VictorLouis
03-05-2005, 21:26
Today was the first opportunity I had to shoot my G36.
I brought the following four kinds of ammo with me:
Federal 185gr HI-SHOK JHP
- a truncated cone profile with a sharp mouth on the leading edge of the jacket
Chronied - 890-895-915-925
Win-USA 185gr FMJ(at Wally)
- this also has a TC profile, but the FMJ has a nice, smooth rounded leading edge
Chronied - 812-869-859-824-837-827
Independence 230gr FMJ ball
- this is apparently Brazilian Mag-Tech under another badge.
Chronied - 748-738-755-745
SILVERTIP
- it appears to have been re-designed since I
last bought some years ago. The jacket is brighter, and the die-punching of the cavity is larger and more defined.
Chronied - 952-972-953
The velocities were from about 6' in front of the muzzle with my base model ChronyŽ. I'm guessing the temp was in the hi-60's-low70's.
I set out some day-glow orange pasters on the target board at 20yds. to get some idea of the grouping, along with the Chrony readings. I tried for two, 3-shot, groups of each, but I forgot to READ the screen on several of the shots..DOH! I shot from a loose table rest on my extended arms. If I would've tried to use the bench rest/riser, the gun would've been too high above the sensor screens of the Chrony.
The HI-SHOK was the first up, with a sub-2.5" group, both times. The 2nd shot caught on the ramp, with a FTF. A sharp bump on the base of the mag got it chambered. The Independence ball ran 3-3.5" each time. USA closer to 2.5, and ST right at 2.5.
I only fired one 3-rd group of the ST. As evident by its velocity, it felt the hottest of the three. I also decided immediately that I wished to walk away carrying that load. It has the feed profile of an abbreviated FMJ ball projectile.
I ran several double-taps from the draw at 3 & 5yds with the 230gr ball. This was mostly to get the feel of the gun. Then, I ran two mags purposefully holding it as loosely as I could to try to induce a limp-wrist failure. No dice. However, I fired it upside down on the 2nd mag, and succeeded in dropping it onto the weed-covered dirt. I cleared the gun, and wiped the dirt from around the muzzle and eye-balled the bore to be sure it was clear of obstructions. I finished that mag with no failures.
The drop also jarred the rear plastic sight far to the right. The left edge must have bounced off of a rock JUST so, nudging over. I got it back to the bench, cleared it, then tried to nudge that sight back into place. How many of us go to the range with the proper tools for such, LOL? I grabbed an empty case as a drift, and used the handle of my screwdriver as a hammer. All I did was roll the case mouth over nicely and cause a divot in the side of the sight. So, I reached for a jeweler's Philips-head which I inserted against the inner left side of the rear notch. Divot #2, and still no luck...so I gave up.
I then tried some free-standing work at 15yds with the HI-SHOK. I made no effort at Kentucky windage. I had FTF's "nose hang-ups" on the 3rd and 4th rounds which chambered each time with a hard rap on the base of the mag. I then went back to the 230 ball, and decided to shoot LH to try for a limp-wrist failure. This induced a full-on FTF with the round part way up the ramp. Locking the slide and ripping the mag brought the partially fed round out and it fell free of the feed lips. I re-inserted the mag and finished the next couple of rounds w/o further issue.
I burned up the rest of the 230 ball, then finished with a full load of 7 of the HI-SHOK. This I fired standing from 25yds aiming only at a scrap of masking tape on the target board. It gave me a nose hang-up on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th rounds, as before, which chambered with a rap on the baseplate. Obviously, I was disconcerted a bit, and the group was large. I could cover all 7 with the span of my hand. However, the best 4 were in 2"!:)
Observations
I really think that the mag design doesn't help this gun. The baseplate is such that your little finger rests there. When gripped, your finger pushes back on the base, and this causes the top end of the mag to pitch forward. In a tight little package on the ragged edge of reliability, this certainly can't help matters.
The dreaded "pinky pinch" got me in less than 100rds. I would call it uncomfortable, not painful, even though I am sporting a nice little red-ant blister to show for it. I'm hoping that the Pearce Plus-Zero floorplate will help on both accounts. I picked up one at a local shop on the way home.
My last Glock was a G19 over 3-4yrs. ago. I recall having the serrated trigger really bother my finger. For whatever reason, it was not at all a bother on the .45. Perhaps because the grip positions my finger differently. I did notice it once, but only in passing. It didn't leave me sore on the fingertip whatsoever.
Recoil, I've saved for last. That's because it is absolutely the last thing you should concern yourself with. I was all prepared for my palm to take a beating from that little hump of the backstrap. Such was not the case. I agree with one poster here who feels it's easier than a Commander. Alongside that is muzzle-flip, and here again I was quite pleased. It shoots right with most every full-size ACP that I can think of. An Officer's model Colt is almost abusive, by comparison.
If you're thinking of one, and you've read all of the negative here, it can be tough. By my initial run, I'm pleased that I've given it a chance.
