Intro - and a range report (long) - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

KYDoc · 02-27-2006, 06:24 PM

After six weeks of lurking on this site, I finally registered.

I'm another XD nut. Brand new. In fact, I had never owned a pistol before, but decided to splurge at a gun show Jan 6 in my hometown of Lexington, KY.

I was looking at glocks because they sounded cool, but when I picked up the XD-40 Service, it just felt right. When I went to the show, I remembered my wife saying ... "Well, based on our checking account, you can spend no more than $400 there."

Well, I hadn't planned on buying anything, but that sounded like we were on the same page. When I got home and showed her the new baby, I heard the three scariest words I had ever heard:

"

I was KIDDING!"

After that gave way to acceptance, I resigned myself to learning how to shoot the thing. It has been an incredible experience. It is taking over my life. I have spent countless hours on this site learning from all of you. I have shot more than 1600 rounds at the range in 6 weeks (usually once a week or so), and passed my CCW test (the wait is on for the certificate to take to the sheriff so that I can wait longer for the permit.)

By reading this site, and other online guides to marksmanship I have learned the principles of grip stance, site picture, and am developing trigger control. My first shots were of course down and right (lefty) and whenever I see a new gun owner saying their sights are off, I think "Yep. That was me." The long trigger pull is sort of difficult for me to keep still without jerking it (not that I would know what a shorter pull feels like...) but after a few weeks of making the targets look like they were hit with buckshot at long range, I have gotten to the picture below at 7 yards, and most rounds on a 5" Shoot-N-C target at 10 yards. I can hit an occasional bulls-eye at 15 and 20 yards, but the spread is pretty big. The interesting thing is, I can tell when it's going to go straight even before I see where the shot lands just by how startled I am by the trigger break.

Got DGR and 22# spring last week, and I can't say it's helping me too much. I think as I get more consistent I'll notice a bigger difference. I did notice that when shooting the Winchester Ranger 155 g JHP that the new spring did make the recoid a little less sharp. I didn't notice the difference between it and the stock rod with WWB 165 value packs (my ammo preference.)

I'm pretty into this weapon, and I don't think the people around me understand me anymore. If I'm not shooting it, I'm cleaning it, or browsing the internet to see what other toys to put on it. Got the blue wonder kit, got some gun butter (see? Brainwashed!) Sort of like my 5 year old getting a new Barbie and then all she wants is more outfits for it. Is this normal, or am I becoming obsessed?

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for all the info you've all given me. Hope to learn a lot more and to keep improving. I hope someone stops me before I buy another one... or some new sights... or a CC trigger job ...

PS: +1 on scratching the slide with the disassembly lever. I'm leaving it there to remind myself of the stupidity.

KYDoc

jednp · 02-27-2006, 06:39 PM

All that you described is pretty much what I'm goin through hah.. heck, we even purchased our guns on the same date and have about the same amount of shots put through them. I find myself obsessed with learning about the gun, shooting techniques, etc.. i spend so much time on here, and if I'm not on here half the time I'm dry firing or talkin about guns. While it may not be "normal" I think for all of us here it is normal. Good luck with the gun, and welcome to the forum.

Teach · 02-27-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYDoc

Is this normal, or am I becoming obsessed?

I hope it's normal...'cause you just described me

I'm another n00b on here too, but I still feel I posses the power to welcome you to the forum due to my extensive time here spent learning.

YakSpout · 02-28-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYDoc

Looks like you sent some shots high right. You might want to work on that.

Nice shooting. Absorb the info here, there's a lot of good stuff. I found it took about 1000 rounds before I was able to group consistently, too.

KYDoc · 02-28-2006, 05:33 PM

-- I previewed my post and was waiting for that one.

Notice how I skillfully avoided the white paper, though!

02-27-2006, 06:24 PM	#1
KYDoc XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 1,025	Intro - and a range report (long) After six weeks of lurking on this site, I finally registered. I'm another XD nut. Brand new. In fact, I had never owned a pistol before, but decided to splurge at a gun show Jan 6 in my hometown of Lexington, KY. I was looking at glocks because they sounded cool, but when I picked up the XD-40 Service, it just felt right. When I went to the show, I remembered my wife saying ... "Well, based on our checking account, you can spend no more than $400 there." Well, I hadn't planned on buying anything, but that sounded like we were on the same page. When I got home and showed her the new baby, I heard the three scariest words I had ever heard: " I was KIDDING!" After that gave way to acceptance, I resigned myself to learning how to shoot the thing. It has been an incredible experience. It is taking over my life. I have spent countless hours on this site learning from all of you. I have shot more than 1600 rounds at the range in 6 weeks (usually once a week or so), and passed my CCW test (the wait is on for the certificate to take to the sheriff so that I can wait longer for the permit.) By reading this site, and other online guides to marksmanship I have learned the principles of grip stance, site picture, and am developing trigger control. My first shots were of course down and right (lefty) and whenever I see a new gun owner saying their sights are off, I think "Yep. That was me." The long trigger pull is sort of difficult for me to keep still without jerking it (not that I would know what a shorter pull feels like...) but after a few weeks of making the targets look like they were hit with buckshot at long range, I have gotten to the picture below at 7 yards, and most rounds on a 5" Shoot-N-C target at 10 yards. I can hit an occasional bulls-eye at 15 and 20 yards, but the spread is pretty big. The interesting thing is, I can tell when it's going to go straight even before I see where the shot lands just by how startled I am by the trigger break. Got DGR and 22# spring last week, and I can't say it's helping me too much. I think as I get more consistent I'll notice a bigger difference. I did notice that when shooting the Winchester Ranger 155 g JHP that the new spring did make the recoid a little less sharp. I didn't notice the difference between it and the stock rod with WWB 165 value packs (my ammo preference.) I'm pretty into this weapon, and I don't think the people around me understand me anymore. If I'm not shooting it, I'm cleaning it, or browsing the internet to see what other toys to put on it. Got the blue wonder kit, got some gun butter (see? Brainwashed!) Sort of like my 5 year old getting a new Barbie and then all she wants is more outfits for it. Is this normal, or am I becoming obsessed? Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for all the info you've all given me. Hope to learn a lot more and to keep improving. I hope someone stops me before I buy another one... or some new sights... or a CC trigger job ... PS: +1 on scratching the slide with the disassembly lever. I'm leaving it there to remind myself of the stupidity. KYDoc

02-28-2006, 05:33 PM	#5
KYDoc XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 1,025	Thanks: -- I previewed my post and was waiting for that one. Notice how I skillfully avoided the white paper, though!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-27-2006, 06:39 PM	#2
jednp XDTalk 4K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 4,691	All that you described is pretty much what I'm goin through hah.. heck, we even purchased our guns on the same date and have about the same amount of shots put through them. I find myself obsessed with learning about the gun, shooting techniques, etc.. i spend so much time on here, and if I'm not on here half the time I'm dry firing or talkin about guns. While it may not be "normal" I think for all of us here it is normal. Good luck with the gun, and welcome to the forum.