[cobb]

If you had some extra cash, what 1911 would you buy to use for IDPA? A Wilson, Ed Brown, Les Baer, or what? Or, would you put the money into a pistol that you already own and send it off to who?

[Navy joe]

A Les Baer, but that's just because I have Iwannacoolgun virus very bad WRT to Les Baers.

You'd be best served by getting a 700 buck Kimber, Springfield, whatever with basics like a good trigger, sights, beavertail, and some grips you can live with. Spend the rest on match fees, ammo, or training and pretty soon you'll be outshooting some expensive gun guys.

I really like Les out of what you mentioned, buying a Wilson to play IDPA with seems just wrong to me. :neener:

[VaughnT]

Personally, I'd recommend buying a Springer Mil-Spec or Colt and sending it off to a smith. I sent my 1991 to Ted Yost in AZ and couldn't feel better about the quality of work he does.

What I like most about dealing with a smith like Yost is that you get to pick and choose what features you want. If you like the stock-looking Yost rear sight, it's no problem to get it on there. If you want this kind of beavertail, as opposed to that, you can have it done. Basically, the entire gun is put together how YOU want it.

There's no need to buy something off the shelf from Wilson/Bear/et al and then regretting it because one feature just isn't to your liking. Spend some time shooting the mil-spec and decide what you want different. It's not any more expensive to go this route...and it is more fun.

[eerw]

I'm with VaughnT..

I would buy a Milspec, a new S70 repo or a Caspian frame/slide and send it off..

Too many great smiths out there..my short list of those would be EGW, Rogers, Tibbets, Yost or Novak.

I find that I like specific things on 1911s and none of the semi-customs have them..so I would end up changing things and I figure that would be a waste.

[cobb]

Please read my post.

If you had some extra cash, what 1911 would you buy to use for IDPA? A Wilson, Ed Brown, Les Baer, or what? Or, would you put the money into a pistol that you already own and send it off to who?

I have several 1911's, Colt, Springfield Armory, and Kimber. They range from having less than 200 rounds through them, to several, several thousand rounds through them. I shoot anywhere from 100-300 rounds a week for practice or matches.

So, I have no need to by a mil-spec to start with, I have a 1911 platform to use. My question was if I should send off one of the 1911's that I already have, or maybe sell one and add some cash to that total and buy a higher end 1911.

I wanted to tap into some of the knowledge here, be it just advice or good/bad experience like maybe ordering a higher end 1911 and still not get the features that I wanted.

I know I want a green fiber optic front sight, adjustable rear sight, I would prefer a magwell, and I do not want an ambi safety. One thought was that I could have these few modifications added when I was to order a higher end 1911.

It just seems that it is going to cost ALOT more to have a 1911 built than to order a high end 1911. Am I way off?

[MoNsTeR]

Infinity, Briley, STI, or a custom.
The only advantage Wilson, Brown, and Baer seem to have is on-the-shelf availability.

[Matthew_Q]

I got a SA Milspec a while ago, because I like the military look of the 1911 (and I hate the front slide serrations!). I've shot it in an IDPA match before, and I like it, but it's not as accurate, and the trigger is a little sloppier than I'd like. Good thing with IDPA, you can have internal work done.

I have a buddy here at work that knows the Clarks, so he's going to see if he can get me deal on an accuracy/trigger job. I figure I'll get a Wilson barrel and bushing, and have them install it and replace the trigger with something nicer, and maybe a different rear sight.

[Andrew Wyatt]

what 1911 of those listed would you carry?

[cobb]

I would carry the Kimber Custom I, or the Springfield Armory loaded, both blue and both have non adjustable sights.

Ya I know, but that is not what I asked.

[45auto]

If I had a 1911 that I liked a lot and I only needed the changes you detailed, I'd probably have the work done on the existing gun.

The magwell, thumb safety, and fiber sight are easy and pretty cheap to change.
The most expensive change is the adjustable sight, if you want the Bo-mar style. I'd guess you could get all this done for @$400. Prices vary of course.

