As promised, I finally got to the range with my new ECO and put 100 rounds through the gun. But I'm going to start with talking about the first tear down and cleaning.
First, the fit and finish on this gun is impeccable. I looked, and I simply could not find any fault with it, except for the grips. They're perfectly functional, I just think they're ugly. I watched a video on tear down and assembly so I thought, no sweat. And for the most part I was correct. Tear down was pretty simple, remembering that this differs from a standard 1911 by using a bull barrel, making disassembly a little different. I'm not really going to get into the nuts and bolts, if you want to know, there are you tube videos that can show you, much faster than I can explain it. I'll simply say, reversing the disassembly process is a good idea. Attempting to vary from it and do it in your own order can, and in my case did, result in wasted time and much frustration. After finally getting the jammed guide rod and spring free, I watched the video again. Assembling the bushing, spring, and guide rod, using the home made take down tool, allowed for quick and easy reassembly. So much for experimenting before you understand the process.
Freshly cleaned and ready to shoot, the wife and I headed to the range. I did fail to mention, that prior to cleaning it, I hadn't told her that I had purchased the gun. She took it in stride, so I have no physical excuse for my marksmanship. Once at the range, we signed up for two lanes, and I got her set up with her little Sig P238 and ready to shoot. I moved to my lane, and set up with the ECO. After loading, I took aim and pulled the trigger. Or attempted to do so, I should say. It felt like the safety was engaged. I verified that it was not and tried again. Same result. I dropped the magazine, cleared the weapon, and dry fired it, no problemo. Several times. Reloaded, assumed a shooting stance, same result. Locked up solid. Cleared the weapon again, ran through all the previous steps, dry fired no problem.
Well, I didn't really figure out what was wrong, so I'm looking for suggestions from the masters here. But what I did do, was out of frustration, I helped the slide ram home with authority when I reloaded again. Surprise! The gun functioned flawlessly. Ran through a full magazine with no misfeeds, etc. The trigger is butter smooth, recoil very manageable, sweet shooting. Switched magazines, again, helped the slide forward, and ran through a second magazine.
This went on over the course of an hour or so while the wife was having fun with her .380. I experimented with making sure magazine was well seated, that bullets were well seated in the magazine, etc. If I just racked the slide and let go, no trigger movement. Ram it forward, just a little, everything copacetic. The one thing I did not verify was that I wasn't impeding the slides return on initial loading. Honestly I didn't think in those terms until I was cleaning and reassembling the gun post range. Next trip I'll play with it some more. I'm hoping it is something minor, either in my mechanics, or something that will wear in on the gun. Again, opinions are more than welcome.
Oh, as for accuracy? Well, honestly, I'm currently more accurate with my Springfield RO, I assume because of the 5" barrel. The sights are different, and the 3 1/2 inch barrel are some things that will take getting used to. To be brutally honest, the first 25 rounds or so, I was on the paper, and mostly in the target ring with one or two flyers. As I got into the gun, with it operating as expected and me making corrections to my sighting, the next 50 or so rounds were much better. Some fairly decent groupings, even if not in the 10 ring, at least I was starting to see consistency. After that, it had been a fairly long day, and I was tired which equals shaky and those rounds were not as bad as the first 25, but they also were not showing any further improvement.
Oh, about the time I was done, my wife announced that she had finished with shooting 100 rounds and was ready if I was. I still had two rounds left of my first 100, so I loaded them up and let her take a couple of shots with the .45. She handled it flawlessly and her shots were at least as accurate as mine. She had no difficulty handling the recoil, and no limp wrist problems. Next time I'm shooting the p938 I'll have her give it a try. I think her 9mm problems during CCW class were more a matter of conditions and the fact that she was trying to shoot wearing gloves.
All in all, a fun way to spend Sat. morning with the wife. We need to do it more often, so the lessons will stay fresh in my wifes mind. Yes, the Purple People Eater did get another bite or two when she gripped wrong, but fewer bites than last time, and I imagine she'll get to the point where it doesn't happen. I'm happy that she's enjoying shooting, and still grateful for DJ and Crew and UCC for sponsoring another free CCW class. Now to convince my daughter that she wants to go shooting too.
Mel