From: STX@MSUS1.MSUS.EDU (Kevin Whyte)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Novice's Ramblings
Date: 3 Oct 92 20:37:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: MSUS1.01GPIEHU1MNK000RAQ

This is going to be a compilation of a lot of different
questions/observations/suggestions that have occured to me over the last three
weeks of reading rec.guns, buying a Glock 22 and being reintroduced to the
shooting world in general.

1st off is rec.guns.  This is by far the best news group I have read as far as
content.  Many thanks to our moderator and to all the readers/posters out there
that share their knowledge with the net.  After the last charter was posted I
went and downloaded a couple of the most recent ones to my local computer
(Side-note to moderator or whoever manages the archives.  Could you please,
PLEASE, make them smaller?  I had a bear of a time getting them unarchived
becuase I have a quota limit.  Ideally they would expand out to a little less
than 1.44 meg so I can take them home on a HD disk and read them there.)  and
found some very interesting stuff.  Right now I'm reading the receding edge of
the "Sig vs Glock" war of last Feb.  There is a lot of duplication of messages
compared to then and now.  Is there a FAQ list?
	[MODERATOR:  No FAQ, but the point about size of compressed archives
	 files is well taken, thanks ....]

2nd topic would have to be my experiances with my first large caliber handgun
(Would Cooper call the .40s&w a minor caliber?  I personally thinking 9mm up is
"major"  but that is my opinion subject to revision.)
I bought the Glock 22 not becuase I think the Glock is better than any other
gun but becuase I believe it comparable to any gun in its price range and less
expensive then most of them.  I was home in SD so I could buy it, it was there,
I had enough money to buy it and some ammunition, I bought it!  After shooting
it the only real complaint I have about it is with the safety mechanism(sp)
within the trigger.  After shooting it for awhile it makes the pad of my
trigger finger sore.  Once I get a callus there I doubt it will make much
difference.  Its much more accurate than I am, of that I have no doubt!  I
posted here a week or so ago about how to improve my accuracy and got some
excellent responses.  I went out shooting for the second time yesterday and
tried three different ways of shooting.  My accuracy was definitly affected by
my stance!  Shooting one handed at 22-25 feet I was able to get 5" groups of 5. 
Using the Weaver stance I couldn't find 2 of my bullet holes!(off the edge of
the target into the well holed target board)  I may be doing
it wrong who knows.  Finally using the Isoceles stance (both elbows locked
forming a triangle with my body is isoceles right?)  I was able to shoot a five
shot group that was just under 3".  (BTW this was with CCI Blazer FMJ 180 gr
cartridges)  Obviously for me, now, the isoceles stance is the best.  While I
was there a female NRA instructor was teaching one on one with a novice
student.  I eavesdropped(sp) and learned that I was using the 2 handed grip
absolutely wrong!  Even though I know that when a cartridge explodes for
whatever reason the gases will most likely vent through the magazine well.  I
was shooting with my right hand supporting my left ( I shoot left-handed)
cupping the bottom of the magazine!  When I tried use grip she used with my 2
thumbs together it felt really uncomfortable.  I was able to shoot this way but
it isn't comfortable.  Is this grip something you just have to get used too?

Finally to my cleaning  experiances.  I admit to being niave.  I thought the
cleaning equipment that came with the pistol to be sufficient but after reading
a couple of posts to the contrary either in the archives or here recently (I
get confused sometimes about which is which!)  I went out and bought a brass
brush and some hoppes 9.  Now I thought my barrel was clean.  I ran that brush
through there and it came out black!  Revelation!(revulsion?)  I then tried
running through some patches with hoppes 9 on them and they came out black 
and didn't seem to be getting that much lighter with subsequent applications.
At that point I dipped my formerly shiny brass brush into the hoppes and 
scrubbed for a couple of minutes.  I ran a dry patch through and it was 
totally black.  The next one came out a LOT cleaner though.  So novices out 
there that buy glocks, invest in a brass bore brush.  Now a question about 
using hoppes 9 or any other solvent on the plastic portions of the Glock are 
they all safe to use on it. (I do not want to  restart the plastic vs polymer 
vs what-the-hell-is-a-glock-made-out-of? debates again. Just the facts please :)


I have fed my Glock a large variety of bullets.  155 grain and 180 grain, FMJ
and Hollowpoint made by 7 different makers.  NONE of them jammed.  I have put
about 400 rds through my Glock now. 

Anyone have any recomendations on a good holster for the Glock?  Belt type on
the left side used for a backup gun for hunting.  Primary requirments are
that it be comfortable and will hold the Glock secure (and under $40?)

Well I apologize for the length of the post.  If you are reading this thanks
for bearing with me.  

Kevin
stx@msus1.msus.edu