I can't suggest whom to send it to, since I can have these things done locally, but I have seen many websites of 1911 pistolsmiths that do this type of work. Pretty standard 'stuff' for them it appears.

That's the cheapest route I think, and the safest since you already know the gun.

If you had a lot of extra cash, I'd be tempted to unload an extra 1911 or two and look at the Baer or perhaps the new Springfield TGO series, which has everything you want except you would have to change the thumb safety.

[45R]

I will stick with my Kimber Custom II. :) Its been super reliable after the break in period. I am tempted to run the "dirt" test on it, but common sense got the better of me. :)

[Zak Smith]

For IDPA?

Well, the hot setup in the ESP division is a 10-round single-stack 9mm/9x23/.38Super "1911."

For that or a .45 for CDP, if I had $2k to spend, I'd have a 1911 pistolsmith build me one from scratch, using Caspian main components, particular details set to my preferences (plain black Novak sights, short trigger, strong-side medium-size safety).

Really, all you need is a reliable 1911 with a good trigger, that fits you comfortably. My off-the-shelf $680 Dan Wesson Patriot works fine - I shoot it in IPSC Limited-10.

-z

[mattk]

The one I wouldnt buy is the Les Baer gun. The slide to barrel hood fit is entirely too tight. It makes for difficult manipulation of the slide when Loading and making ready and when performing malfunction drills.
If you want to spend high dollar on a semi production gun try the Ed Brown.
But an SW1911, Springfield or Colt will serve you well too.
Me I'd try to find a Colt Combat Commander in .38 super and have somebody build it up for me.
Super is COOL

[Jim Watson]

Your additional wants are not extensive, I would have a gun already in the house brought up to spec. After all, you KNOW it works. Don't you?

I have a reliable local man who will tinker with a gun endlessly to get it just like I want, and I have had some painful experiences with mailorder gunsmiths.

But one of our guys recently had a gun worked on by Ted Yost and he is tickled with it, so there is one possibility.

Adjustable sight - Not really necessary for IDPA, I have a couple on CDP and Limited guns whose screws have not been turned since the gun was sighted in with my usual ammo. That was more convenient than the drift and mill operation on my ESP's fixed sights... that one time, but of no use since. But if you just must, Bomar is the standard, anything else better have some feature not available from Bomar.

F.O. front sight - the longer the insert, the brigher the spot. The Brazos is the longest I know of in a cross-dovetail. I have a Hi-Viz, which works and lets you change colors, but is not as sturdy as a dovetail sight with melted-in insert.

Mag well funnel - I would be hurting without one and definitely recommend you get one. S&A is the most common add-on. They are a little rough but a good 'smith will fit it to the frame and blend the angle of funnel and frame to a smooth chute. Beware of drop in installations. They can affect trigger pull (The MSH section bears on the sear spring, and a little difference in thickness will show up.) and if not blended can leave a ledge that will lock a mag in place.

[Andrew Wyatt]

Jim: do your guns have the magazine well beveled AND the magazine well installed?

I've not had any problems with my 1911s, and they've all had the mag well bevelled.

[Dr.Rob]

I'd get a stock Colt WW2 model and have fun. that way I couldn't blame my bad shooting on an overworked gun.

Maybe a Stainless Commander with novaks.

On a more serious note, beveling the magwell is a good idea, the oversized magwell looks goofy to me. And getting a hi-vis front sight is also a good idea. The rest is ergonomics.

[Andrew Wyatt]

I would carry the Kimber Custom I, or the Springfield Armory loaded, both blue and both have non adjustable sights.

Ya I know, but that is not what I asked.


It IS a shooting association for carry pistols.

[cobb]

What I am trying to figure out is if it would be better to put $1000-$2000 in an existing gun, or buy a semi-custom gun for IDPA next year.

And no, I would not carry that gun at all, it would be strickly for IDPA. For carry, I am carrying a box stock Kimber PRO CDP series I.

[Jim Watson]

Andrew:

About 50:50. Only one is blended like you would see in an American Handgunner centerfold, but the key is that there be no overhang of the funnel over the frame well. That can engage the floorplate of a magazine at the edge of the pad and lock it in place. Ask me how I know. That happened with a two-piece Brown. It looks nice, but would work loose no matter what. Green Loctite 690 and it doesn't wiggle any more.

