Long winter at the range

[GypsmJim]

I don't get brass in the face. I have a Ruger and it's a POS. I should have phrased that differently, the targets have a 6" center ring. I get a much smaller pattern. That is point and shoot. But anyway, I wasn't trying to brag. If you don't like Taurus semi autos, well that's your preference. I preferred it to the Shield for sure.

Pick any style of handgun, and then check reviews of all the competitive brands. For any given model you will find comments like "worst trigger I ever saw", and "best trigger I ever saw". Personal preferences differ widely.

When I bought my Max 9 I was lucky in that my LGS had it in stock, but also had a P365, a Shield, a Hellcat, yada, yada - ALL the various ones. After trying them all I picked the Ruger. It ran 100% out of the box and now after 1000 rounds it just keeps getting better.

 

[GypsmJim]

I need to practice more - or better yet training. I have Ruger SS P94 .40SW, that is as heavy as a boat anchor as well as a Ruger 380 LCP. At 25 yards, if I were to aim at a perps head, I’d take out his nutsack.

I also have a Ruger Mark IV Hunter .22. This by far is my favorite pistol. I have been using it to help with the larger calibers.

BTW - not a Ruger fanboy, I just happened to acquire the .40, the LCP fits nice in the front pocket, and the MarkIV Hunter in my opinion is the best .22 pistol on the market.

The Ruger P series are one of the most highly regarded pistols around. If the weight makes you shoot low, yes, you need practice. Personally, a heavier handgun enhances my shooting. I need to use 2 hands with a little LCP.

I have owned a Standard, a Mark 1 and Marks 2,3 and 4. I agree that the Mark 4 is one of the best semi 22's TODAY, but arguably the Mark 2 was the best of the lot. Interestingly, the Ruger Standard is celebrating it's 75th anniversary this year. Time to buy one of the new Commemoratives.

 

[highslice]

Pick any style of handgun, and then check reviews of all the competitive brands. For any given model you will find comments like "worst trigger I ever saw", and "best trigger I ever saw". Personal preferences differ widely.

When I bought my Max 9 I was lucky in that my LGS had it in stock, but also had a P365, a Shield, a Hellcat, yada, yada - ALL the various ones. After trying them all I picked the Ruger. It ran 100% out of the box and now after 1000 rounds it just keeps getting better.

My point exactly. Guns, like wine and a whole bunch of other things come down to personal preference. My issue with my Ruger is the front sight is off so much I can't adjust the rear sight enough to make up for it. I would have to aim for your left shoulder to hit you in the heart. Otherwise it is very pleasant to shoot. But I love my G2c, it's what I carry everyday.

 

[GypsmJim]

My point exactly. Guns, like wine and a whole bunch of other things come down to personal preference. My issue with my Ruger is the front sight is off so much I can't adjust the rear sight enough to make up for it. I would have to aim for your left shoulder to hit you in the heart. Otherwise it is very pleasant to shoot. But I love my G2c, it's what I carry everyday.

Simple fix. A low profile red dot reflex sight will dial it right in. I find that I need it more and more because of aged eyesight.

You didn't say which model, but many Rugers have a drift adjustable front sight.

 

[highslice]

In a CQW defensive application, the 6" of center mass would work (for me anyway). I'm not looking for MoA in that situation, looking for MoM (minute of man) to stop a threat. Easy for my H&K USP45

I agree. I have a .45 for home defense. I figure I only need one shot center mass to stop a normal human.

 

[highslice]

Simple fix. A low profile red dot reflex sight will dial it right in. I find that I need it more and more because of aged eyesight.

You didn't say which model, but many Rugers have a drift adjustable front sight.

I have an LC9S, admittedly not the best of the Rugers. Front sight is not adjustable. I have thought about a red dot sight or a laser sight.

 

[Steve S]

I have an EC9 and a Security Six with a 4” barrel in stainless. I love the Security Six. I need to practice more though. I first had a Security Six in 1978 but sold it for various reasons. Recently got back into shooting and acquired these weapons.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have an LC9S, admittedly not the best of the Rugers. Front sight is not adjustable. I have thought about a red dot sight or a laser sight.

I was not specifically familiar with the LC9S, so I had to look it up. The specs say it has drift adjustable front and rear sights. Certainly the pictures online show that to be true.

I have a Max9 and it has the same sights. It's quite easy to adjust.

Now, if elevation is a problem, you can't fix it unless you custom tailor your ammo. But windage can be fixed exactly to point of aim.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have an EC9 and a Security Six with a 4” barrel in stainless. I love the Security Six. I need to practice more though. I first had a Security Six in 1978 but sold it for various reasons. Recently got back into shooting and acquired these weapons.

