G20 First Shooting...

[solventnine]

So...maybe this was operator error (as in I was overly excited to shoot this thing)...but it took about 20-30 rounds through it before I could land a shot even close to where I wanted it. I was using the reactive targets since I was on an outdoor range (in hindsight, I should have taken binoculars).

The interesting thing...I was having no problem placing shots out of my .44 Mag DE...but for the life of me I couldn't hit anything with the Glock 20 (and recoil is more or less comparable to the DE).

Anyone else experience this with new Glocks? I was using Blazer Aluminum 200 grain TMJ's (the SD ammo is Hornady 200gr XTP). From what I've read the general consensus is Glocks are good to go right out of the box. I may go through another 50 rounds today just to see if I can improve over yesterday...ugh.

[solventnine]

Forgot to add...all was not lost, I introduced a friend of mine to shooting and now he's ready to buy a gun (before he wasn't anti but had no interest).

[Keith92555]

My buddy had the same problem with his Walther PPK/S. He inherited it from his father in law and we took it out to the boonies to put some rounds through it. He couldn't hit anything with it but he had no problems with my G27 or my XD40. I shot it with no problems and was hitting everything I aimed at, even hit a soda bottle from 40'-50' three times in a row (kept moving farther away every time it hit it). Keep with it. After a while he figured out the sight picture and started getting used to it and was hitting some stuff. You just need to get used to your new toy.

Keith

[rkmagicman]

Originally Posted by Keith92555

My buddy had the same problem with his Walther PPK/S. He inherited it from his father in law and we took it out to the boonies to put some rounds through it. He couldn't hit anything with it but he had no problems with my G27 or my XD40. I shot it with no problems and was hitting everything I aimed at, even hit a soda bottle from 40'-50' three times in a row (kept moving farther away every time it hit it). Keep with it. After a while he figured out the sight picture and started getting used to it and was hitting some stuff. You just need to get used to your new toy.

Keith

+1 each handgun will shoot different, practice is all it take to cure that issue.

RK

[username]

Originally Posted by Keith92555

My buddy had the same problem with his Walther PPK/S. He inherited it from his father in law and we took it out to the boonies to put some rounds through it. He couldn't hit anything with it but he had no problems with my G27 or my XD40. I shot it with no problems and was hitting everything I aimed at, even hit a soda bottle from 40'-50' three times in a row (kept moving farther away every time it hit it). Keep with it. After a while he figured out the sight picture and started getting used to it and was hitting some stuff. You just need to get used to your new toy.

Keith

+2

I have a buddy that has a P99 that always hits about 6" left and a couple inches low. He always blamed the sights until I picked it up and was dead on with it. I'm still not sure what he is doing wrong but it isn't the gun.

[El Gato]

get some dummy rounds...

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mix them with your live rounds... and watch the front sight jerk when you think you are pressing the trigger....

when the sight doesn't move at all when you press the trigger on a dummy ... you have arrived....

have you buddy load dummy's and live mixed in a mag...you throw a quarter in the adult beverage jar (for after the range) every time you jerk the feces out of the trigger...

trust me...

[El Gato]

also.....

just left the range where we proved this to a family...
the family had ONE 10-22 rifle...everyone shot 5 groups of 10 shots from the bench....

the girl shot 1.5 in left and good for 6 o'clock hold on the 2 in bull...

boy one 1 in left and 1 in low...

last boy boy dead on...

same gun...but each person sees the sights differently and holds the gun differently...handguns tend to be even worse...while you can approximate sighting the gun in for another person, each person's hold, eyes breathing and reflexes etc are different...

[solventnine]

Thanks all for your suggestions and support...I'll definitely add those dummy rounds, thought about buying them for dry practice (I use them in my DE for that purpose), but hadn't thought about them for live fire.

Thanks again!

[adodderer]

the range where I shoot has two posters on the wall for left and right handed shooters that show where the bullets hit and why they are hitting there instead of the center. For instance, a right handed shooter who hits left and low of the bulls eye is sypathetically squeezing the other fingers on his shooting hand while squeezing the trigger and is trying to fight the recoil. Might be the gun but it wasn't for me Guy at the range shot my gun and put em all in the center. He then "loaded" my gun for me to shoot..put a loaded mag in but didn't rack the slide...Boy was I suprised when I jerked the gun..

[rudigan]

Originally Posted by adodderer

the range where I shoot has two posters on the wall for left and right handed shooters that show where the bullets hit and why they are hitting there instead of the center. For instance, a right handed shooter who hits left and low of the bulls eye is sypathetically squeezing the other fingers on his shooting hand while squeezing the trigger and is trying to fight the recoil. Might be the gun but it wasn't for me Guy at the range shot my gun and put em all in the center. He then "loaded" my gun for me to shoot..put a loaded mag in but didn't rack the slide...Boy was I suprised when I jerked the gun..

+1

[solventnine]

Started thinking about what you guys have said...the DE weighs 4.5 lbs unloaded so it's much more difficult to jerk, and I've dry-practiced with it to minimize the potential for creating bad habits. That makes perfect sense why I could hit with that one and not the Glock...that's the last time I assume I can carry one gun experience to the next.

I grabbed a couple of the right-handed target pistol correction charts, thanks for that suggestion as well. A few more trips, add in what you guys have said and hopefully I can get the Glock back on target. How rough, I *have* to go spend more time at the range!

Thanks again for all the suggestions and support!

[El Gato]

the glock weighs what a couple of pounds loaded with a light and bayonet?

and the trigger pull is 5.5 lbs roughly...

so gee it's a big suprise when pulling the trigger moves the gun...really...not being flippant... if you haven't thought it out... it generally is a big suprise... those who shoot 9lb rifles with 4 lb triggers can pull the trigger without moving the gun... handguns can be the opposite....

which is why some of us way prefer a well tuned 1911... but not meant as a criticism.. I'm just sayin'...

[solventnine]

Originally Posted by El Gato

the glock weighs what a couple of pounds loaded with a light and bayonet?

and the trigger pull is 5.5 lbs roughly...

so gee it's a big suprise when pulling the trigger moves the gun...really...not being flippant... if you haven't thought it out... it generally is a big suprise... those who shoot 9lb rifles with 4 lb triggers can pull the trigger without moving the gun... handguns can be the opposite....

which is why some of us way prefer a well tuned 1911... but not meant as a criticism.. I'm just sayin'...

I appreciate the straight-forwardness (I'm sure 3BZ will correct me on that one ).

Unfortunately I got overly excited with my new toy and didn't spend nearly enough time considering weight differences or trigger pull. Due to the fact that you can't "limp wrist" the .44 Mag DE (it won't cycle if you do) I honestly didn't think I would pull the gun back...of course there will be some recoil, but I incorrectly assumed I would keep the Glock on target much better than I did. I was hoping it was a break-in period but there's really no doubt it was 100% operator error.

I will absolutely buy a 1911 next...and there's no doubt I need to spend more time at the range with the G20. While it's technically possible to conceal the DE it's a very poor choice for CCW purposes.

[kln5]

the g20 is a great gun. i just got mine fixed (new sights).
can't wait to shoot it. also dummy rounds are great for practicing
malfunction clearances.

[solventnine]

Thanks again all of you...I picked up some dummy rounds, have spent time dry practicing and was surprised at how often I pull up when pressing the trigger. Will keep dry practicing and have someone load the mags next time I'm at the range.