I need a new handgun...lets talk guns today. :D

That's just odd.
Based on my last name, I've typically got a 5 -15minute wait. lol.

 

My Echelon came in early, got it today (it was supposed to be Monday) I guess with a name like mine (the only person in the US with that name), it doesn't get delayed. The FFL guy was inputting it in the computer and it got processed and completed before I finished with the paperwork. I had him run a couple of trigger pulls on it with his Lyman digital gauge and it's right at 4 1/2 lbs. I filled out the online form and I've got the Springfield 2025 Gear Up stuff ordered........three more mags, a smallish range bag, and a HEX Wasp red dot for free coming whenever it gets here. All in all, happy with the gun so far and will probably shoot it sometime next week, even if I don't have the dot yet....and likely it will not be here by then.

 

You just never know with Springfield. I ordered the AOS plate for the Operator I bought on 11/11 and it was delivered on 11/14. Sometimes they ship quick.

 

Yea, I know. My previous "Gear up" experiences have been the 4-6 weeks, down to about one week on one of the others. My Range Officer Champion stuff was the 4-6 weeks and many years ago my XD40 Sub-Compact stuff was very quick. That one came with a little plastic Springfield OWB holster and of course it was RH...which is useless to a leftie like me. I called their customer service number and ask if they could send me a leftie one and it was 3-4 days later it arrived

 

Well, quite a productive weekend at the range! Solid range day Friday. Got through testing/shakedown on 15 guns! And then a 2 gun night match last night which was a blast.

My 2 long range gassers just got scopes leveled, remounted, and rezeroed. The LMT 6.5 never ceases to amaze me. Consistently a 5 shot group .8 MOA gun w/ match ammo.

SCAR got a complete configuration with a barrel chop (+ p&w go get back to 16") and new optics. Steiner M8xi w/ a Trijicon RCR offset dot. Eyebox on this scope is dogshit, which is a bit problematic on a jumpy .308 and after use, the SCAR stock feels much more conducive to a piggyback dot than an offset. So this one may be yet again getting reconfigured. Upside is I do like the shorter barrel, especially with a suppressor on the end. Noticeable difference in weight balance. Thought about moving my ATACR to the SCAR since its eyebox is way more forgiving but frankly, I like it too much on its current rifle. So I guess we'll just have to see where the SCAR goes next.

My primary rifle (KAC SR-15 14.5") got some updates over the winter. Added a piggyback Aimpoint Acro, upgraded weapon light (Modlite PLHv2 w/ tape switch), KAC sandcutter (the "sand cutting" part is basically useless here but chrome is sooooo much easier to clean when running suppressed full time), and swapped out the KAC Mk12 adjustable trigger with a KAC milspec (Mk12 trigger getting repurposed for another build). Piggyback red dot kicks ass. New light was a great upgrade - easy hits on torso steel at 250 in pitch black. New trigger is a bit slower but I knew it would be. Still perfectly sufficient and I'll enjoy the other trigger in the build it's going in.

My new M4 build (as in the AR, not the Benelli shotgun) with the aimpoint sitting out on a gooseneck kicks ass. Definitely will start using it in CQ stages of matches. Still would rather have it on top of the carry handle so I'll continue to watch for the proper mount for that to come back in stock. But still plenty usable in the meantime as it sits.

Cleaned the .300blk up a bit. Definitely need a higher back pressure suppressor on there but the RC2 works for now. With that suppressor, subs recoil in slow motion. It's comical feeling. I'm also pretty sure I could run downrange and punch the targets harder and faster than the bullet. But it's a giggle to shoot with how quiet and soft it is.

The M1 Garand just absolutely rocks. Holy shit what a fun rifle.

New Leupold red dot on my CZ TS2 Orange and it's a match made in heaven. Feels like playing with cheat codes. Easily my best pistol setup at the moment.

Beretta 92XI Corsa - this surprised me. When I first got it, the trigger felt like dogshit. The fit and finish were fine but not great (and they should be great for the price). Couldn't put my finger on exactly what about the ergos were meh, but it just didn't fit great. Compared to the CZ TS2, out of the box, I was just very unimpressed. That said, it surprised me on the range. Putting actual rounds through was quite nice. It shot extremely well and I really like the factory sights. Still not as great as my CZ. But I did go from thinking I'd probably sell it before even shooting it to deciding maybe I'll keep it after all.

The Beretta 92 Special Edition I just picked up shot well. Nothing special. Probably going to list it for sale. Nothing wrong with just nothing special. Shot it back to back with my CZ Shadow 2 Compact and the CZ is just superior in every way. That said, I'm convinced that you can pick any price point under $2K and something in CZ's lineup will take the cake for best shooter at that price point.

