Anyone here shoot IDPA type contests?

Tim Hancock · 08-25-2009, 01:49 PM

My wife's boss has mentioned several times that I should join him on Monday nights for a shooting event at a local sportsmans club. I took him up on it last night and it was a BLAST! We shot a total of 56 rounds kind of following an IDPA type format in three stages. Basically it involved being timed while using cover to shoot at various relatively close cardboard silhouettes and steel flip down targets.

I used my FEG PA-63 9x18 Makorov which only holds 7 in the magazines which put me at a serious disadvantage, but I suprisingly did pretty well for my first time only failing to hit a couple targets overall. I think I am hooked and will "need" to purchase a gun that will be legal to shoot at other more organized events.

Any suggestions on the "best" gun to purchase strictly for competition use? I have plenty of handguns for personal protection including semi autos and revolvers but my semi-autos are all .22, .380 and 9x18 Mak which are not legal in most sanctioned events. I would like to buy a 9mm as it is legal and is the cheapest ammo wise. This gun will solely be purchased for competition and will be purchased solely based on what is the best for this style of competition.

Thus far it sounds like a Glock 34 would be my best bet in 9mm based on what I have read on-line. Unfortunately it looks like they are hard to come by at the moment. I would appreciate any insight on these or other competitive guns. If I had a IDPA legal semi-auto, I would use it to start out with, but since I need to buy one, I may as well buy a proven winner.

VINMAN · 08-25-2009, 01:56 PM

I used to shoot PPC yrs back. My main gun was an AMT Hardballer longslide .45 I shot mostly with my own reloads, so it was fairly cheap back then.
I miss that, it was alot of fun.

m21sniper · 08-25-2009, 02:08 PM

I NEVER use those steel targets. People can and do die using them from riccohchets.

If i see steel targets at a range i leave immediately.

charleskieffner · 08-25-2009, 03:38 PM

since doing combat wombat with .22's now for a while, after the 4th sunday match we usually meander over to the other shooting pits to watch. never know who will be there. but one sunday rob leathem(mr.springfield) and his wife were giving classes.

for their combat wombat format(around pipes/thru pipes/around doors/thru doors/simulated buildings) hitting metal "DINGER" targets is yer usual suspects....

.45's STI's very popular
colts
springfields
kimbers
glocks etc.

.38 supers in .45 frames

yer standard mixed breed of 9mms.

but what caught my eye and when i had a chance after being intorduced to rob, i asked him why he shoots a springfield "loaded" 9mm when he can have any bad ass mega zoomy UBER CUSTOM CALIBER PISTOL in his hand.................

his answer:

1) under contract by springfield , so it better be a springfield. or no more free bullets or pistoles.

2) "i shoot 60K -80K (thousand!) rounds a year and i would like my wrists to last a few years longer than if i used a full load .45!" sometimes i'm entered in .45 only matches and thats what i shoot. the rest of the time..........9mm.

cheap/effective/low recoil.

nuff said.

i absolutely shudder at what my upcoming future "3-gun" match is gonna cost me in .45/12ga/.308 ammo!

Tim Hancock · 08-25-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I NEVER use those steel targets. People can and do die using them from riccohchets.

If i see steel targets at a range i leave immediately.

So no suggestions then

BlueSkyJaunte · 08-25-2009, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleskieffner

i absolutely shudder at what my upcoming future "3-gun" match is gonna cost me in .45/12ga/.308 ammo!

"Heavy Metal", eh? Sounds fun!

charleskieffner · 08-25-2009, 03:54 PM

steel targets dont "KILL" ................people "KILL" STEEL TARGETS!

