[tlish]

i really want to try shooting idpa. which 9mm should i choose? i have a taurus mil pro pt111, however am wanting to trade it because i can't quickly AND accurately AND consisistently get good shots with its long trigger. so, i'm thinking i'll get a glock 19 (i can't conceal a 17). other thoughts were the cz75 (but i am not crazy about the idea of that first double action shot) and a steyr (but i've never shot one!), or take turns (aka SHARE :barf: ) with my husband his springfield 9mm ultra compact 1911. i appear to be more accurate w/ a glock than the 1911 style gun due to my shooting style combined w/ glock's low bore axis, but i've only shot a glock a couple of times at a range (and i shoot the springfield all the time). so, help me!

thanks!

[GunAdmirer]

The Glock 19 is a great choice for IDPA. I used a Glock 17 until I bought a Glock 19. I still use the 17 most of the time but shoot better with the 19.

I can't say enough about the Glock 19.

[Ala Dan]

If a full size gun capeable of a DA first shot, then the SIG-SAUER P226
is highly recommended; but if its a compact you desire, the SIG-SAUER
P228 would fill the bill very nicely. I prefer the more compact P228, as
its the most perfectly balanced self-loader that I have ever handled.
But BEWARE, they have long since been discontinued and getting very
hard to find; at least in my segment of this Old World. Prices can vary
greatly, from $475 for a factory certified (CPO) weapon; to 'bout $650
for one LNIB, to even $800 in the more restricted states. Good Luck
with your choice and in your competition~!;) :D

[SolaScriptura139]

You could always try a Springfield XD-9 Tactical (5-inch).

[fattsgalore]

Tlish,
You a gun girl... Damn you sexy.
As for concealed I'd go with the new Stroger Cougar in 9mm. 15+1. Read the article at www.GunsAndAmmo.com
I'm pushing my sister towards it as her first gun.
As for competition I'd go with something with a 4 1/2 inch barrel minimum. No suggestions though i do like the Taurus PT-92 but i think there's probably something better for competitions. Even though you won't find a more reliable gun, period. Look the PT-92 up and tell me what you think. Gorgeous in stainless.

[psyopspec]

i appear to be more accurate w/ a glock than the 1911 style gun

That might be your answer right there. I believe brother Dan may have misread your post, since you said you do not want the first shot to be DA. Another comparable to the Glock would be the XD, and that tends to fit many people's hands better. If you don't want the full size, it's available in a Service model with a 4" barrel and can be found with holster and mag carrier included.

Edited to add: Didn't vote, since I'm of the belief that an internet poll may be the absolute worst way to figure out what to buy. Hold a lot, shoot them if you can, and go with what feels comfortable.

[ruckus3008]

how about a Walther P99.

[tlish]

thanks for the replies. i've only today heard of the stoeger cougar, and all of the sudden 3 times in one day - weird. i thought stoeger only made shotguns??? i do not really want a da first shot - but i hear great things about sigs. i am leaning heavily toward the g19. i'm kicking myself for not getting one in the first place instead of the taurus. oh well, live and learn. at the time i was purse carrying and would not and will not do that w/ a glock (tangent). anyway, i'm surprised and glad to hear that the g19 is preferred to the g17. the reason i avoid the xd is that it has the same grip angle as the 1911. also, it's seriously ugly and feels top-heavy.

any other suggestions, let me know.

also, i'm slightly fearful of looking foolish if i totally suck at my first match. are people generally pretty understanding? i've been shooting a lot and for years, but always from the same 'ol standing-directly-in-front-of-the-target position... never in bizarre idpa-style positions. will i be booed and asked to never return? somehow i doubt that. gun people are mostly the nicest people i've met through any hobbies.

thanks!

[Ala Dan]

Ooops~! I did misread the original post, as my thoughts were being
processed at the same time as "The Coolness Factor" post. In that
case, I would have too agree with those that recommend the XD
from Springfield Armory. I've got one of those too, and I just LUV
the darn thing. As a matter of fact, it and a Kel-Tec P3AT are the
only polymer frame handguns that I own~!:uhoh: ;)

Stay Safe and Have Fun~!:D

[psyopspec]

i'm slightly fearful of looking foolish if i totally suck at my first match.

Don't be. If anything you should be fearful of the land sharks that will be cruising at you for being a female shooter. Most clubs are extremely friendly. At my own, they encourage new shooters to shoot without a cover garment to verify that their handling is safe. It's also great for familiarization purposes.

[tlish]

ha! i can usually hold my own. plus my hubby will be with me. (and i secretly love the attention! but don't tell. i like to act all offended!) ;)

anyway, i had totally forgotten about the p99. what's the trigger pull in comparison w/ the glock? i LOVE the feel of my little p22. do people use the p99 much in idpa?

thanks, thanks, thanks!