Walther PDP... oh boy this might hurt some feelings. This thing shoots like ass. Maybe Walthers just don't fit my hand well so my grip is subpar. But I just haven't figured out why people like them so much. Great factory trigger but that's as much as I can say good about it. It just doesn't shoot well, the ergos suck ass, the factory sights only beat out Glock. This thing is definitely getting sold.

FN Reflex did what I expected. Shoots like a G43 with a better trigger. The grip is like sandpaper; maybe the first factory grip I've handled that was actually kind of painful to shoot lol. I don't love that the slide is milled in the Shield RMS pattern. Just not a lot of great options for red dots. This was also my first go with a Holosun (407K to be specific) - meh. I suppose Holosuns are fine for range toys but this thing is mediocre at best and not really what I want to trust my life to on a carry gun but again, options are limited so... guess I'm stuck with it.

 

Damn, you were busy! That sounds like you needed about a 5 man crew to get through all that.........Congrats Superman!

 

@redtailracing

Send your Shadows to Cajun Gun Works for their pro package trigger work. You won’t regret it.

I had a Shadow 2 compact on my list, but I sent my CZ75 P01 to Cajun for the trigger work just to see what the fuss was about. I got it used for like $500 at a local shop.
After it came back…no desire for a Shadow 2 compact now…this P01 was a sweet little pistol when I got it, the trigger weights being reduced to 6DA/3SA and more refined make it
just a sleeper.

And don’t ask me why, I cannot articulate it, but my CZs will be my last guns to get dots. I’m by NO means dissin’ on your choice or anyone’s do to do so, but something about the classic elegance of the CZ’s everytime I see them even in Gun Stores cases says to me that the optic ruins the look and lines of those guns.

Conversely, my Staccatos and Atlas just don’t look right without a dot.

Regarding the Walther PDP. Sorry the ergos don’t work for you. I rather like mine quite a bit. Probably my favorite striker fired pistol. I’m considering a PDP Steel Frame at some point. Maybe that extra material weight to mitigate recoil better would offer you a better PDP experience. (it’s betwen my PDP and my VP9 Tactical for my favorite striker fires)

 

Night match recap:

ran 2 of my best stages to date. Top 6 out of 27 overall on those 2 stages and that’s with me running white light against both white light and nv users. And the nv guys are allowed IR lasers. No lasers on white light though.

finished mid pack overall after bombing one stage REALLY bad but had a blast. Pistol targets out to 30 yards and rifle out to 236. Lots of tricky movements and awkward positions plus the curveball of rain and running or transitioning between really slick surfaces.

edit: also, surefire x300 turbo and Modlite plhv2 both perform phenomenally at night. I’ve tried a few different light setups and this is the first combo I’ve found that I’m finally happy/content with.

Match director films these on an nv camera so this is him running the course (apologies for the poor image quality):

 

Yea thinking my shadow 2 compact is gonna get some Cajun love. I’ve been considering it for awhile now. Just gotta slot it in with all the other builds and mods I have going on in my collection.

The walther thing is weird. Everybody I’ve talked to has said if HK and CZ are your favorite pistols, then Walther likely rounds out your top 3. Anyone who likes one of the three generally loves all 3. Hell you’re clearly a perfect example lol. So I went in expecting to like them. Handled the local shop owners PDP Pro and found the ergos to be very unnatural with the controls just feeling awkwardly placed. That said, I don’t love elements of CZ ergos either but they shoot so fucking good and fit my hand so well I just don’t care and I’ve since gotten used to them (particularly slide purchase area and slide release location/shape). So I wasn’t judging too hard just yet. But for whatever reason, it just feels jumpy as hell in my hand. Oddly enough, my VP9 is still my favorite striker. So why the pdp doesn’t work for me seems to be a mystery. Probably just means someone else is gonna get a great deal on a great pistol. Maybe one day I’ll change my mind. But for now I’ve got enough pistols that I do enjoy.

 

I’d like to see you shoot a Staccato P and your reaction to that. Never met anyone yet that’s tried mine and walked away with a negative impression. I say the P model because I think that’s the best all around model they make for the money.

 

I would love to... or maybe I wouldn't. Last thing I need is an expansion to the list of guns I want to add to the collection I am legitimately curious about the high end 2011 world though. I've never shot one. It's hard for me to imagine how much better something could be than my CZ TS2. I honestly can't think of a way to improve it. But clearly there's a whole market that believes there are guns so much better they're worth 2-3x+ as much. In fact, I'd say there seem to be MORE people with those 2011s than the tricked out CZs. So I know they've got to be the tits. And I'm curious. But I don't know anyone who has one to try.

