Affordable competition gun

elpac3

elpac3

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Looking for an affordable competition gun for some PPC and IDPA. Kind of have my eye on a S&W 9mm CORE or a Colt Competetion.

Anyone have any experience with either? Recommendation? Looking for a good trigger and a gun capable of B27 x-ring at 50 yards.
 
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Any number of 9mm are out there that are great firearms. Browning High Powers, Glocks, Sigs, S&Ws, H&Ks, and Colts. If you want to compete, pick one of these that fits your grip, is ergonomically right for you with good sights. It is a personal decision. Practice, practice, practice and you will do well. There is no one gun that does it for everyone. It has to fit your hand and eye. The lower recoil of the 9mm is easier to control and is a good bet for competition. Most competitions favor high capacity 9mm. Good luck.
 
I know this is a S&W forum, but the XDM-5.25 is about perfect IMO. It will easily shoot 2" @ 25yds, so probably capable of B27 @ 50 accuracy. Also a great IDPA gun, depending on what you do to the trigger, can be shot in two divisions.
 
If you're going to shoot competitively, you'll quickly find that the cost of the gun is one of your cheaper expenses. Practice ammo, travel expenses (if you get serious) are more expensive. Now to the two pistols you mentioned. IDPA doesn't allow optics and has a 10 round maximum, so the Core is a waste of money. 50 yards at the x ring pretty much excludes the S&W as well. They work great for action pistol, long range accuracy, not so much. The Colt (or a clone) will work well for the long range stuff (after tuning) and if you want to shoot IDPA, there is a separate division (CDP) just for 1911 pattern pistols. The Core is just about perfect for USPSA Carry Optics division, but USPSA is a very different discipline. I prefer it over IDPA, but that's my preference.
 
My club recently switched from IDPA to USPSA due to IDPA's "arbitrary rule change of the month" policy--just too hard to keep up with irrelevant rules.
But a lot of our shooters are using CZ75's and clones in both disciplines, with varying degrees of cost and upgrades. I've used an EAA Witness I purchased in '98 and found it to be a great and accurate shooter, box stock, the only mod being an adjustable rear sight.
 
Maybe you should start with what you already own if possible.....Always my first suggestion to a new competitor.

If you already have a good 9mm, use a strong side belt holster that covers the trigger guard, acquire at least 4 magazines and pouches to carry them in, a good sturdy belt, eye and ear protection, a range bag to carry it all in and add 150 rounds of ammo and you are good to go....

Randy
 
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growr said:
Maybe you should start with what you already own if possible.....Always my first suggestion to a new competitor.

If you already have a good 9mm, use a strong side belt holster that covers the trigger guard, acquire at least 4 magazines and pouches to carry them in, a good sturdy belt, eye and ear protection, a range bag to carry it all in and add 150 rounds of ammo and you are good to go....

Randy
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Good advice. As a side benefit, you'll get to learn about of what your fellow competitors are shooting. Some may even let you try their rigs. Once you've experienced a few match's, you'll have a better idea of what you want for an upgrade. ( Meanwhile, you'll have an excuse for those newbie scores :-)
 
According to the IDPA magazine, the top three competition guns are GLOCK, S&W then way behind is the Springfield Xdm. I use a Xdm with a custom installed trigger. Just the other day at a local gun store I checked the feel and trigger on a Sig P320, HK V9 and a Walther PPQ M2. For me the surprising overall winner was the Walther. A snappy trigger, fiber optic front sight, button mag release (new to the M2 competition model) cutaway slide serrations and a 5" barrel. The price tag is hefty at @850. Having said all that, a Glock 34 or a S&W M&P long barrel will serve you well. Plus, any and all holster designs and mag holders can be found easily. Don't forget to use a strong heavy duty belt.
 
The other items needed will be as much as the weapon you choose. Try what you now have and don't get to headstrong on buying something new until you have had a real good taste of what you need and want. Remember when you change weapons, there is all those peripheral items to change also. There go the $$$$$$$.
 
USARMYSPEC4 said:
The other items needed will be as much as the weapon you choose. Try what you now have and don't get to headstrong on buying something new until you have had a real good taste of what you need and want. Remember when you change weapons, there is all those peripheral items to change also. There go the $$$$$$$.
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Unless you stay within the same platform family, like g19 then go to a g34. You can use the same gear, or at least the same mag pouches. I have been a CDP shooter in IDPA, 1911. This year I switched to ESP, 1911/9mm. I get to use all my CDP gear.
 
Idk much about PPC, except there's some pretty long shots. I don't think there's any matches around here.

IDPA: as someone said, you probably already have something in your safe. I would suggest that route, or just go watch a match. Yes, the knit-picky rules and being told precisely how to shoot a stage are annoying. But it's a great way to get your feet wet in action pistol.

I'm a revolver guy and don't know much about autos except 1911s (and modern ones would likely confuse me), but I've been tempted by the tons of LEO trade-in M&P 40s available lately. It looks like a good, inexpensive starter gun for USPSA and should make major. Going 8-shot revolver, gun + gear for USPSA looks like it would run about $2k, a bit much IMO.

Here's the lists from the IDPA nationals. I'm a bit surprised to see the 625 as top revolver. I shoot with a very good revo-guy who says the increased recoil more than offsets the faster reloads via moon clips, and this dude is about 6'5" 270, definitely no wimp!




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WELL, I GIVE YOU MY OPINION. A S&W MODEL 14-5 OR-6. IT CAN BE USED FOR BOTH. FOR PPC AN OUT OF THE BOX THE GUN CAN TAKE YOU TO MASTER CLASS EASILY. WHEN I WAS CHASING PPC REVOLVER DISTINGUISHED, I USED IT FOR THE 1500 TO WARM UP FOR THE DISTINGUISHED MATCH. I BROKE 1480 WITH IT SEVERAL TIMES. THAN MADE DISTINGUISHED IN BOTH PPC AND CONVENTIONAL PISTOL (BULLSEYE #34). YOU CAN EVEN SHOOT THE BIANCHI CUP WITH IT. JP
 
I have yet to compete in an IDPA match, but I have competed in some PPC matches in the late '90s. Where I shot PPC, they had the requirement that for semi autos, the first round had to be fired DA, therefore eliminating 1911 type handguns. That left me with 2 handguns to choose from ... either my 439 or a Model 14. I was never able to shoot my 439 as well as I could my 14. With a 1957 vintage Model 14-1, I would generally average about 98%. That was with a Bianchi 5BHL holster, not a police style drop holster.

If you need to get a handgun for competitions, and don't have one that you can turn to, I would strongly suggest that you look at a 4" or 6" revolver. Carrying a 6" concealed for IDPA could be quite a challenge, but a 4" should be easy. Since you are looking at a target gun, I would suggest that you stay with a 38 Special, not a 357.
 
Thanks All,

I may go back and stick with my old model 19 service revolver. Have a 6" model 14 with a heavy PPC barrel and bomar rib but it will not conceal well. Thinking, if I do the revolver and turning 65, I might have a leg up in the super senior division :p
 
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