[bp78]

I'd say most IDPA shooters are shooting either a Glock (17/34) or a 1911 (.45 for CDP, or 9mm for ESP) to be competitive. I started IDPA with a Sig P228 and told myself I wouldn't get a gamer gun. A year later, I was shooting a 9mm 1911. Been through two of them actually. :scrutiny:

Shoot with what you have for a while to see if you enjoy the competition or rather plan to shoot what you carry. When I carry, typically it's a jframe or something that wouldn't be used in IDPA anyhow so I'm stuck to my 1911.

I did have the chance to shoot a nicely done cz75 that belonged to another IDPAer. It was very nice, SA, a nice low bore-axis, weight to it to keep it stable. Priced right too.

Seriously, fight the urge to buy something as long as you can, otherwise you may be buying something else soon after.


Other notes:
The xD is ESP classed which puts it up against tuned 1911s. Glock trigger manages to stay SSP.
The Glock 21 might be the most versatile pistol division wise, easily working IDPA CDP, ESP, SSP and IPSC L10 (new 21SF is thinner too)
I believe the CZ-75 SP-01 is too heavy per idpa rules.
A lot of ranges run matches cold, which would make trading off a pistol difficult or discouraged during a match. Most matches run a don't touch once holstered policy

[psyopspec]

There's three configurations for the P99 trigger I'm aware of:

QA-Single action with decocker.

AS-DA/SA.

DAO.

Not sure about the trigger pull, but others will be along with that info shortly.

[OH25shooter]

Regarding the P99. I have that and a Sig P229. I put them side-by-side and the Walther's first DA pull is longer to engage compared to the 229. Personally, I chose my Sig over the Walther. Only because of the difference in the pull and for me it works faster to eject the magazine with the Sig button release compared to the Walther lever. Have you tried a steel challenge? You might (if you can) try different auto's for comfort. SC doesn't have any barricades for cover. You might feel a little more at ease until you find the proper gun before trying an IDPA course with a conceal garment.

[DogBonz]

If you don't want a full size "duty" gun, you can't beat the SIG229. My GF has confiscated mine, and shoots it great.

[BoneDigger]

I would vote for the Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm. It's an absolutely GREAT gun.

Todd

[armoredman]

CZ75, as you don't have to have the long DA pull - it will also lock as a SA, with hammer cocked, safety engaged. A smaller version would be the CZ75 Compact, all steel, available in 9 and 40, with the same safety system, or with an alloy frame, with decocker, as the PCR or PO1.
Good pistolas, but everyone here knows I am slightly biased...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/PCR3.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b13/armoredman/CZPO1.jpg

[browningguy]

I have average size hands and neither the Glock or CZ really fit me. The Glock just points wrong, and the CZ (I have a 75B) is really too long a reach in DA mode for me, causing me to either slow way down on the first shop or push it right.

I just switched to a Springfield XD9 for IDPA and it has improved my shooting considerable, it just fits me well. So I would try holding at least a couple of others to see what really fits you well. The Smith M&P is coming on strong in IDPA with the interchangeable grips, although the only one I've tried had a fairly rough trigger pull.

[tlish]

i loooove the feel of the glock. i just love it.

however, i did also like the feel and the look of the cz75. but, i don't understand how it works. in idpa, if it has a decocker, don't i have to decock it? how do i keep in sa all the time? if it's sa, cocked, and not locked (no safety), isn't it rather unsafe to run around with in a holster? i have no experience with this gun, and despise the upside-down safety da/sa's, so i usually just run away from them altogether. so, please help me understand.

generally, i know more about guns than the commandos at the local shops, so i just don't ask them too many questions. they make up stuff when they don't know the answers, and look at me like a dumb girl if ask too many questions or disagree with their answers. so, if i can comprehend the workings of the cz before i go shopping, that would help me out immensely.

thanks!

[tnieto2004]

I agree on the CZ75 ... it is single/double.. as for the first shot its already set as single action when you cock it.. The only time you use it the double action is by choice.. you have to de-cock it to have to use double action

[10-Ring]

Truely, use what you have to get started, enjoy yourself & change your firearm if need be. When I startedI went in thinking I needed something diff't but soon realized I had all I needed already ;)
Now, of my guns, I like my G19 for IDPA but I have been known to use one of my USPs too ;)

[waffentomas]

Jesus! Am I the only one thinking Browning HP????

Single action, good capacity, great design.

