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Questions and Answers for week ending:
July 16th, 2004
| Submitted By: |
Hugh Butler of Pleasant Grove, Alabama |
| Category: |
Training / Practice |
| Question: |
I noticed in your gun vault that you characterized a 9mm
1911 as a "perfect training gun". What are your thoughts on
training with lighter calibers than you compete and/or carry with? |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
The lighter recoil of the 9 mm allows you longer practice
sessions. One of the main factors that causes bad habits is the beating
your hands take from recoil. I don't care who and how tough you are, if
you shoot 500 - 600 rounds a day of full .45 ball ammo, day after day,
you are going to start seeing a reduction in your performance from
fatigue. Once you start developing a pull associated with this
fatigue, it can be hard to get rid of. The lighter recoil of the 9
mm delays this process dramatically and also helps you fine tune the
pull. This is the short answer, but you get the idea ... RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Stephen Crowley of
Pioneer, California |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
I recently purchased an XD 9 (9301) from Springfield.
This is my first gun. I am 34 years old and I wanted to get into
competitive shooting. Is this a good gun to start with? |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
This is a perfect gun for USPSA Production
class or IDPA ESP class. Don't limit yourself to shooting
one or the other discipline, as each has something to offer!
Good luck! RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Don of Malvern, Pennsylvania |
| Category: |
Equipment - sights |
| Question: |
Rob, I recently purchased
a TRP loaded operator model that has the 3-dot adjustable night sights.
I am having a hard time shooting with both eyes open in having to deal
with looking at three 3 dots. I was looking at maybe the Heinie straight
eights or just a single fiber-optic front sight and black rear sight.
Do you have a recommendation of sights for shooting with both eyes open? |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
I use both of the setups that you
mention and some combinations you don’t. When it comes to sights,
just pick what you think you like. It's more important that what
you see isn't disruptive to your shooting.
I like the Heinie sights because they present a very clear sight
picture. I think they take a little more work to get used to (with
the night sights) but are better daytime sights. The three dots
are easier to use as night sights, but are confusing as daytime sights.
I don't have a problem with closing an eye to deal with the visual
confusion. I close an eye all the time. You can do this
extremely fast, quicker than you can make a focal distance change, so
don't worry about squinting or keeping both eyes open. If you're
looking at the sight as your focal distance, squint or close one eye.
If you're looking at the targets, keep them both open. RL |
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| Submitted By: |
Quinton Marais of Queensland,
Australia |
| Category: |
Equipment - scopes |
| Question: |
I notice that you have been a very
loyal supporter of AIMPOINT for years. This is most interesting when
almost everybody is using C-More scopes. Do you feel the Aimpoint sits
lower over the slide or that the dot is more easily resolved because of
their multi-lens optic?
Please tell me why you prefer Aimpoint and Who makes or sells the MOUNT
for an Aimpoint for 1911? |
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
The Aimpoint sight is much easier to use.
Pointing the tube allows you to find the dot quicker if you struggle with that. Those of us that shoot tens of thousands of rounds
don't have this issue. Someone new to optical
sights on pistols may find this problem very frustrating, though.
Durability wise, the Aimpoint is the highest quality and most reliable
red-dot sight on the market. Any of the tubeless-type sights are
just tube sights with the tube removed. The exception to this
appears to be the EoTech sight. Some people who I respect seem to
be having very good luck with these sights on rifles and shotguns.
I think they might be a little heavy and bulky for handguns, though.
Having the sight sit lower is an advantage if you're used to iron
sights. I recently have been testing a Dr. Optic sight mounted low in
the slide. The dot sits exactly where my iron sights would be, and I
find it very easy to adapt to when transitioning from iron sights. The
only problem I've seen so far is that it's just not bright enough for
sunny Arizona. This may be because I have an old model ... I'm not
sure.
The mount I use for my Aimpoint scopes is made by Springfield's Custom Shop
and is a standard part. RL |
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| Submitted By: |
George ? |
| Category: |
DMSC concealed gun category |
| Question: |
I carry concealed everywhere I go. I carry a
full size 1911 with 10 round magazines,
concealed.
I see in the Drillmasters concealed carry category
that I'm not allowed to use the weapon or magazines I carry concealed. What sense does that make?
|
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
The whole point of
this category was to make a place for someone to shoot the small
guns that are prominent and actually designed for concealment.
There's probably somebody out there carrying a scoped, compensated,
high-capacity gun with 28-round magazines concealed, but that
doesn't classify it as a concealable gun. We just have to draw
the line somewhere.
I believe that you
are the exception, not the rule, as I've already received lots
of compliments for creating the category! The single issue that they
all like about the concealed category is the use of the small
handguns (and that there is finally a competitive-type discipline in
which to shoot them).
Your choice of a
full-size extended mag (I assume) concealed gun works for you, but
you just can't shoot it in the DMSC concealed category. Sorry and
thanks for your input. RL
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| Submitted By: |
Roger Eckstein |
| Category: |
Equipment |
| Question: |
I enjoy
shooting L10 with my single stack, but I would like to shoot
Limited as well. This means I need more capacity, but I prefer a
steel gun over a plastic one. Are you shooting a Springfield Armory
wide-body? If so, what pistol or receiver should I
order? Thanks. I am very excited about the DrillMaster
Club!
|
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
We produce a
high-capacity frame very similar to the Para Ordnance. I've
modified the mag catch to use SVI mags, but it uses PO's as
delivered. We just call it the Springfield HiCap. It is still
in production, but we don't catalog it. From the Custom Shop,
you can get it built any way you want. I generally get the
trigger guard squared and the front strap checkered at 20 LPI.
Other stuff, I change from day to day in my constant search to find
that magical combination! Springfield's custom work is second
to none. They are the primary reason for my success over the last
decade :-) Thanks for joining the club and good luck! RL
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| Submitted By: |
Kevin Karns |
| Category: |
Guns |
| Question: |
On
your USPSA Production gun, why 40 S&W and not 9 mm? Thanks in
advance!
|
| Rob's Complete Answer: |
When I shot
Production last year, the 5" 9 mm XD was not yet legal. I now shoot
that model. I know it's not the norm to wait until a gun is legal,
but I did anyway ... silly me!
The 9 mm and .40,
when loaded to the same power factor are pretty much equal. The big
difference is 9 mm is perfect in its standard loadings and more
reliable than the light-loaded .40 caliber. RL
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