I shoot my P80+Dagger poverty backup gun better than my P226 Elite. Do I... keep practicing with my 226? Or just switch to the Poverty Pistol?

Posted by StressfulRiceball@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 27 comments

Title. My Poverty Pistol is: * Dagger slide (includes RMR cut, threaded barrel) * GST-9 frame, pre-assembled by 80percentarms * Cyelee $100 Amazon tier optic that somehow still runs after 2 years in the car + \~300 rounds * "Harbor Freight special" $50 WML * Hogue rubber grip Doesn't even have an upgraded trigger. Back when I used the original Dagger frame it gave me slide bite, and also shot much worse, but after switching to GST-9, it's... well, better than my goddamn P226! My P226 Elite: * Elite package (which just means night sights I can't even use, and an upgraded short reset sear) * milled slide for RMR cut; mounting Holosun HS407A3 * Grayguns straight trigger kit * Grayguns master spring kit * Streamlight TLR-1 * Cool Hand grip replacement All in all I've dumped about 2x the cost into my P226, and, well, I shoot the damn Glock clone better. I got that thing as a backup or when I take my PCC (which takes Glock mags) out, but after a simple frame upgrade, it's now my best shooting gun. Hell, even the optic is doing just as good as my Holosuns, though I'd get a proper optic for it if I do decide to "main" it. The question is - do I keep bashing my head against the P226 to get better with it, or just say fuck it and stick to what I shoot best? I LIKE the feel of both; I also much prefer the DA/SA nature of the 226, while I see the benefit of mag compatibility/availability of the GST-9... For the record, this isn't for CCW; this is more of "the gun I'll shoot to take care of my flinch/recoil anticipation", and thus my primary desk gun/range gun. Help me decide gunbros

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27 Comments

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ratmanmedia@reddit

It’s probably the double action trigger that’s fucking you up on the 226. I’d watch Langdon Tactical’s Double Action series, then visit the range, and try implementing lessons learned

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

Naw mine's DASA, and it's still meh if I shoot SA from the first shot. I usually dry fire with it in DA but do plenty in SA too.

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ratmanmedia@reddit

I know, it’s going from DA to SA that can mess people up, as well as the weight of the DA. But also SIG’s QC across their models is horrible. You might have a fucked up crown, maybe something wrong in the rifling, etc. It’s hard to say

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

I don't think it's a mechanical accuracy thing. My VERY first shot with the 226 goes literally dead center of the target, just the grouping is worse. I'm sure I'm not doing it any justice and I'm definitely not at the skill level where I'm the one outshooting it mechanically.

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ratmanmedia@reddit

How much worse is it than the Glock’s? Fundamentals are the same for both of them, so if you’re nailing it on the Glock, sans the DA/SA trigger, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to hit with the 226 with a similar group. For reference, my splits are all but identical going from a G19 to a P30SK to a 1911

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

I'd say the grouping is 10-20% larger with the P226. It's definitely hitting the target and its vitals at 30 ft or so but I'd thought that the 226 would just have better groups. Maybe I'll do DA only so I have to slow tf down, or shoot it to the same pace. I have a feeling I'm outrunning my aim.

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Kromulent@reddit

i think you're at a valuable spot right now. make the best of it why do you shoot the dagger better? my guess is that it fits you better. if this is true, learn everything about fit if it's something else, learn everything about that fit tests: 1) _empty gun, find safe wall to point it at_. find a spot on the wall, close your eyes, raise your gun at where you rememer the spot to be, open your eyes. are you on target? if not, either your stance is wrong, your grip is wrong, or the gun is wrong. you'll be fighting this forever until you fix it 2) aim gun, squeeze grip hard, relax to hold gun loosely. did the sights move? 3) pick up gun quickly without thought, one handed, point at something else, without adjusting stance. is it pretty close? if not, why not?

