Originally posted by jeffj13:
I am a new shooter. Just got my first handgun (SW9VE)last week and fired it for the first time yesterday. i don't know very much about shhoting and I have a couple of questions if that is ok.
I have heard that it is a good idea to dry fire my handgun. How exactly do I do that? The trigger only seems to break if I rack the slide after each trigger pull. Should I do that or just pull the trigger and not care about the trigger break?
Besides the obvious (handgun, ammo, ear and eye protection), what do you keep in your range bag?
When you practice shooting, besides aim, are there specific things you work on.? How much time do you take between firing rounds? How many rounds do you shoot at an average session?
Thank you for your patience with a newbie.
jeff
Jeff: Welcome to shooting. I think the SW9VE is a fine gun in its price range, but due to trigger pull weight and the fact that guns of its type are only "combat accurate" (4 inch group at 25 yards), had you asked, i would have recommended a good 22 revolver or auto and about 10,000 rounds of 22 ammo to really learn to shoot. Learning to shoot with any centerfire caliber is just too expensive to do any significant volume of shooting.
That said, I will answer your questions:
1. You dry fire the SIGMA 9VE by making sure it is unloaded by removing the magazine and then emptying the chamber by racking the slide to eject any cartridge that might be in the chamber. You MUST do it in that order. Otherwise, you will have an accident. Dry firing requires re-set of the mechanism which is done by moving the slide to the rear a quarter of an inch or so until you hear the click. Just be sure you do not chamber any round while dry firing. When dry firing, you aim as you would on the range and the object is to concentrate on the front sight and its alignment with the rear sight in relation to a "target" up on your wall. Then when you squeeze the trigger you watch for movement of the sight. The object is that the sights not move off the target as you squeeze the trigger. Jerking the trigger results in movement of the sights and if you were actually firing, your shot would bu pulled off target.
2. The contents of a range bag are pretty personal, but here are some ideas based upon your particular weapon. Pistol, eye and ear protection for yourself and at least one friend, cleaning kit, magazine loader (UPLULA by Butler Creek works great), holster and magazine pouch, ammo, staple gun and extra staples, paper targets, Breakfree CLP gun cleaner/lube, cleaning patches, old T shirt to wipe off pistol, shop towel or two, Q tips, Roll of Toilet paper (you never know when the urge might hit - I am assuming here you are at an outdoor range!), spare magazines (total of 6 per gun), range membership card, range key for gate lock (again, assuming outdoor private range or gun club with member access - this does not apply to indoor commercial ranges - one drive to range with forgotten key will convince you of this one), first aid kit, cell phone. This is a pretty good starting point, and you will add to it as you go based upon your personal needs and experiences. Although not a gunsmith, I find it helpful to keep basic tools for working on a gun - gunsmith specific screwdrivers, punches, very fine needle nose pliers, etc. It is possible that your gun gets tied up with defective ammo, debris, etc., and certain tools are handy to get going again.
3. At first, practice shooting slowly, squeeze the trigger and make each shot count. Shoot at short distances and try to keep all shots as close together in a nice tight group as possible. Do not move the target back further until you can shoot very tight groups at the distance you start shooting. It is not unreasonable for a beginner to start with the target at 3 or 4 yards and to not move it further away until you can keep all shots in a group measuring no more than 2 inches apart. Then when you can do that, move the target back gradually until you get it to 25 yards and can keep all shots in a 4 to 5 inch group (certain pistols and shooters can do much better than this, but the SIGMA is not a "target pistol." This progression of moving the target back might take many range sessions over the course of 6 or more months or very steady practice. Do not work on speed until you get accuracy down. Speed will come. No fancy movie type immitation, no fast draw and no horseplay. People get killed that way.
Always remember that (1) all guns are always loaded - even when they are not - thus (2) never ever point it at anything or anyone you do not want to kill, (3) keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are aligned by your eyes on the target - if your sights are not on the target and you are not looking at those sights, then your finger comes off the trigger and lays straight along the side of the frame - always - this is NOT negotiable, and (4) always remember and think of what is behind or beyond your target - if you miss or your bullet goes stray due to a bad shot or goes through your target or backstop, if there is anything back there you do not want to kill or destroy, then do NOT shoot.
Best to go to a good school or at least get Jeff Cooper's DVD from Paladin Press and watch it all the way through BEFORE you develop bad habits.
Good luck.