Tom

[Sunray]

"...the cz75..." It isn't a double action. It's just got the trigger reach of one. A pistol has to fit your hand for you to be able to shoot it well. Pop into your local gun shop and try a few pistols on for size. Mind you, if you can shoot well with a Glock, use it. Then go do the course and shoot the matches because it's fun and don't worry about placing. There's nothing practical about IDPA. Nor IPSC for that matter. They're both shooting games. Nothing more.

[mblat]

if it's sa, cocked, and not locked (no safety)

It can be "cocked and locked". However I read somewhere that safety on cz fairy easily disengaged. I hove no idea if this is true or not, may be somebody else can chime in.

[MrDig]

Browning Hi-Power is a strongly recommended 9mm, Accurate and reliable. If price is an issue get one of the FM M95 models. Licensed copy of the FN and shoots like the real deal too.
To Waffentomas, good call I have a hard time believing we are the only ones suggesting a BHP

[RP86]

I am a huge CZ fan, but you can't beat the mods/options for glocks.

-Ryan

[HeedJSU]

I like the glock 19, but the Hi-Power feels the best in my hands out of any gun that I have handled. Accurate, balanced, and silky-smooth. I'm actually half-way looking for one now, just can't find a price I like. Good luck.

Justin

[Stachie]

CZ, a perfect fit.

[bp78]

The Browning HP design is not often recommended in IDPA because the boxy magazine is somewhat slower to reload than the tapered glock or 1911 mags.

[envonge]

I have a glock 19 and it's great.

[peteinct]

Tish, The Cz can be either a decocker model or a DA/SA with a safety. The latter one would be the plain 75b. You can start with the hammer back and the safety on for a single action first shot which puts you in one class or you can manually drop the hammer for a double action first shot which puts you in another class. I don't know if the IDPA rules require that you decock a pistol before you start a string if it has a decocker.

I have a bunch of CZ's and like them. They are fine guns for action shooting. pete

[VPJack]

one other thing about the CZ's they also make a model that is SA only, this is ,from my understanding, the type that many of the top CZ competition shooters use. While the CZ's are not seen extensively in the US, internationally you see a lot of them. At the last IPSIC worlds CZ placed 2 guns in the top 3. If they feel good in your hand they are a great gun to play the games with.

Jack(just my 2 Cents and worth every penny)

[strambo]

Just get the G19 and don't look back. You keep coming back to mentioning it...don't let your mind make a bad choice that your gut knew better about. I overthought my 1st carry gun purchase and got an unreliable gun that seemed best in theory when I should have just got the gun I shot best when trying them out.

[armoredman]

Try them all, and make your own choice, after all, it is YOUR hand that has to fit it, none of ours. If it feels like a brick, walk away. If it feels like a natural extension of your arm, experiment further...:cool:

[tlish]

thanks again for all the good thoughts. since i don't know anyone who shoots idpa, i needed a good place to start thinking about a new gun. it sounds like sharing the springfield w/ my hubby isn't the best idea. so, i think i'm going to go w/ the g19. i'm going to try to do a trade using my pt111 and beretta .32 tomcat. that way i won't be spending too much money since i'll have to get a holster and mag pouches, too. i'm going cheap for those - simple owb kydex holster and mag pouch.

the cz really is nice, but i'm just not comfortable enough w/ the various action types it offers. and with my little hands, i'd rather not worry about a safety. i often have to use weak hand to disengage safeties on guns because my thumb doesn't reach!

i'm kind of surprised no one had anything to say about steyr. are they no good?

[Kymasabe]

If your serious about the competition thing, I'd get a Glock 34 (I think it's 34...the long slide 9mm), an XD Tactical with th 5" barrel or one of my favorites, the CZ-85 Combat.

[-terry]

I, too, am considering getting into IDPA. I've ordered a CZ 75B stainless from Matt Mink (he's on the SZShooters forum. It's a little pricey at $750 but I'm getting the full meal deal for trigger, internal components, and sights...specifically set up for IDPA. The 75B's I've seen and handled in stores fit me perfectly. I close my eyes, pull up the gun to an imaginary aim point, then open my eyes and there are the sights, exactly centered or very close (I'm left eye dominent and right handed). I like the heft and I think the stainless version is just gorgeous.

[nitzer]

"I believe the CZ-75 SP-01 is too heavy per idpa rules."

Yes it is too heavy, but if you do a few minor mods to the gun with factory parts it will make weight for SSP and be legal. Matt Mink has gotten his to make weight. If you are interested in making one legal go to www.czshooters.com under the competition section.

Derek

[waffentomas]

tlish

My wife's hands are probably smaller than yours - she is 4' 11".

After a very long process of trial and failure to get her tiny hands around a gun, the Browning HP brought a smile to her face.

It's really a gun worth a look. She uses a Kahr 9mm for carry, and a BHP .40 for home defense.

Tom