First off, thanks to ThorInc for inspiring me to finally... bite the bullet? Drop the hammer? Or some other appropriate saying meaning "to stop being a wuss and just buy a damn Steyr." 
I'd been following the M9 for many moons and decided that when I finally got my firearms license, it was going to be my first gun. Honestly, it was all about the aesthetics at first -- I just love how this thing looks: modern, elegant, and a little chunky (in a good way). But as I learned more, I craved the ergonomics and low bore axis.
The problem was being a Canadian.
We don't have any of the new models here, and being obsessed as I was with the marque, I'd read daily posts about FTE this, FTF that, horrendous space-time-continuum-destroying jams, and so on with regards to the older models. There were 2008 models in Canada, but I had decided those were not an option, and started down the sad road of exploring alternate brands.
Then I read ThorInc's exuberant post about his pain-free Canadian VOT (November, 2008). I couldn't stand it anymore and ordered my new pet, BOT (April 2008), from Wolverine Supplies (who I highly recommend, as an aside). It arrived yesterday.
It fits my hand like a glove, which is nice because I have found most handguns way too chubby in the grip department and I have fairly small hands. And of course it looks the business, even with a Canadian spec extended barrel. I did a basic take down yesterday, which was pleasantly simple, applied a little dab of this and that, then went ammo shopping. I purchased the following:
50 rounds 147g Speer Lawman
50 rounds 115g random range ammo (Canadian BDX, I think its called)
1000(!) rounds 124g Blazer Brass, which was on special at the LGS
Today I took my time and shot 250 rounds of ammo, including all the Speer and range rounds. To be honest, I didn't notice any difference between them and they all fired consistently.
I had zero FTEs (hurrah!), but I did have 2 failures to feed (boo). The first time it happened, there was a total magazine failure: when I ejected it, half the rounds just fell out while the other half were jumbled and stuck inside. Disturbing to say the least. I walked it over to the range folks and they used an arcane double rod device, and with a slightly nervous grimace and squeeze, managed to get everything sorted. They said the follower got pinched in a weird way, causing all the ammo to miss-feed. The second FTF felt similar, but the magazine functioned properly after re-inserting. So I'm thinking this is a magazine break-in issue more so than an actual gun issue. Not too concerned right now, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Accuracy wise... well, I won't go there. I'm not a good shot, well, except with a shotgun. I have very poor eyesight, which is exacerbated by being right-handed but left-eye dominant. So I spent a lot of time experimenting with closing different eyes and keeping them both open. I consistently shoot left and down of my target, so I can compensate at least. I'm fine with the learning process, and am also taking a handling and holstering course in a couple weeks which will help.
Afterward I inspected the innards, and the barrel and slide rails had a fair amount of grit on them. I didn't sequence my ammo brands well enough to know which one was the culprit, but I'll have to pick up a bristle brush. I'm currently just using a bore snake, cloth, and CLP. Again, not too worried. Instead of being scared of disassembling this thing, I actually enjoy it.
So, all in all, I'd say this experience has been a success! I have two more magazines on backorder, so as I use up the rest of those 1000 rounds I'll have a better idea of what's going on with any finickiness.
Cheers.
I'd been following the M9 for many moons and decided that when I finally got my firearms license, it was going to be my first gun. Honestly, it was all about the aesthetics at first -- I just love how this thing looks: modern, elegant, and a little chunky (in a good way). But as I learned more, I craved the ergonomics and low bore axis.
The problem was being a Canadian.
We don't have any of the new models here, and being obsessed as I was with the marque, I'd read daily posts about FTE this, FTF that, horrendous space-time-continuum-destroying jams, and so on with regards to the older models. There were 2008 models in Canada, but I had decided those were not an option, and started down the sad road of exploring alternate brands.
Then I read ThorInc's exuberant post about his pain-free Canadian VOT (November, 2008). I couldn't stand it anymore and ordered my new pet, BOT (April 2008), from Wolverine Supplies (who I highly recommend, as an aside). It arrived yesterday.
It fits my hand like a glove, which is nice because I have found most handguns way too chubby in the grip department and I have fairly small hands. And of course it looks the business, even with a Canadian spec extended barrel. I did a basic take down yesterday, which was pleasantly simple, applied a little dab of this and that, then went ammo shopping. I purchased the following:
50 rounds 147g Speer Lawman
50 rounds 115g random range ammo (Canadian BDX, I think its called)
1000(!) rounds 124g Blazer Brass, which was on special at the LGS
Today I took my time and shot 250 rounds of ammo, including all the Speer and range rounds. To be honest, I didn't notice any difference between them and they all fired consistently.
I had zero FTEs (hurrah!), but I did have 2 failures to feed (boo). The first time it happened, there was a total magazine failure: when I ejected it, half the rounds just fell out while the other half were jumbled and stuck inside. Disturbing to say the least. I walked it over to the range folks and they used an arcane double rod device, and with a slightly nervous grimace and squeeze, managed to get everything sorted. They said the follower got pinched in a weird way, causing all the ammo to miss-feed. The second FTF felt similar, but the magazine functioned properly after re-inserting. So I'm thinking this is a magazine break-in issue more so than an actual gun issue. Not too concerned right now, but I'll keep an eye on it.
Accuracy wise... well, I won't go there. I'm not a good shot, well, except with a shotgun.
I have very poor eyesight, which is exacerbated by being right-handed but left-eye dominant. So I spent a lot of time experimenting with closing different eyes and keeping them both open. I consistently shoot left and down of my target, so I can compensate at least. I'm fine with the learning process, and am also taking a handling and holstering course in a couple weeks which will help.Afterward I inspected the innards, and the barrel and slide rails had a fair amount of grit on them. I didn't sequence my ammo brands well enough to know which one was the culprit, but I'll have to pick up a bristle brush. I'm currently just using a bore snake, cloth, and CLP. Again, not too worried. Instead of being scared of disassembling this thing, I actually enjoy it.
So, all in all, I'd say this experience has been a success! I have two more magazines on backorder, so as I use up the rest of those 1000 rounds I'll have a better idea of what's going on with any finickiness.
Cheers.
