A kind reader recently reminded me of something Professor David Yamane had written a while ago.
Allow me to return the compliment. Professor Yamane and his Gun Culture 2.0 blog and book have done a tremendous service to the truth of the polarized “gun debate.” A self-identified liberal and sociology professor, his “Sociology of the Gun Class” and, to a much farther reaching extent, his writings and videos in this field have brought welcome elements of logic and ethics to this tremendously heated discussion.
We’ll be reviewing Yamane’s powerful and important book here soon, but in the meantime, those of you already familiar with his excellent work are invited to chime in.
By the way, I also had a piece of the action in one of Professor Yamane’s funnier blogs.
I had a similar experience myself. I was at the shooting range with a friend who was trying out a brand new PCC (pistol caliber carbine) in 9 mm. He was hitting low and to the left. Likely because he was jerking the trigger instead of pulling it.
He asked me to try the gun to see if the sights were alright. I fired off a magazine into a ragged hole in the center of the target using the gun’s open sights. Note that this was not remarkable shooting since the range was only about 15 yards and it was a carbine rather than a pistol.
I (jokingly) told my friend that the problem with the gun was the “loose nut” behind the stock. The range officer (at least) appreciated my sense of humor! 🙂
When it comes to firearm accuracy, the above old joke is very often true.
I really enjoyed reading both articles. I’m glad Professor Yamane saw the light.
I have known Prof. Yamane since 2017, when I met him at a firearms course he was auditing as part of his research. I respect him quite a bit for trying to bridge the gap between the two sides of the gun debate, and in trying to do so with grace and reasonable thoughts based on observation and first-hand research. I highly recommend anyone interested in guns, both pro- and con-, give his opinions due consideration. While I don’t agree 100% with what he writes, his book and his blogs are very worthwhile and thought-provoking reading.
Yup. Once I realized that I don’t always align the sights, grip the stocks, or pull the trigger correctly, my pistol sights magically corrected themselves.
Who knew?
Mas
I don’t know how old that photo is but you looked GREAT!
I just picked up an M&P 22mag 30 round auto. Great gun very reliable. I was shooting every thing way right of center. I first thought it was me and really tightened down on the basics but no improvement. After close inspection i saw that the front fiber optic site was way off center out of the box. Weird that it Got thru S&W QC. I ended up putting a red dot on it but still need to get the site corrected.
I have a similar issue with a performance center L Comp
Rear sight is loose and moves with every round fired.
Smith said they would send a replacement. Not showed up yet, I’m replacing it with a XS. I also have a K comp that’s going back to the factory, it never should have passed a cursory QC check. (The frame was not fully machined with burrs all over. They just coated over them)
They really need to look at the QC people at the performance center. I can’t imagine what coming off the regular line.
Personally I’m looking at Taurus
Prof. Yamane is good people, all my interactions with him have been thoughtful and insightful.
One of the Commenters under Yamane’s blog mentions “he can hear Mas’s gravelly voice saying ‘sights are fine’…” … yeah, me too! Lol.
I bought TWO copies of Yamane’s book when it released … and haven’t gotten through my stack of others yet. Gotta get serious in 2025
Mas,
Lou is a cruel friend. You still look great. Maybe not as great as you did in that picture taken in what appears to be the Pliocene era, but still plenty great.
At least you can still put a second bullet through the same hole as the first.
Good article. If I were king, everyone would take your MAG 40 class.
Hope you had a great Christmas and here’s wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!
Jeff
Re: MAG 40, abosulutely agree. One of the best things I’ve ever done for my life and my family.
The “bad sight issue” is seemingly widespread. Occasionally, sights aren’t centered from the factory though.
The left handed folks perceived issue with most mag releases has always puzzled me. OK, while carrying, the release being exposed to accidental depression could be a valid concern, but not while shooting. Darn near everyone can use their left index finger to hit the mag release.
The thought simply doesn’t occur to most folks. Actually watched a few of our lefties moving the pistol to their other hand during reloads so they could use their thumbs to drop the empty mag. This sparked a show & tell for everyone on how to dump the empty mag if the gun’s in t’other hand.
Ah, yes, the sights are not regulated properly, or something is wrong with the gun syndrome. Reminds me of something I experienced.
I bought my Dad a S&W 915 when I bought my first handgun. Because he was Dad, he wanted a S&W 9mm (they had discontinued the M39 by 1993) and I could afford it. It was also quite highly recommended by a famous gun writer in the American Handgunner in 1993.
To both of our dismay, that 915 seemed to shoot patterns, not groups. 115 gr. training ball, premium hollowpoint ammo, handloads of different types, made no difference, that gun seemed to never put 2 bullets in the same part of the target. I was quite skilled in my younger days, that gun just didn’t seem to cut it.
Finally, I asked a shooting buddy, he was a very skilled trainer and firearms trainer for a local PD to see if he could get it to shoot groups. After putting all 15 rounds in a group at 25 yd., the size of my palm (back in the days NYS would allow you to use standard capacity magazines) he handed me the pistol saying; “You need to shoot it more. It’s OK”. Lesson learned.
Mas,
I can identify with the align the sights problem. Being left handed and having my left eye having gone through a retinal tear repair in past years, I find myself aiming and blinking a few times before firing. Hard to get the bifocals in the right place for distance shooting.
I can almost do better with clear eye protection and letting the target blur. Guess I am lucky to be able to shoot at all having had my 83rd birthday in September 2024. Jon Retired LEO