IDPA - what revolver are you shooting?

[Hotshot Charlie]

I've been outta the IDPA loop for a while, what is everyone shooting in the SSR & ESR divisions?

 

[OKFC05]

Typically K & L frames with speedloaders in SSR (min PF reduced to 105), N frames with clips in ESR to make major.

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Thanks, OKFC05

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

I shot a S&W Md. w/3" barrel years ago. Wish I still had that little gun. Let someone talk me outta it. :-(. I thought it was a model 60, but that's wrong. It looked like a 60, but was 6 shot, not 5. I can't for the life of me remember what it was. Great IDPA SSR.

 

[hberttmank]

I've been shooting a 4" Ruger GP100 in SSR. Works well, I have a Hi-Viz fiber optic front sight and using my 38 special reloads with a 158 round nose going about 800 fps. Using Safariland Comp 3 speedloaders.

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Thanks for that info. I had not thought of the GP100, I'm sure it works well. I really enjoyed the revolver competition in IDPA. It was fun and a challenge.

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Looking through all the models, I think that it was a model 64 in a 3" barrel, what what I shot with back in the late 90's/early 00's.

 

[mark454]

I shoot an M66 (no dash) in ssr. It is basically stock except for the trigger work that I did to it (springs and polish). I use a Mitch Rosin holster but there are better on the market. I reload with Comp 3's. Technically, my speedloader holder is illegal. I don't think there are more than 2 or 3 legal speedloader holders for ssr. The cylinder is not chamfered but Penn Bullets 158 grain truncated cone bullets solve that problem. They make for fast reloads and are accurate.
Mark

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey Mark, thanks for the info. I know where a 4" M66 is right now for $400. Maybe a little high, but it looks to be in good shape. That might be a good choice for me.

 

[APS]

It's been a couple of years for me but I used a 3" M66 and 4" 686 with Comp3 loaders and Speer Lawman 158gr +P FMJ ammunition. I enjoyed the M66 more but shot a little better with the 686. Made Expert with the M66.
Now am using a 6" M19 in ICORE and PPC, still got the M66 though.

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Hey APS, I had a model 19, years ago. It was a 4" and a great shooter. That's been back in the '70s. It's long gone, like many of some great guns that I wish I still had. Alas, life happens and family is first, when money is tight.... Something had to go. :-( so I threw out the kid. LOL... Just kidding.... Sold some great guns over the years.... But I'm finding some great ones to replenish the stable now.

Thanks for your post !

 

[Jeb21]

I currently shoot a 2.5 inch model 66 because that is what I carry whenever possible. I don't recommend the 2.5 inch for competition because of the short ejector rod. My favorite revolver to shoot in IDPA is the Model 15 or 67.

 

[David Sinko]

I'm basically a has-been considering that Josh Lentz, the reigning king of SSR and ICORE Retro, lives a few miles away and shoots all the local clubs that I do. Since I can't win anything anymore, I shoot my 4" 627 in ESR with moonclipped .357 Magnum and 158 gr. cast bullets loaded to 1200 FPS. Since it's an 8 shooter, I have to retain any moonclips that have unfired cartridges. This is an excellent excuse for slower times. Sometimes I'll use the blinding muzzle flash of W-W 296 as an excuse too. My strategy in SSR is slightly different. I will use my Model 64 with 2" barrel loaded with ammo that barely makes 105 PF out of a 4" barrel. There is no way that this ammo will take down all of the reactors and poppers when shot out of a 2" barrel, but it's all perfectly legal according to the new rules.

Dave Sinko

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Jeb, just saw a Md. 15 at local gun shop. It's been parkerized and the hammer is bobbed, but has nice trigger pull. Not a collectors piece by any means, but might make a good IDPA gun.

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

David, didn't realize the power factor had been lowered that much for SSR. I thought it was 125pf? Not sure what I'm gonna do. Prob a little bit of everything. .

 

[pfcustom]

4" S&W 625 in 45 acp with moon clips...
Shoot a 625 5" in USPSA matches.

 

[David Sinko]

Power Factor is now 105 for SSR. This was done so that more of the lame .38 Special factory loads could be used. Good intentions for sure, but you know what they say about good intentions... What's really absurd is that you don't have to make PF in your match gun if your barrel is shorter than 4". What this means is I could shoot a match with my 2" barrel, do considerably less than 105 PF and still be perfectly legal as long as the gun makes 105 PF out of a 4" barrel, which somebody there is obligated to provide for verification purposes. If they can't calibrate the steel to fall with my loads, the stages will have to be thrown out of the match. I have shot a couple of local matches with my 2" Model 64 and I really like using it. One stage was a single popper at 25 yds. from behind a barricade, with only one shot allowed. I grabbed a heavy handload just to be sure I'd knock it down, but I won't ever do that again. I will use my (barely) legal ammo and force the issue if the steel doesn't fall. It's ridiculous that they'd have to accommodate me, but as the SO says when he's handing out procedurals, "Rules is rules..."

Dave Sinko

 

[dynamike]

Sometimes I shoot a M65-5 3"......some times a M10-5 4"

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

pfCustom, I would love to use a Md. 625 but I have small hands and that big frame just doesn't fit well. Love the gun and I think I could shoot it well, if it was on a smaller frame.

