Why I train with my backup gun the same way

[Donnie]

If I ever have to use a backup firearm, it means something has already gone wrong. That is not the time to be adjusting to a different system. I run the same drills and focus on the same fundamentals so that everything feels familiar if I ever need it.

 

[Tom L]

@Donnie You make an excellent point. In my case I have 2 S&W Equalizers. One for carry and a house gun. When they are shot they do feel different and have different characteristics. Using the same ammo. So you cant's assume two of the same gun are even the same.

 

[Cracker57]

Donnie,
are you talking a BUG, I have never carried a bug. I understand why people do.

 

[Tabby]

@Donnie You make an excellent point. In my case I have 2 S&W Equalizers. One for carry and a house gun. When they are shot they do feel different and have different characteristics. Using the same ammo. So you cant's assume two of the same gun are even the same.

No two barrels are exactly the same. The ammo that one likes is not necessarily the same as another likes. As you noted there is a difference from one gun to another. If you switched the two barrels you would probably find that the ammo would switch along with the barrel, however due to other differences, recoil spring tension, slide drag, etc. There is most likely going to be slight differences even with barrel/ammo compatibility. Most people do not notice a difference in ammo possibly with the exception of recoil with handguns because they do not shoot at a long enough distance where the difference is significantly noticeable.

 

[Alan]

No two barrels are exactly the same. The ammo that one likes is not necessarily the same as another likes. As you noted there is a difference from one gun to another. If you switched the two barrels you would probably find that the ammo would switch along with the barrel, however due to other differences, recoil spring tension, slide drag, etc. There is most likely going to be slight differences even with barrel/ammo compatibility. Most people do not notice a difference in ammo possibly with the exception of recoil with handguns because they do not shoot at a long enough distance where the difference is significantly noticeable.

People chase ammo fixes but most of what they’re seeing is just each gun’s own personality.

 

[Cracker57]

Many of good guns in the used rack because someone bought a new gun and a box of ammo. it didn't group well with that box of ammo at that grain in that barrel.

 

[Tabby]

People chase ammo fixes but most of what they’re seeing is just each gun’s own personality.

Much of a firearms personality has to do with ammo. Doesn't matter if it's a rifle or pistol. As an example, my Tisas 38 Super shoots shotgun patterns with one brand of ammo, and then 1 1/4 inch groups at 25 yards with two others. For my rifles, each has it's own favorite factory load as well as hand load. I always find a factory load for each of them so if I have to buy ammo when out and about there is always an option. That is not always the case with hand loads. For factory loads different lot numbers may affect accuracy, but as long as it's the same brand and bullet the zero shift generally will not put you out of the kill zone on a deer size target.

One thing that I have learned since I got a Garmin is that the velocity spread with cheaper ammo is much wider than with higher quality ammo. It is not so much noticeable at the ranges most people are shooting handguns these days, 5 to 30 feet. Once you pass 50 feet it does become noticeable. I am reluctant to name, names here, but as an example Freedom/Lax 125 gr ammo does shotgun patterns in my 38 Super, but is very accurate in my 9mm firearms. Conversely everything shoots great with Aguila 130 gr and Stacatto 138 gr match is fantastic. The difference is the velocity spreads between shots. Freedom/LAX vary up to 75 FPS while Aguila varies up to 30 fps with Stacatto at 25 or less. My handloads in 9mm and 38 Super vary 20 to 35 FPS dependent upon the powder and bullets used. For rifles the difference is even greater. In my 308 for example one brand of MATCH ammo varies up to 120 fps while Federal Premium 165 gr hunting ammo only varies 40 fps. Lets talk for a second about the variation in the supposed match ammo at up to 120 fps. The speed of the bullet affects bullet drop as well as wind deflection. There are other factors that play in this case that I won't bore you with the others, if interested PM me, The result of this much variation is large patterns, with the slow bullets dropping and dealing with wind deflection greatly.

 

[Tabby]

Many of good guns in the used rack because someone bought a new gun and a box of ammo. it didn't group well with that box of ammo at that grain in that barrel.

So very true. The tendency is to try to save a few bucks and buy the cheaper ammo, with price and quality varying, especially with 9mm and rifle hunting ammo.

 

[Alan]

Much of a firearms personality has to do with ammo. Doesn't matter if it's a rifle or pistol. As an example, my Tisas 38 Super shoots shotgun patterns with one brand of ammo, and then 1 1/4 inch groups at 25 yards with two others. For my rifles, each has it's own favorite factory load as well as hand load. I always find a factory load for each of them so if I have to buy ammo when out and about there is always an option. That is not always the case with hand loads. For factory loads different lot numbers may affect accuracy, but as long as it's the same brand and bullet the zero shift generally will not put you out of the kill zone on a deer size target.

One thing that I have learned since I got a Garmin is that the velocity spread with cheaper ammo is much wider than with higher quality ammo. It is not so much noticeable at the ranges most people are shooting handguns these days, 5 to 30 feet. Once you pass 50 feet it does become noticeable. I am reluctant to name, names here, but as an example Freedom/Lax 125 gr ammo does shotgun patterns in my 38 Super, but is very accurate in my 9mm firearms. Conversely everything shoots great with Aguila 130 gr and Stacatto 138 gr match is fantastic. The difference is the velocity spreads between shots. Freedom/LAX vary up to 75 FPS while Aguila varies up to 30 fps with Stacatto at 25 or less. My handloads in 9mm and 38 Super vary 20 to 35 FPS dependent upon the powder and bullets used. For rifles the difference is even greater. In my 308 for example one brand of MATCH ammo varies up to 120 fps while Federal Premium 165 gr hunting ammo only varies 40 fps. Lets talk for a second about the variation in the supposed match ammo at up to 120 fps. The speed of the bullet affects bullet drop as well as wind deflection. There are other factors that play in this case that I won't bore you with the others, if interested PM me, The result of this much variation is large patterns, with the slow bullets dropping and dealing with wind deflection greatly.

Good points! once you stretch distance, ammo consistency really starts showing up in velocity spread and grouping.