Tim Hancock · 08-25-2009, 03:56 PM

There are a lot of guys who use 1911's in .45, but I am going to stick with 9mm strictly from an ammo cost standpoint. The cardboard and knockdown targets at close range really do not seem to care whether they get punched with cheapo 9mm or hot custom loaded .45ACP.

charleskieffner · 08-25-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

"Heavy Metal", eh? Sounds fun!

yep its been a gradual steady long hot summer building the socom-16 into a uber rifle(limited class-no optics).

same with benelli M-2. has rail now from daves metal works.com that he and i designed. future optic or just a damn wicked quail/dove gun! YUCK YUCK let alone home defense.

springfield "loaded" stainless steel .45 with various legal "limited" class goodies built by nelson ford "the gunsmith" here in phx. ramped/polished/all rough edges honed.

limited class basically means no zoomy optics of any kind. no zoomy quiks draw mc-draw holsters. its yer basic level..........bring yer rem 870/mini-14/9mm-.45 match. no frills on weapons. pretty sane compared to unlimited. but as always once ya see whats used and what parts live and what parts dont...........ya spend $$$$ anyway.

"unlimited" 3-gun is over the TOP UBER CUSTOM ZOOMY $4000 STI .45's, insane remingtons/benellis, and even more insane ar-15's,mini-14's,M1-A's all designed for SPEED with mega buck $$$$$$ optics.

if you wanna see some POO happen....................go watch a "3-GUN" championship match! it will take yer breath away how good those guys are.

just like watching "mr. springfield" shoot....................poetry in motion!

charleskieffner · 08-25-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

There are a lot of guys who use 1911's in .45, but I am going to stick with 9mm strictly from an ammo cost standpoint. The cardboard and knockdown targets at close range really do not seem to care whether they get punched with cheapo 9mm or hot custom loaded .45ACP.

.22's give 'em hell also. and its dirt cheap fun.

hell 9mm is wayy cheapper than .45.

once ya get into it and have it down pat you'll be amazed at how much ammo you run thru in 2-3 hrs. we are shooting so much during our match that we use 8 clips of 10 rds for just (1) stage! thats 80rds very very quickly, then turn in your score card to next stage scorer and START LOADING CLIPS/MAGS! and wait yer turn for next stage.

ya know life is good and unicorns and rainbows are everywhere around you when you shoot an entire combat wombat match WITHOUT (1) FTF or FTE! gawd thats a good feeling! LOL!

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I did an IDPA event a few years ago. It was ok, but a lot of standing around and waiting, took hours to go through 50 rds. The best part was the SIG Sauer rep. brought a full auto 552 for us to shoot and some SIG swag for everyone.

m21sniper · 08-25-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

So no suggestions then

Sorry, no. :-P

charleskieffner · 08-25-2009, 04:33 PM

stand around time btwn matches at rio salado with 75 people..............

about 20 minutes max with their format. enough time to drink some gatorade, load yer mags, check veapon if need be, and COME DOWN OFF THE ADRENALIN RUSH!

a couple weeks ago when i went to ben avery a guy next to me, was mentioning either tues or thurs matches in 9mm and .45 at ben avery. hell when it cools down lets go shoot some steel there.

trust me..................its ALWAYS HUMBLING!

best i have done this year is 11th out of 75 shooters. my younger son was 13th. at least i BEAT HIS ASS! and thats all that damn matters! LOL! lil whippersnapper sassa frassin punk ass. spawn had me running for my LIFE a few stages. and when this old guy commented how he kicked my ass on one stage that was it for me. the combat wombat "game" was ON! how i did it was thru sheer treachery..........i double tapped to assure no "misses" so i could move onto next target. hahahahahaha! dont know if that will work next match with him????

masraum · 08-25-2009, 04:46 PM

How about a Springfield XDM in 9mm. They are supposed to be like a Glock but better. 19+1, 20 bullets is a lot more than 7, and I think there are extensions available for the XDM's mags. You can currently find XDMs too. Or, you could go with an XD in 9mm. I've not got any experience with the competitions, but I suspect that's what Leathem shoots.

m21sniper · 08-25-2009, 04:47 PM

Mas, keep in mind that the truly dangerous man needs only 1 bullet.

