Range Report: Quick XD9.3 and VP9 practice, 7/3/25

[BassCliff]

Greetings ladies and gentlemen,

What better way to start off the 4th of July weekend? I had a short trip to my local indoor range today. I brought the two pistols that I've used lately in a couple of classes so I could get them really dirty before cleaning them. These two are in my carry/training rotation and I was trying something a little different with them today. The range was totally empty for my entire session. Lucky me.

So I got my favorite, lane #10. I like this one because I can line my target up better with the markings on the wall.

Here you see the H&K VP9 along with the SA XD9 Mod.3 w/Holosun 507. I was lazy this morning and did not pre-load my magazines but I had a magazine and a half of Blazer Brass left over from my previous training session. Hence a few extra freedom seeds today.

One of my "goals" today was to try out 100 rounds of this Privi Partizan 124 grain, from Serbia. It was really cheap but looks like it will be good training fodder. I had a box of S&B left over from my last training session but I did not shoot it today. However, I did try out the ARX Inceptor.

While I like the grip on the XD9 Mod.3, I wish it was as customizable as the grip on the VP9.

My other goal today was to shoot the optic and the iron sights without my "special" shooting glasses, the ones with the bifocal on top. The bifocal makes the dot fuzzy anyway. Then I'm going to shoot the VP9 with iron sights without any corrective lens as well. Since I had the range to myself, I decided to start with a cold 10-10-10 drill. My cold drill came back like this.

Since I was still all alone in the range I thought I'd try another, get in a little 10-10-10 practice. I slowed down just a little so the second drill was a little better.

I thought I could do even better. (Ha!) I ended up shooting five drills, all below par. I even took video but they were so bad I won't bore you with them. I'll just show you the targets and the numbers so you can laugh. Actually, the third drill was so bad I forgot to take a picture of it. This is a screen grab from the video. I think this is 78 points. Bleh.

Drill #4.

Drill #5.

The next target was un-timed, twenty rounds, but still at a pretty quick pace. I suppose I could've slowed down even more to improve my accuracy. You've seen me do better.

Oh well, I got most of them in the black and started a little ragged hole. Next up is the VP9. I sent the 12x18 reactive silhouette out to 10 yards hoping to put a big hole in it. I'll shoot a whole box of Privi Partizan at it.

By the way, there were no malfunctions today at all with any of the ammo, Privi, Blazer, or ARX. I put most of the box of PPU on center mass with a few head-ish shots.

This was shot at a pretty quick pace too. The last magazine was all double-taps. Next I shot this box of ARX Inceptor. It's a polymer/copper bullet that is light and fast. I like the way it shoots. Supposedly the bullet shape does some damage when it hits.

I think Paul Harrell did a video featuring this ammo. I'll look it up if anyone is interested. I patched up the silhouette and shot the whole box at it using the VP9, basically a couple of mag dumps.

That was my little practice session. I packed up my kit and took the Time Tunnel back home.

Actually, I had time to take my truck through the car wash a couple of times before picking up pizza for me and Mrs. BassCliff. It was a good day.

I learned that even without my corrective lens shooting glasses, I can get "close enough" accuracy with my iron sights. As for the optic, I just need more practice with it, especially if I'm pushing my rate of fire. I tend to over-correct when bringing the dot back on to target, not letting it settle before pressing the trigger. You guys know how much I love to practice!

I hope you all have a safe and sane, happy and blessed 4th of July weekend.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

i thought your fav lane was 4 or 7 . i've shot (and still have some more) ppu ammo (308win & 10mm & something else?) and it shot fine for low cost ammo. glad too know that you got some rain. shooting better than i've been lately.........i really need to shoot more often, but no indoor ranges near me (100 miles is the closest). keep it up gun slinger

 

[SimonRL]

Greetings ladies and gentlemen,

What better way to start off the 4th of July weekend? I had a short trip to my local indoor range today. I brought the two pistols that I've used lately in a couple of classes so I could get them really dirty before cleaning them. These two are in my carry/training rotation and I was trying something a little different with them today. The range was totally empty for my entire session. Lucky me.

So I got my favorite, lane #10. I like this one because I can line my target up better with the markings on the wall.

Here you see the H&K VP9 along with the SA XD9 Mod.3 w/Holosun 507. I was lazy this morning and did not pre-load my magazines but I had a magazine and a half of Blazer Brass left over from my previous training session. Hence a few extra freedom seeds today.

One of my "goals" today was to try out 100 rounds of this Privi Partizan 124 grain, from Serbia. It was really cheap but looks like it will be good training fodder. I had a box of S&B left over from my last training session but I did not shoot it today. However, I did try out the ARX Inceptor.

While I like the grip on the XD9 Mod.3, I wish it was as customizable as the grip on the VP9.

My other goal today was to shoot the optic and the iron sights without my "special" shooting glasses, the ones with the bifocal on top. The bifocal makes the dot fuzzy anyway. Then I'm going to shoot the VP9 with iron sights without any corrective lens as well. Since I had the range to myself, I decided to start with a cold 10-10-10 drill. My cold drill came back like this.

Since I was still all alone in the range I thought I'd try another, get in a little 10-10-10 practice. I slowed down just a little so the second drill was a little better.

I thought I could do even better. (Ha!) I ended up shooting five drills, all below par. I even took video but they were so bad I won't bore you with them. I'll just show you the targets and the numbers so you can laugh. Actually, the third drill was so bad I forgot to take a picture of it. This is a screen grab from the video. I think this is 78 points. Bleh.

