I picked up the GB45 from Kastle Keep immediately after I left work last night. When I got there, my pistol was still in it's shipping box and, like a kid on Christmas morning, had to dig through 30 or 40 layers of tape to get the box open.
Like a shallow matrioshka doll, inside the box was the box. The green, Para USA box that held my not-so-brand-new Gun Blog 45. I opened the case (insert sound of angels singing on high here) and removed the pistol from the plastic wrapping.
There were oohs and ahhs from the customers and workers in the shop. Everyone was commenting on "nice gun" and the such, and I mentioned that I was happy to have her back. I had to explain that I had already shot the pistol and briefly mentioned training with Todd Jarrett. That perked up some ears (yeah, I know, I was dropping names. It was kind of cool).
I then headed over to Five Guys with Greg and Beth where I had a burger that was easier to describe by what I didn't get on it (onions and jalapeños). Then we headed over to Knight Shooting Sports to try out the .45 as well as align my Glock's Crimson Trace grips.
First the Glock. Turns out I didn't even remotely have the laser close to being sighted in. I was shooting into the wrong zip code. I started adjusting the laser with the microscopic gnat hair Allen wrench which slipped at one point and was lost forever. Thankfully, CTC provided two of 'em for just such an occasion. I eventually got it Close Enough For Government Work and if I aim for your right eye, I might hit your left, but that's fine for defense.
Oddly, the Glock just doesn't feel as nice as the 1911 and, because of its diminutive size you can't grip it as well either. Still, what I learned at Blackwater really helped not only my groupings, but my ability to get back on target for the second shot. I can do a pretty good double tap now and put both holes where I need them to be, something that my "tea-cup" grip never afforded me.
I taught Beth the Sooper Seekret Todd Jarrett kung-fu grip, and I have to admit even I was surprised at the change in her groupings. At 8 yards she was shooting a little smaller than dinner plate groupings. I showed her where to grip, how to extend her thumb to point towards the target, where the thumbs go as well as the admonition to put as much "meat" on the pistol with both hands (she tea cupped as well). Immediately her groupings were no more than 2" wide. In fact, she made a vertical line which suggested breathing was the culprit, but the change was instant and amazing. Todd Jarrett is the man, even when he isn't around! I suggested to Greg that they dry fire more often.
Now, on to the main event.
I'm going to summarize up front to make sure if you stop reading here, you leave with the right impression - This frickin' pistol is more accurate that I am and is a joy to shoot. It is heavy, it is larger than my other pistols, but overall what it can do far surpasses my ability to shoot.
However the pistol I shot last night was not the same pistol I shot at Blackwater. Physically, it is the same pistol, serial number and all, but it did not shoot like it did in Moyock, NC. Greg had failures to feed and I had several failures to eject. The trigger felt... dirty. It was gritty and not smooth at all. You really had to manhandle the slide to get a round to go in, and the rear blade sights begged to rip off your palm in the process. Also, the slide failed to stay open many times which is a problem if I'm going to be shooting competition, but again I personally think that has more to do with the oiling and cleaning of the pistol than anything.
The break point on the trigger was exactly as I remember it - so light that as soon as I concentrated on my dry firing practice, it would surprise me when it went off. Jerking this puppy is easy to do because you really think it's going to take a lot more pressure than it does to trip the sear.
The little bit of frustration I had with the pistol disappeared though when Greg and Beth left for the night. Nothing to do with them, but I managed to tune everything out and managed to snap right into "The Zone". Yes, that zone where you couldn't miss if someone else was shooting. I'll have video later, but it eventually got to the point where the only way you could tell I was hitting the target was the loose paper around the ragged hole would flutter after a shot.
The shooting instructor at Knights even complimented me on my shooting and asked me to take his advance class (he said that would allow me to draw from the holster to shoot there). I plan on taking some more classes because if one weekend with Todd Jarrett can improve my shooting that much, I can only imagine what more classes will do.
I'm in love. Totally and unconditionally. She's not carry ready as the FTF's and FTE's don't inspire the confidence I need yet, but without a doubt that will be the pistol I use for competition. It is simply THAT accurate and any misses will by my fault and not a loose pistol.
The hardest part now will be waiting for the next range time.