I take the REAL carry guns to Polite Society.

[pangris]

IDPA?

WIlson KZ-45 would be hard if not impossible to beat.

For a single stack, get a basic 1911 - Colt, SPringfield, etc, and send it to Teddy Jacobson and you'll be good to go.

Paul

[VaughnT]

Cobb, misread your initial post, but my thoughts still stand. With plenty of stock pistols on hand, pick one you like and send it to a known smith like Yost or Jacobson for all the features you could want.

If the base gun is accurate and reliable for you, all you would need to do is have a few parts added and that's dirt cheap compared to buying a brand-new weapon.

Figure that the initial cost of the weapon has already been recouped by hours of shooting pleasure. Add another $600 and you'll have one heckuva IDPA-only pistol. And all of the parts will be of your choosing.

[LeonCarr]

You can spend $2000 for a 1911, or you can buy a Glock, $1500 worth of ammunition, and have a trouble-free gun that does not have to be tinkered with to keep it running.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[cobb]

you can buy a Glock

There is always someone that can't stay on topic.

[pangris]

He is correct, however. I own and shoot 1911s and Glocks - and I think you'd be a better shooter with a $500 Glock and $1000 in ammo, rather than a $1200 1911 with $300 in ammo.

IMHO, YMMV.

[cobb]

:cuss: I sold my tupperware and ain'y buying any more plastic.:cuss:

[Correia]

My favorite 1911 is plastic. :)

[Andrew Wyatt]

you can buy a Glock, $1500 worth of ammunition, and have a trouble-free gun that does not have to be tinkered with to keep it running.

And is really wide, and has a horrible trigger, that can fire out of battery.


I have a question. Why does everyone else seem to have grevious problems with making 1911s work right? I've had a grand total of three malfunctions with my 1911, and that was after carrying the pistol all day in an open topped holster on the range at Desert sportsman during the match, shooting really light reloads to get rid of them.

[pangris]

Glocks and 1911s are both great guns. FOR THE MOST PART, stock Glocks work better than similarly priced 1911s - but a well tuned 1911 is an amazing thing. I could go on but there was no reference to Glocks in the original post so I won't.

I stand by the Wilson KZ-45 suggestion for IDPA. TTBOMK it would meet the rules, should be perefect on reliability, exceptional accuracy, not need a bit of work and holds 10+1 in a package the same size as a "traditional" 1911.

[Skunkabilly]

Like this? :D
http://www.skunkabilly.com/images/tactical/kz45.jpg

Caveat is hold one and if possible, shoot it to see if you like it before you buy one. The ergonomics just don't work for some people.

[Carnitas]

Any Glock that had a one, a nine, and two more one's in its serial number. :evil:

[LeonCarr]

Ok, so maybe I am a 1911 hater. Or maybe I just decided to grow up and get an almost maintenance free gun, instead of a money-pit 1911. I have a good buddy who bought a Les Baer, and even after the 300 round break in period, it still jammed with factory 230 grain FMJ. I will not pay $1600 for a gun that is touted to be the best and brightest, and jams out of the box. I guess a 1911 is fine for IDPA if you want to learn the malfunction drills.

But I will say that the Wilson KZ-45 is a nice looking gun :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
P.S. 20,000 rounds through three Glock 17s, no malfunctions.

[mattk]

Well I sit here with my $450 includes upgrades money pit of a 1911(Used Colt Combat Elite, ED Brown Beavertail, CMC Safety, Heine Sights) Its been 100% reliable and feels a whole lot better in my hand than a Glock. So to each their own. But I still say Les Baer is not the ideal 1911.

[Sean Smith]

Or, would you put the money into a pistol that you already own and send it off to who?

I'd have a pistol I already had modified by Ted Yost. In fact, I just did. With a little luck, I'll have it tomorrow. :D

http://www.yost-bonitz.com/pricelist.htm

Off-topic Glock trolls notwithstanding.

