HK45 Endurance Test: Week Twenty Three

After the Great Drama of the Maybe Malfunction this week, at least my dog still loves me (or maybe just my HK45). She’s grown a bit in the last eight weeks, though. Soon she’ll be able to carry all my spare ammo!

I’ve continued working the 2-shot draw from concealment on a 3×5 card at seven yards in 1.8 seconds, 100 times per range session. Results this week were pretty close to last week, at least on paper: 76.5%. However, there is a major qualitative difference. Whereas last week I was pushing myself to get the shots off in time, this week my draw and acquisition has become much faster… so now I’m working at the right speed and I just need to dial in the accuracy. I’ve got high hopes for a few more percentage points next week.

Along similar lines, I tried a 5-shot drill under the same circumstances (3×5 card, 7 yd).

• With a 3-second par time (40 runs), hits were 74.5%
• With a 2.5-second par time (40 runs), hits were 63.5%

At 3.0 seconds, it’s really just a matter of discipline (or lack thereof, actually) that keeps the number so low. There is plenty of time to get off all the shots and aim them properly. At 2.5 seconds, the speed gets pushed past my comfort level. On some runs, I start with a bad sight picture and don’t have time to clean it up adequately, resulting in most of the shots missing. On others, everything comes together and I put five on the card.

I’ve not shot a F.A.S.T. since last month’s class in Los Alamos, but this weekend should have a chance to see if my dedicated practice on low probability targets is paying off.

OK, so what else happened this week with the HK45? On a lark, I decided to fire a 5-shot group standing offhand at 25yd. The result was a group high and left on the target measuring less than 2″ inches. Given how little care the barrel has seen over the past five months, and more than 30,000 rounds of full power .45 ammo that has burned down its tube, that’s pretty impressive.

The effect of shooting 600-700 or more rounds of .45 per session is finally starting to wear on me. By the end of a 3-hour practice, my right hand definitely feels it. It’s fatigue more than discomfort, but it’s enough to force me to take a break or call it a day. My expectation at the beginning of the test was that I’d grow accustomed to the high volume as I’ve done in the past with 9mm, but the opposite seems to be true. Whereas I had some 1,000+ days earlier in the test and didn’t really feel it until the next day, the cumulative effect of the past twenty three weeks is starting to show.

The HK45 really does an incredible job of reducing recoil and muzzle climb. The last time I was shooting a .45 seriously (2004, a SIG P220ST), an average range session would be between 300 and 400 rounds. Now it’s closer to twice that. But it’s still a .45, and definitely taking more of a toll than the 9mm pistols I’m accustomed to.

This coming week should see us break 35,000 between practice and the Appendix Carry Workshop on Saturday. I’m also finally hoping to get the Warren sights installed as promised for the past few weeks.

Train hard & stay safe! ToddG

Previous HK45 Endurance Test posts at pistol-training.com:

• Week Twenty Two
• Week Twenty One
• Week Twenty
• Week Nineteen
• Week Eighteen
• Week Seventeen
• Week Sixteen
• Week Fifteen
• Week Fourteen
• Week Thirteen
• Week Twelve
• Week Ten
• Week Nine
• Week Eight
• Week Seven
• Week Six
• Week Five
• Week Four
• Week Three
• Week Two
• Week One
• Announcement