Shooting USPSA major caliber as a newbie

Navy87Guy · July 29, 2005, 06:13 PM

I'm just getting started in USPSA and so far I've been shooting my Glock 17 and Beretta 92G in Production. I was wondering if there's any advantage for a newbie to move up to major caliber and shoot in Limited or Limited 10?

I'd probably be shooting a Glock 22 (.40 S&W) that's basically a "stock" gun. So the biggest advantage I'd gain is the extra points for my C shots.

Is it worth it? Can I be competitive in Limited with a stock pistol (I know David Sevigny is....but I ain't him!).

Thanks in advance for your comments!

Jim

Krag · July 29, 2005, 07:18 PM

Keep playing in Production until you get the hang of things. If you want to move up to Limited or L10 there are a wider selection of pistols you can use but the G22 would be a poor choice. As an entry level I'd suggest a Glock 35. Once you've gotten your feet wet in the new divisions you will have two choices:
a. continue to use the G35 and make mods to it as you see fit & can afford - or...
b. buy a high cap 1911 and play with that.

BTW, if you think Dave S. uses a "Stock Glock" and factory ammo you're in for a big surprise. If you ever meet him at a match ask him to let you try his pistol. After he turns pale he'll find a good excuse not to.

In fact, if you believe it, I have some ocean front property in N. Dakota I'd like to sell you.

Navy87Guy · July 29, 2005, 08:11 PM

I've never had a chance to see Sevigny shoot -- let alone handle his guns. But I did talk to a couple of guys who did -- they said his only real mods were after-market sights and a little material removed on the slide serrations on his G35. Other than that, they were pretty straight-forward Glocks. They only got to dry fire them....not sure if they "shot" differently than stock pistols. And I have no doubt that he has his own "special recipe" for competition ammo.

Thanks for the input.

Jim

Krag · July 29, 2005, 08:16 PM

Yeah, and I believe in Santa Claus and the Great Pumpkin.

HSMITH · July 29, 2005, 09:22 PM

There is no advantage to shooting major since you are on a level playing field in production. If you move to L10 or Limited you are again on a level playing field if you shoot major power ammo.

You won't gain anything, but you might enjoy using a different gun.

If I were your buddy I would tell you to stick with production and 9mm for a while. It is cheap and lower in recoil, this lets you shoot more quality practice and that will make the difference for you.

71Commander · July 30, 2005, 07:49 AM

The point disadvantage comes into play when you are shooting minor in a major class. Such as shooting a single stack 1911 in 9mm, competing in L-10. You would be getting 3 on the C's as opposed to his 4. No advantage in moving.

Navy87Guy · July 30, 2005, 01:09 PM

All good points, thanks.

I guess it's not an issue if I can just learn to shoot all A's!

I think for the near term I'll stick with 9mm production so I can work on my movements, analyzing stages, etc. I'm not the worst shooter in production...so it won't be totally demoralizing to shoot there. On the other hand, I likely might be the worst shooter in Limited...and then it would be disappointing to see my name at the bottom of the list every match. Not that it's all about the results...but a little encouragement is always important!

I'll just continue to "cycle" some of my various 9mm to keep the shooting interesting. One of the reasons my collection is so "diverse" is that I like the challenge and feel of shooting different platforms. It's probably harder and my scores will suffer, but as long as I'm having fun it won't really matter!

Thanks for the input!

Jim

Krag · August 11, 2005, 07:50 PM

A friend of mine shot with Sevigny at a match in Virginia last year. Dave S. claims he shoots "factory" ammo (I forget the brand) in his "stock" Glock pistols but at the end of a stage he cleared his pistol and dropped a round on the ground. He began to walk away but when he saw my friend pick up the round he came back and asked for (insisted?) it back and pocketed it. Hmmmm.........strange for a guy who gets all his "factory" ammo for free to worry about one round. Isn't it?

eerw · August 11, 2005, 11:03 PM

A friend of mine shot with Sevigny at a match in Virginia last year. Dave S. claims he shoots "factory" ammo (I forget the brand) in his "stock" Glock pistols but at the end of a stage he cleared his pistol and dropped a round on the ground. He began to walk away but when he saw my friend pick up the round he came back and asked for (insisted?) it back and pocketed it. Hmmmm.........strange for a guy who gets all his "factory" ammo for free to worry about one round. Isn't it?

interesting..from the matches I have seen him shoot he is shooting Atlanta Arms and Ammo stuff..same stuff as the AMU guys...

Krag · August 12, 2005, 07:36 AM

eerw - well the boxes may be from Atlanta arms but what's in them might be another matter.

