PM9 Range Report: Good News, Bad News

[sierrajb]

Just wanted to give a brief range report on my PM9 after receiving a NEW slide assembly from Kahr. (Review "Will Kahr Fix or Replace This?"). I had three purposes for this range visit:

1. Introduce my wife to the world of indoor gun ranges and let her shoot her Ruger SP101 (.38 Special) for the first time.
2. Test an old Sterling Arms .22 semi-auto I found, cleaned, and lubed.
3. Try the new PM9 slide just received from Kahr.

The Good
1. The old Sterling Arms .22 actually worked, though I only fired 6 shots through it. Why not more? Tell you later....
2. The PM9 was absolutely FLAWLESS! After 1-2 mags, the slide lock lever became much easier to work with only one thumb. Shot straight as a laser, smooth as butta'. Love that gun....thanks, Kahr! Your improved engraving on the new slide now makes the gun LOOK as good as it shoots.
3. The Ruger SP101 shot perfectly, as expected. What a fine piece of stainless steel. Love the new Hogue grips.

The Bad
It was midday (1:30 pm), and we were the only ones in the shooting gallery. I was looking forward to a nice, quiet time with the wife. (Did I say "quiet" time?) By the time I had set up with the three guns, the place was packed shoulder to shoulder with eager shooters seeing how fast they could empty mags from their high-powered cannons right next to us. I could tell my wife was getting a bit anxious with all the unexpected BOOMS coming from all directions, hot shells flying everywhere.

Speaking of hot shells, the first hot shell from the old .22 that I shot landed on my wife's bare collar bone. Not a good omen. Dummy me, should have had her stand to my left before shooting, but never thought of that. Things got worse from there.

Feeling threatened by her surroundings, she reluctantly shot the .38 with no problems, but could not concentrate on my instructions and, much less, enjoy the experience. Making matters worse, Mr. & Mrs. .45 ACP ++p++ right beside us were working on breaking a speed shooting record. (They needed to go "Occupy" somewhere else.) No kidding...the compression from whatever rounds they were shooting was enough to drown out my PM9 and thunder in my chest!

Only 30 minutes at the range, and we shot:
6 rounds of .22lr
20 rounds of .38 special
50 rounds of 9mm

Had to get out of there and rescue my wife from any psychological abuse. I know there's an earlier thread on this forum regarding a man's girlfriend becoming "too scared", but that thread's been highjacked by aliens from planet Calendar Girl (ha!).

I've apologized profusely to my wife for the hot shell to the collar bone, and for any trauma suffered at the range. She says she's okay, but didn't like it one bit. Next time, no indoor range and no crowds. I've got to find someone with private land outside the city limits who will let us practice alone, just me and my woman....standing to my LEFT, of course, dressed in asbestos.

[Bawanna]

Well let me be the first to tell you that you scared the living crap out of me with your thread title. I was sure the minute I saw it that the beautiful new slide cracked lengthwise in its entirety and the gun was a complete POS.

Thanks for that.

You might just check into different hours at your range, maybe ladies night or early in the day. There undoubtedly are down times where it wouldn't be as crowded. I usually go at opening on Sunday morning and usually not crowded. Another good time is a big football game, world series, anytime there's something going on that guys with their priorities screwed up will be in front of the tube rather than busting caps.

No idea how your range works but if I'm taking a new shooter I'll let the range guy know. Our range is divided into 3 sections and I'll request the quietest section. Not always of course if it's busy but usually he'll put everybody into one of the other sections and fill them up before he starts dumping people in the range I'm on. I think they understand new shooters and the intimidation factors etc.

[sierrajb]

Well let me be the first to tell you that you scared the living crap out of me with your thread title. I was sure the minute I saw it that the beautiful new slide cracked lengthwise in its entirety and the gun was a complete POS.

Thanks for that.

You might just check into different hours at your range, maybe ladies night or early in the day. There undoubtedly are down times where it wouldn't be as crowded. I usually go at opening on Sunday morning and usually not crowded. Another good time is a big football game, world series, anytime there's something going on that guys with their priorities screwed up will be in front of the tube rather than busting caps.

No idea how your range works but if I'm taking a new shooter I'll let the range guy know. Our range is divided into 3 sections and I'll request the quietest section. Not always of course if it's busy but usually he'll put everybody into one of the other sections and fill them up before he starts dumping people in the range I'm on. I think they understand new shooters and the intimidation factors etc.

HA! Sorry for your coronary, Bawanna...about the time I hit the button to submit my post I thought of changing that title just for you. Then I thought, "Naw....he can handle it." I can't be happier with the looks and function of this new slide. And the slide lock lever is smoother now, just as easy as ever. This PM9 is 100% perfect in every way!

You've got some good thoughts on the range times. Honestly, I had been there during this time before, but never thought of calling ahead. I'll try that on my own first, then try it with the wife if it's "safe and quiet" for her.

[Tilos]

sierrajb:
I just googled: gun club, fort worth, tx
I got 1.4 MILLION hits:eek:
And one is a range at TCU.
Try to find a friendlier place to shoot...they're out there.

Tilos

[sierrajb]

sierrajb:
I just googled: gun club, fort worth, tx
I got 1.4 MILLION hits:eek:
And one is a range at TCU.
Try to find a friendlier place to shoot...they're out there.