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

Not a bad idea, I will say I've definitely had a harder time finding the dot on my 226 then any other for some reason (maybe I use the irons subconsciously? Every other handgun I own has optics and proper height irons) but that doesn't fully explain my group sizes. My amateur guess is that I'm shooting sooner than I'm ready due to the trigger being better? I didn't feel like I'm rushing it compared to the Glock clone but it might be one of those things I need someone else watching me and giving active feedback. (Or record myself. Gross.)

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Kromulent@reddit

its a valuable moment. find the answer and you'll shoot better forever

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Substantial_Rich_946@reddit

What is your CCW?

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

P365XL. I don't hate it, but it's definitely the one I need the most work on.

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RacerXrated@reddit

If you've trained about equally with both and get better results with the Glock copy, I'd sell both and buy one real Glock and a better optic.

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underhillavi@reddit

I hate that I shoot those hinged triggers better than the cool flat face ones

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NoobRaunfels@reddit

It might be expectations vs. reality. I had a similar thing happen, where I slapped together a frankenglock and because it was so cheap I didn't take it too seriously -- shot a match better than with my fancy gun. The gun itself was certainly not as nice as my better ones, but I wasn't expecting much so it felt great. But in the end, the best thing you can do IMO is run one gun really hard for like three months/3k rounds, and then try the other. If you can shoot well with a Glock you can shoot the hell out of anything.

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walmarttshirt@reddit

I’ve shot a bunch of different hand guns. Between ones I’ve rented and the ones my friends own probably about 30 different ones. I currently own a 1911 and a snubnose .357. The 2 that I’ve immediately shot accurately without even thinking about it were the SIG p220 and the berets 92x. Almost every other one I needed time to practice with. Some I just never got any better with.

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

Yeah if I dump another 2k rounds in my P226 and end up shooting the Glock better still, there's my definitive answer lol

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No-Average6364@reddit

Sometimes even more expensive brand guns just don't shoot well or feel well in the hand and no amount of customization will change that stick with what you like.And then train with it. if you've got one, you just don't like or can't stand no matter what you do to it.Then, keep it to play with it later or trade or sell it.And reinvest, in something you like better.

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Riker557118@reddit

Hold on... > milled slide for RMR cut; mounting Holosun HS407A3 Are you saying your 226 does not currently have an optic, and you're not shooting it as well as your range blaster with an optic?

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

I got my slide milled for RMR, and it's mounting a Holosun 407 on it lol. That said my Amazon tier Cyelee is doing juuuuust fine after as much rounds as my Holosuns :/

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jacgren@reddit

~300 rounds over that period of time is basically nothing. I probably put at least 100+ rounds through my carry pistol every range trip

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Riker557118@reddit

Ok so you do have an optic on there, your wording made me think you were in the process of mounting it. Dunno, maybe it's the grip on the dagger just fits your hand better, but if you can still maintain minute of badguy keep with the gun you prefer.

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

Yeah it's not like... DRAMATICALLY better/worse, it's that I get noticeably better grouping with the GST-9/Dagger combo than the P226. I'm guessing it has a lot to do with the grip angle too. I no longer get grip bites with the GST-9 and it might be affecting my accuracy way more.

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Best_Rent_9112@reddit

As long as your ccw weapon is the same feel as what your used to keep shooting and training with what you shoot and either sell the 226 or use it a a range toy

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poopbutt42069yeehaw@reddit

Wait why isn’t your primary training gun, your carry gun? Hey if you shoot better w one over the other that’s fine, if you want to be better w the 226, then training w it more. I’d argue you should train w your ccw more than anything else since it’s your life line gun.

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StressfulRiceball@reddit (OP)

I agree! I agree.... I agree. That said, I'm almost at a point where I can shoot "a handgun" without constantly worrying about my flinch. Once I'm there, I'll throw my CCW into the range rotation. You won't train with it if you don't like it, kinda thing.

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poopbutt42069yeehaw@reddit

That’s fair, ccw guns aren’t always fun to shoot either w how snappy they can be.

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East_Swim1009@reddit

do what you like best.. there is no single answer.. do you ❤️