. I shot a whole box of them, and I made the mistake of shooting on a previously shot up target. Well, I have no idea where any of them went. Then I ran some .45 Golden Sabers through my 1911, and it was the same story. I could not tell you where they went. Not one even made the black.

Is this just a matter of bullet weight? The sights are set up for the 158gr standard velocity cartridge, and the 125 gr shoot high or something?

I'm clueless. I'm probably going to get some crimson trace grips for the 642, and I'll go to a range where I can fire a few shots and return my target, and hopefully sight in the laser that way. But for now, I'm thinking I better just load the LRN if I'm gonna use the iron sights.

Anybody have any insights?

 

[Majic]

Get some clean big targets and determine the POI. The 125 grainers should be shooting lower than the 158 grainers in the revolver. Who knows how your 1911 shoots. It could be the ammo, the pistol, or the shooter. Trial and error will tell.

 

[dispatch]

Guns are designed for a specific bullet. 38/.357 = 158 grain. 45 acp=230 grain. They work best with those. That's my opinon.

 

[Steve C]

I've found all the factory Remington GS ammo to be very accurate in the guns I've shot them in. I've fired .357 mag from 4" S&W's, .38 spl from a Colt DS and S&W 67, and 45 ACP 230gr loads through 1911's and Sig 220.

If you where shooting and not hitting where you where aiming I'd suggest that you where not paying as close attention to the basics as you did with the first rounds you shot. This could be a little fatigue or just nervousness with the new ammo. Most likely you started jerking the trigger or anticipating recoil that you thought would be different.

 

[Sunray]

"...a previously shot up target...I have no idea where any of them went..." And why does this surprise you?

 

[TAB]

could not tell you where they went. Not one even made the black.

1st shoot a clean target.

None of them in the black is not very surprizing, if your use to shooting "target/ plinking loads" Its not uncommon for shooters that don't shoot higher power stuff to often, to flinch or others wise forget thier fundamentals.


I admit I've even done it. 1st time I shot a 500SW( got to shoot one of the prototypes) 1st shot was about a 2" high 10 yrds. the remaining 4 were all over the place. The recoil/ blast of the gun, made me flinch for the remaining 4 shots.

 

[Elvishead]

Get some large white B-27 silhouettes. And circle the shots from ever wheel with a marker.

Shoot, bring in, mark, and bring back out to shoot again. Get it? Now you can keep track of all your shots.

 

[Rugerlvr]

One of my problems is that I shoot at a highly structured outdoor range, where they open the range for 15 minutes, and you have one target to shoot at, then they close the range for 5 minutes to change targets. I need to go to an indoor police style range where the target can be retrieved at will.

Anyway, I have a pretty good memory for seeing new shots appear in the black. I use Birchwood Shoot-n-see targets, to help me out. Anyway, Yeah, I'm gonna have to go to a different range, and buy more of the expensive ammo to shoot :/

Oh and since my range is a Division of Wildlife Resources Hunter's education and safety range, they don't allow human shaped targets, or 7-yard distances. It's either generic targets, or animal shaped ones, and 15 yards is the closest target stand.

 

[csmkersh]

Rather than buying a bunch of targets, buy a pack of 100 paper plates. They are roughly the size of the thorax and if you can cover your shots at 7 yards with a closed fist and on the paper plate, you're good for a "GO."

​

 

[weisse52]

Rugerlvr:

Not sure where you are, but if you like outdoor ranges give this place a try.

http://utah.citysearch.com/profile/map/10344666/bountiful_ut/bountiful_lions_club_rifle.html

They have a seperate area for handguns and it will give you a chance to put targets where you want and change them often.

We have several options for indoors as well. For me, I like shooting outdoors.

 

[tipoc]

Look in the Yellow Pages for other ranges. But the rules at the one you were at are fairly standard for outdoor ranges, well other than the target shapes.

tipoc

 

[weisse52]

Like I said. Give the Bountiful range a try you will be able to accomplish what you want.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Another helpful approach is to go to your local news paper and get a "roll end" You then have something that is about 30" wide and as long as you want it (usually are $2.50 - $4.00). Put that under all of your targets and mark it with a grease pencil (or just put up a new one each time).