[jlewis39]

As some might know from reading other threads that I've contributed to, I have apparently been blessed with a fully functional Spectrum. It quickly became my chosen handgun for EDC (when possible, of course), and has been without malfunctions for the entirety of my ownership.

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to take my Spectrum - along with a wide variety of other handguns - to a team building exercise my work unit was holding (ie - a range day at the private range of one of our physicians). Woot. Anyways, one of the attending persons happened to be a member of our local SWAT team. He put my Spectrum through its paces, and while he wasn't overly pleased with the trigger, he was pretty impressed with how accurately it shot. As I consider myself a safe amateur who shoots only for fun and personal competitiveness, it was gratifying to hear some nice things said about a gun which has experienced much turmoil and angst since its release...from someone who makes his living using weapons to ensure the safety of the public.



I just thought I'd share with the group. That is all.

 

[old guy in texas]

Have you conducted any accuracy tests from a bench rest. I have tried a verity of ammo and the best groups I get at 15 yards have been 3.5 to 4 inch size. I use a two hand hold on sand bags in an indoor range, no wind and a constant light source.

 

[silverstring]

Hi old guy. While my Spectrum experience was not good, accuracy wise it was very good. I shot 2" groups at 7 yards off hand.

 

[old guy in texas]

2" groups at 7 yards would be 4-4.5" at 15 yards but you are doing it offhand. It would be interesting to see your results from a bench rest. Unless you are a Master class bullseye shooter your groups should be much better from a bench rest.

 

[CJS3]

Well since the Spectrum isn't a target pistol, 4 to 4.5 inch group at 15 yards (stomach, heart, liver) would be just fine for what the intended use is.

 

[olfarhors]

Well since the Spectrum isn't a target pistol, 4 to 4.5 inch group at 15 yards (stomach, heart, liver) would be just fine for what the intended use is.

indeed!
actually regardless of pistol that size grouping in Center mass would suffice almost every time at any distance.
if you gotta miss then miss vertically, there are all sorts of nice lil goody parts in there!
I would note and this is just me, but I don't pull around a bench, or carry a bunch of sand bags with me when I am out and about and I find it very difficult to tote such in my pockets or holster so I don't even test from a support myself, I practice like I plan to fight, unsupported and possibly moving.
now testing a rifle for long distance yea I use a bench or support.

 

[fitz]

I was surprised with my Spectrum as well. I have a G2C which has been flawless, but snatched my Spectrum up for $149 at Buds. The sights may get a little paint but I was able to hit a 12x18 target center mass easily at 10 yards.. I like its as a plinker and maybe a pocket carry.

 

[taurustoter]

I was surprised with my Spectrum as well. I have a G2C which has been flawless, but snatched my Spectrum up for $149 at Buds. The sights may get a little paint but I was able to hit a 12x18 target center mass easily at 10 yards.. I like its as a plinker and maybe a pocket carry.

Has it been reliable for you?

 

[SCHIZOID]

A few drops of nail polish does wonders.

 

[old guy in texas]

Took the gun to UPS today to ship it to Taurus. Local customer center said it had to go next day air at a cost of $89. Last I heard handguns had to go 2nd day air which cost less than half that amount. So I took the gun to Fedex and they shipped it ground for $12. Taurus would not send me a shipping label.

 

[olfarhors]

Took the gun to UPS today to ship it to Taurus. Local customer center said it had to go next day air at a cost of $89. Last I heard handguns had to go 2nd day air which cost less than half that amount. So I took the gun to Fedex and they shipped it ground for $12. Taurus would not send me a shipping label.

WHOA!!!
well in the past Fed -X and UPS has insisted on shipping weapons from individuals at next day air, but they allowed a FFL to ship anyway they wanted pretty much, Most FFL ship second day air as its a lot faster , its more secure and generally isn't a lot more money than ground.
Now IF you got it shipped by Fed -X at ground then consider yourself lucky and an inexperienced clerk likely.
now thats not the law but the companies policies as they incurred so much theft of firearms in regular shipments of ground.
anyway hope they fix it for ya!

 

[jlewis39]

Have you conducted any accuracy tests from a bench rest. I have tried a verity of ammo and the best groups I get at 15 yards have been 3.5 to 4 inch size. I use a two hand hold on sand bags in an indoor range, no wind and a constant light source.

No, I have not done any accuracy tests from a bench rest with sand bags. I haven't felt the need to do so as my use for the Spectrum is EDC...not sharpshooting.

As always, my two cents only.

 

[fitz]

Has it been reliable for you?

Yes, it has been reliable but was a little finicky with Blazer Total Metal Jacket ammo with failure to load, but shot fine with Fiocchi 380 ammo. Otherwise, its has been flawless.

 

[PaulTaurus]

It is fun to talk accuracy and fun to try some shots with support and free hand with any gun (whether it is a carry, defense gun or a target gun).

Personally, I shoot my 22s (talknig pistols) for target accuracy.

That is some of the 22s that I consider more of a target shooting pistol like the SW22 Victory, the GSG 1911, and Heritage six Revolver from normally 30 feet or 45 feet and sometimes as far as 25 yards. I don't consider those defense size guns for Carry, just plinking / target guns. I am not into competition shooting (probably be fun on a small scale as not good enough to be in tough competition).