Tilos

I know there are several around, but I've only been to two. This one is indoors and very close to my work, so we met there after lunch. The other one is outdoors, but a longer drive in the country. It's okay, but not the convenience of a motorized target rail to adjust distance, AC/Heat, etc. of the indoor. I'll check around more closely. Really want the wife to "like" this instead of endure it.

[sfla99]

Glad to hear things are working well!

I am trying to get my wife to come and shoot, but the best I have been able to do is get her to just come to the range & one time she actually went into the firing lanes with me lol.

One step at a time I guess.

[Bill K]

Guess 2 out of three ain't bad. :)

Joking aside, isn't it just a matter of finding out when the range is typically least crowded and make plans to go back then?

[sierrajb]

Guess 2 out of three ain't bad. :)

Joking aside, isn't it just a matter of finding out when the range is typically least crowded and make plans to go back then?

Yes, that's exactly why I went at that time. Even the employees were blown away by the sudden rush of business. They even had to call in extra help from the Gun Shop. Kinda Freaky.

Tilos, I took your advice and shopped around a bit. Found a GREAT place for first-timers. They give you a private lane, completely closed off to everyone else. Very comfy, but a bit pricier. No big deal. It's worth it. Talked to the wounded wife again last night and she's up for another visit, but only with the private lane for first-timers. WHEW!

Could be 3 out of 3 by the time it's over.

[Bawanna]

Yes, that's exactly why I went at that time. Even the employees were blown away by the sudden rush of business. They even had to call in extra help from the Gun Shop. Kinda Freaky.

Tilos, I took your advice and shopped around a bit. Found a GREAT place for first-timers. They give you a private lane, completely closed off to everyone else. Very comfy, but a bit pricier. No big deal. It's worth it. Talked to the wounded wife again last night and she's up for another visit, but only with the private lane for first-timers. WHEW!

Could be 3 out of 3 by the time it's over.

Tell your wife that the entire membership of Kahrtalk is watching and we're all behind her 100%. Good eye protection, good hearing protection and while I hate to say it a turtle neck or tight collar. We don't want to hear about any further discomfort or injuries.
Some pictures would be a wonderful thing, she can wear a zoro mask if she want's to hide her identity.

[popgoestheweasel]

sierra,

please ease up on the aliens.....we're problem solving.

[Bawanna]

Aliens? I don't get it.

[popgoestheweasel]

forgive me bawanna, i was having a herman cain/rick perry "oops" moment and didn't know what i was talking about. disregard...and carry on.

[Tilos]

BOTH plugs AND muffs...you don't shoot either, it's all about her.
Tilos

[sierrajb]

Tell your wife that the entire membership of Kahrtalk is watching and we're all behind her 100%. Good eye protection, good hearing protection and while I hate to say it a turtle neck or tight collar. We don't want to hear about any further discomfort or injuries.
Some pictures would be a wonderful thing, she can wear a zoro mask if she want's to hide her identity.

Thanks, Bawanna. In fact, I told her about the encouragement that you all gave me on this forum. Funny thing, she mentioned wearing a turtle neck the next time, too! At least she's not given up on the whole thing, and wants to give it another try at the private shooting lane.

Here's a pic of my woman. Note how far away the target is. That was at HER request. She had already belted a few in a good pattern at 7 yards. She's holding her Ruger SP101 in .38 Special.

[sierrajb]

BOTH plugs AND muffs...you don't shoot either, it's all about her.
Tilos

10-4, good buddy! (oops....70's flashback to CB Days)

[Bawanna]

Thanks, Bawanna. In fact, I told her about the encouragement that you all gave me on this forum. Funny thing, she mentioned wearing a turtle neck the next time, too! At least she's not given up on the whole thing, and wants to give it another try at the private shooting lane.

Here's a pic of my woman. Note how far away the target is. That was at HER request. She had already belted a few in a good pattern at 7 yards. She's holding her Ruger SP101 in .38 Special.

You got your ears' on good buddy, come back? Nice hair, and lovely hands! Tell her to grab that Ruger higher up, she's trying to get away from it. The lower she grabs the more muzzle flip she'll have.
Also the cup and saucer hold went out in the 60's. It's like have the gun on a rocking chair and contributes to vertical stringing.
She needs to get her hands more parallel, weak hand fingers over the strong hand fingers and thumbs either parallel or crossed which ever works best for her.
Much like one holds an auto except for the thumbs. If you've seen Wynn's hold on his PM45, that's perfect for the Ruger, not right to me for an auto but it works good for him so we call that PM45 Perfection Wynn Style.

[sierrajb]

Yep! I started to correct her hands, but this was about the time she had taken all the shock she could stand from the .45 right beside us (see the huge holes in the target next door). She just wanted to shoot another 5 and call it a day after only 20 minutes there.

I'll take all your advice on helping her with that Ruger. I'll also search to find Wynn's hold on his PM45 to use as a model. Thanks for the pointers.

WHAT A GREAT MODERATOR, DON'T YOU ALL AGREE????!!!

[MikeyKahr]

WHAT A GREAT MODERATOR, DON'T YOU ALL AGREE????!!!

Great man, good genes and comes from good stock. Only thing...can't control himself from commenting on each new female pic that comes up (all except Rainman's thread that I have to stay away from). Thankfully uncle B shakes it off after a few sentences and brings it back to the point. Just sayin'

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