Bad range day!

Millie

Millie

Get on with your life!!!
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It was bound to happen at some point....a bad range day.
We all know about the issues my 1911 9mm has been having off and on for a while.

Today I had major problems with my carry gun, the Sig p238. It's not dirty, but today it began with the failure to extract issues that have been plaguing the 9mm!!!! I'd shoot a round and then have to clear a case out, shoot another round, clear a case out. After 3 of these in a row, I got another magazine and had the same issue. Got a 3rd magazine, same thing. One of the magazines was only a few weeks old.

At this point I packed it in and left the range, not at all mellow like I usually am after shooting. Even on days that I don't shoot well, I'm still in that happy shooting bubble when I get done. Lol.

I plan to clean the .380 and all 4 magazines, then take it back to the range and give it a go. In the meantime, I'm out two carry guns. I can't trust my most reliable gun, and the 9mm is still acting up. Guess it's down to Billy's .45 or the revolver as my carry gun.....

Any insights will be appreciated. I'm a sad puppy right now.....
 
A couple of suggestions!

* Clean the guns. It's never a bad idea.
* Try different ammunition. This might help, but eventually you'll probably need to clean the guns.

Sorry it wasn't a good day... the next trip will be awesome though
 
Tailhunter said:
Better to find out now and not when you really need it.

I know some here will scoff but get a Glock and you’ll be a lot happier.
Click to expand...

Yup. I dont buy glocks because I "love" shooting it, or its "super fun"

I do enjoy shooting it, but my 19 is a tool, that I choose to use to defend myself and family and I practice with it as a tool. It kinda sucks at times, like man, I wish this were as fun to shoot as a canik, or any full size gun.. but I remember the purpose of my carry gun. And this glock will run like a wild banshee, clean or not.

I once, just to see if it would jam, put 1200 rounds in a month, through a brand new glock 19, out of the box. no cleaning, no lube... that was 1200 rounds of wolf. not one issue.
 
Millie,
Did you start using a new lot of ammo?
 
At some point reliability becomes more important than comfort or style. You're a step closer to that point today. Sorry you had a bad time but I'll bet you still learned sonething, so not a wasted trip.
 
JohnFreeman said:
A couple of suggestions!

* Clean the guns. It's never a bad idea.
* Try different ammunition. This might help, but eventually you'll probably need to clean the guns.

Sorry it wasn't a good day... the next trip will be awesome though
Click to expand...
Well, I'm cleaning the guns and magazines over the next day or so. I'm hoping that will at least help the Sig. Not sure anything can help the 1911 except a return to the maker. Lol.

As far as ammo goes, the Sig has always liked most of what I gave it, except the bulk Blazer Brass in the black box that one time. Guess I'll be carrying the .45 now....holy moly!
 
Millie said:
It was bound to happen at some point....a bad range day.
We all know about the issues my 1911 9mm has been having off and on for a while.

Today I had major problems with my carry gun, the Sig p238. It's not dirty, but today it began with the failure to extract issues that have been plaguing the 9mm!!!! I'd shoot a round and then have to clear a case out, shoot another round, clear a case out. After 3 of these in a row, I got another magazine and had the same issue. Got a 3rd magazine, same thing. One of the magazines was only a few weeks old.

At this point I packed it in and left the range, not at all mellow like I usually am after shooting. Even on days that I don't shoot well, I'm still in that happy shooting bubble when I get done. Lol.

I plan to clean the .380 and all 4 magazines, then take it back to the range and give it a go. In the meantime, I'm out two carry guns. I can't trust my most reliable gun, and the 9mm is still acting up. Guess it's down to Billy's .45 or the revolver as my carry gun.....

Any insights will be appreciated. I'm a sad puppy right now.....
Click to expand...

What is the round count on the current recoil spring? IIRC 1000 to 1500 rounds is the life of that spring.
 
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ronn47 said:
Millie,
Did you start using a new lot of ammo?
Click to expand...
I used what they gave me at the range, which the Sig has had before...I guess it's a different lot from the last time.....but same brand as I've used there.
 