[John Forsyth]

What 1911 would I buy to shoot IDPA? Depends on how much money I wanted to spend. When I started to shoot IDPA in '97, I bought a Kimber Classic Stainless Target. I still use it. It's not important who made the gun, what is important is that it runs.

Having SO'd lots of matches, the most common 1911's I see are Kimbers, Springfield Armory, and Colts. That's about 75% of what is shot. I have seen Wilsons, Baers, & STIs with respect to semi-custom factory guns and Heinie, Vickers, and Tibbets full custom pistols as well. It all depends on how much money you want to spend.

[Browns Fan]

It all depends upon whether you want to improve you skills with your carry gun ( I'll bet you all can see where this one's going ;) ), or if you just want a fancy Robocop race gun. Flame suit on. :p

[Beorn]

I like my S&W 1911. And IDPA certainly gets enough advertising money from S&W don't they? I mean, isn't the S&W 1911 on the back cover of every IDPA Gazette the past few issues, or is it just me?

Anyway, I like my S&W 1911. Shoots very nicely.

[gl]

I would buy a Glock!

[cobb]

:rolleyes: I would buy a Glock! :rolleyes:

[John Forsyth]

I was wondering when one was going to show up. :rolleyes:

[Tacblack]

SV or STI wide body-high cap cause I like the grip better then the single stacks. In a single stack for the money the STI Trojan or a custom. I use a Nowlin for IDPA and carry also.

Look I stayed on topic:D

[mattjoe]

a brand that hasn't yet been mentioned:
PARA ORDNANCE, in 40 or 45, LIMITED SERIES
You're out about 750bucks. You've got a great gun. You want upgrades to it, fiberoptics, mag wells, go to dawsonprecision.com get anything you want.
You've got a high cap gun you can then go shoot both idpa and uspsa with.

[wildman]

"If you had some extra cash, what 1911 would you buy to use for IDPA? A Wilson, Ed Brown, Les Baer, or what?"

WHAT is my preference. Get an STI standard dust cover, standard slide, and bushing barrel. 4 ten round mags, and you are good to go. You can shoot all the L-10 in USPSA you want with the same set up, just change belts and holster/mag carriers.

[Archer]

I shoot IDPA with the gun I carry. (Springfield Professional 1911, Alessi leather).

I think IDPA is a useful tool to keep your gunhandling skills honed- why not do it with your carry gun at least once in a while ?

[cobb]

why not do it with your carry gun at least once in a while ?

I do, I have used a Kahr and a Colt Defender a few times.

IDPA is good practice, but it is a game and I like to use a full sized 1911 to play it with. :cool:

[Black Snowman]

For IDPA I've always wanted the CZ97B. It's a refinement of the CZ75, which is in turn a refinement of the 1911. So it's basicly a 1911 with 86 years of development work put into it. It's designed from scratch to be a 10 round .45 and I'm lucky that the ergonomics work for me perfectly. Reviews, both personal and professional, I've seen compare it's out-of-box accuracy to Sig.

It's the next pistol I plan on buying and I would already own one if I shot IDPA. I'd still use my Glock 24P for home defence though ;) I've tried 1911s and the ergnomics and controls just don't work for me. For the cost of a customized 1911 I can get the CZ and an entire IDPA approved carry rig, extra magazines, and reloading dies.

If the CZ's ergos don't work for you a similar gun you could try, especially if you want to customize, is the EAA Witness. At Denny's Guns here in Kansas City the owner had one customized for IPSC and it was an incredible gun. Stock I don't put any more faith in their reliablity or accuracy than the chaper 1911s but with the same total investment you can get a gun that's easily on par or better than an equivilent 1911 without as many antiquated features.

Now if your a traditionallist and like the 1911 for it's history that's great. Get one for it's collectors value but borrow every kind of .45 you can find and try before deciding on putting out your hard earned money. If the folks around your neck of the woods are as friendly as the ones around here, as long as your paying for the ammo, people love to try out each other's guns.

[Andrew Wyatt]

the cz's ergos don't work for most people, since they're really wide.

