Just finished my second event. Halved my score from the first time so I am pleased. First time was a 5 stage event, second was had 6 stages so I actually made a lot of progress! I felt welcomed even though I was the only revolver shooter and very new. To any new gun owner who is planning on concealed carry I would strongly encourage you to try to find your local IDPA events and join in. Sure, it's not the same but it is still very good practice and a whole lot of fun.
New to IDPA Having Fun!
- Thread starter BaaBaa
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BobR1
Member
BaaBaa
Are you shooting in SSR or ESR?
You did not fill out the location where you live.
So where are you shooting at?
Shooting revolvers in IDPA should be a lot of fun for you, and challenging.
Bob
Are you shooting in SSR or ESR?
You did not fill out the location where you live.
So where are you shooting at?
Shooting revolvers in IDPA should be a lot of fun for you, and challenging.
Bob
I'm shooting my model 640 .357 revolver but shooting 38 special. I was classed as SSR. No special gear, I did buy 3 SafariLand speedloaders and I use a speed strip to hold the ammo for the Load and Make ready command. Holster is a Blackhawk speed classic owb. I'm using IDPA stuff as practice for my actual carry so not interested in anything I have to modify. I'm in Colorado.
BobR1
Member
Shooting a real concealed carry revolver. Good for you. The 357 version of the 640 is probably the best J Frame to compete with. It is heavy enough to soak up a fair amount of recoil.
I am guessing that you are pocket carrying your Safariland Comp I Speed Loaders. The Comp I is not real friendly for belt carry in any IDPA approved belt carrier that I know of.
If you start upgrading your equipment. Pistoleer carries the J Frame Jet Loader. They are a little pricey, but the fastest speed loader for a J Frame. I make kydex belt carriers for the J Frame Jet Loaders. I am not aware of anyone else building a belt carrier for them.
The Turn Knob HKS speed loader for the J Frame is not a bad choice either. Again a kydex belt carrier would speed the reload up. The advantage to the HKS over a Comp I is having a knob on top to get a hold of getting the speed loader out of a carrier.
You need round nose bullets to do a reasonably fast reload. A 158 grain bullet will help to take down steel with the short barrel revolver.
Keep in mind that upgrading your equipment is not a bad thing as long as it is practical, and useable for concealed carry.
Keep having fun.
Bob
I am guessing that you are pocket carrying your Safariland Comp I Speed Loaders. The Comp I is not real friendly for belt carry in any IDPA approved belt carrier that I know of.
If you start upgrading your equipment. Pistoleer carries the J Frame Jet Loader. They are a little pricey, but the fastest speed loader for a J Frame. I make kydex belt carriers for the J Frame Jet Loaders. I am not aware of anyone else building a belt carrier for them.
The Turn Knob HKS speed loader for the J Frame is not a bad choice either. Again a kydex belt carrier would speed the reload up. The advantage to the HKS over a Comp I is having a knob on top to get a hold of getting the speed loader out of a carrier.
You need round nose bullets to do a reasonably fast reload. A 158 grain bullet will help to take down steel with the short barrel revolver.
Keep in mind that upgrading your equipment is not a bad thing as long as it is practical, and useable for concealed carry.
Keep having fun.
Bob
I'm not pocket carrying the speedloaders. I'm female, women's pants don't have pockets suitable for that. So I have 2 separate pouches on my belt. One is a double pouch and one is a single. I tried the HKS speedloaders first and don't like them so I actually have some of those as well. The fiddly little knobs were a real PITA. No one mentioned whether my belt pouches were illegal for IDPA. Again, I don't really at this point care whether I am ever in the running in terms of competition. I care about what I am learning and am I improving and am I having fun.
BobR1
Member
BaaBaa I was refering to kydex carriers. You are no doubt carrying the Comp I's in a nylon belt pouch, which is OK, just normally a little slower to use.
With pocket carry a vest with pockets is normally used, instead of pants pockets.
The HKS requires you to hold the cylinder, so it does not spin when you turn the knob.
The Comp I and Jet Loaders work similar. The difference is that the Comp I just releases the cartridges. The Jet Loader is spring powered and pushes the cartridges in the chambers. The Jet Loader has more to hold onto also.
This is what a Jet Loader looks like in a Big Creek Carrier. The knob sticks out the top, making a good handle to pull the speed loader out of the carrier. It also makes a good handle to position the speed loader over the cylinder for a quick reload.
