About IMAO



Giving money to Frank J. makes you happy!


Buy funniest book ever!





IMAO Podcasts
IMAO Merchandise and Newsletter

Cool shirts, mugs, stickers, and what-not!

About IMAO
Then conquer we must, for our cause is just, 
And this be our motto--'In God is our trust.' 
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


If you want to send something by snail mail, e-mail with subject "P.O. Box" to get mail information for Frank J. and SarahK.

About Frank J.

Bloggers:
Frank J.
Harvey
RightWingDuck
Cadet Happy
spacemonkey
Laurence Simon
SarahK

Popular Categories
Fred Thompson Facts
John Edwards Fabulous Facts
lolterizt
IMAO Condensed
Know Thy Enemy
Editorials
Frank the Artist
In My World
Other Content
Ode to Violence
Brief Histories
IMAO Audio Bits


Read the Essay
Own the Shirt
Peace Gallery
Search IMAO
Google
Web www.imao.us
Testimonials
"All quotes attributed to me on IMAO are made up... including this one."
-Glenn Reynolds

"Unfunny treasonous ronin!"
-Lou Tulio*

"You, sir, are a natural born killer."
-E. Harrington

"You'll never get my job! Never!!!"
-Jonah Goldberg

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And He did despair, for in His omniscience, He did know that His creations had but three-fifths of the splendor of that which would be IMAO."
-No One of Consequence

"A blogger with a sense of humor."
-Some Woman on MSNBC
Blogroll
Ace of Spades HQ
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
Blackfive
Captain's Quarters
Classical Values
Conservative Grapevine
The Corner
The Daily Gut (with Jim Treacher!)
Dave in Texas
Eject! Eject! Eject!
Electric Venom
Hot Air
Puppy Blender
La Shawn Barber's Corner
Michelle Malkin
Pereiraville
Protein Wisdom
Rachel Lucas
Right Wing News
Scrappleface
Serenity's Journal
Townhall Blog

IMAO Blogroll
Bad Example
Cadet Happy
The Flying Space Monkey Chronicles
mountaineer musings
Right Wing Duck
SarahK & Cadet Happy snark TV
This Blog Is Full of Crap

Fred Thompson Links
Fred File
Blogs for Fred
Fred Thompson Facts
Awards



 

May 03, 2004
May 1st Range Report
Posted by Frank J. at 01:09 PM | View blog reactions | Comments (34)

So, I wanted to try out my little Kel-Tec I mentioned previously plus see if I had fixed my Colt 1991, so I went to the range Saturday. As recommended by many readers and especially Kim du Toit, I purchased an eight round Wilson Combat mag for my Colt plus I replaced the recoil spring with a Wilson Combat recoil spring and even put some Wilson Combat grease on the rails. The Wilson Combat mag sticks out underneath, making my gun lose some of its simplicity, but that new mag sure makes the regular Colt magazine (the one lying next to the gun) seem like a crude piece of tin hammered out by some caveman.

Anyhoo, here is how things went at the range (this time I remembered a pen):

First I tried my Kel-Tec P3AT one handed (the thing is just too small for two hands) at close range, firing three of it's six round mags. It jammed a number of times, but it's in its breaking in period.
Results (Sorry I wrote "clips" on the target; I caught myself later on as I knew some readers would get there panties in a bunch when they saw that improper use of firearm terminology)

Next I tried out my .45, two-hands on it firing 20 Winchester jacketed hollow points at 10 yards. No problems.
Results

Now I fired three 8-rd mags of FMJ hodling with just my right hand. Again, no problems.
Results

Time for my PPK, which I fired left-handed, first round of each mag at double action. Pretty accurate for my off hand if I do say so myself, but what you don't see is how often the damn thing jammed plus had other problems such as the trigger pull not ever firing the bullet (no duds; just pulled the trigger again double action and it fired).
Results

With two hands on the PPK, there were less jams, but there were still some problems with the firing pin. I really like this gun, as it is quite accurate for its size, so I hate to see these problems.
Results.