Don't let that huge magazine be your undoing.

"The most dangerous thing on the battlefield is a single well aimed shot."
~Carlos N. Hathcock II

Paul K · Paul K's Garage

Tim:

I shoot IDPA, but unfortunately the monthly shoot coincides with the PCA Arrive & Drive events! I also have a 9x18 Makarov- great little gun but not best suited for this type of competition. I actually shoot my .357 S&W 686 Combat magnum- I get endless grief about shooting with a revolver, and am constantly told I need to get a .40 Glock/Kimber/1911, but I love the S&W. High capacity is a big deal if you want to be competitive, as reloading will hurt your times. My advice would be to try as many different types of gun as you can before you buy.

Cheers,

Paul.

charleskieffner · 05:15 PM

the second most dangerous thing on a battlefield.................

IS A MAN WITH (2) GUNS! hahahahaha

watched "mr springfield" shoot XDM and full size ("loaded"-like alot) both in 9mm. check out SA website. they offer a full size stainless .45 frame in 9mm "loaded" with all the goodies also now.

shooting .45 matches is gonna be lots of fun but very very spendy.

shooting 9mm is gonna be lots more fun cuz ya know its cheaper from the git go.

you will be wayyy more accurate your first match with a 9mm due to less recoil. a .45 is a tough hombre to master when match shooting. match .45 aint for the faint of heart!

thats why we went with .22's first to get the drill down for my son, who like me is outstanding with a rifle but just "ok" with a pistol. what we have learned with .22 combat wombat matches will carry over to using 9mm or .45 in a match.

once you do a few sundays and blast a 1000 rds, you will see first hand how yer groups tighten up, yer more relaxed, you shoot instinctively, you use both eyes, and if like me.............i just place front sight on target and squeeze now because its a natural motion. no more bobbing weaving lining up 3-dot sights.

point and shoot becomes instinctive. yer double taps become smooth....................

and best of ALL! ya cant wait to go and do it again a month from now, and go home and look at all the goodies in brownells/midway that will make you a bonifide/certified/gun-nut/shootist!

and the other value added bonus...............ya get to clean it as if yer life(score) DEPENDED ON IT!

whatever you do...........DONT LET YER KID BEAT YOU! you will pay for your poor shooting the rest of yer life! slip the scorer $50 bucks if ya have to!

Tim Hancock · 08-25-2009, 05:13 PM

The friendly competition I shot at required two hits on most cardboard targets and the steel targets were only one shot which then activate/flipped up another cardboard target requiring two hits typically. They also had no-hit targets that you had to avoid placed near some of the targets.

I really thought this stuff looked silly, but man was it fun. I am very competitive and this really got the old adreneline going!

charleskieffner · 08-25-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

The friendly competition I shot at required two hits on most cardboard targets and the steel targets were only one shot which then activate/flipped up another cardboard target requiring two hits typically. They also had no-hit targets that you had to avoid placed near some of the targets.

I really thought this stuff looked silly, but man was it fun. I am very competitive and this really got the old adreneline going!

moving targets will drive you INSANE!

shooting crouched to yer knees thru galvanized pipe 6 feet long will drive you nuts and will make damn sure if you dont have any syciatic nerve/back problems, you soon will have. every angle you didnt think of when ya woke up. every match at ours is different. never the same format, never the same left to right, never the same targets. they REALLY SCREW WITH YER HEAD each and every stage.

watching some whippersnapper kid with a walther full race olympic target pistol(UBER $$$$$$) whup yer ass will drive you insane!

and this is "LIMITED" class!

limited class .22 includes full size .45 frames with .22 conversions also.

any and all matches are VERY COMPETITIVE and after a heated match.............yer ready for a six pack and a lawn chair. IE. YER PHYSICALLY SPENT!

alf · 08-25-2009, 06:58 PM

Why not shoot what you would carry most?