Keep having a good time. IDPA Matches are a good training tool if you shoot them tactically, and do not concern yourself with winning.
You are doing several things right. You are using the Speed Strips for Load and Make Ready. I would venture a guess that most folks who carry a reload in a speed strip never practice reloading with them. Load and make ready is practicing reloading with a speed strip.
(Info: A Tuff Products 7 shot speed strip gives you something to hang on to when reloading a 5 shot J Frame)
The next thing, I would guess the 640 is either your House Gun, Concealed Carry Gun, or both. It is a very good plan to train with what you carry.
Lots of IDPA shooters have a full size match gun, and conceal carry a pocket pistol. Not the best plan, unless you put the time in shooting it also.
Looks like you also have a practical belt carry holster.
I will be honest here. I have a 442 Pro Moon Clip. I carry it some when I want to go small. If I were to have only ONE revolver, and I were going to shoot matches with it, as well as conceal carry it. The 442 would get traded off on either a 640 or a 2" K Frame as soon as possible. The steel guns are a lot more fun to shoot.
By the way I have a couple 2" K's and a 3" 66. They are what I carry most, because they are shootable.
I shot my 315 Night Guard with S&W wood Boot Grips in our last Defensive Pistol Match (50 Rounds). The 315NG is an airweight K Frame. It is almost exactly the same weight as your 640. It would have brought blood with another couple cylinders full. I put the factory Pachmyr Compac's back on it after the match. S&W had a good reason for putting that grip on the 315NG from the factory.
Enjoy your shooting, and keep us posted on how you are doing.
Bob
With pocket carry a vest with pockets is normally used, instead of pants pockets.
The HKS requires you to hold the cylinder, so it does not spin when you turn the knob.
The Comp I and Jet Loaders work similar. The difference is that the Comp I just releases the cartridges. The Jet Loader is spring powered and pushes the cartridges in the chambers. The Jet Loader has more to hold onto also.
This is what a Jet Loader looks like in a Big Creek Carrier. The knob sticks out the top, making a good handle to pull the speed loader out of the carrier. It also makes a good handle to position the speed loader over the cylinder for a quick reload.
Keep having a good time. IDPA Matches are a good training tool if you shoot them tactically, and do not concern yourself with winning.
You are doing several things right. You are using the Speed Strips for Load and Make Ready. I would venture a guess that most folks who carry a reload in a speed strip never practice reloading with them. Load and make ready is practicing reloading with a speed strip.
(Info: A Tuff Products 7 shot speed strip gives you something to hang on to when reloading a 5 shot J Frame)
The next thing, I would guess the 640 is either your House Gun, Concealed Carry Gun, or both. It is a very good plan to train with what you carry.
Lots of IDPA shooters have a full size match gun, and conceal carry a pocket pistol. Not the best plan, unless you put the time in shooting it also.
Looks like you also have a practical belt carry holster.
I will be honest here. I have a 442 Pro Moon Clip. I carry it some when I want to go small. If I were to have only ONE revolver, and I were going to shoot matches with it, as well as conceal carry it. The 442 would get traded off on either a 640 or a 2" K Frame as soon as possible. The steel guns are a lot more fun to shoot.
By the way I have a couple 2" K's and a 3" 66. They are what I carry most, because they are shootable.
I shot my 315 Night Guard with S&W wood Boot Grips in our last Defensive Pistol Match (50 Rounds). The 315NG is an airweight K Frame. It is almost exactly the same weight as your 640. It would have brought blood with another couple cylinders full. I put the factory Pachmyr Compac's back on it after the match. S&W had a good reason for putting that grip on the 315NG from the factory.
Enjoy your shooting, and keep us posted on how you are doing.
Bob
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Yes pouches with velcro closures, slow but I wouldn't carry reloads in those kydex carriers for real so why practice with them? Also I don't wear a vest, I wear a regular shirt. Again I'm using the matches as real practice so I'm only using/wearing what I would really use and wear. The 640 is mine, I carry it on the farm all the time. Not yet in public but working on it. So I guess it's both house gun and concealed carry, eventually.
I shoot IDPA and almost always shoot a SSR. There is nothing wrong with being a revolver shooter. I normally shoot a 4" 586 and carry my speedloaders in a closed top duty type carrier. It works for me. If what you are doing works for you, keep doing it.
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