David, wow, that is a low pf, for sure. I remember back in the day, my 3" gun wasn't making the 125pf and they got someone with a 4 or 5" gun to run my ammo through it and it made it so, I was allowed to shoot it. So that part has been in the rules from the beginning.... but a PF of 125 is weak. That's about like shooting a .22.

Dyanmike, nice choices indeed on the shootin' iron !

 

[roundgunner]

I shoot a lot of IDPA and mostly with revolvers. The need for a PF change was real. If you wanted to shoot SSR your choices for ammo was reloaded +P+ or 357 magnum. 95% of store bought +P would not make 125K PF from a 4" 686.

Most commited SSR shooters reload but for the guy who wants to try the dino gun it was another one of those IDPA rules that many find ....ugh....well you know.

I will be SO and shooting the S&W Indoor Championships in a couple weeks using the 686 SSR.

I normally shoot with the plain 686 but it has been giving me some problems, it has been back to Springfield twice to see it's momma but misses resets way too often.

I shoot ESR Master with this 625-3. It is one of those guns you can set down for a few months, then when you pick it up and take it out you are all smiles. It is like coming home after a long trip.

It is amazing how much ammo I will burn thru to get one of these.

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Roadrunner, nice wall of goodies that you've collected. I've got a few on my wall here, but it's been a long time since I've been in competition. Gonna change that this year as time allows.

I would love to give the 625 a run.... just to see if my smallish hands could handle it. I love the idea of the .45acp and the moon clips. Great combo.

Any rate, thanks for the info and might run across you sometime. I'll be watching for you in the videos from the Indoor at S&W.

 

[mikelain]

I started with a 4" 10-5. I now use a model 65-3 4" with packmeyer grippers on it. I use the comp 3's also, I was using the safariland holder but that was illegal. My holster is homemade ( cant find a left handed 4" k frame one anywhere in kydex) Now using the blade tech holder not as user friendly but legal. I have been loading 158 gr swc over 4 gr bullseye, just to knock down the steel.

 

[Jeb21]

Jeb, just saw a Md. 15 at local gun shop. It's been parkerized and the hammer is bobbed, but has nice trigger pull. Not a collectors piece by any means, but might make a good IDPA gun.

I think it will. K frames are fast in hand and those adjustible sights are easier to see when the clock is ticking. My model 15 was a range gun for the Sherrif's department so it had a hard earned trigger job. She is not a beauty but I love her all the same.

 

[BobR1]

I shoot in our Club Defensive Pistol match every month. We shoot Outlaw IDPA one month, and Steel Challenge the next.
We only have a single revolver Division SSR, for all revolvers.

My main gun is a S&W 64-3. It has been worked on by Ron Power at Power Custom. Ball Loc, Chamfered Chambers, etc.
I have Green Sight Brite sight paint on the front sight.

Holster Lobo Enhanced Pancake w/Inner Hammer Shield.

Speed Loaders: Safariland Comp III

Speed Loader Holders: North Mountain IDPA Compliant

Current Load: 4.7 Unique under a 158 Round Nose with Federal primers. Next time I start the 550 up the charge will be 5.0 Unique.

My second most used handgun would be my 4" 610 No Dash Power Custom Combat.

Holster: Lobo Enhanced Pancake w/Inner Hammer Shield

Moon Clip Holders: California Competition 7 shot 357

Moon Clips: Ranch Products

Ammo: 40 S&W nickel cases with a 140 Round Nose while they last. I believe they are 38-40 bullets for cowboy action.
I will probably go back to Lee 175 Truncated when the 140 run out. Using Clays for powder.

I also shoot my 3" 625 Power Custom Combat some. Along with the other custom work, It has been converted to a full length ejector rod for reliable extraction.

Holster: Lobo Model 1 Pancake
Moon Clip Holders: California Competition
Moon Clips: Ranch Products

My little brother is shooting a 3" Willy Clapp GP100 Tuned my Ron Power "Power Custom". It is the slickest GP100 I have ever handled.

Holster: Lobo Enhanced Pancake w/Inner Hammer Shield
Speed Loaders: Safariland Comp III

Bob

 

[Hotshot Charlie]

Thanks to each of you for all this info. It is much appreciated !

 

[gr7070]

I shoot my 4" 627 in ESR ... moonclipped ... it's an 8 shooter, I have to retain any moonclips that have unfired cartridges. This is an excellent excuse for slower times.

Dave Sinko

FYI IDPA does not allow revolvers to load beyond 6 rounds.

 

[tomcatt51]

FYI IDPA does not allow revolvers to load beyond 6 rounds.

For both SSR & ESR:
"D. Be loaded to the division capacity of six (6) rounds in the
cylinder. Seven (7) and eight (8) shot revolvers are permitted,
but may only load six (6) rounds."

 

[gr7070]

Yep, there it is in black and white.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

IDPA--Revolvers

SSP.....I started out with a 3" 66-4 DAO Bobb Hammer....Now I mostly use a 3" or 4" 13-2 DAO Bobb Hammer and HKS speed loaders...(Old School)

ESP....A 581 NO-Dash....HKS speed loaders (158gr. loads running around 1050 fps.)...And a 625-3 4"

A012xx

 

[sapo]

This is all great information everyone. I'm thinking of finally getting involved in IDPA this year and using my stock 66 with a 2 1/2" barrel. I use HKS speedloaders. Can anyone recommend an IDPA compliant hks speedloader holder? Any snub K-frame competitors - what holsters are you using?