I'll have to dispute your assertion that the cz is like a 1911 with 86 years of development work in it, since it has some severe drawbacks, like safety location and grip size.

[Sean Smith]

The 1911 bashing on this topic is pure comedy.

Here is a hint for y'all: every class of IDPA or IPSC competition that the 1911 is allowed in, it dominates with very few exceptions. And something tells me that guys droping several grand on 1911-based race guns probably aren't dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists. :rolleyes:

[Zak Smith]

A CZ85/97 is not a "refinement" of the 1911. The CZ has a totally different hammer/trigger/sear and mainspring design, neither barrel bushing nor barrel link, the slide runs inside the frame (not outside like a 1911 or BHP), and obviously has no grip safety.

A modern single-stack "1911" is a refinement of the 1911/1911A1 designs. They come with good sights and comfortable beavertails and safeties. The various double-stack "1911'"s such as the Para or SVI/STI are better classified as advancements - they have the aforementioned refinements and structural changes like a wide body and feed ramp.


-z

[Zak Smith]

re: 1911's dominating IPSC.

Doesn't Eric Grauffel, current IPSC world champ, shoot a CZ?

-z

[Sean Smith]

Uh, and what were most of the other 1,000,000 shooters using? :rolleyes:

I hear those lightweights like Rob Leatham like the 1911 for some odd reason. :D

[COOL]

www.ericgrauffel.com

Tanfoglio

[WESHOOT2]

Send YOUR favorite 1911 to EGW or the like with a specific wish-list; belive THIS option will satisfy you most.

[2cats]

You get canned, pre-packaged ergonomics with a Wilson, and no idea of what to expect for reliability. If the ergonomics happen to work for you, if they would be just what you'd ask a gunsmith for, and if the gun happens to run, that's great. If, on the other hand, you know what parts will make a difference for you, and know what you want and what really works for you, getting an existing gun smithed should give you a better result. In my case the ground-up job on a Caspian slide and frame came out a little bit more than a Wilson Protector (and was more than worth every penny). As others have pointed out, your wish list right now isn't too expensive, so smithing one of your guns will probably be cheaper, too.

[OF]

I bought a Springfield parked 5" loaded .45 which is doing duty as carry gun, IDPA and IPSC. It's been berry berry good to me.

- Gabe

[Wakal]

I run a Wilson CQB in CDP because, well, it amuses me to no end shooting Bill's little whiney "I can't win IPSC" spin-off game with one of his guns, one of his holsters, with his mags and mag pouches...that way I'm dang sure that THAT holster won't mysteriously drop off the mystic "list."

But I prefer my ESP gun...which also happens to be my carry gun. STI with a Commander slide in 9 by 23 Supercomp. The other top end is Modified ;)

Glocks are fine for the casual shooter, but hearing of one like Taylor's with 180,000 rounds through it is pretty rare. 1911's...hell, I own three that are over 150k each :p




Alex

[Tacblack]

it amuses me to no end shooting Bill's little whiney "I can't win IPSC" spin-off game
stop Wakal your killing me

But I prefer my ESP gun...which also happens to be my carry gun. STI with a Commander slide in 9 by 23 Supercomp
Now thats more like it a man after my own heart, sounds nice

[C. H. Luke]

My ESP Gun is a '70 series Govt. Model tweaked by EGW.

In CDP use either a Baer PII, RRA Ltd. or a Wilson KZ.

Of the three the RRA is my favorite but the KZ is enormous
fun to shoot! {and CCW}

[Andrew Wyatt]

Bill's little whiney "I can't win IPSC" spin-off game


One of the top hands in IDPA is likely better than one of the mediocre hands in IPSC. They both have their place.

[444]

Since you asked what I would do, I can tell you what I have done and what I would do again if I had to.
I would buy a Colt Government Model and not do anything to it at all if I could get away with it.
I have shot IPSC and IDPA on and off, here and there for the last 10+ years with a bone stock 1911. Any shortcomings are the result of my skill/performance and not the fault of the gun. For some reason, over the last year I started getting bitten by it. So, I installed a beavertail and new hammer myself. Since then I have competed in a few matches and have taken the Gunsite 250 course. The only single thing I thick it lacks is night sights. Between the Gunsite class and a night IDPA match, I can see where having night sights would be nice. Maybe not essential, but nice.

