So I'm trying to decide on next pistol. I'm sure I want M&P (like my others are) but I want a 5" this time im considering competitive or practical shooting but not sure. Plus, I don't own a 5". So, I like the Pro CORE 5" plus optic ready, but it's really costly. How necessary or likely am I to need optic for practical shooting or competitive? Should I just get the CORE? Or other MP 5" alternatives?

There are a few options, none of which I would term "budget friendly". A lot of guys seem to like their Vortex Venoms, but for nearly the same money, you can get a Burris FastFire 2 or 3.

As for necessity, it depends on the rules specific to what you're entering. There are, for instance, a great many shoot-fast classes that require iron sights--and others that require you to use a factory trigger.

I would suggest attending some matches with whatever you have now, and going from there. For instance, if the venue you're thinking of attending is a casual affair, there may be no restrictions at all.

Yep. Doesn't make too much sense to buy a handgun to compete with until you know exactly which discipline and division you want to compete in. When you get that figured out then you'll know what type of handgun you should be looking for based off of the rules.

Carry Optics would be the division you'd shoot in USPSA. You can also use the same gun for Steel Challenge in the Open division. The Vortex dot is much brighter than the Fast Fire's. It makes a big difference in sunlight.

How old are you and how good is your vision. As you age you will notice iron sights start getting fuzzy , after awhile your score suffer.
I reached the point ( about age 65 and having had surgeries to repair detached retina's ) that If I want to shoot anywhere near accuratly I have to use a red dot or scope. Mounting one can be a pain.
The next pistol I buy will be optic ready, makes life so much easier .
Let your age and eyes guide your decision. When I was 20 and had 20-20 vision , no need for optics....now they are a must.
Gary

One other thought on this. You may not need the longer slide (as in 5 in CORE) with the dot as the dot does not need the longer sight radius. I have the 5in CORE without the dot at this point shooting USPSA production. My eyes are getting to where I may switch to carry optics's. that's when I will add the dot


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So I have one of the PC core 5" models that came with the Jpoint/shield mini sight on it. I'm in my 50's now and I need to wear readers so I use SSP top focals when I shoot (makes a world of difference), but recently i shot someones Ruger Mark III that had a red dot sight on it and I loved it , so I went ahead and ordered the 9L "loaded".
The shield mini sight is a great match for these guns it allows a co witness if you like and it has a nice
size window.Unfortunately after 3 weeks of use Mine died so I sent it back and my new one is on its'
way, but I had a Vortex Venom for my mark III at home so I threw it on the 9L.
The vortex sits quite a bit higher and you can't co witness with it. Nice sight but on the 9L I have to say I prefer the shield mini sight.
I used the Venom in a steel plate practice last weekend and I found the shield dot much easier to find
on the draw, so when my sight does come back the Venom is going on the Mark III. Overall though I must say , I'm hooked on using these , they are a lot of fun, and if zero-ed in correctly makes hitting your target really pretty easy once you get used to sighting with one.

I've come to really want the M&P 2.0 FDE, 9mm, 5". It's not optic ready but I really like the gun. I don't think I'll be doing any USPSA comp. Maybe a little light indoor practical shooting at my local range, or even more likely some outdoor steel target shooting during the summer months (competitive or non-competitive). I think I'm pretty sure about wanting the 2.0; in lieu of my goals perhaps I shouldn't make a big fuss over whether or not I'll need a red dot. Just get what I like?

This is not a concern as of yet as I'm in my early fourties. Still, a very valid point you raise.

After 40 you will not believe how fast 50 and then 60 sneaks up on you.
It seems like two months ago I had my big 4-0 birthday party , last August was my birthday, I realized I was Sixty Eight ! I'll be 70 way too soon...how did I get so old so fast !
I wish the ride would just slow down.
Gary

Amen to that!

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

took my performance center 9L out again today .I got the Shield mini sight back on there (my original died , so shield sent me a new one)
at 12 yards out this thing hits dead on (as long as my trigger pull is solid, my first few shots weren't so good).
I think I'm going to zero in at 5 foot intervals until I'm out at 75 feet.
At 35/36 feet , coming in to 15-20 didn't seem to change POI much at all.
I'm really liking this gun/sight combination, I'd like the trigger pull to probably be a pound or so lighter (it's right at 5 now)
but besides that ....no complaints so far.