Kind of a rough day at the range.. - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

SP AgentBauer · 07-28-2007, 11:12 PM

I've been working hard every week to improve my groupings, and really feel like I have been improving each week. Last week, I was consistantly putting 10rds within a 4" circle @ 10yrds (nothing to brag about, but it's good for me).

This week, I was all out of whack for some reason... keeping it on a 8" target was about all I could hope for. It wasn't like all the shots were down and left or anything, they were just "assorted" for lack of a better term.

Same pistol, same ammo, same target, same distance. The only thing that was really different is that it was a lot warmer inside the range today... 88deg with 75% humidity. (about 10deg and 25% more humidity from last week)
As a machinist, I know how plastics can change quite a bit @ different temps, and I've heard some things about how that kind of heat/humidity can affect how polymer pistols shoot as well. I have to imagine my "assorted" locations on the targets had to do with how that weather affected my gun and myself physically. What do yall think?

**DanTheEldest** · 07-29-2007, 11:44 AM

I'm going to wager that it was mostly you affecting your results. Eighty-eight degrees is warm, but not warm enough to really affect how a handgun operates. However, it is warm enough with that kind of relative humidity to turn the average person into a sweaty mess, particularly if there's no air movement. Unless you were using rock climber's chalk on your hands while shooting, I'd bet your inconsistency was related mostly to a gun that shifted slightly in your hands due to perspiration. Just as an experiment, go back to the range when it's at similar climate conditions and try wrapping the grip with some skateboard tape or non-skid, and dry your hands between shots and see how you do.

GaryTx · 07-29-2007, 11:50 AM

I agree; same gun, same ammo, same distance...the problem is within yourself. Lack of focus most likely, leading to a problem with sight picture and/or trigger control. Are you by any chance trying to speed things up, shooting faster.

Go back to the basics...slow down and get yourself back in sink.

07-28-2007, 11:12 PM	#1
SP AgentBauer XDTalk Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 58	Kind of a rough day at the range.. I've been working hard every week to improve my groupings, and really feel like I have been improving each week. Last week, I was consistantly putting 10rds within a 4" circle @ 10yrds (nothing to brag about, but it's good for me). This week, I was all out of whack for some reason... keeping it on a 8" target was about all I could hope for. It wasn't like all the shots were down and left or anything, they were just "assorted" for lack of a better term. Same pistol, same ammo, same target, same distance. The only thing that was really different is that it was a lot warmer inside the range today... 88deg with 75% humidity. (about 10deg and 25% more humidity from last week) As a machinist, I know how plastics can change quite a bit @ different temps, and I've heard some things about how that kind of heat/humidity can affect how polymer pistols shoot as well. I have to imagine my "assorted" locations on the targets had to do with how that weather affected my gun and myself physically. What do yall think? __________________ ~ SP AgentBauer " It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have. " - C.E. - SA XDc Service .45 ACP in a CrossBreed SuperTuck DLX

07-29-2007, 11:44 AM	#2
DanTheEldest XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,282	I'm going to wager that it was mostly you affecting your results. Eighty-eight degrees is warm, but not warm enough to really affect how a handgun operates. However, it is warm enough with that kind of relative humidity to turn the average person into a sweaty mess, particularly if there's no air movement. Unless you were using rock climber's chalk on your hands while shooting, I'd bet your inconsistency was related mostly to a gun that shifted slightly in your hands due to perspiration. Just as an experiment, go back to the range when it's at similar climate conditions and try wrapping the grip with some skateboard tape or non-skid, and dry your hands between shots and see how you do. __________________ The AK-47: Designed to be field-stripped and used effectively by a half-drunk, half-frozen illiterate conscript who found it buried in Mother Russia's mud after last year's Regiment exercises. SOP: retrieve from ground, pee in action, cycle bolt, go back to work. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. --Martin Luther

07-29-2007, 11:50 AM	#3
GaryTx XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,103	I agree; same gun, same ammo, same distance...the problem is within yourself. Lack of focus most likely, leading to a problem with sight picture and/or trigger control. Are you by any chance trying to speed things up, shooting faster. Go back to the basics...slow down and get yourself back in sink. __________________ "I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please." ~John Wayne

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