I qualified again yesterday. The class was crowded so I only did two guns. One duty pistol - 4566 and one off duty - 3913. I did claim the 3913 as an alternative duty pistol as I carry it as such.
Before anyone points it out let me say that I intended to qualify again with my 4513 - but I discovered at the range that I'd picked up its empty box. DOH! I'd put it in my small safe after wearing it this past weekend. No matter, the 3913 works for me too. Works VERY well actually.
I was the only one shooting a S&W handgun. Out of 23 officers. There was only one other 9mm too. (Two years ago the OIC banned 9mm usage. The new OIC fixed that piece of stupidity.) A Bersa. Lots of 380's in the off duty qual. Mostly Ruger LCP's. One SA Sig 380.
The duty pistols and most off duty guns were Glocks. Models 21, 30, 23 and 27. Glocks are not perfect as I saw a few malfunctions. FTF, FTE, and one fail to go bang at all. I assume those were user induced or failure to clean/maintain. Not everyone cleans their guns. Even when they stake their life on them daily. Yea, I don't understand it either.
The Ruger LCP 380's appeared to be a bit problamatic too. They evidently don't lock the slide back after the last shot. The three there didn't. Gave the RO a fit seeing if they were clear. Evidently hard to shoot well too as an 82 was the highest score I saw with those. And that fellow was a gun guy too.
I shot my 3913 superbly. As always it exhibited bet your life reliability and tack driving accuracy. Really exceptional accuracy. I was using Winchester Ranger 147 grain 9mm JHP. Excellent round. My 50 rounds were in a large fist sized group during both strings. 100 score. Both day and night.
All day and most of the night I had other officers asking me; "18 what is that you are shooting?" "Is that a Sig?". No its a Smith - 9. "How much do 3913's cost?" was something else I heard several times throughout the course. When I told them it wasn't in production anymore there were some surprised faces. "Why not?" "Corporate greed." I told them. More profit/money in plastic guns. It takes more money and a bit of know how to put together a metal framed semi auto with an excellent trigger and inherent accuracy. Easier to pop a plastic gun out of a paid for mold, slap it together and toss it out the door, knowing that most customers are going to shoot it once and throw it in a sock drawer. But I digress.
Anyways, the 3913 is the gun I shoot the best. Out of all my guns. Easy to carry, easy to conceal, easy to shoot well. Why do I carry other guns? So the 3913 is back in my Ken Null holster on a full time basis. In fact, I just got off the phone with a dealer in the state who is bringing me a NIB 3913 and a used 3914 to the show this weekend to examine. One......or maybe both, are coming home with me. After all, there won't be anymore as nice as the 39 series! Regards 18DAI
Before anyone points it out let me say that I intended to qualify again with my 4513 - but I discovered at the range that I'd picked up its empty box. DOH! I'd put it in my small safe after wearing it this past weekend. No matter, the 3913 works for me too. Works VERY well actually.
I was the only one shooting a S&W handgun. Out of 23 officers. There was only one other 9mm too. (Two years ago the OIC banned 9mm usage. The new OIC fixed that piece of stupidity.) A Bersa. Lots of 380's in the off duty qual. Mostly Ruger LCP's. One SA Sig 380.
The duty pistols and most off duty guns were Glocks. Models 21, 30, 23 and 27. Glocks are not perfect as I saw a few malfunctions. FTF, FTE, and one fail to go bang at all. I assume those were user induced or failure to clean/maintain. Not everyone cleans their guns. Even when they stake their life on them daily. Yea, I don't understand it either.
The Ruger LCP 380's appeared to be a bit problamatic too. They evidently don't lock the slide back after the last shot. The three there didn't. Gave the RO a fit seeing if they were clear. Evidently hard to shoot well too as an 82 was the highest score I saw with those. And that fellow was a gun guy too.
I shot my 3913 superbly. As always it exhibited bet your life reliability and tack driving accuracy. Really exceptional accuracy. I was using Winchester Ranger 147 grain 9mm JHP. Excellent round. My 50 rounds were in a large fist sized group during both strings. 100 score. Both day and night.
All day and most of the night I had other officers asking me; "18 what is that you are shooting?" "Is that a Sig?". No its a Smith - 9. "How much do 3913's cost?" was something else I heard several times throughout the course. When I told them it wasn't in production anymore there were some surprised faces. "Why not?" "Corporate greed." I told them. More profit/money in plastic guns. It takes more money and a bit of know how to put together a metal framed semi auto with an excellent trigger and inherent accuracy. Easier to pop a plastic gun out of a paid for mold, slap it together and toss it out the door, knowing that most customers are going to shoot it once and throw it in a sock drawer. But I digress.

Anyways, the 3913 is the gun I shoot the best. Out of all my guns. Easy to carry, easy to conceal, easy to shoot well. Why do I carry other guns? So the 3913 is back in my Ken Null holster on a full time basis. In fact, I just got off the phone with a dealer in the state who is bringing me a NIB 3913 and a used 3914 to the show this weekend to examine. One......or maybe both, are coming home with me. After all, there won't be anymore as nice as the 39 series! Regards 18DAI