Now I tried the Kel-Tec again. Still jammed multiple times, and it takes some getting used to its double action trigger, but it's too early to have a verdict on the gun.
Results

Fired my .45 two-handed again. I'm going to blame my poor results on trying different styles of trigger pull (how much of my finger I put on the trigger).
Results

Finally, I put the target out at fifty feet and fired off three 10rd. mags of my Browning .22 target pistol. Well, if you count them, you will find thirty holes at least :)
Results

Well, I think my poor PPK needs to be taken to a gunsmith. I love that gun, but it's malfunctioning too much for me to carry it. Some of it has to do with probably how I'm reacting to the recoil, but some must be internals. Also, I can never get it to eject a round by manually pulling back the slide; I have to pull back the slide and let the round fall out the back of the barrel and down the handle.

It's great to see my baby, my Colt 1991, not have any problems. The only thing was after cleaning and disassembly, it almost seems I'm jamming that recoil spring in there. I think I should replace the spring cap with a full guide rod to keep the spring in place.

As for the Kel-Tec, I'll wait to see how it performs now that I've disassembled and cleaned it myself. It may just need some more breaking in.

Happy shooting.

Rating: 2.4/5 (5 votes cast)

Frank on Guns
Email This | Add to del.icio.us | Digg this | StumbleUpon Toolbar Stumble It!
34 Responses To "May 1st Range Report"

I'm jealous. I just can't shoot with my off hand. If I lose my right hand in a tragic staple gun incident at a Lowe's Home Improvement seminar, the bad guys are in luck....

#1 - Posted by: Robb on May 3, 2004 01:17 PM

I have a Kel-Tec P-11, and guy I know has the P-32. I never really had trouble with jamming, but I know the Kel-Tec is pretty picky when it comes to ammo.

I would try changing ammos if it keeps jamming.

#2 - Posted by: Tom on May 3, 2004 01:34 PM

Frank
The groups with the .45 look pretty good. Keep your head up. Check the shooting clockface at http://www.bullseyepistol.com/ , under the Error Analysis and Correction link (5th entry in the 4th paragraph). That thing really works; its been around forever. Also, why do you keep calling your 1911 a 1991? Is that a Colt thing? I wouldn't know; my .45s are all Kimbers.

Don't forget about natural body positioning. It really helps. Stand on the target line with your hands empty. Close your eyes and move your body into the position you're going to shoot from. Pretend the pistol is in your hands and aim at the target. Now open your eyes. If your "gun" isn't pointing right at the target move your feet to properly align it. Repeat until you know exactly where to stand. This puts you in a neutral, relaxed body position that is right on target.

A full length guide rod keeps the mainspring from binding and bending so it lasts longer. Get one.
Drew

#3 - Posted by: Drew on May 3, 2004 01:40 PM

Frank, the PPK/Ss that were made in the US are notorious for having malfunctions. If it was MADE by Interarms, it will have a problem. If it was made in Germany and distributed by Interarms, it should shoot like a dream. Take it to a gunsmith and he can fix it up right. You didn't use the P-99?

#4 - Posted by: Marc on May 3, 2004 02:12 PM

improper use of firearm terminology....

your dead to me Frank....

#5 - Posted by: on May 3, 2004 02:22 PM

I, too, had a Kel-tec P-11. Once I had removed a few burrs on the slide and hammer, it was remarkably reliable. However, it always required a FIRM grip to cycle properly. You can't hold it loosely like you might with a 1911, the frame hasn't enough mass to keep the inertia in the slide allowing it to fully cycle. Try holding the gun very tight.

#6 - Posted by: ken n. on May 3, 2004 02:23 PM
I, too, had a Kel-tec P-11

Every time I see that, my brain sees "K-Tel" and then I get songs from the 60's stuck in my
head.

#7 - Posted by: Robb on May 3, 2004 02:31 PM

The M1991A1 is a specific Colt model, their updated version of the 1911.

I believe my PPK/S is an American made one from Interarms (I enoountered another shooter at the range who had a American PPK/S he had problems with).

I'll take my P99 to the range next time. I'm still warming up to composites.