One of these days I'm gonna find a way to get together with you Atlantic coast fellas for a range day.

 

Since I have both, I’ll offer this:

They are both excellent pistols concepts/designs.

The CZ TS/Shadow 75 series has the low bore axis advantage. The 75’s are probably more durable, reliable than the 2011’s. You can probably beat a CZ75 like step child, throw it in teh mud and beat it against a rock and it will still go bang. You can probably neglect to oil it for a decade and it will fire every time.

The advantage the 2011’s have over the CZ75 series is the trigger. Single action only and the the inherited trigger design of the classic 1911.
Disadvantage of the 2011’s is they may require more maintenance (cleaning and oil) than like a CZ, Glock, Sig. But that trigger is just so brilliant. Even the stock triggers.
My Staccato XC, P and C2 all have the infinity gun works flat face bow/shoe in them because I don’t like the curve of the stock Staccato trigger shoe. That’s the “Chef’s Kiss” on those for me. The XC is obviously the best of them all…it’s their 4300 top of the line…but that thing will go toe to toe with my Atlas, and a lot of others like the TTi Pit/Sand Viper, Atlas’s that cost up to twice as much. The XC and the MPA DS9 Hybrid in the 2011 world right now probably offer the best “bang for the buck”.

 

Santa brought me a PDP Steel Frame Match and I'm having the same difficultly adjusting to the ergos. I can't get a consistent index on it which affects speed and accuracy. It is a snappy gun because it's over sprung (18 lb spring). You can buy guide rods with different weight springs that make it softer.

As far as Shadow 2 Compact, I saw this at my LGS and it's a beautiful pistol. Even though I have a standard version, I may pick this up it's so nice. The G10 grips are a big improvement. And yes, I realize I can put them on mine but that would be too rational.

Having both the TS2 Orange and an MPA DS9, Darrin's summary of the difference is accurate. As good as the CZ trigger is, the 2011 trigger is a little better. My wife is a good shooter and prefers the TS2 over the DS9. I haven't run enough rounds through the TS2 to have an opinion.

Sounds like you had a great weekend covering a lot of ground and learning a ton. Capping it off with the two-gun event is the cherry on top. Congrats on the stage performance. Having just started competing in Pistol matches, I appreciate how rewarding that is.

 

Ran 250 rds through the Apollo 11 yesterday....Had 1 failure to extract after plowing through the last set of (4) 17 rd mags...gun was hot. It was the last 2 rds in the mag....

Weird thing is though, the next round was able to go into the chamber with the previous shell casing stuck on the extractor and laying horizontal above the mag? Don't know how the slide was able to load the next round with the spent shell stuck where it was.

 

So in my quest to spend money on training and ammo instead of new guns and gizmos I’ve been avoiding this thread like the plague…but for Valentines my wife showed up with a 300 blackout upper and a pile of ammo. Now I need another can.

What’s the 411 on cans, talk to me like I’m 5 years old. I have a Hux 556 ti so I’m leaning to their 7.62 ti or maybe the Ventum 762 to save some money. I shoot more now with the can on the 556 but I really don’t shoot much rifle period. I’m pretty sure I want to stick with a flow through can. I’m not really worried about a db or two, I’m more concerned with not getting gassed and a cleaner gun is a bonus…I think. Is there anything budget friendly enough to move the needle, should I wait and get one of their new Range 36?

 

Hearing Protection Act may actually have a chance this time around. Maybe wait a few months?

 

The 15 lb captured guide rod from ZR Tactical Solutions helps the PDP’s a lot. I have one in my polymer and my 5” SF. Zero issues and I’m over 10,000 rounds between the two. I did have to buy one of their rebuild kits but that was with about 6,000 through the polymer and 1,700 through the steel frame. They’ll both run on the 13 lb spring but they’re not recommended for carry ammo. They are also fully supported with Lok grips but if you put them on or the Ultra Mass guide rod you might be over the weight limit if you ever shoot an IDPA match where they weigh it assuming you’re running a dot.

 

I’ve heard bits and pieces. I’ll have to look into it.

 

So, wait for legislation or file and wait 30 days through the current process...
I know where I'd place bets on what gets finished first.

 

@redtailracing and @S Tsotsoros you have to watch the Walther page like a hawk as they stay sold out but these have a cult following
https://waltherarms.com/shop/q-series-extended-magazine-release-button-oval-blue