[Wakal]

One of the top hands in IDPA is likely better than one of the mediocre hands in IPSC. They both have their place

Huh?

Once quick example...and I have more on tap...the 2003 Louisiana State IDPA champion...the best IDPA guy in the whole state...was a "B" class IPSC shooter.

Methinks you have your organizations backward. A fair-to-middlin' IPSC shooter smokes most (if not all, as in the LA State match this year) IDPA shooters. So sorry to bring facts into this. I shoot both sports, as well as CAS...don't think I'm just bashing for no reason. I call 'em like I see 'em.

Back on topic: go for the latest refinement of the 1911, the STI/SVI platform.

www.stiguns.com




Alex

[Correia]

Wakal, in this state our best shooters in IPSC and IDPA are about even. However head to head, (like on the occasional steel fun match) the advantage goes to the guy with the race gun. Even out the equipment and the best shooters are pretty equal.

[Tacblack]

Wakal is right in a lot of ways. How many IDPA guys can place high IPSC matchs, how many IPSC guys place high in IDPA matchs. Both sports have good shooters. They should play both games more often they would all be better.
advantage goes to the guy with the race gun This only counts with open class IPSC guns vs something else in a different class. The epuipment race ended in 1991.

[Andrew Wyatt]

Methinks you have your organizations backward. A fair-to-middlin' IPSC shooter smokes most (if not all, as in the LA State match this year) IDPA shooters.

while shooting IDPA or while shooting IPSC?

[Ankeny]

Uh oh, thread drift into my daddy (IPSC) can whip your daddy (IDPA). I'll stir it up even more. I guess we all know Ernest Langdon thumped up on TGO at the IDPA nats shooting a freaking SIG in CDP division. There, someone had to say it, lol.

To answer your question, shoot any decent 1911 and you will do fine if you do your part. I am shooting a Les Baer Pll in CDP and I had a well known smith build an ESP pistol in .38 Super using a Caspain raceready lower with an STI top end.

[LEGHORN]

By all reports, the up and coming pistol in the IDPA circuit is Para in their LDA models. And, IMHO, for good reason. The natural stroke trigger action of the LDA is smoother and sweeter than can be described; you really have to shoot one to understand. Personal preferences aside, given the great variety of fine pistols, some things stand the test of objectivity better than others.

[Wakal]

More correctly, my daddy (IPSC) can whup your little stepson (IDPA) ;)

We won't go into TGO's loss at the IDPA nat's this year...he came right off the IPSC nat's (where he won Limited) and said he wouldn't do as well at the upcoming IDPA nat's since he didn't want a repeat of the "you shoot too fast so we are going to give you a huge heap of penalties for not 'slicing the pie' the way WE think you should" like last year.

Of course, he was also whining to his mother and I that he was "...old and fat", so take that for what it is worth.

I've noticed, shooting both sports, that IPSC shooters do far better in IDPA than IDPA shooters do in IPSC. Something about shooting while moving, reloading while moving, reloading as needed instead of as-directed...of course, clear and well-defined rules that are not open to the arbitrary and capricious whim of overzealous neo-nazi range officers (a mere handful of SO's, of course, but a proven image that gives all of us SO's a bad name).

The LDA's are a pleasure to shoot...were I to run seriously in Production, I would have one.





Alex

[Ankeny]

Wakal:

You know what they say about excuses don't you? Give credit where credit is due, Ernie won plain and simple. If you haven't read TGO's post on Brian Enos' web site concerning his loss, you should.

