And then I fell in love...

So, in actuality, this was the third gun I shot on ladies night, but the story goes better if I tell you about it last.  Here's what you've been waiting for!

Isn't it pretty?  Ok, I know pretty isn't really important, but in addition to pretty, this gun fits perfectly in my hands.   In fact, it's the first single stack pistol I've every had fit my hands well.  The magazine was easy to load.

Thinking about it just now, I don't know that I've ever read anyone else commenting on the differences in magazines.  Maybe it's just me, but some of them are not so simple to load.  Take the M&P for example, after I get the first round in it's no real problem, but that first round is a struggle for me! 

Right, so back to the EMP.  Yes, that's a Springfield EMP.  It's their scaled down 1911 for 9mm rounds.  Others far more knowledgeable that I have gone through how Springfield modified the 1911 basics to make this little guy, so I'll let you read those for more detail.  Here, here, and here.

All I can tell you is what I saw and felt in the 5 shots I got.  The sights were fabulous, easy to see and aim.  The trigger was smooth, soft, and easy to pull.  More so than perhaps anything I've shot I found that I didn't think about the trigger pull.  I'm not sure how my grouping was, since the targets were pretty well used...but my last round I aimed for an un-marred part of a target and lucky shot of not, that bullet went right where I wanted it to!

But, no matter how much I loved it, I can't justify the price right now.  Especially considering that I can get two other guns for that price.  Sigh...I'll put it on the dreaming list and rent it if I get the chance. 

Smith and Wesson M&P

Husband and I finally made it to the range last week.  I took the opportunity to try out another pistol on my list, the Smith and Wesson M&P.  The one I tried was a 9mm compact.

Springfield XD

I put a few rounds through a friend's Springfield XD 9mm at the range a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it.

Google says it's not me!

Went to the range today with husband.  I was feeling kind and decided to re-try the PX4 storm compact.  Suffice to say our relationship did not improve.  However, I did get lots of failure to feed and/or extract practice.  Woo hoo!  Really, shooting is less that fun when you go through 50 rounds having to rack the slide by hand for each one...

Upon finishing, we turned in the gun and the counter guy asked how it was.  I explained that we just didn't get along at all.  He seemed to think that I was limp wristing or something of that nature.  I explained that this is the only gun (other than a Kel-Tec PF9 aka stupid tiny gun) I've had any problems with.  I was perfectly willing to accept that there is something about me and the pistol that just didn't mesh, I was even going so far as to wonder is my cross dominance and the spiffy rotating barrel mechanism just made the perfect failure storm.  No matter how much I love the feel of it, and even though I'm super accurate with it, one round at a time just doesn't cut it! 

So, I get home and do a quick search.  The FTE problem is mentioned on many boards and several review articles.  Mostly with wither women or lighter ammo.  Turns out enough people have had similar problems that Beretta looked into it and now offers replacement guide rods and recoil springs for those that are too stiff and result in problems. 

Photo from handgunmags.com as I forgot to take the camera to the range.

Ha! It's not just me!  Well, it's probably just that I'm a girl or something since the husband had no problems even when intentionally holding very loosely.  I hate admitting that I'm weak.  It happens more than I'd like in a job the requires manhandling cattle, but at least now I know that there is a problem that is more than just me.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me.  It was really bothering me that I couldn't fix the problem, no matter how I held the gun, focused on and stiffened my wrist, aligned my arm, etc.

Beretta PX4c

I've had this little guy on my list for a while, just hadn't gotten there yet.  But, I finally made time!  The range had three to rent, a full size, compact, and a sub-compact.  I went with the 9mm compact, small, but not too small.

Single, double, or safe?

No relation to baseball, promise!  Single, double, and safe are all types of actions on semiautomatic pistols.  The action refers to what happens when you pull the trigger.

 

Sig Sauer P220

Another gun I tried out down in Tennessee.

H&K p2000

Rented this a couple weeks ago at the range and am just now getting to writing up my thoughts.

The match pistol

Again down in TN.  I tried out Seth's .22 ruger that he has fitted out as a target match pistol.  It's a Ruger, with big comfy grip, scope, etc.  We had it on beanbags for stability and were shooting the reactive targets.  I felt like it would stand up on its own.  all you had to do was line up the sights and pull the trigger.  Easy, fun, almost too easy!

Glock 36

On of the many guns I tried out down in TN, you'll be reading about all of them over the next couple weeks.

Beretta 92FS

This is my husbands preferred gun.  He's had it for longer then I've known him and easily put 10,000 rounds through it.  It was my first real experience with a handgun.

Walther PPS

I tried out a Walther PPS at the range a couple weeks ago. 

Stock photo from waltherpistols.com

Review: Glock 21

We acquired this gun recently in a trade and I really enjoy shooting it.

Specs:

• Length: 7.59 Inches
• Overall Width:1.47 Inches
• Barrel Length: 4.6 Inches
• Line of Sight: 6.77 Inches
• Weight (unloaded):26.28 Ounces
• Weight (loaded): 38.28 Ounces
• Caliber: .45 auto
• Capacity: 10
• Height: 5.47 Inches
• Action: Safe Action
• Trigger Pull: 5.5 Pounds (ours was lightened, but I don't know what to)

I wasn't sure I'd like this the first time out.  It's a .45, larger than anything I'd ever shot.  However, I loved it.  It is comfortable in my hand and very much a point and shoot for me. I don't feel the recoil as much from this gun as I do from my husband's 9mm Beretta. It comes right back down onto target after each shot.  Simple and crisp.

It's a bit large for my hand, so that I have to shift the gun to hit the mag release, but I don't have any trouble holding it or getting my finger on the trigger.  It fit's the husbands hand well also, which is good since we share everything!

Husband doesn't love that it does not have an external safety, but other than that, we both really like this gun.  I can get fairly tight groups (for the beginner that I am) at 7yards.  We'll see how it goes as I shoot further.  (I'm getting ready for the CCDW test which is at 7 yards)

Semi-automatics: How do they work?

Being me, I like knowing how things work when I'm going to be using them.  At least the basics that is.  To that end, I wondered how all the internal spring etc of a semi-automatic pistol work together to load the ammunition, eject the casing, and cock the hammer.  I found this you tube video. 

Please ignore the cheesy 1980s-ness of it  It does a great job of explaining the process, despite horrifying mustaches.

If you want even more detail, try this Glock video.  You'll have to read, but it does show every little part.