Where does the brass go?
 

I have a really nice '06 Eagle 9mm which I tried to sell and no one wants so I figured, "Well its mine and its a gun, its supposed to shoot" so I took it out into the front yard and shot it.

I can't say I am enamored of the grip safety too much; and it is a little hard to see a dark target very well with the slim front blade but fun to shoot just the same!

Are there any aiming hints or tricks with these guns? I know the trigger to firing pin action has lots of twists and turns. I could not hit much but that may be my fault, not knowing the gun.

My main question is, "where do these guns throw the brass?" Out of about 22 rounds I was only able to find 9 cases! Most of those were ejected to the front of the gun but I only found 9.

I was shooting "white box" Winchester 115gr FMJ.

Regards to all;

David J.

Hi David, The brass ejection angle is subject to the ejector and extractor. usually the brass will go up and to the rear right.

I have a Luger that throws it directly in front of me. And one that likes to throw it straight up so it bounces off my head or goes down my collar.

Ron

Hi Ron;

Well I wound up shooting off 36 rounds and found all but 6 cases. The gravel in my front yard hides them pretty well, I guess.

This gun seems to like to eject them pretty high in the air and to the front. I was only honored once by one bouncing off my chest on the way back down.

Tell me about the grip safety, is that something you get used to? My 1911s have one also but it is not as obtrusive.

It takes me a little getting used to, hanging on to the grip so the grip safety is depressed yet keeping my trigger finger relaxed.

Regards;


David J.

David,

After you get used to the pistol, it should come naturally. Try not to concentrate on it.

Ron

Lol,

I got tapped on the sholder while shooting once, as a fellow shooter thought my P08 was not ejecting spent cases. Then I explained to him the quirky way the luger throws out it's cartridges and that a small overhang above the shooting point usually catches most of my spent cases :D

I've been hit in the forehead several times and indeed some rounds made their way into my collar.

There is also another trick you can do with a P08 which is pretty impossible on other guns:

Aim with one hand, bring the pistol closer to your eyes by bending your arm (point the elbow down and bend the wrist somewhat). Then casually pull the trigger. Two advantages occur. Aiming is easier and the spent case jumps over you.

Learning about all this is lots of fun! I have been a collector for so long that my safe was full of guns I could not shoot because they are too nice etc. and now I am thinking, well they are nice, they are mine, they are paid for, and they are made to shoot!

Learning about Luger foibles as useable tools is just as much fun as learning about all the minute variations, at least today.

Later;

DJ

Back in the early 80s the "build your own custom 1911" craze began here in the U.S. A very good friend, and one of the best pistolsmiths that I have ever seen guided me while I built a fully custom 1911 Combat Commander.

It was a beautiful pistol, with the absolute best trigger pull of any pistol I have ever owned, which would number into the hundreds.

The first time that I ever fired a live round out of it. The ejected case
made a straight, direct, and very painfull line drive, into my right eye. That was the only round that I ever fired out of it.

My friend reworked the ejector and guaranteed me that it wouldn't happen again, but I could never bring myself to fire it again. It went away to some unsuspecting soul.

Ron

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! I hope it did not damage your eye! Maybe I am lucky that I am a "4 eyes". My specs have prevented eye injuries a time or two; but that would be a pretty powerful impact; might break lenses.

I only have 3 1911s and one I have never shot but the other two seem harmless enough as far as ejection goes.

Regards;

David J.

Dang Ron, I hope you wear eye protection nowdays. One good hit like that could end your shooting fun forever!

A nice bit of trivia is that Paul von Mauser lost one if his eyes while testing one if his rifles.

Hudson Maxim blew off most of his hand while developing gun powder.

Hiram Maxim went deaf pretty soon while inventing the Maxim machine gun and his hair turned white as a result of exposure to chemicals.

Georg Luger appears to have survived his career without much personal injuries.

I didn't suffer any permanent damage, but had a nice shiner for a day or two.

If I recall correctly, I think it was the famous Jack O'Connor who closed the bolt on a customized 1903 Springfield that had a broken and jammed firing pin. The bolt handle nearly ripped his thumb off.

Hey Ron, whadda mean "I didn't suffer any permanent damage" !!! Have you looked in the mirror lately!! :D

I know, I know "why don't donkeys go to school? Because nobody likes a smart ass!!!" :D

Hey Frank,

As soon as I can afford to have the surgery required to put that eye over on the other side of my nose where it belongs, I won't be a bad lookin' guy.

Ron

Hey Ron, let me know where to send the donation!! You should have it "fixed" ASAFP!!!! :D