Thanks for all the advice again; I really appreciate it.

#8 - Posted by: Frank J. on May 3, 2004 02:41 PM

Darn, Ken N. beat me to the punch so I will just second his advice: if you have a semi auto that is not cycling consistently, check your grip. Larger guns have enough mass in the slide that a loose grip (the term is "limp wristing" by the way) doesn't generally affect the action, but lighter ones can be very susceptible to it. It doesn't seem that a loose grip would steal enough inertia to affect the cycling, but it does.

I first heard about this when the Navy bent to Congressional pressure and replaced the old reliable 1911A1s with Beretta M9s. We started seeing previously competent shooters have trouble with the slide cycling, and limp wristing turned out to be the cause. Considering the efforts Beretta went to to lighten the slide (apparently to reduce perceived recoil) that isn't surprising in retrospect.

#9 - Posted by: Steve Skubinna on May 3, 2004 02:44 PM

You only have pistols???

Where's the pre-Brady stuff, Frank? Where's the rifles and SMGs and the fifty-caliber toys? Where's the FIREPOWER?

Dammit, you need FIREPOWER! You're only... a few hundred miles from Cuba; not far from Mexico, in the same *country* as Massachusetts, on the same latitude as California, on the same longtitude as a *whole bunch of monkeys who want nothing more than to eat your skin*.

Gotta start a fund to buy Frank some big guns. Pistols are nice and all, but...

#10 - Posted by: Leo on May 3, 2004 02:50 PM

AK

#11 - Posted by: The Sicilian on May 3, 2004 03:17 PM

Gotta agree with Leo. Handguns are cute, but about as useful as tits on a boar past about seven yards. While I love my customized M-1927 (Argentine) .45, It'll be in its holster till I run our of ammo for both my M1 Garand and Remington 870.

#12 - Posted by: Bob on May 3, 2004 03:51 PM

Geex, guys, my focus is conceal carry here. Do you walk around town with your rifle lsung over your shoulder?

#13 - Posted by: Frank J. on May 3, 2004 04:11 PM

The Kel-Tec will be as reliable as any other firearm out there if you do a 'fluff & buff' on it. Seek out the Kel-Tec owners group (KTOG) for full instructions.
All of my Kel-Tecs are just as reliable as my other guns, ya just gotta do 'em right.

#14 - Posted by: Larry on May 3, 2004 04:15 PM

I tell you what Frank, when you're trying to convince someone that they don't want to break into your house, nothing is quite so comforting as a shotgun. Just sayin' is all.

#15 - Posted by: Nony Mouse on May 3, 2004 04:15 PM

Nony Mouse,
Check the Peace Gallery.

#16 - Posted by: Frank J. on May 3, 2004 04:25 PM

As a competitive pistol and rifle shooter... I am appalled that you shot midrange with a 9mm and .45acp, but glad that you shot .22 at the correct distance...
If I shoot outside the 9 ring in slowfire at 50ft with my old 1911 (the pistol predates my father) I get frustrated. 5 + 5 rapid fire with it though... that is another story altogether, I'm happy if I don't hit outside the 8 ring there.

#17 - Posted by: Rob "Whitey" M. on May 3, 2004 04:34 PM

Amen Nony! Especially a pump action 12 guage. There's nothing quite like the laxitive qualities of being in a strange dark house and hearing the action on a pump shotgun. heheh

#18 - Posted by: krakatoa on May 3, 2004 04:44 PM

Rob,
Right now I'm not trying to be a competitive shooter - maybe in the future. I'm trying practice for self defense purposes (thus firing the PPK left handed as I had been carrying it as a gun to draw with my off hand).

#19 - Posted by: Frank J. on May 3, 2004 05:44 PM

Steve Skubinna,

That is the exact troubles I have with my Beretta; plus the .40 round just doesn't seem manly enough :(

Wish I had more money to invest in firearms...

#20 - Posted by: Masada on May 3, 2004 06:49 PM

Frank,
Yeah, yeah, I remember... I was just posting that in response to the 'do you guys walk around with your rifles slung over your shoulders' comment.

