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IDPA here I come!
Edge
Member Posts: 30 ✭✭
First off, to those of you who offered invaluable advice when I asked about this topic a month or so ago, thank you!!
More questions, please.
I've decided to go semi-auto instead of wheel to compete so I am on the market for a .38 super. I've heard Kimber's are great, but Taurus is a better price but I'm not sure about quality. Which do y'all think is better for the money?
Does anyone think I would do better with a 9mm?
I do okay with a 1911 at the pistol range, but for IDPA, I feel more comfortable with something in a smaller caliber.
One thing's for sure, it's time for me to pick one and stick with it!! I've figured out I'm just making it harder on myself changing guns instead of practicing with the same one all the time. DUH!!
Edge
More questions, please.
I've decided to go semi-auto instead of wheel to compete so I am on the market for a .38 super. I've heard Kimber's are great, but Taurus is a better price but I'm not sure about quality. Which do y'all think is better for the money?
Does anyone think I would do better with a 9mm?
I do okay with a 1911 at the pistol range, but for IDPA, I feel more comfortable with something in a smaller caliber.
One thing's for sure, it's time for me to pick one and stick with it!! I've figured out I'm just making it harder on myself changing guns instead of practicing with the same one all the time. DUH!!
Edge
Comments
Mr. EE is so adamant I stick with the Kimber .38 super and after extensive research, I have to agree. It's a bit pricey, but I haven't found anything I like better.
Of course, it never fails.....I have to have dental surgery first before I can buy the gun....dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And just when I had my financial act together too!! CRAP!!
Don't buy a gun on ANYONE'S say so......yet.
If your going to compete, and be even a little serious about it, you have to have a gun that YOU are comfortable with. One that fits YOU. One that YOU get a "natural point of aim" from. For instance, the cant on the grip of a Glock does NOT give "me" a natural point of aim, but some friends of mine can't shoot anything else.
Get one that fits YOUR hand. My wife took over a year to find one that she was COMPLETELY comfortable with.
Then consider the features you want. Do you want a slide lock, that you have to take off every time you draw? Like on a 1911 style gun, or, something like a SIG that has no external safeties to mess with once you draw it.
See how much effort it takes, to pull the trigger, in the double action position. You don't want a 14 lb trigger pull, when a 7 lb is available. You may want to have a trigger job done on whichever gun you get.
Are you able to use the sights...WELL? There are many different kinds. If you can't line up the sights "quickly" you can't hit the target "quickly" either. I know some that (for close targets at least) hardly ever use the sights, they just "point shoot" but for longer distances you will need to be able to use the sights.
The location/kind of mag release is important also. The standard "one sided" releases work well for some, others prefer the ambidextrous ones. While others like the release "in" the trigger guard, like on a HK USP.
About the caliber you will shoot. You may want to learn a little about the "power factor" and how it effects your scoring. There isn't too much difference between the 38 super, and the 9mm as far as that goes. In the long run, the 9mm may end up being cheaper to shoot.
You have some time to do some shopping before you buy, since the dental comes first. Look around at what's out there, and find one that YOU will be comfortable with.
Or.....nevermind, just buy the Kimber. [;)][:D][:D]
i made ssp master in 18 months from my first draw from a holster, six months after i went to a model 34
1. Best I can tell, IDPA ESP specifications were written FOR .38 Super. I think Bill W. wanted people to have a place to shoot single stack Supers that were no longer competitive for IPSC. So it would be hard to go wrong with a .38 Super if you don't mind paying for the ammunition.
2. You can LEARN to shoot about anything; so long as it is functionally reliable and meets the rules, you can at least get started with it.
3. You are not taking marriage vows. If you start with one gun and want to go to another, it doesn't take a lawyer to make the change, just some money. I recommend shooting a given pistol at least six months, jumping around from gun to gun every week or month is not productive.
Anyway, this coming sunday is my first shoot. I'm going with my Taurus .38 since that's the one I'm most comfortable with and it will be at least two more months before all the dental work will be finished. I have to get an implant. Lucky me.
Great advice as always. Thanks y'all!
Wish me luck!! I don't mind missing the targets as much as I mind shooting a hostage...that's just not playing nice.
Hawk, thanks for making me laugh with point #3. Very well said.
Pick, excellent......between being a small female and a southpaw to boot, choosing a gun I can shoot comfortably can be a bit of a challenge to say the least......
I'll let y'all know how it goes....unless I shoot a hostage, then I'd be too embarrassed[:I]
[:D][:D][:D]
Let us know, even if you shoot a hostage.
They are supposed to get down, when the shooting starts. [:o)] [:D] [:D]
I shot TWO hostages! [xx(][xx(] Oh well, I guess that's not too bad for my first time out. I will try again this sunday. I decided to go with my S&W model 65. I changed the pachmyers to some hogues - very nice exotic wood ones at that. Not cheap, but at least now it fits perfectly in my little hands.
I decided to skip on the new Kimber for now and bought a pet blue-tongued skink instead. I named him Emmett. Anybody wanna see a picture of him? [:D]
any one that stays standing up in a gun fight needs taken out of the gene pool[:D]
dont feel bad i shot 2 of then in the head last week in the sectional championship
At a match earlier this year, there was a stage where we were using cardboard pictures of people, as the hostages. (nice pictures) Before my turn, I was clowning around saying that I wanted to shoot "THAT" particular hostage, right in the head. We had been informed at the walk through, that shooting "certain" hostages, was going to get you a procedural. (60 second penalty)
Sure enough, even though I had NO real intention of shooting it, when I did shoot that stage, yup, put one right between the eyes. I did makeup the shot needed on the bad guy. Needless to say, I didn't score very well that day. (Oh, and I was the ONLY one to shoot that particular hostage, but it was a perfect shot, right between the eyes)
Sure, post a pic of Emmett.
Let's see what he looks like.
WOW now that's a penalty, what kind of match does that?
i went the longest time without hitting a no shoot, and have only hit a couple, one being two weeks ago when they almost covered up the entire target, you had a choice take a 1 or a three or go for the zero about the size of a base ball at 20 yrds, of course half my bullet nicked the no shoot, oh well remember shoot throughs do count
quote:(60 second penalty)
WOW now that's a penalty, what kind of match does that?
It's at one of the clubs I shoot at, they set up their own (unaffiliated) matches.
The penalties are a little different than what I was used to.
A miss will cost you 20 seconds.
A no shoot = 40 seconds.
A procedural = 60 seconds.
With penalties like that, I'll tell you what, to stay competitive, it sure makes you pay attention to each and every shot. A penalty or two, and you just doubled your time in the match.
Then when you bounce back to IDPA or IPSC, you can REALLY hose the stage, because you know the penalties are not that punishing. (comparatively speaking)
On the indoor combat matches, we do shoot a stage in the dark with flashlights, then a stage of lowlight, no flashlight. This is one of the reasons that I like to go there. Don't have any other matches where I can shoot in the dark. TONS of fun. [:D]
The club puts on or hosts a few matches.
You can take a look-see here.
http://www.boulderrifleclub.com/activity.html