Aqualung
Blackhawk
** With brief mention of Mark III Target results as well
I finally got to the range to try out my "free" MAX-9 and my Mark III** that's been also waiting for a real range trip.
I put 150 rounds of Winchester brown-box 115grn and 20 rounds of Remington 115gn HTP JHPs through the MAX-9, using all 6 magazines. I even tested it using the +1 mode, in case the operation was affected by a full magazine against the slide. It performed flawlessly. All rounds fired. Slide locked back on empty mags only. I was pleased overall with how it handled.
Recoil was a little "snappy", but not overly so nor unexpected for a pistol that light. It is not a pistol I think I'd want to be shooting for an extended range session, but that's not the purpose of this gun for me. That said, it's one that I do see myself shooting regularly to keep up proficiency (unlike some carry guns that are too painful to shoot regularly, so don't get exercised often).
I was concerned about how the gun would "twist" in my hand when shooting. I found it to be very stable in my hand with the texturing doing its job. I did purchase the Talon Grip "decal" in anticipation of it being "twisty" as my other two small auto pistols had proved to be with their "slick" plastic grips (MK9 and .380 NAA Guardian, both needing grip sleeves of some sort). However, I'm a little hesitant to install the grip, as it wasn't really needed, but think it may help to make it a little more comfortable in filling my hand a little better. I've got Talon Grips on both my 9mm and .45 American pistols and like them.
Along those lines, surprisingly, I didn't have an issue with the flush-plate 10-round mags. I thought I'd need to swap them out with the finger rest plates, but I didn't. My plan is to carry the 12-round mags for normal carry (1 in gun and a spare). However, there are times when I am carrying in PA, but need to unload and case up the gun to go to NJ or MD where any mags over 10 rounds are verboten. So, I plan on swapping mags to the 10-rounders in those instances.
Some folks don't like the trigger, others love it. I'm used to the trigger on my MK9, which is long and smooth, but not heavy at all. This trigger took a little getting used to, since it's got the "wall" where you pull back against just spring tension and then feel the sear resistance. However, it wasn't that much of an issue and I quickly got the feel for it.
All shots were from 7-10 yards at IPSC targets. I wasn't trying to tight groups or pinpoint accuracy...just function testing at this point.
The rear sight on my pistol is slightly left of center, and it shot a bit left, averaging about 4"-5" left at 10 yards or so. I tried working the sight to the right, but didn't have a solid bench or the right tools (you can only do so much with a Gerber multi-tool as a hammer and Swiss-Tech pocket tool as a punch) to tap it over. When I clean the gun on my bench, I'll tap it to center with the proper tools. I figure they'll be dead on as far as windage is concerned.
I was using 115grn rounds and they averaged a bit low (3"-4"). I'm thinking to try some 124grn offerings and see if they might group a bit higher due to a little more recoil(?).
DISCLAIMER: The above results could also be indicative of my shooting style and not performance/operation of the pistol. Nor, are they so bad that this gun isn't suitable for carry/self defense.
Overall, the gun is great! I look forward to having it become my #1 carry gun to give my MK9 a long-deserved transfer to reserve/backup carry gun status.
As for the Mark III, it too performed very well...a very weird transition to shoot from the MAX-9, being a stainless bull-barrel target model. The MAX-9 is feather-light with snappy recoil, but the Mark III is brick-heavy with no recoil...Out of the 100 or so rounds I shot, I had three misfires that I attribute to the crappy, Remington bulk-box ammo I was using. Two fired when rechambered and fired a second time. The third dropped out past the firing line when I ejected it, so it didn't get a second chance.
Aqualung
I finally got to the range to try out my "free" MAX-9 and my Mark III** that's been also waiting for a real range trip.
I put 150 rounds of Winchester brown-box 115grn and 20 rounds of Remington 115gn HTP JHPs through the MAX-9, using all 6 magazines. I even tested it using the +1 mode, in case the operation was affected by a full magazine against the slide. It performed flawlessly. All rounds fired. Slide locked back on empty mags only. I was pleased overall with how it handled.
Recoil was a little "snappy", but not overly so nor unexpected for a pistol that light. It is not a pistol I think I'd want to be shooting for an extended range session, but that's not the purpose of this gun for me. That said, it's one that I do see myself shooting regularly to keep up proficiency (unlike some carry guns that are too painful to shoot regularly, so don't get exercised often).
I was concerned about how the gun would "twist" in my hand when shooting. I found it to be very stable in my hand with the texturing doing its job. I did purchase the Talon Grip "decal" in anticipation of it being "twisty" as my other two small auto pistols had proved to be with their "slick" plastic grips (MK9 and .380 NAA Guardian, both needing grip sleeves of some sort). However, I'm a little hesitant to install the grip, as it wasn't really needed, but think it may help to make it a little more comfortable in filling my hand a little better. I've got Talon Grips on both my 9mm and .45 American pistols and like them.
Along those lines, surprisingly, I didn't have an issue with the flush-plate 10-round mags. I thought I'd need to swap them out with the finger rest plates, but I didn't. My plan is to carry the 12-round mags for normal carry (1 in gun and a spare). However, there are times when I am carrying in PA, but need to unload and case up the gun to go to NJ or MD where any mags over 10 rounds are verboten. So, I plan on swapping mags to the 10-rounders in those instances.
Some folks don't like the trigger, others love it. I'm used to the trigger on my MK9, which is long and smooth, but not heavy at all. This trigger took a little getting used to, since it's got the "wall" where you pull back against just spring tension and then feel the sear resistance. However, it wasn't that much of an issue and I quickly got the feel for it.
All shots were from 7-10 yards at IPSC targets. I wasn't trying to tight groups or pinpoint accuracy...just function testing at this point.
The rear sight on my pistol is slightly left of center, and it shot a bit left, averaging about 4"-5" left at 10 yards or so. I tried working the sight to the right, but didn't have a solid bench or the right tools (you can only do so much with a Gerber multi-tool as a hammer and Swiss-Tech pocket tool as a punch) to tap it over. When I clean the gun on my bench, I'll tap it to center with the proper tools. I figure they'll be dead on as far as windage is concerned.
I was using 115grn rounds and they averaged a bit low (3"-4"). I'm thinking to try some 124grn offerings and see if they might group a bit higher due to a little more recoil(?).
DISCLAIMER: The above results could also be indicative of my shooting style and not performance/operation of the pistol. Nor, are they so bad that this gun isn't suitable for carry/self defense.
Overall, the gun is great! I look forward to having it become my #1 carry gun to give my MK9 a long-deserved transfer to reserve/backup carry gun status.
As for the Mark III, it too performed very well...a very weird transition to shoot from the MAX-9, being a stainless bull-barrel target model. The MAX-9 is feather-light with snappy recoil, but the Mark III is brick-heavy with no recoil...Out of the 100 or so rounds I shot, I had three misfires that I attribute to the crappy, Remington bulk-box ammo I was using. Two fired when rechambered and fired a second time. The third dropped out past the firing line when I ejected it, so it didn't get a second chance.
Aqualung