Several months ago I found a new 986, 2.5 inch at a fair price so I bought it. I got it to compliment my EDC 940 as an off duty/LEOSA carry gun. I should have taken it to the range earlier, particularly before qualification day, but I had not.
Went to the range yesterday (Thursday 10/12) for annual firearms qualification/training. I have never been a great shot, but I have been able to hold my own with scores in the low/mid 90's. During the daylight qualification round I noticed that my shots were falling to the left. When it came time to score the target I found that I did not make the minimum score of 70. This frustrated me as I can't remember not qualifying in my 39+ years as an officer. I waited and tried it again. While in the prone position at 25 yards the range master walked behind me and watched to see what the problem was. When I finished, this was the last stage of fire, he told me that he had an idea what the problem was. The front sight (red ramp that is dove tailed into the sight base, had drifted to the right and was on the verge of falling out of the slot. Amazingly, I qualified this time, but just barely. One of the other officers took it and started pushing the sight with his thumbs and was able to move it closer to center. At that point I decided to put it back in the car and move on with my 940 (and 629).
I will call S&W today and probably send it back. I have several newer S&W revolvers, but none built in the past 7 or 8 years. Needless to say this does not engender great trust in their manufacturing and quality control today.
I will say that other than not being able to hit the side of a barn, the gun shoots fine. Very little recoil and not "snappy" as some have found it.
Hopefully S&W will fix it and get it back to me so I can finish the qualification and be able to carry it. (NC Requires Day and Dim light qualifications to be able to carry concealed pursuant to sworn status and LEOSA).
On the bright side, I did qualify with a 100% score on the Sig 516 SBR, fully auto rifle and had no misses during the day and night combat courses.
Bill
Went to the range yesterday (Thursday 10/12) for annual firearms qualification/training. I have never been a great shot, but I have been able to hold my own with scores in the low/mid 90's. During the daylight qualification round I noticed that my shots were falling to the left. When it came time to score the target I found that I did not make the minimum score of 70. This frustrated me as I can't remember not qualifying in my 39+ years as an officer. I waited and tried it again. While in the prone position at 25 yards the range master walked behind me and watched to see what the problem was. When I finished, this was the last stage of fire, he told me that he had an idea what the problem was. The front sight (red ramp that is dove tailed into the sight base, had drifted to the right and was on the verge of falling out of the slot. Amazingly, I qualified this time, but just barely. One of the other officers took it and started pushing the sight with his thumbs and was able to move it closer to center. At that point I decided to put it back in the car and move on with my 940 (and 629).
I will call S&W today and probably send it back. I have several newer S&W revolvers, but none built in the past 7 or 8 years. Needless to say this does not engender great trust in their manufacturing and quality control today.
I will say that other than not being able to hit the side of a barn, the gun shoots fine. Very little recoil and not "snappy" as some have found it.
Hopefully S&W will fix it and get it back to me so I can finish the qualification and be able to carry it. (NC Requires Day and Dim light qualifications to be able to carry concealed pursuant to sworn status and LEOSA).
On the bright side, I did qualify with a 100% score on the Sig 516 SBR, fully auto rifle and had no misses during the day and night combat courses.
Bill
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