Chris Costa and Travis Haley

Ericgt50,
You are a little blunt for someone making their fisrt post.
I admit I have never met Chris Costa or taken any of his classes.
However, I do know there is a video on the Internet from November 2011 of him showing his modified 9c with a Trijicon RMR Red Dot sight.
He also talks about his previous 9c setup with the RMR sight had the sight further to the rear. So in the Fall of 2011 he did have and shoot a 9c with an RMR sight.
Maybe he bought all this right after your class. Who knows and cares?
 
Costa mainly used an STI Tactical 4.15 9mm in the class I took in July. Doug from ATEi brought down the Costa M&P prototype on the 3rd day, and Costa also used a G19 on the 3rd day.

He wasn't using his NH because of injury to his elbow.

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WWCD? What Would Costa Do?

Who cares?

I like the Magpul videos and think he and Haley are good dudes, but if Costa has McDonald's for lunch, that doesn't make me crave a Big Mac.....
 
WWCD? What Would Costa Do?

Who cares?

I like the Magpul videos and think he and Haley are good dudes, but if Costa has McDonald's for lunch, that doesn't make me crave a Big Mac.....

Wendy's, not McDonald's. You can see Wendy's in the video credits.
The Frosty's are pretty damn good. LOL

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In an interview Chris Costa said the only reason they were running M&P's in their Magpul video was because S&W approached them and offered up the pistols for use while they filmed. Afterwards Haley went back to his Glock & 1911's. Costa, on the otherhand, had his modified heavily by ATEi and even came out with the first aftermarket mod, the Catalyst extended mag release button. Now ATEi just offered (and sold out) a modified M&P9 FS and Pro made to Costa's exact specifications. Think of what Nighthawk did with their 1911 Costa edition.

Interestingly, Costa also spoke about trigger jobs for the M&P and although he is aware of Apex Tactical he said he prefers the stock trigger w/ a Burwell type job.

This isn't to say the M&P isn't a great gun, btw. I own a 9 FS and love it so much I put another $170 in it w/ an Apex Tactical trigger. Just repeating what was said. I think it's very telling that at least one of them liked the gun enough to keep pushing it, making it better. Which is what most of us here did, and many others that I've spoken to.
 
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You are 100 % wrong. It was a standard mp pro 9mm. How do I know - well I took the handgun 101 class with Chris down in myakka this past fall. Chris shoots - and always has shot - an MP 9mm. We talked about the gun in class. When that video was made the gun had over 100,000 rounds through it, two replacement barrels. He shoots warren tactical sights on it. I shot the same gun in class but had big dot sights on mine - Chris had never shot big dots before and for a few drills we actually swapped guns. If you are going to try to be a fanboy - at least be correct.

you said they were using stock m&p pro's, but they both ran thumb safeties - are thumb safeties stock on pro models?
 
Kyle Lamb is a good instructor and has written good books. He too is an M&P fanboy and also uses GLOCKs.

I built my 2nd AR15 almost exactly like what he had in his book. Sold it to fund another purchase. Then I picked up my VTAC M&P15 afterwards as I missed my KL inspired AR so much.

Lots of good info. Copy-cat tactics can be an expensive mistake but following through with solid information is priceless.
 
Both Costa and Haley use M&Ps AND Glocks as well as 1911s. I know Costa has said many times he prefers the M&P over Glock but many students run Glocks and he wants to stay proficient... Not sure which Haley prefers but at the end of the day they're both great platforms despite some rare individual quirks.
 
Personally, I couldn't tell you what particular pistol (or pistols) may be used by any instructor at any given moment.

Some makes/models may be used when an instructor may be supported by a major maker, or they may simply use what their students at any particular class are using (or required to use), and some may even have one, or more, "favorites" they rotate through using at one time or another.

As an instructor I need to be able to teach/train folks in using 1911's, TDA's (traditional double action, also known as DA/SA), some of the assorted DAO-ish variants ... and even DA/DAO revolvers.

Over the years I've often taken to choosing something from my safe that I know will be similar to what's being used by the folks with whom I'm working (as an instructor), or a similar issued weapon, or I'll simply use a handy weapon being used/carried by one of the people with whom I'm working.

I've often thought that far too much is made of whatever make/model/caliber some trainer may be using - and maybe distracting from the important aspects of the class content, to some degree.

Of course, some folks choose their apparel because it represents some sports team or other, or promotes their favorite brand of whatever, so I suppose it's inevitable that some gun enthusiasts want to emulate their favorite sport shooters & instructors by getting the same make/model/caliber of gun ...

At the end of the day it's safe handling & manipulation, and consistently controlled & accurate hits on the intended threat target(s).

Brand name of the particular gun? It's just a bullet-launcher.

Pick something of good quality made by one or another of the major makers, preferably made by one of them who have acquired a lot of experience in providing service weapons to LE/Gov users, and who offers good warranty support ... and even pick something in a nice color, if that floats your boat ... and then train, practice, train, practice & so on.

In instructor & instructor update classes, the attention of the instructors is usually focused on the targets, not the particular guns used to make good hits on the targets. They all work in the hands of a skilled user. ;)
 
Here is a link where Costa talks about his custom M&P.
Chris Costa talks about his Custom M&P - YouTube

All the different instructors run what they prefer or what works for them. I am sure they would all tell you to find a platform you like and train train train with it.
Personally I don't like the Glock. I have owned a few over the years and find the ergos of the M&P work much better for me. Does not make the Glock a bad pistol though.
I used to compete with 1911's. Years ago I owned a Night Hawk back when you could buy them for under $2000.00. It was the most accurate pistol I have ever shot. Had to sell it to fund a divorce. I did not cary it for personal protection though. It was far to big and heavy to CCW every day. At that time I did carry a G23 daily. That was before I discovered the M&P.

I know Larry Vickers is fond of Glock, 1911, and he ran a Walther PPQ for a bit. (Not sure if he still is) he spoke highly of it. We have one and it is a great pistol other than the bore axis being a bit high. Trigger is great out of the box and it is accurate.

James Yager is a big Glock fan. He is very opinionated though and can rub people the wrong way. But I know his school is solid and many folks have benefited from his training.

Buy what fells good to YOU and train.
 
I think you will find they use whatever suits them that they like. They are at a level where as long as the tool is good, it doesn't matter which on.

That Magpul video is good, but there is some nonsense in there - some very solid stuff as well. I'm not a fan of Costa so much, the man is a bit flashy for me and seems to have developed a tactical ego.

Doing this kind of nonsense ego trip really diminishes his legitimacy for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LsVWYS0mp4
 
I think you will find they use whatever suits them that they like. They are at a level where as long as the tool is good, it doesn't matter which on.

That Magpul video is good, but there is some nonsense in there - some very solid stuff as well. I'm not a fan of Costa so much, the man is a bit flashy for me and seems to have developed a tactical ego.

Doing this kind of nonsense ego trip really diminishes his legitimacy for me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LsVWYS0mp4

Take it for what it is, advertising for his business. Mainly the part of his business that deals with tactical training.

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Take it for what it is, advertising for his business. Mainly the part of his business that deals with tactical training.

Hmmm. Sure. I get that. Probably also as an example so he can get into action movies as advisor/co-ordinator.

If it's to advertise his tactical business... I'm put off by the lone ranger be a hero nonsense.
 
I agree Costa Uses a M&P 9. Says he prefers it over other calibers due to recoil mitigation. I don't think Costa has a ego. He's really good and is funny as any comedian you'll meet.
 

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