Posted: 1/12/2009 10:36:42 AM EDT
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I was able to fix my mile wide grouping issue, it was trigger control all along. Being a 1911 and revolver guy, accustom to 2lb clean braking triggers, the Mark 23 took some getting accustom to. I do have to say that while I love the gun for what it is, the trigger makes it my least favorite gun to shoot, I just don't have the patience it. Here are my latest results.
I'm getting better, but I still have a long way to go. http://benhaulenbeek.com/guns/MK_23_10_yards.jpg http://benhaulenbeek.com/guns/MK_23_25_yards.jpg |
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Go shoot it again, and have that same friend insert snap caps at random places in the mag. See how you much you flinch when the snap cap is in the chamber, if at all.
That's the easiest thing to do. Because I seriously doubt that the gun is that far off. Unless you bought it used from someone who "tried" something... |
| Was this NIB number one? Number two, if its not, blaming HK is like blaming Chevy for the rebuilt 86 Camaro you bought yesterday. Number 3, is the O ring there, is it FUBAR? Number 4, have you tried a sandbag to help eliminate user error? And number 5, HK service isn't as bad as you think. My USP45T brings a smile to my face and holes on the X every time I shoot it with WWB. |
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I am the second owner, but the gun is in better shape than a new one my local shop a while back were people had worn the barrel's finish from playing with it. The barrel had no sigh of wear on top of the chamber were most MARK 23's do until I shot it. I do realize it is very likely that the previous owner had the same experience and sold it.
I have always been aware of the O-ring issue and I made sure it was in good shape before going to the range or I would have put a new one in. I also shot from a rest thinking that would help, but next time I will bring more sand bags for moral support. I'm glad to hear that you have had luck with HK customer service, I have only been told bad thing in the past. I hope I will have as much luck as you. |
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Don't expect anything from HK now. They'll be busy with SHOT for a little while.
And it is NOT very likely the previous owner had this kind of problem, simply because this is not a common problem at all. The Mk23 is typically touted as the most accurate HK pistol out there. Problem is, HK triggers are a little different than a 1911 type trigger. So try the snap cap thing, and see if you are flinching. |
| I will try the snap cap thing, it is very possible. When i was a kid my dad would always load blanks into the revolvers to get me not to flinch, the trick does work. My first auto was a glock and it took me a while to get the trigger right, I hope it's me because I really like the MARK 23. |
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While I don't own a mk23(yet) I couldn't shoot my USP Tac worth a piss when I first got it after being used to a 1911.
Some practice and things fell into place, now I'm stupid accurate with it. that being said, everyone puts out a lemon once in a while. even the mighty HK |
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Good news! HK has some of the best customer service I have ever received. I left a voice mail with them last night, and they promptly returned my call this morning, and I already have a RA#; they even had more than one person return my phone call. My local shop has always had bad luck getting help form HK, but I have to say I am very impress.
As far as the situation with my MARK 23, the guys at HK are just a baffled as me, the only troubleshooting method they could come up with is to try some +p ammo, that was mentioned in this thread as well. One more trip to the range with a few hundred more rounds of ammo, if that doesn't work I'll just send it in. |
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So one person can shoot it consistently horizontally, and one person can shoot it consistently vertically. That tells me it's not the pistol, it's the operators. The HK trigger is different from a 1911 trigger.
As a comparison, in the first handgun class I went to, there was a noob on the far right of the line with a Glock. He was consistently missing COM by about a foot, I don't remember which direction. He swore up and down it was the pistol, until the instructor took the pistol and emptied a mag into COM. Quoted:
I wasn’t expecting to get a great group on my first attempt, as I still needed to find the guns point of impact; that how ever turned out to be something I would never find. I then tried firing from a rest at the same distance and the gun made a group of 5 rounds that went right across the paper in a flat horizontal line. Defeated, I turned the gun over to a friend, who proceeded to get his group in a vertical line, this went on for a few more mags, and every time the groups would be consistently in-consistent, and big! Aiming dead center every time the groups were all 8-10”, and I never bothered shooting more than 10-15 yards because it would just be off the paper. |
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Quoted:
So one person can shoot it consistently horizontally, and one person can shoot it consistently vertically. That tells me it's not the pistol, it's the operators. The HK trigger is different from a 1911 trigger. As a comparison, in the first handgun class I went to, there was a noob on the far right of the line with a Glock. He was consistently missing COM by about a foot, I don't remember which direction. He swore up and down it was the pistol, until the instructor took the pistol and emptied a mag into COM. Quoted:
I wasn’t expecting to get a great group on my first attempt, as I still needed to find the guns point of impact; that how ever turned out to be something I would never find. I then tried firing from a rest at the same distance and the gun made a group of 5 rounds that went right across the paper in a flat horizontal line. Defeated, I turned the gun over to a friend, who proceeded to get his group in a vertical line, this went on for a few more mags, and every time the groups would be consistently in-consistent, and big! Aiming dead center every time the groups were all 8-10”, and I never bothered shooting more than 10-15 yards because it would just be off the paper. +1 I think the answer to your problem lies between your chair and your keyboard. 
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Quoted:
I am the second owner, but the gun is in better shape than a new one my local shop a while back were people had worn the barrel's finish from playing with it. The barrel had no sigh of wear on top of the chamber were most MARK 23's do until I shot it. I do realize it is very likely that the previous owner had the same experience and sold it. I have always been aware of the O-ring issue and I made sure it was in good shape before going to the range or I would have put a new one in. I also shot from a rest thinking that would help, but next time I will bring more sand bags for moral support. I'm glad to hear that you have had luck with HK customer service, I have only been told bad thing in the past. I hope I will have as much luck as you. THere is no such thing as an "O ring issue" as its been proven to have either no effect on accuracy, or such a small one it can't be detected. |
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Practice more.
HK test fires every MK23 for accuracy before it leaves the factory- they all have to fall under a specification that will be much more accurate than any human can be. Bottom line, the MK23 is the most accurate production pistol available today and they're all tested before they go. Hell, HK even sights every one of them in for you at 25 yards. HK's can take a few trips to adjust to. The problem is your lack of experience with the firearm, not the firearm itself. A few people that shot mine for the first time were terrible with it. Hell, the first time I shot it, I shot it like crap because I knew the reputation the thing had and it made me nervous since I knew I couldn't blame the gun for my lousy groups 
If you think your FN is a better gun, keep that and sell me your MK23. 
BTW, when diagnosing an accuracy issue...ALWAYS shoot from a rest. |
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Quoted:
Practice more. HK test fires every MK23 for accuracy before it leaves the factory- they all have to fall under a specification that will be much more accurate than any human can be. Bottom line, the MK23 is the most accurate production pistol available today and they're all tested before they go. Hell, HK even sights every one of them in for you at 25 yards. HK's can take a few trips to adjust to. The problem is your lack of experience with the firearm, not the firearm itself. A few people that shot mine for the first time were terrible with it. Hell, the first time I shot it, I shot it like crap because I knew the reputation the thing had and it made me nervous since I knew I couldn't blame the gun for my lousy groups
BTW, when diagnosing an accuracy issue...ALWAYS shoot from a rest. +1 to Marksman14.... It was a winner right out of the box (bag) with zero upgrades, tweaks or drop-ins. 
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