It was an unseasonably warm March day when elderly KP&F retirees congregated at the Sheriff’s Training Center for the annual attempt to qualify under the Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act (LEOSA).
By unseasonable, the temps in the lower 90s this early in the year broke a record. The smart ones (like me) arrived early to beat the March heat.
The state reads LEOSA to mean that use of autos and revolvers be tested, if the applicant is going to carry either (or both). Above, the G45 Gen6 was used in the auto portion, with the Safariland Gravity holster. The Smith & Wesson/Lipsey's Model 686+ Mountain Gun, with Galco Masterbilt Revenger holster was used for the revolver session.
As often I do, I had guns on loan that I was going to test – along with my ability (or lack of) to use them on a line of shooters, each shooting for the approval of someone else. The current range master is retiree-eligible and puts on a gruff performance. That’s what range people and armorers do; they sigh heavily, frown and shake their heads as they try to herd fleas.
I noticed this time that the same demeanor was present, but he was quick to assist the now-feeble that he’d worked with, trained under, and modeled himself after over years. It’s not easy getting old and the elderly require some accommodation – especially as we qualify on the same course as the "children" who now occupy the uniforms, patrol cars, and offices in our stead.
The guns I fired were the Lipsey’s/Smith & Wesson M686 Mountain Gun and the GLOCK 45 Gen6. The revolver part of this shake-out was featured last fall. The G45 has appeared here, here and here.
The result? I could shoot either gun on my own better than on a line with other shooters, while a soon-to-be-rookie-retiree looked on. There’s no real surprise there.
With the M686 Mountain Gun, I shot CCI-Blazer 38 Special 125 grain FMJ. A reasonably mild load, the excellent Tyler Gun Works stocks didn’t hurt at all. The holster was the Galco Masterbilt Revenger belt holster, a fine rig. It’s solid, stayed put on the belt during draw and reholster and would work fine in casual concealment.
The GLOCK was fed CCI-Blazer 115gr. FMJ. The holster was the Safariland Gravity paddle holster. That rig likewise kept the gun available in the same place for an efficient draw.
The targets are shown here – not that I’m proud of them, but you see them as I shoot them. No hiding here.
The agency-designed SNSO-KSCB – a cardboard target I’ve not seen in the online catalogs from any target company – was used. While the interior “bottle” is taller than the FBI-Q, only part of it is used for qualification scoring.
The 7” “C” circle on the target was going to be my aiming point – but I held on the lower part of it to keep rounds from drifting up into the “no score” area. I had fifteen hits outside of that circle with the G45 (no fault of the gun), with my 25-yard effort showing some sinkers. All were in the scoring zone, so I “passed” with a 100. I’d have scored it at 235/250 (counting -1 for each in the bottle outside the “C”.)
With the revolver, it was likewise glum. I only had 8 hits in the circle, with 42 below it. Five hits were perilously close to the bottom line. The gun can clearly outshoot that – with the same ammo.
The stocks don’t offer a lot of feedback in terms of elevation – though the sights are superb. The action is still “new-tight,” nothing that a few hundred dry presses of the trigger wouldn’t solve. While their appearance isn’t up to Bobby Tyler’s stocks, I’d go with Hogue Monogrips or Pachmayr Gripper Professionals for carry and shooting chores.
That’s just my preference.
The Gen6 is still 100% for function – as is the Lipsey’s-inspired S&W Mountain Gun. I’m not at all surprised by either.
They’ll both do at crunch time.
– Rich Grassi