Tailhunter said:
get a Glock and you’ll be a lot happier.
Click to expand...
She has shot a G43 here and did Great!!!! I love her but she is like an old mule sometimes, hard to turn.

I still believe that Millie rides the slide with her off hand and bleeds off slide momentum. She does this more some times than others. That's why she will always have a problem until she controls her off hand thumb.
 
jmccracken1214 said:
A sig, with problems? NO!! HOW CAN THIS BE?!?! YOU DONT SAY?!?!

Ditch the sig, buy something reliable to defend yourself with. Sig is boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Click to expand...
I know a lot of you guys said a Sig was no good, but it's had 2 tiny problems since I bought it way back in September. It's been reliable and I've carried it in perfect confidence. Now all of a sudden it decides to be an ahole...lol.

So what other gun shall I (perhaps) get, and do NOT say a Glock, I can't shoot those well!
 
Millie said:
I know a lot of you guys said a Sig was no good, but it's had 2 tiny problems since I bought it way back in September. It's been reliable and I've carried it in perfect confidence. Now all of a sudden it decides to be an ahole...lol.

So what other gun shall I (perhaps) get, and do NOT say a Glock, I can't shoot those well!
Click to expand...

Its not a gun issue .Its a you issue.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
She has shot a G43 here and did Great!!!! I love her but she is like an old mule sometimes, hard to turn.

I still believe that Millie rides the slide with her off hand and bleeds off slide momentum. She does this more some times than others. That's why she will always have a problem until she controls her off hand thumb.
Click to expand...

If that is the case a weak recoil spring might be contributing. Smaller guns like the P238 are require changing the recoil spring more often than duty sized guns.
 
Do what I do. Play with the 1911's and 1911 style guns at the range and at matches.
But carry a Glock.

As a comparison to your Sig, the Glock 380 is lighter by 3 ounces, and is a only little longer in the slide, otherwise very similar, and won't give you problems.
 
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JBoyette said:
Its not a gun issue .Its a you issue.
Click to expand...

I am not sure that we can say that 100%. Did you watch her shoot today? If you didn't I don't think you can say that with certainity. The P238 is a finicky gun. Ther is a reason that Grayguns one of the best Sig smiths in the world will not work on one.
 
JBoyette said:
I will put money on its your wrist and how your interaction with your hand, gun and gaining master grip.

Welcome to the world of confidence and phase 1 is limp wristing..
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Ok, I've been shooting this gun for many months, how come my wrist is all of a sudden limp? Surely I can't have forgotten how to shoot this gun, I shoot it every week. Lol.
I guess it could be, but I have no trainer anymore to look at my grip and shooting now.
 
Jeppo said:
@Millie...

Lots of good advice here. What I’d have done is hand the gun(s) to another shooter and see what happened.
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I didn't know either of the 2 shooters there. My trainer is busy, and I guess I'll try it out on whoever is in the range Thursday. I don't care if they think I'm odd (which I am).
 
Just saying, my VP9 has over 5k rds through it. It was used when I bought it so you can at least add 500 to the round count. I've cleaned it 3 times. Not because it had issues but I just thought it was time to clean it.
I haven't had a issue with the gun or mags. Only time it hasn't cycled was because of a few light factory rds. It did have problems with the Winchester brown box steel case but other pistols I shot that day had the same issue.
No other issues with brass, steel or Alum.
 
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wvsig said:
What is the round count on the current recoil spring? IIRC 1000 to 1500 rounds is the life of that spring.
Click to expand...
Ohhh, it's waaaay over that, I'm sure. I shoot a lot!
 
Millie said:
I know a lot of you guys said a Sig was no good, but it's had 2 tiny problems since I bought it way back in September. It's been reliable and I've carried it in perfect confidence. Now all of a sudden it decides to be an ahole...lol.

