I just want to know WHY.

[TheBugOutKid]

So I bough a Walther Pk380 yesterday. I was eight different shades of excited. It felt good. It fit in my hands and I could operate it perfectly, which is something that's discouraged me in my search for a handgun. I always seem to have trouble operating the basic functions i.e. the mag release and the slide. ((I admit it, I have tiny weak girl hands but in my defense I AM a girl. )) I've also heard encouraging things about the 380 and how light the recoil can be ((I say again, tiny girl hands)) So blahblahblah I spent about 15 minutes in the gun store mulling it over after I held it and just went for it. Then I spent all that night just looking at it, grinnin' like a Cheshire cat and patting myself on the back.
Buuuuuutttt... Today I took it the range and the damn thing doesn't shoot straight. I've said on here before that I'm somewhat of a novice gun owner, which means that my aim, to be honest, is terrible. But I when I tried shooting it from about 15 feet away I barely made it on paper. RS also shot it from about the same distance and got the same results. Then later I disassembled it and cleaned it up a bit, mostly out of boredom and just something to do, when we noticed there was a helluva lot of wear on the barrel.

So I get it, I need to find something a lot more reliable and shame on me for being a dumb butt and jumping the gun with this purchase (pun fully intended)
I plan on going back to the gun store tomorrow and talking it over with the guys there and finding a solution.

What I'd like to know is WHY does this happen? I mean is there some specific malfunction that would cause this? Is it possible that the barrel doesn't sit in the slide right? Because in my mind, that would account for the excessive wear and the inaccuracy.

Really I'm just looking to educate myself so I don't make the same mistake twice!
Also, sorry if that was too long...

[Kentactic]

First time i shot a pistol i was barely on paper too... Its all in the trigger control. dont get discouraged. Dry firing is a huge help. Keep the sights aligned all the way through the trigger break. I doubt the guns the issue if it was a new pistol. Even if the pistol is beat to hell im sure its more accurate then you describe.

[JohnyMac]

Let us know what the gents at the gun store tell you. Good luck.

[thatGuy]

Hey BugOutKid,

First I would like to say that I am delighted to see you are still kicking around the forum.

But I am not sure about the wear or accuracy problems you are having. The Walther PK380 is an upscaled P22, the P22 was a very well received within the community.

I am going to add to what Johny and Ken are saying, pistols are hard to shoot and all ammo is not the same. I've got loads that go all over the place and loads that don't. All the same you could have gotten a dud.

Let us know how it works out for you good or bad.

[Reaver]

Hey BugOutKid,

First I would like to say that I am delighted to see you are still kicking around the forum.

But I am not sure about the wear or accuracy problems you are having. The Walther PK380 is an upscaled P22, the P22 was a very well received within the community.

I am going to add to what Johny and Ken are saying, pistols are hard to shoot and all ammo is not the same. I've got loads that go all over the place and loads that don't. All the same you could have gotten a dud.

Let us know how it works out for you good or bad.

I second this motion 100% that includes supporting the other other two.


Practice practice practice. Get yourself some 380 snap caps though. That firing pin is a little to tiny for me to just say go dryfire it.

[1000meterstare]

Hey kid, don't get discouraged.  My first time shooting a handgun was in 1989 and it was a gen I glock.  I was HORRIBLE!  I had always done well on rifle so I was somewhat perplexed.  Don't feel bad, the pistol is physically a lot more difficult to shoot well than people realize.  Loosen your grip a little and relax.  Pretend like you are Spicoli on Fast Times at Ridgemont High.  Shoot a few times with this relaxed stance, and let the recoil and firearm naturally do what it's gonna do.  Then you can work more intently on your sight picture after you have a smooth stance and trigger squeeze down.  Keep the Faith![URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

[TheBugOutKid]

Thanks guys. I took it to the gun shop today and I'm not kidding, by then end of the visit I had a whole group of guys gathered around telling me exactly what I was doing wrong (everyone on staff at the shop and even a couple of regulars ) and I'm feeling confident that it was more user malfuntion then firearm. The fact that RS762 couldn't even get it on paper though still has me slightly concerned, but the guys at the shop said if I spend a little more time with it and STILL can't get it to function the way it's meant to, they're happy to trade for something else. Though they all assured me that even a good shot would have a hard time with the long-ass trigger pull on the PK380 for a bit.
To be honest, I think I was a little more panicked last night then anything else. I mean, if you thought you'd wasted such a large chunk of change wouldn't you? Haha.

[Kentactic]

The fact that RS762 couldn't even get it on paper though still has me slightly concerned

Im concerned too, just not about the pistol... 

[RS762]

The fact that RS762 couldn't even get it on paper though still has me slightly concerned

Im concerned too, just not about the pistol... 

 [img]http://www.arrse.co.uk/at

lol my 1911 was dead on all day... just saying...

[Colombo]

Something here may help http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/pk380/

I will also keep my opinion of umarex products to myself although Smith and Walther seem to be good on customer service from what I've seen.

[JohnyMac]

Here's a suggestion to gain confidence in your weapon. Shoot a mag or so through the handgun while resting it on a sand bag while you are sitting. Relax...concentrate on the front sight & the target and squeeze that trigger with the pad of your index trigger NOT the first joint and see what the handgun does. If nothing else you will gain confidence in your weapon.

My first handgun was a cap & ball Navy 36. I couldn't hit the side of the barn with it and of course I thought it must be the weapon.  [img]http://www.arrse.co.uk/at Well I did what I suggested above and found out it wasn't the weapon it was me. Although it did shoot at about 5 O' clock in the 9 and 8 ring at 25 yards using the sights it came with. I was able to adjust and consistently hit in the 10 ring.   

Good luck!

[EJR914]

Don't lose heart.  As many have already said, handgun shooting is hard at first.  Trigger Control can have a HUGE effect on where the projectile actually hits paper, as well as grip, and getting comfortable with the loud noise and the recoil after the shot.  You could be "pushing" or "blocking" the pistol right at the last second before the shot breaks and not even realize it.  Very common among new handgun shooters.  It may or may not be the pistol, but definitely see what the guys at the store say. 

Best of luck!  Should have bought and old used Sig, just saying.  LOL  I'm just kidding. 

[Kentactic]

Load snap caps randomly in the mags while shooting to test for flinch and anticipation. If you dont have snap caps, have a friend load the gun and not tell you if theres a round chambered or not. Then shoot and see if it goes off or not and how you reacte to the dry click. I know what the outcome will be but its important for you to see it yourself to help you correct it.

[EJR914]

Yep, snap caps are awesome for that!  If you reload you could make Dummy Rounds with spent primer and no powder, and mark it RED somehow so you know its a dummy.  Good call, Ken.  Putting an empty case in there is something some guys constantly do as well, but that is to clear malfunctions.  Yep, look for the flinch or a last second push to one side or the other. 

1.  Make sure you have a proper grip.

2. Make sure you have proper body alignment.

3. Make sure you're only using the last digit of your index finger (the tip of the finger, the articulation that has the finger nail on it) to pull the trigger back perfectly STRAIGHT.  Pull the trigger straight back, and not to the strong hand side by putting too much finger on the trigger. 

4. Try and train to keep both eyes open, or at least make sure you're using your DOMINANT eye if you just have to close one, but I would suggest against closing any eyes.  Shooting should be done with both eyes wide open.

As said before, definitely look for a flinch.