Then some 22s like the Ruger SR22, the GSG Firefly, and even the little PH22 which I consider all of those more of a Carry size gun, I also shoot for accuracy for fun of it. HOWEVER, I use those Carry size guns for what I call defense practice; say move a step or two, draw, rack (I don't carry one in chamber), and shoot as quick as I can (more point at least first round and aim a bit depending if 10 ft, 15 ft, or 21 ft, or 30 ft practice). Generally hit within 2 to 6 inches of point I am looking at.

You are not going to have time to aim in a situation normally (yes some situations you would, like you are hiding and a mass shooting in progress and you have a chance to aim a shot at some distance being not detected by the shooter).

That 22 practice (cheaper and can shoot a lot of rounds) carries over to use of the 9MM or the Spectrunm 380 (those I primarily practice defense only, very little target).

All That Said as my UNPROFESSIONAL OPINION as I am not trained in self defense other than reading and some practice on my own.

Not interested in an argument about it, would read any comments made. I might change my mind. LOL

 

[wnderr]

In all honesty, I consider ALL self defense weapons, point and shoot! That would include any of my .22s, .380s, and 9mm Compacts.

Practice should always include not aiming with any sights, just point it and shoot it, at a 6' to 8" target .. Heck, even a paper plate will do! I use the end of a 6"-8" log

Get in the habit of placing your target finger in the witness depression if so equipped, or at least on the slide, extended.

You can do a pretty good job of pointing your finger directly at a target, and should get in the habit of thinking of your gun as an extension of your finger.

Push the gun toward the target, point it at the target, and shoot it. Do this until you get reasonable accurate. You just might be surprised at how good you can get.

Don't worry about bullseyes at all - just the target! If you can hit the target consistently, you can disable an attacker!

Now, the .22 target pistols, and the full sized guns ---- that's a different story!

 

[PaulTaurus]

In all honesty, I consider ALL self defense weapons, point and shoot! That would include any of my .22s, .380s, and 9mm Compacts.

Practice should always include not aiming with any sights, just point it and shoot it, at a 6' to 8" target .. Heck, even a paper plate will do! I use the end of a 6"-8" log

Get in the habit of placing your target finger in the witness depression if so equipped, or at least on the slide, extended.

You can do a pretty good job of pointing your finger directly at a target, and should get in the habit of thinking of your gun as an extension of your finger.

Push the gun toward the target, point it at the target, and shoot it. Do this until you get reasonable accurate. You just might be surprised at how good you can get.

Don't worry about bullseyes at all - just the target! If you can hit the target consistently, you can disable an attacker!

Now, the .22 target pistols, and the full sized guns ---- that's a different story!

Agree 100% - that is the way I view it.

I occasionally shoot all pistols with aim for fun, but most carry size pistols I shoot point and aim (22s included for point and shoot for practice). I hardly ever shoot my GSG 1911 22LR, Heritage Revolver, or SW22 Victory for Point and Shoot (primarily aim at Targets for accuracy).

More important for defense is what you can do at close range, like probably 21 feet or 15 feet or less (and how fast you can do it).

Longer range maybe for a mass shooting where you have a chance to get off an aimed round that will not hit innocent bystanders (could be 15 yards or 25 yards if you are good enough). Not many of us can with pressure and a moving target likely.

I might try if I was hidden, had a hand rest for the gun, and no innocents behind the bad guy. Probably miss and have his AR 15 turned on me. GROAN

I think some live in a dream world regarding long shots with a handgun under stress.

 

[jlewis39]

...More important for defense is what you can do at close range, like probably 21 feet or 15 feet or less (and how fast you can do it)...

Agreed.

I usually point and shoot at targets, when I have the rare opportunity to get to the range. I use the smaller 4-circles/page targets from the NRA Basic Pistol course and vary my distances from 5 feet to 25 feet. If I'm feeling lucky [punk], I'll back up to 45 feet and use the larger NRA Instructor Training Qualification Target. I do this with any handgun that I might lug along (ie - Spectrum, G2, Mark I-IV).

I enjoy shooting for fun, as I've mentioned in other threads. However, I also like having a goal to work on for each range trip, such as accuracy or timing. I readily admit that I need to work on speed (along with accuracy) and drawing from my holsters - particularly my Spectrum as it's my EDC (when I have the opportunity to do so.)

My two cents, as always.

 

[old guy in texas]

Why am I into accuracy testing guns even point and shoot pistols? I grew up in New York city. The only pistol you ever saw was on the hip of a cop. When I joined the Air Force I had the chance to join a base pistol team. I worked my way up to master class and in 1973 shot my way onto The Air Force Pistol Team. You lived and died for accuracy. It burned its way deep into my brain. So 46 years later I still test every gun,pistol or rifle, for accuracy. What good does it do? Well if my Spectrum can shoot a 3 inch group off sand bags and I shoot 8 inch groups free hand, the extra 5 inches is totally on me. Can't blame the gun or the ammo, its all on me. It tells me I need to practice with that gun a lot more. At my age(76) getting it down to 6 inches would mean I am getting good with that gun. 46 years ago I would be trying to get down to 3 inches the size of the 10 ring on an NRA bullseye target.

 

[NativeTexan]

My 2 cents, but i can't tell doodly about a GUN if I don't fire it off a supported position (would love to have a machine rest) to take the error out of it and I back up to 25 yards standard range I don't care if it's a S&W M52 or a NAA mini revolver. So what if it'll shoot 2" groups at 3 feet? THEN I know what the GUN is capable of. Then I'll start shooting off hand and see what I can do with it at various ranges.

 

[NativeTexan]

BTW, I point shoot best with my snubby revolvers.