So what other gun shall I (perhaps) get, and do NOT say a Glock, I can't shoot those well!
Click to expand...
If I couldn't carry a glock, I would buy a CZ and never leave my house. in fear of my safety.
 
Millie said:
I didn't know either of the 2 shooters there. My trainer is busy, and I guess I'll try it out on whoever is in the range Thursday. I don't care if they think I'm odd (which I am).
Click to expand...
They won’t think it is odd at all. If somebody came to you and said, “Hey cutie pie, I’m having some issues with this gun. Would you mind blowing thru a couple mags of my ammo?”, would you mind?
 
Jeppo said:
They won’t think it is odd at all. If somebody came to you and said, “Hey cutie pie, I’m having some issues with this gun. Would you mind blowing thru a couple mags of my ammo?”, would you mind?
Click to expand...


If the person asking had a beard and skinny jeans on, yes.
 
Millie said:
I didn't know either of the 2 shooters there. My trainer is busy, and I guess I'll try it out on whoever is in the range Thursday. I don't care if they think I'm odd (which I am).
Click to expand...

I doubt they'll think you're odd. I've never seen anyone at a range who wouldn't shoot a gun offered to them. It will help to get someone else's thoughts and results. I know didn't have the best time today but as long as you go home with all the parts you came with there are no bad days at the range.
 
jmccracken1214 said:
Yup. I dont buy glocks because I "love" shooting it, or its "super fun"

I do enjoy shooting it, but my 19 is a tool, that I choose to use to defend myself and family and I practice with it as a tool. It kinda sucks at times, like man, I wish this were as fun to shoot as a canik, or any full size gun.. but I remember the purpose of my carry gun. And this glock will run like a wild banshee, clean or not.

I once, just to see if it would jam, put 1200 rounds in a month, through a brand new glock 19, out of the box. no cleaning, no lube... that was 1200 rounds of wolf. not one issue.
Click to expand...
I get the Glocks, I really do, and I was all set to get one. But I shot a few and they didn't do well for me. They hurt my hand, and they were way too light.
If I can't shoot a gun well and hate how it hurts my hand, then how am I to practice with it enough to be able to defend myself?

I also look at my guns as tools to get a job done. I picked the p238 because I could handle shooting it and could be accurate with it, and until today it's been reliable. I picked the 1911 9mm because I shot it better than I did the Sig and was even more accurate with it. Now both are having problems.....sigh.
 
Here’s a different version of my previous advice.
  • Don’t clean anything
  • Put those guns and that ammo in your car and drive south.
  • When you get to Conway, hand all that stuff to Billy.
  • Watch what happens
 
Tailhunter said:
Better to find out now and not when you really need it.

I know some here will scoff but get a Glock and you’ll be a lot happier.
Click to expand...
Nobody seems to be scoffing at a Glock, but I don't shoot them well. I've tried various calibres and whatnot, and I can't shoot them. I was set to get a 19 as my carry gun, so you can imagine my disappointment when that thing hit my thumb bone and hurt me.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
See you Sunday...
Click to expand...
Am I coming down Sunday?

I have a match on Saturday, which might be another malfunction-fest with the 9mm, so maybe I will just come on down the next day......but maybe not, that's a lot of driving/getting lost for two days!
 
I will not get caught up in an ongoing debate about this particular thing. BUT as to the limp wristing thing....I commonly shoot 1911s here with two fingers, upside down, through a 360 degree arc. I did this for Millie and always do it when this comes up. As others have said the Original 1911 platform was made to shoot from Horseback with One Hand. Ole John Knew how to make it operate under those conditions. A 19911 doesn't care one whit whether it is upside down, sideways or being held with 2 fingers...it'll work.
That ONLY applies to FULL SIZE 1911s!! REREAD PLEASE!!! I make no statements about short slide 1911s or Any other platform. Full Size 1911s will Not malfunction from Limp Wristing.
Take it Away Boys!!!!!
 
Failure to extract as in the spent case is stuck in the chamber like so??

Double-Feed.jpg
 
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