I have nothing against someone shooting custom reloaded ammo - that's 100% legal in USPSA - but when they brag that they shoot "factory" guns and ammo, and then don't....well, according to how you look at...that's either unsportsmanlike or lying.

Dave Sevigny · August 12, 2005, 08:05 AM

Dear Forum Members,

Anyone interested in what equipment I use for each sport and division are welcome to send me an e-mail here: questions@sevignyperformance.com

I plan on having a more detailed equipment page in the near future, since I've received so many inquiries.

Krag-
The only lies pertaining to this matter is everything that you have fabricated in this thread about by equipment and character.

Sincerely,
Dave Sevigny
www.sevignyperformance.com

eerw · August 12, 2005, 09:45 AM

Krag..

not sure where you are getting you info or drawing you conclustions..

but from my brief meeting with DS and others that shoot with him..he is a stand up guy..his equipment is pretty much stock and that has been seen and reported many times..his ammo is pretty much the same stuff that Max M and Travis T shoot as they also shoot Atlanta Arms and Ammo.

enough thread drifting..

Navy87Guy..
shooting major in limited is a big advantage..even in a stock pistol..the main attibutes for limited class that the gun needs is reliability, pointability, mag capacity, good sights and trigger.

if you decide to stay in production..minor is the way to go..with 9mm or 40 downloaded...

just find a division you like and shoot, shoot , shoot.

xsrdx · August 12, 2005, 12:09 PM

Dave Sevigny and all of Team GLOCK are class acts - he wins because he's that good, not because he's got ringer gear.

99gski · August 12, 2005, 07:10 PM

Jim,

Best wishes with your shooting. Production is both fun and challenging. I believe if you want to excel in your fundamentals and test them in competition, production is definitely the way to go!

In fact if you are interested in what TEAM GLOCK uses for factory ammunition I highly recommend Atlanta Arms and Ammo. It is a local company we use in Atlanta because it is reliable and the service is phenomenal! www.matchgrade.net is their website if you are interested. Dave Sevigny, Phil Strader, Todd Sindelar, Gilbert Perez, the US Army Team and many more use this factory loaded ammunition available for purchase to anyone.

As for the comments about Dave Sevigny... he is both my teammate and a personal friend and I can attest to his professionalism, generous nature and overall class on the range. He isn't just a national and world champion, he is a great guy... I hope you take the ill comments made about him here and compare them to ones such as these and others. Besides, if and when you meet Dave on the range you can see for yourself.

All the best,
Julie Goloski

Navy87Guy · August 12, 2005, 08:39 PM

Julie and All -

Thanks for the info and advice. I think I'm going to stick with production for the time being. Once I've had a chance to work on my shooting skills, I'll give another thought to trying Limited or Limited 10 (I actually enjoy the challenge of magazine management that comes with a 10-round limit!).

As far as David Sevigny is concerned, I've heard nothing but good things from individuals who have actually met him. He even went as far as to contact me directly to dispel any of the misperceptions (or outright falsehoods) about his equipment. To me, that was the mark of a true professional.

I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where shooters like Phil Strader and Todd Jarrett compete regularly (they were both at our local match last weekend). I hope to add David to my list of top shooters that I get to see first hand!

Thanks again. It's this kind of spirit and friendliness that makes me enjoy the shooting sports so much!

Jim

Ankeny · August 12, 2005, 08:46 PM

I guess that kind of settles things. Glad to see some upstanding folks with real credibility stepped up to the plate. I was starting to get pissed.

Back to the original post. Since when is going from Production to Limited a step up?

Babalouie · August 13, 2005, 09:53 AM

My son and I began in Lim10 and Production until I knew we were committed to the sport and had the basics down. We made the switch to Limited about 6 months ago and I have to say we are having a lot more fun in Limited. Having 18 to 20 rounds before a mag change just makes it so much more fast paced and uninterrupted. You get into a rhythm that's totally different and just feels more action oriented somehow. Its hard to explain but I was surprised at how different it was. We are smaller fish in a bigger pond but with classifications we remain competitive. I posted our equippment in the "uspsa limited, what are you shooting" thread. Enjoy the sport!

gmshtr · October 10, 2005, 06:58 PM

As for Dave's equipment, it's definitely stock. Besides the occasional 3.5 connector (unless he's shooting an international match...which would still be legal) and the Scott Warren sights, his guns are totally stock. His Limited Glock 35 has stippled grips, no mag well, and I can tell you, from first hand experience, "it ain't good!" His gun kicks like mad...he's a freak, plain and simple!