Krakatoa,
A friend of mine once commented that it is that noise which is the International 'Initiation of Territorial Dispute' Signal. And it was so funny at the time because it was true.

#21 - Posted by: Nony Mouse on May 3, 2004 07:10 PM

Man, I'm feeling all sorts of left out. All I have is a nice Wesson .357 and a .22 made out of M14 parts. I could stab someone with my kBar and if all that fails, I've got a 3xD-cell MagLite I could bonk them on the head with.

Maybe I should start blogging and people will buy me guns.

#22 - Posted by: Imperial Janitor Robb on May 3, 2004 10:07 PM

It just irks me whenever I see someone shooting mid-range, because generally shooting ranges frown upon it, or completely disallow it (I live in Ct, really can only shoot at ranges here).
I saw the 50ft NRA slowfire target... and when I see a target used at the wrong range, it just sets up the whole target picture problems in my mind, then again, you shouldn't hit outside the black, especially two handed.

#23 - Posted by: Rob "Whitey" M. on May 3, 2004 10:29 PM

Frank -- I have a PPK as well. PPKs are unusually susceptible to "limp wristing." It's a problem with blow-back actions in general (maybe that's partly the problem with your Kel-tech, too), but the PPK seems especially prone to it. Holding the pistol too loosely transfers some of the energy to your arm (thus acting as a shock absorber), and thus consuming some of the energy that the action would otherwise use to cycle itself (I realize this isn't a technically precise answer, but the imagery works). The solution is a firm grip. Practice. Practice. Practice.

#24 - Posted by: Bob on May 3, 2004 11:58 PM

FWIW, I have a Kel-Tec P32 and have never had problems with it jamming. I do fire it with a very firm grip because I have big hands and I'm always a little afraid it's going to go flying over my shoulder or something because it's so tiny.

I also have a Kel-Tec Sub 2000 Rifle which is loads of fun to shoot. Folding carbine, takes Glock mags.

#25 - Posted by: jmr on May 4, 2004 12:40 AM

I'm another P32 owner and have had only one single problem, which didn't occurr early one but it was a doozy--complete failure to extract. The casing was stuck fully inserted into the chamber after it was fired, and I had to remove the magazine and use a screwdriver to pull the casing out by the rim. I was shooting American Eagle FMJ at the time, but have never had another problem with it or with Gold Dots either. The only breaking in I ever did was about 1000 trigger pulls with snap caps.

I certainly hold it with a firm grip, which is the only way I can imagine getting both hands on it.

Bob, for what it's worth, the P32 and P3AT aren't blowbacks--they are (probably the world's smallest) genuine breech-locks.

#26 - Posted by: Kirk Parker on May 4, 2004 04:46 AM

Geez, Whitey. I barely ever seen anyone put the target all the way out at the range (except this one indoor I go to that allows rifles where you have to if firing a rifle). To make you happy, I'll see if I can find targets with larger black areas.

#27 - Posted by: Frank J. on May 4, 2004 06:29 AM

Frank,

Having put many, many thousands of rounds through the 1911, let me take a moment to disagree:

Do not, do not, do not hang a guide rod (or adjustable sights, funky grip safety, adjustable trigger, extended slide release or any one of a hundred other after-market geegaws) on any 1911 you intend for "social use." I've never had or seen a standard recoil spring/plunger/bushing tie up a pistol. I've never known a guide rod assembly to make a pistol more reliable but I've certainly seen them lead to function problems. (See Commandment XI - "Lest thou art also a firearms design genius, thou shalt not 'improve' on John Moses Browning's works.")

Recoil springs are cheap and easy to replace. Get some Wilson Shok-Buffs. When you're beating them to a pulp every 1000 rounds or so, time for a new spring.

Review a military manual* for the correct way to reassemble your pistol. You shouldn't jam the spring into the slide. (BTW, did you know you can completely disassemble a 1911, down to the smallest component, using only the pistol itself for tools? Even Gaston Glock couldn't manage that degree of "perfection.")

The 1911 is a reliable, rugged, yet precision instrument for turning worthless human manure into valuable fertilizer. Keep it simple - don't mess with 93 years of success.