I brought the following four kinds of ammo with me:
Federal 185gr HI-SHOK JHP
- a truncated cone profile with a sharp mouth on the leading edge of the jacket
Chronied - 890-895-915-925
Win-USA 185gr FMJ(at Wally)
- this also has a TC profile, but the FMJ has a nice, smooth rounded leading edge
Chronied - 812-869-859-824-837-827
Independence 230gr FMJ ball
- this is apparently Brazilian Mag-Tech under another badge.
Chronied - 748-738-755-745
SILVERTIP
- it appears to have been re-designed since I
last bought some years ago. The jacket is brighter, and the die-punching of the cavity is larger and more defined.
Chronied - 952-972-953
The velocities were from about 6' in front of the muzzle with my base model ChronyŽ. I'm guessing the temp was in the hi-60's-low70's.
I set out some day-glow orange pasters on the target board at 20yds. to get some idea of the grouping, along with the Chrony readings. I tried for two, 3-shot, groups of each, but I forgot to READ the screen on several of the shots..DOH! I shot from a loose table rest on my extended arms. If I would've tried to use the bench rest/riser, the gun would've been too high above the sensor screens of the Chrony.
The HI-SHOK was the first up, with a sub-2.5" group, both times. The 2nd shot caught on the ramp, with a FTF. A sharp bump on the base of the mag got it chambered. The Independence ball ran 3-3.5" each time. USA closer to 2.5, and ST right at 2.5.
I only fired one 3-rd group of the ST. As evident by its velocity, it felt the hottest of the three. I also decided immediately that I wished to walk away carrying that load. It has the feed profile of an abbreviated FMJ ball projectile.
I ran several double-taps from the draw at 3 & 5yds with the 230gr ball. This was mostly to get the feel of the gun. Then, I ran two mags purposefully holding it as loosely as I could to try to induce a limp-wrist failure. No dice. However, I fired it upside down on the 2nd mag, and succeeded in dropping it onto the weed-covered dirt. I cleared the gun, and wiped the dirt from around the muzzle and eye-balled the bore to be sure it was clear of obstructions. I finished that mag with no failures.
The drop also jarred the rear plastic sight far to the right. The left edge must have bounced off of a rock JUST so, nudging over. I got it back to the bench, cleared it, then tried to nudge that sight back into place. How many of us go to the range with the proper tools for such, LOL? I grabbed an empty case as a drift, and used the handle of my screwdriver as a hammer. All I did was roll the case mouth over nicely and cause a divot in the side of the sight. So, I reached for a jeweler's Philips-head which I inserted against the inner left side of the rear notch. Divot #2, and still no luck...so I gave up.
I then tried some free-standing work at 15yds with the HI-SHOK. I made no effort at Kentucky windage. I had FTF's "nose hang-ups" on the 3rd and 4th rounds which chambered each time with a hard rap on the base of the mag. I then went back to the 230 ball, and decided to shoot LH to try for a limp-wrist failure. This induced a full-on FTF with the round part way up the ramp. Locking the slide and ripping the mag brought the partially fed round out and it fell free of the feed lips. I re-inserted the mag and finished the next couple of rounds w/o further issue.
I burned up the rest of the 230 ball, then finished with a full load of 7 of the HI-SHOK. This I fired standing from 25yds aiming only at a scrap of masking tape on the target board. It gave me a nose hang-up on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th rounds, as before, which chambered with a rap on the baseplate. Obviously, I was disconcerted a bit, and the group was large. I could cover all 7 with the span of my hand. However, the best 4 were in 2"!:)
Observations
I really think that the mag design doesn't help this gun. The baseplate is such that your little finger rests there. When gripped, your finger pushes back on the base, and this causes the top end of the mag to pitch forward. In a tight little package on the ragged edge of reliability, this certainly can't help matters.
The dreaded "pinky pinch" got me in less than 100rds. I would call it uncomfortable, not painful, even though I am sporting a nice little red-ant blister to show for it. I'm hoping that the Pearce Plus-Zero floorplate will help on both accounts. I picked up one at a local shop on the way home.
My last Glock was a G19 over 3-4yrs. ago. I recall having the serrated trigger really bother my finger. For whatever reason, it was not at all a bother on the .45. Perhaps because the grip positions my finger differently. I did notice it once, but only in passing. It didn't leave me sore on the fingertip whatsoever.
Recoil, I've saved for last. That's because it is absolutely the last thing you should concern yourself with. I was all prepared for my palm to take a beating from that little hump of the backstrap. Such was not the case. I agree with one poster here who feels it's easier than a Commander. Alongside that is muzzle-flip, and here again I was quite pleased. It shoots right with most every full-size ACP that I can think of. An Officer's model Colt is almost abusive, by comparison.
If you're thinking of one, and you've read all of the negative here, it can be tough. By my initial run, I'm pleased that I've given it a chance.