[Nando Aqui]

I'm considering competing in IDPA and IPSC matches. I can use either my old trusty S&W 5906, or my favorite: H&K USP Tactical .45. I have only two magazines for each pistol, so I will be getting at least two more magazines for each (perhaps.)

I can get original S&W 9mm 15-rd capacity (as advertised) magazines, or the H&K .45 10-rd magazines.

I can shoot the .45 Tac better, but I do fine with either. (I'll find out just what 'fine' is soon enough!)

Will the lesser 10-rd capacity of the .45 Tac be problem?
Will the lesser bullet weight (I've always used 115-gr) of the 9mm be a problem?

Would you care to help me decide with which one to start out?

Thanks-

Alex

[jdkelly]

Nando Aqui,

If you shoot your Tac the best, start out shooting it, loaded with 10 rounds, in ISPC Limited-10 or Loaded with 8 rounds in IDPA CDP. Play for a while until you decide which you like. For more information you can visit the following web sites.

www.idpa.com
www.uspsa.org

And yes you will be humbled by the better shooters in both, as am I.



jkelly

[Navy joe]

No need for expensive mags. Everything for IDPA is 10rd max. 5906 is a DA gun correct? That would put you best in Production for USPSA, another 10rd max class. As already said the .45 would be best suited for Limited 10.

[Correia]

In IDPA you can really shoot either. IDPA doesn't have a major/minor scoring system like IPSC so the 9mm is not a penalty. However you can only load 10 rounds in your 15 round magazines anyway. IDPA limits the capacities to 10 to level the playing field for those folks who only have 10 round mags.

I use a 14+1 .45, however since it is a single action .45 I download it to only 8 rounds and use it in CDP. That is an option with your HK in IDPA. Plus CDP allows cocked & locked carry, so if your USP is of that variant you don't have to mess with the double action pull.

If you decide to shoot your S&W you would be in the SSP division. You would only be allowed 10 rounds in your magazine.

Now in IPSC you could shoot either gun in Limited 10, but once again you need to limit the S&Ws mag capacity. Or you could shoot in Production (I believe that is correct, but I'm not an IPSC shooter) and use your higher capacity magazines.

Keep in mind that in IPSC they use major/minor scoring. Your .45 will make major, and your 9mm probably won't, though I heard that they changed the major power factor floor, I don't know the details. Major calibers have a points advantage over minor calibers. Most everybody serious shoots a major caliber gun.

So since you shoot the Tactical better anyway, I would recommend that you use it in CDP in IDPA, and Limited 10 in IPSC.

[Nando Aqui]

I'm glad to learn that the 10-rd mags are not a problem.

I believe I'll use the Tac .45 as you all have recommended - Thanks!


And now that I have your attention - - How many magazines should I have (take)?


(Correct Navy joe, the 5906 is DA as well)

Alex

[Jim Watson]

Correction, Correa,

USPSA Production Divison means a double action gun, a 10-round limit and all calibers shoot Minor scoring. A 5906 with Klinton Klips would be fine.

Open (with scopes and compensators) is the only division that allows souping 9mm P up to Major, and you can only use standard capacity magazines in Production under IPSC rules in foreign lands, not under USPSA in America.

The H&K Tactical would be a fine Limited 10 gun.

But will it go in the IDPA Box? I don't know but it would pay you to find out, Alex. The Box is 8.75" x 6" x 1.625" and all IDPA autos must go in and the lid close with magazine in place

[jdkelly]

Nando Aqui,

If you shoot in IPSC Limited-10 you will need at least four magazines, assuming you don't have any problems (you will!), so five or six is better. The more mags you carry the better you can schedule your mag changes, to avoid a static mag change. You are not limited to any max. number of magazines.

In IDPA you will need three mags (one in the gun, two on your belt) and a fourth to charge you pistol. You are limited to this number of magazines.


Respectfully,

jkelly

[Gary G23]

I have the same concerns as Jim Watson. The Tactical might not fit in the IDPA box. If I were you I'd check on this (e-mail IDPA headquarters). Most local clubs will let you shoot it (including Caseyville) but you will be out of luck if you ever go to a big match. Also jdkelly is correct about the number of magazines but it doesn't hurt to have more when you are shooting the classifier. I normally bring eight.

[Correia]

Thanks Jim, like I said, I only know my IPSC rules in passing.

[braindead0]

In IDPA you will need three mags (one in the gun, two on your belt) and a fourth to charge you pistol. You are limited to this number of magazines.

Not quite.. You are limited to 2 magazines on your belt, and one for charging purposes only. Most clubs will allow you to use a magazine to get one in the chamber, and then replace that with a full one (in addition to the two no your belt). But that's usually for the CDP folks with 7rd magazines.

In our club, you can carry as many as you want.. but only two on your belt ;-)

That being said, I'd strongly suggest having 6 mags. This allows for any mag problems, and you can also have more magazine loaded and ready for Courses that have several strings... Makes things go smoother at times.

[KMKeller]

Folks, the USP.45T won't fit in the box.

[Nando Aqui]

KMFeller - Is that with or without a CCF Vortex Accurizer / Flash Supressor?

You see, I have one on my .45 Tac, and thought that perhaps if the pistol did not fit "in the box" with the Vortex Accurizer, I could just take it off. But now I'm afraid that it won't fit anyway.

(BTW, as I write this I'm at work at lunch break - - I'll measure it and find out when I get home later this afternoon.)

Perhaps the S&W 5906 will have to do for now...

Alex

[KMKeller]

Nando - without accurizer is a no-fit

[Nando Aqui]

KM -

I just measured my .45 Tac without previously looking again at the dimensions given by Jim - no bias.

I positioned the pistol against the inside edges of a steel square to resemble two sides of the box, and measured from there. It measures 8-1/2" Long, hammer to end of barrel without accurizer, or 9-7/8" with accurizer; 5-7/8" High, top of rear sight to bottom of magazine, and 1-1/2" Thick.

The dimensions Jim provided for the box were 8.75" x 6" x 1.625" (I imagine these are inside dimensions)

A length of 8.50" should fit 8.75" (with the accurizer removed)
A height of 5.875" should fit 6.00"
A thickness of 1.50" should fit 1.625"

With the accurizer removed, why wouldn't it fit in the box - what am I missing?

Thanks for the help!

Alex

[rayjay]

I shoot a S&W 5906 in IDPA, SSP and in IPSC, production minor. True fact about IDPA, you can only load 10 rds per mag. Thats usually not a problem when shooting IDPA. When I shoot IPSC I load up all my mags to the top(15rds), I have about 20 mags. The H&K 45 is a great gun but because of recoil that might slow you down a might shooting IPSC. I have several 45 that I could use in IPSC but I can "whip" thru the stages much faster with my light recoiling 9mm. Keep in mind that these are my opinions and they work for me. Use the handgun that feels the best for you. The next match you go to, IDPA or IPSC, take both guns and run thru the course with each of them, then decide.

[Poohgyrr]

Our IDPA club would allow you to load eleven rounds in your first 5906 mag, and use that mag to load the chamber... This lets you start with the mandatory "loaded to capacity" mag (ten round maximum for that pistol) and the mandatory one round in the chamber.

The other mags could only have ten rounds.

This way, you could shoot IDPA with only three mags. But more mags are better :).......
And congrats, both pistols are good.

[10-Ring]

10 & 1 is all you'll be able to load for your IDPA matches, so don't worry about it. The big thing is to shoot the match & enjoy yourself!
In fact, I have shot stages, where they have you only load a few rounds so you will shoot to slide lock.