Harry O
03-24-2009, 10:52 AM
I never had good luck with 9mm's. Groups with my Browning P-35 were mediocre and with my Walther P-38 were downright bad. They did OK from a bench, but offhand groups were terrible. I gave them to my son since he likes 9mm's, particularly hi-cap ones. He also took my factory 9mm cartridges, but refused to take my handloads. I did tell him in the past, never to shoot a handload in his guns unless he made it himself so I can't hold that against him.
Anyway, I had an ammo box full of 9mm handloads to shoot up. I needed a 9mm, but I decided to find one that felt front-heavy, like a revolver. The Walther had no weight at all up front and I couldn't shoot it worth a darned. The Browning was a little bit heavier towards the front, but still light compared to a revolver. I was able to shoot better with it, but not well enough.
I picked up a few Glock 34's, but did not like them. I looked for a Colt 1911 or Colt clone in 9mm, but never saw one locally -- besides, they were pretty darned expensive on the internet. I ran across a Llama and a Star at a hock shop. I felt both and decided to get the Star.
It is a nearly new 1972 commercial model that has all the whistles and bells that they had available. And, it was in 98% condition (after adjusting the rear sight, though, it is down to 95% -- that sucker was in tight) at a reasonable cost. It is roughly the size, weight, and feel of a 1911, although no parts interchange. Took it to the range yesterday and it is a keeper.
The groups were about 1/3 of the size of the Walther groups and about 1/2 the size of the Browning groups. The groups are not as small as those from my revolvers, but maybe with load tuning and practice, it may get down to that small. I believe there may be something to my theory about getting enough weight up front so that I can hold it steady. I also have a bunch of hard-cast 124gr RN bullets to try in it.
Anybody want to share 9mm reloads that are good in their guns?
Anyway, I had an ammo box full of 9mm handloads to shoot up. I needed a 9mm, but I decided to find one that felt front-heavy, like a revolver. The Walther had no weight at all up front and I couldn't shoot it worth a darned. The Browning was a little bit heavier towards the front, but still light compared to a revolver. I was able to shoot better with it, but not well enough.
I picked up a few Glock 34's, but did not like them. I looked for a Colt 1911 or Colt clone in 9mm, but never saw one locally -- besides, they were pretty darned expensive on the internet. I ran across a Llama and a Star at a hock shop. I felt both and decided to get the Star.
It is a nearly new 1972 commercial model that has all the whistles and bells that they had available. And, it was in 98% condition (after adjusting the rear sight, though, it is down to 95% -- that sucker was in tight) at a reasonable cost. It is roughly the size, weight, and feel of a 1911, although no parts interchange. Took it to the range yesterday and it is a keeper.
The groups were about 1/3 of the size of the Walther groups and about 1/2 the size of the Browning groups. The groups are not as small as those from my revolvers, but maybe with load tuning and practice, it may get down to that small. I believe there may be something to my theory about getting enough weight up front so that I can hold it steady. I also have a bunch of hard-cast 124gr RN bullets to try in it.
Anybody want to share 9mm reloads that are good in their guns?