Quoth Jeff Cooper: "We have long maintained that the only accessories that a 1911 needs are a trigger you can manage, sights that you can see, and a dehorning job."

* http://www.m1911.org/full_striping.htm
(see also)
http://www.m1911.org/full_technic.htm
http://www.sightm1911.com/manual/manual.htm

#28 - Posted by: Moriarty on May 4, 2004 09:46 AM

I disagree - Definitely put in a full length guide rod - Wilson, Baer, Springfield and Kimber do that to all their high end guns, and its a cheap mod. Also, polishing out the throat and ramps help a lot as well (make it less finicky about different point configurations).

My Kimber Eclipse II has been absolutely reliable (with guide rod) and shoots sub 2" groups consistently at 25 yards.

As far as sights - if you hit where you are aiming at with stock sights, then leave em be - though tritium is nifty for low/no light situations.

jg

#29 - Posted by: wraith67 on May 4, 2004 11:13 AM

I also own the Keltec. It jammed and jammed and misfired... I finally sent it back to the company to have them re-do it. It hasn't messed up at all since then, but I haven't shot it much either.

#30 - Posted by: Adela on May 4, 2004 02:02 PM

Kel-tec has some occasional issues with "finishing". Mine was wrought with burs on the hammer and in the slide grooves. This had obvious consequences, but once the parts were smooth and polished it was good to go.

A lot of these problems can be dealt with at home with a small file and some emery cloth. However, if you don't feel competent to do so, it would be best to do as Adela and send it back. They'll fix it for free.

#31 - Posted by: ken n. on May 4, 2004 03:40 PM

The phrase "jammed multiple times" suggests you might want to try out your little K-Tel Cannon as a frisbee... or maybe a dinghy anchor...

"Click" is not your friend.

#32 - Posted by: Richard McEnroe on May 4, 2004 08:21 PM

What to do, what to do?

I've been eyeballing the Kel-Tec P3AT for a while now, but my wife, Keeper Of The Checkbook, informs me that due to several cross-country trips I'm going to be taking shortly, our budget can support either the Kel-Tec, or a new Canon SD110 digital camera. Not both.

I really want that Kel-Tec, but I already own four handguns (Glock 23, Smith & Wesson M67, Taurus M605, and Para-Ordnance P16.40 Law Enforcement Variant) but no digital cameras. Choices, choices....

#33 - Posted by: Xoxotl on May 4, 2004 08:54 PM
Post a comment




Remember me?

(You may use HTML tags for style)

 

Buy IMAO T-Shirts


IMAO T-Shirts

The IMAO T-Shirt Babe
(winning picture) YOU BUY NEW SHIRTS NOW!!!
Yay! Books!





Capitalism
Archives
By Category
24
American Idol
Aqua-Adventures
Barackalypse Now
Best of IMAO 2002
Best of IMAO 2006
Bite-Sized Wisdom
Editorials
Election 2008
Filthy Lies
Frank Answers
Frank Discussions
Frank on Guns
Frank Reads the Bible
Frank the Artist
Fred Thompson Facts
Friday Cat-Blogging
Fun Trivia
Hellbender
Hellbender Take Two
Hillary Clinton Terrible Truths
Humor
I Hate Frank
If I Were President
ignis fatuous
IMAO Condensed
IMAO Exclusives
IMAO for the Non-Deaf
IMAO Reviews
IMAO Think Tank
In My World
In My World - Fan Fiction
John Edwards Fabulous Facts
Know Thy Enemy
lolterizt
Michael Moore
Mitt Romney Ads
News Round-Up
Newsish Fakery
No, McCain't
Our Military
Permalink Contest
Precision Guided Humor Assignments
Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul
Ronin Profiles
Ronin Thought of the Day
SarahK's TV stuff
Scary Evil Monkey
Simpsons Trivia
Songs & Poems
State of the Frank Report
Superego
Totally True Tidbits
WEsistance Is Facile
Why Me Laugh?
Yvonne's Ashes
By Month
December 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
March 1933