Oh heck here's what Leatham had to say:

I just returned from the IDPA nationals and am humbled by the amazing Ernie Langdon. Beating me with a SIG 220 in the hallowed home of the 1911, shame on me! I can say for sure that this is the only time in many years that I feel like I want to practice IDPA and return with the hopes of exacting revenge! With all due respect, Ernie deserves to win as he is a great shot and has put his time in this year preparing. It is fitting he should spank me. Not that I like it too much. The match was excellent and the IDPA crowd is starting to get their act together. Those who shoot IDPA seriously should win, and it shows that the shooters are maturing and improving making it hard to come in and steal their cookies. This is as it should be.

[jason10mm]

Just a note, the KZ-45, while a nice pistol, can not compete in the CDP division unless the mags are downloaded to 8 rounds. So it really is not any more "competitive" than any other 1911, which of course is the entire point of IDPA. Were would the PO LDAs be, in SSP?

[Tacblack]

You know what they say about excuses don't you? Give credit where credit is due, Ernie won plain and simple. If you haven't read TGO's post on Brian Enos' web site concerning his loss, you should

I don't think anyone needs to make excuses for TGO, how many gun matchs has he won? And as for Ernie he is just plain good, hard to believe how good he is with a DA/SA even with the reduced trigger pull. Ernie just makes very few errors. Does Ernie shoot any IPSC matchs? not being a smart I didn't know if he does. I am far behind either in IPSC or IDPA.

Now that the thread has been hi-jacked, the STI Trojan is one to look at for the price and quilty.

[C. H. Luke]

"Just a note, the KZ-45, while a nice pistol, can not compete in the CDP division unless the mags are downloaded to 8 rounds. So it really is not any more "competitive" than any other 1911...."

Locally we have a good number of shooters who compete in CDP with Glcok 21's, etc. by only loading 8 rounds. It's not uncommon at all. The KZ has a good advantage with it's radically tapered mags providing extremely quick speed or Tac reloads, FWIW............

[faustulus]

More correctly, my daddy (IPSC) can whup your little stepson (IDPA)
Shouldn't that be: My daddy can whup this red-headed stepchild. :)

But as a friend brought up to me it is all about trigger time. Most of the IPSC guys have had more trigger time than the IDPA guys. At first the IDPA guys were lured into shooting with the "this is the tactical way" carrot, only to find out that while it isn't very tactical it is extremely fun. Now they shoot more than they once did and as a result are getting better.
My problems with IDPA have everything to do with leadership and almost nothing to do with the guys who shoot.

Now back to the originaly question. I would echo what some of the others have said. The wide body STIs seem nice. Just download to 8 and you are good to go. About the same width as a single stack but much easier to seat the mag without a mag well. And when you walk back to your car you can just drop in your evil full capacity mag and be ready for a night on the town. :)

[DrDremel]

I thought if you are picking a gun specifically for IDPA you are missing the point of IDPA. That is IPSC style thinking. You should bring your carry gun and the holster you wear to the match. Then you compete. If you shoot a snubbie with loose ammo in the pocket, then that is what you shoot. If you carry a Les Bauer 1911 with 12 mags, then you use it.

[Wakal]

Depends if you want to win or not.

IDPA is a game....they keep score, they have timers, they have rules (mostly)...and if you want to play the game you have to meet whatever rules they have set up for that game.

On the subject of "pick the gun for the IDPA game"...my friend's carry gun is illegal for IDPA...he carries a 3" ported 629 (yes, he is weird). My own carry guy (the aforementioned Commander STI in 9 by 23) is illegal unless I download the magazines by eight (8) rounds from how I carry it every day. It lives in a Sparks SS-II except for IDPA...then I run it in Kydex because...well, I like to win and Kydex is .1 faster on the draw (but harder to conceal, IMO, over a IWB).

IDPA is a game.

IDPA is just a game....like IPSC, only with a for-profit mentality, an IPSC-bashing rulebook, and subjective rules. I like to shoot it, don't get me wrong, but I like to shoot pretty much everything (even..shudder...Sporting Clays...). Heck, I'm the only IDPA SO in town and run the local IDPA matches (and the IPSC matches, and the SASS matches, and the 3-gun matches...I need a life...).



Alex

[Correia]

I also shoot my carry gun. However I have to download it 6 rounds to shoot in CDP.

[duckfoot]

Colt 1991A1