He and I use the same ammo for Production and IDPA SSP in our Glock 17/34.

He's definitely the man!

Phil Strader

Oh, and Jim...if I had to start out with a gun again for multiple tasks, it would indeed be the Glock 22. It can be used in Production (IPSC or USPSA), Limited, Limited 10, Standard, IDPA SSP, and IDPA ESP. The 17 works, too. It's just that you're gonna shoot Minor in Limited or L10.

July 29, 2005, 06:13 PM	#1
Navy87Guy Member Join Date: April 6, 2005 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 619	Shooting USPSA major caliber as a newbie I'm just getting started in USPSA and so far I've been shooting my Glock 17 and Beretta 92G in Production. I was wondering if there's any advantage for a newbie to move up to major caliber and shoot in Limited or Limited 10? I'd probably be shooting a Glock 22 (.40 S&W) that's basically a "stock" gun. So the biggest advantage I'd gain is the extra points for my C shots. Is it worth it? Can I be competitive in Limited with a stock pistol (I know David Sevigny is....but I ain't him!). Thanks in advance for your comments! Jim __________________ Beretta M9 -- 92G Vertec -- PX 4 Storm 9mm -- 92 Billennium -- CX 4 Storm 9mm CZ SP-01 Tactical -- M&P 9 -- M&P 9C -- Ruger KP93 -- KelTec P-32 Colt M1911 (NOT an A1!) -- RIA Full Size 1911 .45 ACP Stag AR-15 2T, Saiga 7.62x39 AK, Saiga S12 Tactical Shotgun http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/index.html

July 29, 2005, 07:18 PM	#2
Krag Member Join Date: March 17, 2005 Location: Confederate States of America Posts: 410	Keep playing in Production until you get the hang of things. If you want to move up to Limited or L10 there are a wider selection of pistols you can use but the G22 would be a poor choice. As an entry level I'd suggest a Glock 35. Once you've gotten your feet wet in the new divisions you will have two choices: a. continue to use the G35 and make mods to it as you see fit & can afford - or... b. buy a high cap 1911 and play with that. BTW, if you think Dave S. uses a "Stock Glock" and factory ammo you're in for a big surprise. If you ever meet him at a match ask him to let you try his pistol. After he turns pale he'll find a good excuse not to. In fact, if you believe it, I have some ocean front property in N. Dakota I'd like to sell you. __________________ "One must always perform their duty. No one has the right to expect more of you, and you should never demand less of yourself." General Robert E. Lee Commander, Army of Northern Virginia Confederate States of America

July 29, 2005, 08:11 PM	#3
Navy87Guy Member Join Date: April 6, 2005 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 619	I've never had a chance to see Sevigny shoot -- let alone handle his guns. But I did talk to a couple of guys who did -- they said his only real mods were after-market sights and a little material removed on the slide serrations on his G35. Other than that, they were pretty straight-forward Glocks. They only got to dry fire them....not sure if they "shot" differently than stock pistols. And I have no doubt that he has his own "special recipe" for competition ammo. Thanks for the input. Jim __________________ Beretta M9 -- 92G Vertec -- PX 4 Storm 9mm -- 92 Billennium -- CX 4 Storm 9mm CZ SP-01 Tactical -- M&P 9 -- M&P 9C -- Ruger KP93 -- KelTec P-32 Colt M1911 (NOT an A1!) -- RIA Full Size 1911 .45 ACP Stag AR-15 2T, Saiga 7.62x39 AK, Saiga S12 Tactical Shotgun http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/index.html

July 29, 2005, 08:16 PM	#4
Krag Member Join Date: March 17, 2005 Location: Confederate States of America Posts: 410	Yeah, and I believe in Santa Claus and the Great Pumpkin. __________________ "One must always perform their duty. No one has the right to expect more of you, and you should never demand less of yourself." General Robert E. Lee Commander, Army of Northern Virginia Confederate States of America

July 30, 2005, 07:49 AM	#6
71Commander Member Join Date: September 21, 2003 Location: Going back to Tennessee Posts: 2,132	The point disadvantage comes into play when you are shooting minor in a major class. Such as shooting a single stack 1911 in 9mm, competing in L-10. You would be getting 3 on the C's as opposed to his 4. No advantage in moving. __________________ NRA member USPSA CRO US Army 70-72 Patriot Guard rider

July 29, 2005, 09:22 PM	#5
HSMITH Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Posts: 4,933	There is no advantage to shooting major since you are on a level playing field in production. If you move to L10 or Limited you are again on a level playing field if you shoot major power ammo. You won't gain anything, but you might enjoy using a different gun. If I were your buddy I would tell you to stick with production and 9mm for a while. It is cheap and lower in recoil, this lets you shoot more quality practice and that will make the difference for you.