Drill #4.

Drill #5.

The next target was un-timed, twenty rounds, but still at a pretty quick pace. I suppose I could've slowed down even more to improve my accuracy. You've seen me do better.

Oh well, I got most of them in the black and started a little ragged hole. Next up is the VP9. I sent the 12x18 reactive silhouette out to 10 yards hoping to put a big hole in it. I'll shoot a whole box of Privi Partizan at it.

By the way, there were no malfunctions today at all with any of the ammo, Privi, Blazer, or ARX. I put most of the box of PPU on center mass with a few head-ish shots.

This was shot at a pretty quick pace too. The last magazine was all double-taps. Next I shot this box of ARX Inceptor. It's a polymer/copper bullet that is light and fast. I like the way it shoots. Supposedly the bullet shape does some damage when it hits.

I think Paul Harrell did a video featuring this ammo. I'll look it up if anyone is interested. I patched up the silhouette and shot the whole box at it using the VP9, basically a couple of mag dumps.

That was my little practice session. I packed up my kit and took the Time Tunnel back home.

Actually, I had time to take my truck through the car wash a couple of times before picking up pizza for me and Mrs. BassCliff. It was a good day.

I learned that even without my corrective lens shooting glasses, I can get "close enough" accuracy with my iron sights. As for the optic, I just need more practice with it, especially if I'm pushing my rate of fire. I tend to over-correct when bringing the dot back on to target, not letting it settle before pressing the trigger. You guys know how much I love to practice!

I hope you all have a safe and sane, happy and blessed 4th of July weekend.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Cliff, just a quick comment on shooting with the dot. I know it’s still relatively early days, but you want to eventually get yourself to the point where you are effectively predicting where your dot will be. If you wait for it to settle a.) you will be staring at the dot, not the target and b.) you will slow yourself down. Eventually you will get a feel for where your dot settles (or doesn’t, in which case you need to figure out how to get it where you want) and you will let that second round fly without having to see it settle. You want to be predictive, not reactive.

And when you’re working on that work with the A zone don’t restrict yourself to a small target. Not many people, including me, can regularly drop a double tap in the same hole the way @KillerFord1977 insists on doing.

Also, with the A zone, work on double taps to specifically observe where your dot goes on the second shot. Does it go back in the middle of the window? Does it go up and left? Did you even see it when you let the 2nd round fly. Work on anticipating where that dot is going on the second shot and correcting as needed. More often than not your support hand grip will need work A strong support hand grip is key to controlling the recoil. Don’t overdo it with your dominant hand. You shouldn’t be seeing the impression of your grip in your dominant palm.

Best,

Simon

 

[Bassbob]

Solid advice right there.

 

[KillerFord1977]

Cliff, just a quick comment on shooting with the dot. I know it’s still relatively early days, but you want to eventually get yourself to the point where you are effectively predicting where your dot will be. If you wait for it to settle a.) you will be staring at the dot, not the target and b.) you will slow yourself down. Eventually you will get a feel for where your dot settles (or doesn’t, in which case you need to figure out how to get it where you want) and you will let that second round fly without having to see it settle. You want to be predictive, not reactive.

And when you’re working on that work with the A zone don’t restrict yourself to a small target. Not many people, including me, can regularly drop a double tap in the same hole the way @KillerFord1977 insists on doing.

Also, with the A zone, work on double taps to specifically observe where your dot goes on the second shot. Does it go back in the middle of the window? Does it go up and left? Did you even see it when you let the 2nd round fly. Work on anticipating where that dot is going on the second shot and correcting as needed. More often than not your support hand grip will need work A strong support hand grip is key to controlling the recoil. Don’t overdo it with your dominant hand. You shouldn’t be seeing the impression of your grip in your dominant palm.

Best,

Simon

Solid advice right there.

Yes sir, thats gospel from the preacher

Plus, nothing wrong for striving for double taps touching

 

[SL66]

Thought I was reading from one of Ben Stoeger"s books for a minute there...Great advice for sure.

 

[belladonna]

Good job Cliff! Great report as always. And thanks to @SimonRL for some good pointers on dot training. I grabs them when and where I can. .

 

[Annihilator]

Nice job there deadeye, Simon knows his stuff, Killerford maybe……seriously both of them will give you very helpful information. As always I look forward to your reports

 

[KillerFord1977]

Dot training at work with@SimonRL and I today.
Simon top and left
KF center middle and right

I asked to shoot simons Prodigy. Original ealy model gun.
No issues there..
5 rounds dead center bull target. 4 touching
10 yards

Simon took 1 shot with my P226 X5 Legion left target.
Dead center bull

Preach on !!!!

The preachers are in the house

 

[SimonRL]

Dot training at work with@SimonRL and I today.
Simon top and left
KF center middle and right

I asked to shoot simons Prodigy. Original ealy model gun.
No issues there..
5 rounds dead center bull target. 4 touching
10 yards

Simon took 1 shot with my P226 X5 Legion left target.
Dead center bull

Preach on !!!!

The preachers are in the house

View attachment 87768

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Yes, to @SimonRL, @KillerFord1977, and all you other good folk who share your wisdom, experience, expertise, and encouragement, I want to let you know how much I appreciate it. I'm sure others who are reading your posts appreciate it too.

I learn almost as much hanging out here as I do in my training classes. Learn it here, put it into practice on the range. Good stuff.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff