Lab4Us
Custom
I had planned on a duo gun range trip, including my SA Emissary 4.25” .45, but alas, it was pointed out to me I was missing a grip screw (which I didn’t have laying around). Safety being the better part of valor, or something like that, I ordered some grips screws and will take the Emissary for spin when they come in. Which brings me to why we’re here…today was the maiden voyage of my Ed Brown Kobra Carry 25th Anniversary Edition 4.25” .45 1911. I’d actually acquired it back in September through an LGS trade, but had been working through firing/cleaning guns that have been sitting a while. It was the Emissary and Kobra Carry’s turn, but this trip, just the Kobra Carry.
Gratuitous towel shot ( along with lower2/3 of me)!
First up in the break in process was 150 rounds of 230g American Eagle FMJ. First target was two simple bullseye circles. My intent was 25 rounds in top target at 7 yds and then 25 rounds in lower target at 10 yds. I think I may have miscounted and pure 28 in the top (7 round magazines and all that), then the other 22 in the bottom. Either way, gun seems pretty accurate, especially with my poor iron sight skills (seeing double front sights
and generally no light either side of front sight - more like a line them up and use trigger fundamentals).
Next I stuck up one of the STKY drill targets at 3 yds just to see how I’d do with some speed drills without an optic.
1. Three slow fire shots into each square to warm up (that top right square was three rounds on top of each other, same with under bottom left square). No small feat with my sight picture! Was still feeling out which sight picture EB uses which is likely why low - I finally figured out combat hold worked best for me.
2. One round each circle, top to bottom, left to right. Since I was using 7 rounds magazines, the second part of this drill (Usually #4) was built in throughout (reloads).
3. Two rounds each circle, top to bottom, left to right.
4. Three rounds each circle, top to bottom, left to right.
All of these were as fast as I thought I was on target. Sometimes I had to wait for target to come back to straight after a round pushed it up. Got sloppy toward end (supposed to 6 holes in each circle).
Definitely different doing this with irons vice optic.
This drill is where I had the only two failures of the day (200 total rounds) - to feed properly, one preventing slide moving forward, second stopping slide just short of battery. Both were easy to recover from and all was well. Needless to say, once I finished the drill, I applied more lubricant.
Finished up the session with two battles with TACTICAL DUDE! First round I only had 34 FMJ left, so I skipped the 15 yd 5 round slow fire and four of the five 2 to center, 1 to head drills at 3 yds. The one extra round I did a draw from ready into the center just to use the round. For the second round of TACTICAL DUDE I powered up and used 50 rounds of 230 HST +P.
1. 5 rounds, slow fire, each shoulder, 3 yards
2. 10 rounds, fast as on target, 5 yards (I used two five round mags, so speed reload as well)
3. 10 rounds, fast as on target, 7 yards (same as above)
4. 5 rounds, slow fire, 15 yards (only on round 2 with HST - pretty sure these were all the low hits)
5. Five strings of 2 rounds to center, 1 to head, 3 fast as on target, yards (only did one of these on first round with FMJ)
At the last five strings, the .45 ammo blowing through the paper floated the target pretty often, so did some some waiting until target came down far enough for me to get sights on target.
And that was that, 200 rounds toward initial break in, though I’m pretty confident once gun cleaned (it is), there would be no issues through multiple magazines. After I had the malfunctions and relubricated, there were zero issues with the last 84 rounds, including the 50 rounds of HST.
It was a great time! I only wish I could see a sight picture (with one front post) like I could when I was 18! But I’m pretty sure I can use irons well enough to defend myself should the need arise and that’s that I have! Until next time…
Gratuitous towel shot ( along with lower2/3 of me)!
First up in the break in process was 150 rounds of 230g American Eagle FMJ. First target was two simple bullseye circles. My intent was 25 rounds in top target at 7 yds and then 25 rounds in lower target at 10 yds. I think I may have miscounted and pure 28 in the top (7 round magazines and all that), then the other 22 in the bottom. Either way, gun seems pretty accurate, especially with my poor iron sight skills (seeing double front sights
and generally no light either side of front sight - more like a line them up and use trigger fundamentals).Next I stuck up one of the STKY drill targets at 3 yds just to see how I’d do with some speed drills without an optic.
1. Three slow fire shots into each square to warm up (that top right square was three rounds on top of each other, same with under bottom left square). No small feat with my sight picture! Was still feeling out which sight picture EB uses which is likely why low - I finally figured out combat hold worked best for me.
2. One round each circle, top to bottom, left to right. Since I was using 7 rounds magazines, the second part of this drill (Usually #4) was built in throughout (reloads).
3. Two rounds each circle, top to bottom, left to right.
4. Three rounds each circle, top to bottom, left to right.
All of these were as fast as I thought I was on target. Sometimes I had to wait for target to come back to straight after a round pushed it up. Got sloppy toward end (supposed to 6 holes in each circle
).Definitely different doing this with irons vice optic.
This drill is where I had the only two failures of the day (200 total rounds) - to feed properly, one preventing slide moving forward, second stopping slide just short of battery. Both were easy to recover from and all was well. Needless to say, once I finished the drill, I applied more lubricant.
Finished up the session with two battles with TACTICAL DUDE! First round I only had 34 FMJ left, so I skipped the 15 yd 5 round slow fire and four of the five 2 to center, 1 to head drills at 3 yds. The one extra round I did a draw from ready into the center just to use the round. For the second round of TACTICAL DUDE I powered up and used 50 rounds of 230 HST +P.
1. 5 rounds, slow fire, each shoulder, 3 yards
2. 10 rounds, fast as on target, 5 yards (I used two five round mags, so speed reload as well)
3. 10 rounds, fast as on target, 7 yards (same as above)
4. 5 rounds, slow fire, 15 yards (only on round 2 with HST - pretty sure these were all the low hits)
5. Five strings of 2 rounds to center, 1 to head, 3 fast as on target, yards (only did one of these on first round with FMJ)
At the last five strings, the .45 ammo blowing through the paper floated the target pretty often, so did some some waiting until target came down far enough for me to get sights on target.
And that was that, 200 rounds toward initial break in, though I’m pretty confident once gun cleaned (it is), there would be no issues through multiple magazines. After I had the malfunctions and relubricated, there were zero issues with the last 84 rounds, including the 50 rounds of HST.
It was a great time! I only wish I could see a sight picture (with one front post) like I could when I was 18! But I’m pretty sure I can use irons well enough to defend myself should the need arise and that’s that I have! Until next time…
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. At the local indoor range here you put ONE round into the ceiling or other non target areas and it will be the Last one, as you’ll be removed and banned