A Fun Range Trip

This week's range visit was a fun family outing. Our son is home for a couple weeks, so he joined Colleen and I, along with our friend "Checkered Flag." The range was slow so we all had adjacent lanes. I also rented the new SIG Sauer P365 to try out. I've been keenly interested in the gun, but have never seen one "live," so was excited when I found out that Winding Brook had it available for rent.

I started my time with the P365. I set the target at 5 yards, and saw a very nice group of 10 hits form. My three companions followed with a magazine load each, leaving me 10 more rounds to play with.

My initial impressions of the SIG P365 were very favorable. The gun is a little snappy, but it feels very solid in the hand. The shape to the grip allows a good purchase, even with the pinky finger hanging below. The range didn't have a 12 round magazine to try. It's a small gun but it feels bigger than I thought it would. The P365 is surprisingly easy to shoot.

Getting my full size SIG P320 out, I went through a box of ammo shooting the various sized shapes on the target at 7 and 10 yards. After 50 rounds I started to load more magazines but then decided I really wanted to shoot the P365 a bit more. I splurged on another box of ammo from the range.

This time I set the target out at 7 yards and my son and I took turns shooting at the target's various sized squares, circles, and diamonds. I was impressed with the accuracy for a small gun. I fired off 10 rounds as fast as I could and still shot well. The P365 sights comes back on target very quickly. Even shooting strong hand only proved doable.

P 365. Rapid fire. 7 yards.

Putting the P365 away, my range session was finished with some slow 15 yard shooting with the full size gun.

After shooting the new SIG P365, I was not dissuaded from my desire to get one of my own. As I said after the trip, "This gun feels like I need to buy it."

We finished our outing with a tasty meal and fun conversation at a local "burger joint." I hadn't been shooting with my son since he was home for the Christmas break so it was fun to do. I didn't get the chance to shoot his SIG Legion this time out, so we'll just have to plan another range trip soon.

Range Trip - Two SIGs

We've been living in construction zone for a few weeks as we undertake some renovations at home. Add to that stress from the craziness of catching up after the 4-day holiday weekend at work, and I was more than ready for some range time relaxation. My second P320 was returned from SIG last week after having the upgrade work performed, so I was most anxious to test it out.

I packed both the Full Size and Compact P320 versions for this outing, as I wanted to compare them directly. After spending time jumping back and forth between the two, it's hard to truly feel any difference between them. I did notice that I seemed to shoot the Compact model a bit more accurately then the Full Size. That's not what I would have expected, although I have been shooting the smaller gun more frequently of late. Undoubtably, there's more shooting practice that will need to be done to resolve that difference.

After shooting both guns over several trips to the range, I can say I do like the trigger enhancements performed by SIG as part of the "voluntary upgrade." While I was not worried in the least about the supposed safety issue, I am happy to have taken advantage of the offered "fix."

I shot longer and put more rounds down range than I typically do during a quick lunch outing. I'll have a bit more catching up to do at work, but it's worth it. The break was a most welcome diversion.

New Gun Owner

Our son is no stranger to firearms. He built his own AR rifle a couple years ago and he's also an experienced handgun shooter. However, he's been looking forward to actually buying his own handgun for a while. After celebrating his first legal beer in the U.S. recently, our now 21 year old son finally made that purchase he's been anticipating for a long time - a SIG Sauer P226 Legion. Detouring by the gun store on his way home for Thanksgiving break, he picked up the gun he had already paid for online. Then on Monday he met me at the office at lunchtime and we headed over to the indoor range to try it out.

After he shot the first few magazines through the gun, I asked for a chance to shoot it. I have to admit to a bit of envy of the high end SIG he opted to start out with. He's long enjoyed shooting my "basic" P226. He's been working hard and saving for some time in preparation, so I don't blame him for "going big."

I also brought along my SIG P320 Compact. I had only put 50 rounds through it since the trigger upgrade, mainly to check function. This time I shot a more organized practice session at 7 and 10 yards. I was more than happy with the groups I was getting. After 100 rounds, I checked on my son, who was doing quite well, and was very happy with his purchase. I watched him for a while longer, much to my own enjoyment. I offered him my last box of 50 rounds, on the condition he let his dad shoot one more magazine with the new gun.

As with my pleasure over his choices for good beer, I'm also glad he has good taste in firearms too.

My son told me that when he bought the gun, the person who handled the paperwork and the person who verified the purchase, both wished him a happy birthday. When the range proprietor checked his ID he too remarked "Happy Birthday." It seems I'm not the only one who enjoys it when someone makes that first purchase.

It Followed Me Home

It's no secret that I'm a SIG Sauer fan. I often tell folks that "SIG tax" keeps me from buying too many guns. After all, quality costs. When the P320 was introduced in 2014, it just did not pique my interest. At first.

I picked up the Full Size P320 a few weeks ago. Now I have to change my reasoning for buying a SIG. Given the modularity of the P320 series, it's just not sensible to own only one. The local gun store is having a liquidation sale and the discount reached a level where it made another purchase irresistible, so I've add a Compact P320 to the rotation.

Two gun sizes, same trigger pull, nearly identical ergonomics. Now if I could only to find time to shoot it!

New Gun Range Trip

Recently I picked up a new gun I've had my eye on for some time, a full size SIG Sauer P320. I'm an unabashed SIG Sauer fan, but I like the striker fired action of my Smith & Wesson Shield. When the new striker-fired P320 series came out, I was interested, because, well, it's a SIG. I finally bit the bullet, so to speak.

Tired of simply fondling the gun, I made it to the range this week to actually shoot it. There really isn't much to say, except I like it. 😊

The first thing I did was to shoot groups at some black pasters I stuck to my target, to see where the gun points. Shooting at 7, 10 and 15 yards I found there was little difference from my P226. Next I did some strong hand and weak hand only shooting. My skills in those areas of late leave much to be desired, but I did find the grip of this gun fit my hand very well and it's easily controllable. I easily kept my one-handed shots in the -0 zone at 10 yards.

Finally, I ran the target all the way out to 25 yards. I tend to shoot low at that distance; not having a clear view of the target likely factors into that. At least this time, with some hard focus on the sights, I didn't do any worse that usual. The group was slightly tighter at that distance and well centered on the target. I'm a firm believer in the adage, "It's the indian not the arrow," but I do like the stock trigger on the P230, and that may contribute to the improvement noted.

That all said, the real test comes with time — with more shooting, at a faster pace especially. I expect many more trips to the range in the coming days and weeks.

There is a downside to adding a new gun to the mix. Now I'm ordering extra magazines, and mag carriers, and holsters...

60,000 Rounds And A New Barrel

While I have several pistols that I shoot, and carry, regularly, my SIG Sauer P226 E2 is by far my favorite. Since I purchased it in 2010, I've put somewhere around 60,000 rounds through it. It's had several sets of new springs put in, but other than a new guide rod, it's still original equipment. Lately I've been thinking about replacing the barrel. The gun still shoots more accurately than I do, but I figured I wouldn't wait until there's a serious problem.

I opted for a factory replacement from SIG Sauer. After looking at the online store, I called the shop to ask a couple questions. The guy on the phone was friendly and very helpful. After I thanked him for the info he offered to get me a better price than what was posted online, so I ordered right then and there; for 15% off!

The barrel dropped right in and I ran over to the range to put 100 error-free rounds through it — and it still shoots more accurately than me. I was also struck how different the gun looks with a black barrel rather than a worn silver one. As long as the slide and frame continue to hold out, I expect to continue shooting this gun for a long time.