July 30, 2005, 01:09 PM	#7
Navy87Guy Member Join Date: April 6, 2005 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 619	All good points, thanks. I guess it's not an issue if I can just learn to shoot all A's! I think for the near term I'll stick with 9mm production so I can work on my movements, analyzing stages, etc. I'm not the worst shooter in production...so it won't be totally demoralizing to shoot there. On the other hand, I likely might be the worst shooter in Limited...and then it would be disappointing to see my name at the bottom of the list every match. Not that it's all about the results...but a little encouragement is always important! I'll just continue to "cycle" some of my various 9mm to keep the shooting interesting. One of the reasons my collection is so "diverse" is that I like the challenge and feel of shooting different platforms. It's probably harder and my scores will suffer, but as long as I'm having fun it won't really matter! Thanks for the input! Jim __________________ Beretta M9 -- 92G Vertec -- PX 4 Storm 9mm -- 92 Billennium -- CX 4 Storm 9mm CZ SP-01 Tactical -- M&P 9 -- M&P 9C -- Ruger KP93 -- KelTec P-32 Colt M1911 (NOT an A1!) -- RIA Full Size 1911 .45 ACP Stag AR-15 2T, Saiga 7.62x39 AK, Saiga S12 Tactical Shotgun http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/index.html

August 11, 2005, 07:50 PM	#8
Krag Member Join Date: March 17, 2005 Location: Confederate States of America Posts: 410	A friend of mine shot with Sevigny at a match in Virginia last year. Dave S. claims he shoots "factory" ammo (I forget the brand) in his "stock" Glock pistols but at the end of a stage he cleared his pistol and dropped a round on the ground. He began to walk away but when he saw my friend pick up the round he came back and asked for (insisted?) it back and pocketed it. Hmmmm.........strange for a guy who gets all his "factory" ammo for free to worry about one round. Isn't it? __________________ "One must always perform their duty. No one has the right to expect more of you, and you should never demand less of yourself." General Robert E. Lee Commander, Army of Northern Virginia Confederate States of America

August 11, 2005, 11:03 PM	#9
eerw Member Join Date: January 5, 2003 Location: CO Posts: 670	A friend of mine shot with Sevigny at a match in Virginia last year. Dave S. claims he shoots "factory" ammo (I forget the brand) in his "stock" Glock pistols but at the end of a stage he cleared his pistol and dropped a round on the ground. He began to walk away but when he saw my friend pick up the round he came back and asked for (insisted?) it back and pocketed it. Hmmmm.........strange for a guy who gets all his "factory" ammo for free to worry about one round. Isn't it? interesting..from the matches I have seen him shoot he is shooting Atlanta Arms and Ammo stuff..same stuff as the AMU guys...

August 12, 2005, 07:36 AM	#10
Krag Member Join Date: March 17, 2005 Location: Confederate States of America Posts: 410	eerw - well the boxes may be from Atlanta arms but what's in them might be another matter. I have nothing against someone shooting custom reloaded ammo - that's 100% legal in USPSA - but when they brag that they shoot "factory" guns and ammo, and then don't....well, according to how you look at...that's either unsportsmanlike or lying. __________________ "One must always perform their duty. No one has the right to expect more of you, and you should never demand less of yourself." General Robert E. Lee Commander, Army of Northern Virginia Confederate States of America

August 12, 2005, 08:05 AM	#11
Dave Sevigny Member Join Date: August 12, 2005 Posts: 1	The truth Dear Forum Members, Anyone interested in what equipment I use for each sport and division are welcome to send me an e-mail here: questions@sevignyperformance.com I plan on having a more detailed equipment page in the near future, since I've received so many inquiries. Krag- The only lies pertaining to this matter is everything that you have fabricated in this thread about by equipment and character. Sincerely, Dave Sevigny www.sevignyperformance.com

August 12, 2005, 09:45 AM	#12
eerw Member Join Date: January 5, 2003 Location: CO Posts: 670	Krag.. not sure where you are getting you info or drawing you conclustions.. but from my brief meeting with DS and others that shoot with him..he is a stand up guy..his equipment is pretty much stock and that has been seen and reported many times..his ammo is pretty much the same stuff that Max M and Travis T shoot as they also shoot Atlanta Arms and Ammo. enough thread drifting.. Navy87Guy.. shooting major in limited is a big advantage..even in a stock pistol..the main attibutes for limited class that the gun needs is reliability, pointability, mag capacity, good sights and trigger. if you decide to stay in production..minor is the way to go..with 9mm or 40 downloaded... just find a division you like and shoot, shoot , shoot.

