Another day at the range

R

rt11002003

New member
Took a Kimber SOLO 9mm, a SIG p232, a Beretta 84FS and a Browning BDA to my local range, along with a Ruger Mark iii Target Model. Fun day!

Impressions: The SOLO and the SIG tied for accuracy. The SIG is a slightly softer shooter. Both have less recoil than the Beretta and the Browning; they both seem very harsh to me. One time it felt as though something like a ball bat had struck my hand. I need to shoot them by themselves to avoid comparisons. Except for the controls, the Beretta and the Browning are nearly identical. Their shooting patterns are even the same.

The SOLO is a primary carry gun and gets exercised every month. The others, not so often.

The Ruger was fired at small black dots (hits turn them yellow) less than a half inch. At 25 yards, using a six power scope, it's easy to see them and to see the hits. Moving out to 35 yards, my old eyes have trouble seeing the dots and can't see an individual hit. Ruger Mark iii's are accurate! I've shot a S&W Model 41 and a Hammerli Xesse Sport a lot, both of which are very accurate. I can't shoot one of those .22's any better than the other.
 
I use exactly that Kimber recommends, HP premium ammo. It hates RN ammo, though I've heard after several hundred rounds through it the SOLO will handle them. The SOLO was tricky for me to learn. I had several failures to load until I figured out what it liked.

First, the slide must be locked back (no easy task). Then the loaded magazine can be inserted. If the slide isn't locked back, the magazine won't seat properly, then it won't load the round correctly. The final step is to pull the slide back to unlock it and let it go. Releasing the slide with the slide lock is not good.

At that point the loaded magazine can be removed, a round added and the magazine seated. With a round in the chamber, the magazine seats without a problem. And, the gun works perfectly. I have well over 300 rounds through the SOLO without a hiccup.

Yes, I love to shoot quality guns. Wish I could afford all that I like. But, friends with nice guns is also good.
 
Curious to hear what you think about the 84FS. It was uncomfortable for me to shoot with a thumbs high grip with my strong side thumb resting on the safety. The beavertail was too short and the corner of it would dig into the web of my hand. I ended up having to switch to a thumbs down grip and eventually lost interest in shooting it. Shame too because its very accurate.
 
The 84FS was the gun I was referring to when using the ball bat comment. It beat me up, not in the manner you're talking about. It was harder on me than the .45's and 357's I shoot every now and then.

I think it boils down to two things for me. First, I have bad arthritis in both hands, so hard impact is very unpleasant. I don't think I control the 84FS very well. Probably because of its size. It's a handful; my hands are small. It's a relatively small gun and not balanced that well. I shoot several guns with large grips, like a HK Mark 23. And, don't seem to have the control issue, nor the impact.

And, the SOLO is tiny, yet seems to have light recoil and impact. Lighter than the 84FS, by far.

I'm with you; I don't find it fun to shoot.
 
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