Range report
I snuck out at lunch today with my new C3 and popped-off 100 rounds; 50 each PMC Bronze and S&B 230 FMJ. I had field-stripped and cleaned it over the weekend and used the grease Sig packs with the gun for its first lube. (Went a little heavy on the grease as I usually run a new gun pretty wet for the first couple of range sessions.)
Upon firing, I was surprised that I did not feel like it had much more recoil than my steel 1911's. Noticeably more, definitely, but not as bad as I expected it to be. It was also very accurate. Out to 25 feet it was almost on par with my full-size guns. Everything in the 9- and 10-rings with a few X's. Groups opened up a bit at max distance on the indoor range, which is 45 or 50 feet, I think, but still "Paper-plate accurate" to that distance. I was more focused on function today and also in a bit of a hurry to get back to work. I believe this gun is capable of much more accuracy than I could wring out of it today.
I had three failures in the first 50 rounds, all with the PMC ammo: two were simple failures to fully return to battery where a simple nudge on the back of the slide sent it fully home and the rounds fired and ejected correctly. The third appeared the same at first but tapping the rear of the slide did not send the slide home. The round also appeared to be slightly oriented toward the inside of the slide where the first two were lined-up straight with the barrel, just not all the way in. I ejected the round and noticed a very small burr or imperfection at the case rim. I had not noticed it when loading the mag so can't be sure if it came out of the box that way or if somehow it got dinged up as it was feeding. This was a PMC round - last one in the box, first one loaded, last one out of the mag with 6 rounds of S&B on top. (I kind of doubt that had anything to do with it but I might as well mention it.) As the burr was very small and the round appeared fine otherwise, I loaded it by itself in a mag and tried it again and it fed, fired and ejected with no issue.
Overall I am pleased with the fit, finish and accuracy of my new gun. I am never pleased with any failures in any gun but I am not too put-off by three minor occurrences within the first 50 rounds from a NIB 1911. (The last three guns I've bought new in the last few years have all been perfect out of the box, including a Colt 1991.) Like any other gun, I will run a couple hundred error-free rounds through this before I would trust it for defensive purposes, but my initial impressions are very good and I believe it will get there. I did not buy this specifically to be a carry gun, anyway, and it may not actually be carried that much, even after it proves itself. I am definitely happy with it. It's a very handsome and pretty cool little pistol.