August 12, 2005, 12:09 PM	#13
xsrdx Member Join Date: August 12, 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1	Dave Sevigny and all of Team GLOCK are class acts - he wins because he's that good, not because he's got ringer gear.

August 12, 2005, 07:10 PM	#14
99gski Member Join Date: August 12, 2005 Posts: 1	Jim, Best wishes with your shooting. Production is both fun and challenging. I believe if you want to excel in your fundamentals and test them in competition, production is definitely the way to go! In fact if you are interested in what TEAM GLOCK uses for factory ammunition I highly recommend Atlanta Arms and Ammo. It is a local company we use in Atlanta because it is reliable and the service is phenomenal! www.matchgrade.net is their website if you are interested. Dave Sevigny, Phil Strader, Todd Sindelar, Gilbert Perez, the US Army Team and many more use this factory loaded ammunition available for purchase to anyone. As for the comments about Dave Sevigny... he is both my teammate and a personal friend and I can attest to his professionalism, generous nature and overall class on the range. He isn't just a national and world champion, he is a great guy... I hope you take the ill comments made about him here and compare them to ones such as these and others. Besides, if and when you meet Dave on the range you can see for yourself. All the best, Julie Goloski

August 12, 2005, 08:39 PM	#15
Navy87Guy Member Join Date: April 6, 2005 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 619	Julie and All - Thanks for the info and advice. I think I'm going to stick with production for the time being. Once I've had a chance to work on my shooting skills, I'll give another thought to trying Limited or Limited 10 (I actually enjoy the challenge of magazine management that comes with a 10-round limit!). As far as David Sevigny is concerned, I've heard nothing but good things from individuals who have actually met him. He even went as far as to contact me directly to dispel any of the misperceptions (or outright falsehoods) about his equipment. To me, that was the mark of a true professional. I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where shooters like Phil Strader and Todd Jarrett compete regularly (they were both at our local match last weekend). I hope to add David to my list of top shooters that I get to see first hand! Thanks again. It's this kind of spirit and friendliness that makes me enjoy the shooting sports so much! Jim __________________ Beretta M9 -- 92G Vertec -- PX 4 Storm 9mm -- 92 Billennium -- CX 4 Storm 9mm CZ SP-01 Tactical -- M&P 9 -- M&P 9C -- Ruger KP93 -- KelTec P-32 Colt M1911 (NOT an A1!) -- RIA Full Size 1911 .45 ACP Stag AR-15 2T, Saiga 7.62x39 AK, Saiga S12 Tactical Shotgun http://home.comcast.net/~navy87guy/home/index.html

August 12, 2005, 08:46 PM	#16
Ankeny Member Join Date: June 27, 2003 Posts: 1,005	I guess that kind of settles things. Glad to see some upstanding folks with real credibility stepped up to the plate. I was starting to get pissed. Back to the original post. Since when is going from Production to Limited a step up?

August 13, 2005, 09:53 AM	#17
Babalouie Member Join Date: December 2, 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 402	My son and I began in Lim10 and Production until I knew we were committed to the sport and had the basics down. We made the switch to Limited about 6 months ago and I have to say we are having a lot more fun in Limited. Having 18 to 20 rounds before a mag change just makes it so much more fast paced and uninterrupted. You get into a rhythm that's totally different and just feels more action oriented somehow. Its hard to explain but I was surprised at how different it was. We are smaller fish in a bigger pond but with classifications we remain competitive. I posted our equippment in the "uspsa limited, what are you shooting" thread. Enjoy the sport!

October 10, 2005, 06:58 PM	#18
gmshtr Member Join Date: August 6, 2004 Location: N. VA Posts: 18	As for Dave's equipment, it's definitely stock. Besides the occasional 3.5 connector (unless he's shooting an international match...which would still be legal) and the Scott Warren sights, his guns are totally stock. His Limited Glock 35 has stippled grips, no mag well, and I can tell you, from first hand experience, "it ain't good!" His gun kicks like mad...he's a freak, plain and simple! He and I use the same ammo for Production and IDPA SSP in our Glock 17/34. He's definitely the man! Phil Strader Oh, and Jim...if I had to start out with a gun again for multiple tasks, it would indeed be the Glock 22. It can be used in Production (IPSC or USPSA), Limited, Limited 10, Standard, IDPA SSP, and IDPA ESP. The 17 works, too. It's just that you're gonna shoot Minor in Limited or L10.

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