The second handgun I ever bought was a brand new Blued 4" 1971 Security Six. I used to keep track of the round count, but then stopped when I went over ten thousand. If you close your eves when you pull the trigger, you would imagine you were shooting a Performance Center Smith & Wesson. THAT will be the last revolver to be sold.

 

[highslice]

I was not specifically familiar with the LC9S, so I had to look it up. The specs say it has drift adjustable front and rear sights. Certainly the pictures online show that to be true.

I have a Max9 and it has the same sights. It's quite easy to adjust.

Now, if elevation is a problem, you can't fix it unless you custom tailor your ammo. But windage can be fixed exactly to point of aim.

I agree, windage is adjustable. My bigger concern is having to aim at someone's head to hit them center mass in a stressful situation. So I carry my Taurus, even though it's a bit bigger. My .45 is a bitch to carry so it stays home for home defense. It is sighted in perfectly.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Many of you probably don't know that in my younger days I was a cop for a local city department. It was a small department of around 40 officers so several of us wore many hats.

I was the dept's firearms instructor, gunsmith ("armorer" to those in law enforcement), hostage negotiator and community relations officer.

When I first started the armorer work we carried S&W Model 19's (.357). I talked the chief into looking at semi auto pistols and also into paying for me to attend the 2 week S&W Armorer's School in Springfield, MA.

While there I ordered a 4006 (.40 S&W) from the Performance Center and had it shipped to me at the dept. I put about 1,000 rounds through it before deciding it was too much gun for the average cop to carry. I then ordered a 6906 (9mm) and shot it for awhile before deciding it was a much better carry gun.

I still have the 4006 and the 6906 but I'm going to give both to my son when they visit next week.

I liked shooting the 4006, but I also liked shooting the .44 Mag Smiths. On a side note, at one time I had all the different barrel lengths in the .44's in both blue and stainless.

Another side note, I still get to the indoor range about every 1.5 months and shoot the devil out of my Springfield Hellcat. It's a nice gun to shoot and to carry.

 

[Steve S]

The second handgun I ever bought was a brand new Blued 4" 1971 Security Six. I used to keep track of the round count, but then stopped when I went over ten thousand. If you close your eves when you pull the trigger, you would imagine you were shooting a Performance Center Smith & Wesson. THAT will be the last revolver to be sold.

My father in law had a blued Super Blackhawk 44 mag with the 8” barrel. Was was pretty sweet to shoot also. But expensive. lol.

 

[JayhawkCurtis]

Many of you probably don't know that in my younger days I was a cop for a local city department. It was a small department of around 40 officers so several of us wore many hats.

I was the dept's firearms instructor, gunsmith ("armorer" to those in law enforcement), hostage negotiator and community relations officer.

When I first started the armorer work we carried S&W Model 19's (.357). I talked the chief into looking at semi auto pistols and also into paying for me to attend the 2 week S&W Armorer's School in Springfield, MA.

While there I ordered a 4006 (.40 S&W) from the Performance Center and had it shipped to me at the dept. I put about 1,000 rounds through it before deciding it was too much gun for the average cop to carry. I then ordered a 6906 (9mm) and shot it for awhile before deciding it was a much better carry gun.

View attachment 158755
I still have the 4006 and the 6906 but I'm going to give both to my son when they visit next week.

I liked shooting the 4006, but I also liked shooting the .44 Mag Smiths. On a side note, at one time I had all the different barrel lengths in the .44's in both blue and stainless.

Another side note, I still get to the indoor range about every 1.5 months and shoot the devil out of my Springfield Hellcat. It's a nice gun to shoot and to carry.

I have that exact 4006, bought it when I was a reserve officer in Kansas, and I just don’t sell guns

 

[GypsmJim]

I agree, windage is adjustable. My bigger concern is having to aim at someone's head to hit them center mass in a stressful situation. So I carry my Taurus, even though it's a bit bigger. My .45 is a bitch to carry so it stays home for home defense. It is sighted in perfectly.

Well I was just all cornfused then. First you implied that your Ruger was junk, then you said it wasn't one of their best, then you said it shot far to the left.

My position is that your critique was because it did not shoot to POA. Actually, it is one or their finest polymer guns, although inexpensive because of caliber and size.

The shooting left is an easy fix (as I already said), and I could fix the head shot problem with ammo. Regardless, if you don't roll your own, one of those little reflex sight is what you really need. With that installed I'm sure you would have a higher opinion of the firearm.

