Monday 30 August 2010

Target Master - 3rd Session

This weekend, August 28th-29th 2010, I went trough the third training session with my new STI Target Master 9x19mm and, finally, late Sunday morning, I got the 9s and 10s and tight groups I've been looking for since 4 weeks ago. Special care was taken on keeping a written and illustrated log of unitary notes on each shoot - using 10 meter ISSF air pistol targets on the bench to register and comment upon the 25 meter ISSF pistol target scores "out there" - that enabled a easy progress and correction approach and, more important on the human side of this equation, to "ease out" my shooting errors (shooting slowly taking notes, taking time to reflect on errors, to check and re-check ... the check list of grip and sights stance and adjustments and so on).


The STI Target Master over a ISFF 25 Meter Standard Pistol Target


I've also changed from the "tactical" glasses approach (with a clip on ISSF blinder) to my standard ISSF blinders and iris gear by M. Varga - the sight vision is so much better, strong, crispy, black, high contrast. It sure helped to keep the groups tighter.


Close up on the 3 position Aristocrat adjustable sight 


The 3 position adjustable Aristocrat sights were a great help to keep "locked in" the vertical drop variants necessary for the Portuguese "9mm Sport Pistol" match - where ISSF 25 meter Standard and Velocity targets are used - with a 6 o'clock hold for the standard and a center hold for the velocity.

The STI has now gone trough approximately 500 shoots with 9x19mm 115 grains Target/Match FMJ by Winchester, without any single glitch. Inspecting the barrel with a bore light every 50 shoots, and cleaning only after 200 shoots interval (using only a Hoppe's Bore Snake, on two consecutive passes), it's amazing the cleanliness on the inside - looking almost "medical clean" even after many consecutive shoots - the shooting residues accumulation is plain negligible.


All photos (c) P. Mateus, 2010