Ws and I went to the range yesterday to scare the heck out of some paper targets. We had 3 handguns with us; WS's XD(m), my Sig and a Glock 17 (which I have used before). I am getting used to the Glock as for competition, it will be better than my Sig for four reasons:
- The Glock magazine can hold double the rounds than my Sig
- The Glock is double action for every shot and the Sig is DA for the first shot and single action for the remainder. This is very important because in classes they make those with DA/SA de-cock at the end of shots, so every shot is DA. This takes time and is especially awkward if you are doing one-handed lefty drills.
- The Glock 17 has a longer barrel than my Sig 239 - which tends to help with accuracy over longer shots.
- Conversion kits to .22LR are available for Glocks that are fairly cheap. I can't get a conversion for the Sig model that I have (and even if I could, it costs an arm and a leg).
I set up two tagets side-by-side. Here are the pics.
These are the first shots taken with the Sig (for those that care, the sillouettes are small targets not the large ones). I am very familiar with the Sig, so I figured my warm up shots should be on it first. All shots were taken at 5 yards and several went thru the big hole in the red area.
Next I shot the Glock, which I have only used one other time. Obviously I'm not as comfortabel with that gun, most likely because it has a wider grip. The barrel is longer, which will help with accuracy in the long run.
About an hour later (aren't you glad I'm not boring you with pics of all the distances and hand combos?), I picked up WS's XD(m) and threw a few rounds at a target. The ones in the red and a couple in the inner ring are from 5 yards under the same circumstances as the two targets above. The outer shots were from different distances or hand configurations. Since I shoot the XD(m) at every range outing, I am more familiar with this gun than the Glock. I shoot it well, I just don't like how it feels in my hand.
For the most part I was satisfied with my shooting yesterday. I was dismayed over one issue; the Glock had a hard time with some of the ammo. With ammo scarcity and prices, we bought a bunch of factory reloads, which we were using for the first time. The Glock could not get more than two shots in a row without a fail to feed or a fail to eject issue. Fortunately I had taken some other ammo in case of problems so after going thru less than 50 shots, I gave up and changed the Glock over to Blazer Brass, which it didn't have any problems with. Between them, the Sig and XD(m) pretty much ate up 500 round of the reloads with just 6 FF or FE (total).
So that was the day at the range - and a good time was had by all!
Not bad shooting at all.
I am surprised at the FF/FE issues though. If they were "factory reloads", one would think the quality of shell should have been close to consistent with "new" rounds. What do other shooters have to say about this issue? Just curious.
Posted by: Wichi Dude | December 12, 2009 at 01:23 PM
I'm not surprised that there were a few FF/FE issues. Reloads are a bit of a challenge because there are factors that cannot be known (how many times the brass has been fired is one).
However, I figured the Glock would perform at least as well with the reloads as the Sig and the XD.
That being said, some firearms can be even more finicky and won't shoot some brands of "first-fire" ammo. I'm just surprised about the Glock because that isn't their reputation.
Posted by: bogie | December 13, 2009 at 06:58 AM
After Googling, I found that Glocks don't like reloads of the type we were using. Well, that would explain that!
Posted by: bogie | December 13, 2009 at 07:07 AM
As a gun/ammunition expert (I'll pause for the laughter to cease) NOT, is it possible that the Glock is a higher precision gun than are the others? Sloppy fits accommodate imperfections. (Everyone knows that!) Just call me, "Master of the Obvious".
Posted by: Cop Car | December 13, 2009 at 08:49 AM
TeeHeeHeeHeeHeeHee!
Although Glocks are fine firearms and are one of the most popular around, only a few hardcore GlockFans would say that the Glocks are of higher precision than Sigs. I don't know about Springfields (Ws's XD(m)), but I'm guessing that at very best they are regarded as the same. There is at least one friend of a friend, who competes, that is jealous of WS's XD(m) and would give a whole lot of body parts to get one!
Just as a point of (non?) interest, Glocks are at a lower price point than either of the other two (by a good margin for the Sig). Take away from that what you will (or won't).
Posted by: bogie | December 13, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Ptooie, Bogie! I told you that I'm an expert. Why don't you believe everything that I tell you?!
Thanks for the info. Seems strange. Let me know when you learn the "why" so that I may continue to be an expert.
(My sides are aching from the laughter.)
Posted by: Cop Car | December 13, 2009 at 06:47 PM