 

[GypsmJim]

Many of you probably don't know that in my younger days I was a cop for a local city department. It was a small department of around 40 officers so several of us wore many hats.

I was the dept's firearms instructor, gunsmith ("armorer" to those in law enforcement), hostage negotiator and community relations officer.

When I first started the armorer work we carried S&W Model 19's (.357). I talked the chief into looking at semi auto pistols and also into paying for me to attend the 2 week S&W Armorer's School in Springfield, MA.

While there I ordered a 4006 (.40 S&W) from the Performance Center and had it shipped to me at the dept. I put about 1,000 rounds through it before deciding it was too much gun for the average cop to carry. I then ordered a 6906 (9mm) and shot it for awhile before deciding it was a much better carry gun.

View attachment 158755
I still have the 4006 and the 6906 but I'm going to give both to my son when they visit next week.

I liked shooting the 4006, but I also liked shooting the .44 Mag Smiths. On a side note, at one time I had all the different barrel lengths in the .44's in both blue and stainless.

Another side note, I still get to the indoor range about every 1.5 months and shoot the devil out of my Springfield Hellcat. It's a nice gun to shoot and to carry.

After having so many different calibers to reload I made the decision to NOT get a .40. I agree the 6906 is a fine gun.

I go to the indoor range every Tuesday. Never warmed up to the .44, since my Ruger-only loads for a .45 Colt will do everything better.

As much as I like semis, my Model 19 gets more use than all of them combined.

 

[GypsmJim]

My father in law had a blued Super Blackhawk 44 mag with the 8” barrel. Was was pretty sweet to shoot also. But expensive. lol.

Been reloading since 1971. Just before covid I could see the writing on the wall and stocked up on supplies while they were still cheap. I can reload anything up to .44 for about a nickle a round. That's with recycled brass and home cast boolits using lead salvaged many years ago for almost nothing.

In actuality, I don't save money, I just shoot a lot more.

 

[Gofirstclass]

I have that exact 4006, bought it when I was a reserve officer in Kansas, and I just don’t sell guns

I'm with you. With the exception of parting with my collection of .44 S&W's, all sold to the same buyer, I have given all my guns to my son. He'd come over every few months to "borrow" a certain gun and I'd let him "borrow" them, knowing they weren't coming home.

At the time I had a ~32 gun safe and I finally told him to bring a truck and take my safe home with him so he'd have something safe to story "my" guns in while he borrowed them.

He did, and still has the safe and it's still full of guns he'd "borrowed". He now lives in TX and I haven't seen him in 4 years.

Can y'all believe I'm excited to see him?

 

[GypsmJim]

At the time I had a ~32 gun safe and I finally told him to bring a truck and take my safe home with him so he'd have something safe to story "my" guns in while he borrowed them.

He did, and still has the safe and it's still full of guns he'd "borrowed". He now lives in TX and I haven't seen him in 4 years.

Can y'all believe I'm excited to see him?

My son had a respectable collection when he lived at home and nearby. He's now in TN and I too have given him some to take home. The rest are in my will, so he will just have to wait.

Our family camp has rifle and pistol ranges that were built over the years. He has an RV on the property too, so he shoots every time he comes up.

I know he won't want them all, but I'm sure Grandpa's and Great Grandpa's will get passed down.

 

[highslice]

My point exactly. Guns, like wine and a whole bunch of other things come down to personal preference. My issue with my Ruger is the front sight is off so much I can't adjust the rear sight enough to make up for it. I would have to aim for your left shoulder to hit you in the heart. Otherwise it is very pleasant to shoot. But I love my G2c, it's what I carry everyday.

Well I was just all cornfused then. First you implied that your Ruger was junk, then you said it wasn't one of their best, then you said it shot far to the left.

My position is that your critique was because it did not shoot to POA. Actually, it is one or their finest polymer guns, although inexpensive because of caliber and size.

The shooting left is an easy fix (as I already said), and I could fix the head shot problem with ammo. Regardless, if you don't roll your own, one of those little reflex sight is what you really need. With that installed I'm sure you would have a higher opinion of the firearm.

I should have said "over your right shoulder to hit you center mass". My bad, I was too hard on the Ruger. It is pleasant to shoot, as I said.

 

[Pirate Lady]

He now lives in TX and I haven't seen him in 4 years.

Can y'all believe I'm excited to see him?

Lucky you. Enjoy the time together.
Mine moved to Tempe AZ in 6/19. Seen him once since then for a day as he was passing through town.
Sucks.