Adding to the arsenal

[Jumping Frog]

Well, got a bonus at work and part of it will be slated to get an additional gun (new or used) that will be primarily for competition. There are a lot of polymer pistols in the $400-650 type range; I am not talking about a $1500 1911 here. I already compete in IDPA CDP and would like to pick up a gun to compete in SSP.

If I read the IPDA 2007 Championship Equipment Survey, it appears the Glock 34 is the most common competition gun (54 competitors), followed by Glock 19 (30 competitors). The only other individual model guns that even hit double digits were the S&W 625-.45 ACP (14 competitors) and the S&W M&P 9mm (14 competitors). Although there were 21 various XD types there, an XD doesn't qualify for SSP and I do not want to run ESP.

So judging from what other people are using, it appears I should get a Glock. However, I've fired some Glock range guns and didn't particularly care for the trigger, although I do like the longer sight radius. I am assuming there are some good Glock trigger alternatives out there?

So what is your IDPA SSP recommendation?

Now, to complicate the deal, what if I also wanted the gun to be useful in IPSC/USPSA? I've never competed in IPSC/USPSA because there aren't any good local choices. But that may change this summer, with two local ranges making noises about adding USPSA.

I am not even sure of the Divisions in USPSA, although I would assume that Production would most closely resemble IDPA SSP.

Since I am a reloader, would it be worth it to get a .40S&W and shoot light loads in IDPA but upload it for Major Power Factor in IDPA? That would mean shooting Limited or Limited 10 wouldn't it? I can look at the rule book online, but in real world, what is the major difference between shooting Production versus Limited?

So back to getting your recommendation, what do you think the ideal choice would be to be able to complete in both IDPA SSP and IPSC/USPSA in Production or Limited?

I am asking before I buy because I have found there are various rule quirks in both organizations, such as an XD not being legal for SSP, and I am better off knowing the pitfalls before laying out any money.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have recently bought a Plastic M&P and had Dan Burwell do a 3.5 lb trigger job on it and install fibre optic front and black rear sight. It is shooting very well, I prefer it to a Glock.
When my holster and two "free" extra magazines come in, I will shoot it at IDPA SSP.
Repeat and emphasize, I had a trigger job done. Out of the box it was pretty rough, heavy, and full of backlash.

The main advantage to Glock is nearly 30 years of experience and building a cottage industry for parts, accessories, and service.

I have a CZ75 and a P226, both well set up for competition and good shooters; but the DA-SA system is harder to learn than the coarse but consistent triggers of the plastic striker fired guns.

As you say, if you got a .40, you could shoot light loads for IDPA SSP and USPSA Production, and load it up for USPSA Limited or L-10. The major difference between Production and L-10 is that in Production, EVERYTHING scores minor so you had just as well shoot minor loads of whatever caliber. In L-10, a .40 can be loaded up to Major and score better. In Limited, you can use full capacity magazines.

 

[Fly320s]

So judging from what other people are using, it appears I should get a Glock.

Why do you think that you should base your decision on what others are doing? Sure, they are champions and high-scoring shooters, but odds are they reached that level through hundreds of hours of practice, not by using what everyone else uses. Some of them, at least in USPSA, are sponsored shooters using guns provided by their sponsors. Find what you shoot best and shoot that, if it meets your needs of being legal in both IDPA and USPSA.

With that in mind, look at this list of USPSA approved Production division guns: http://www.uspsa.org/rules/production_list.php

Jim made good points about the benefits of .40 in Production, Limited, and L10. I think that is your best option. With a high-cap gun, such as a Glock or XD, you could run it in Production as a stock gun, Limited with a few minor modifications, or Limited-10 and still be legal in the IDPA equivalent. If you wanted, you could even have two different slides, one for Production and one for Limited.

If you do think that you will want to shoot in Limited or L10, you will want the higher scoring that Major PF will give you as well as the higher capacity. Unless you can shoot very fast and very accurately, you'll find it difficult to compete well using minor PF.

I used to shoot my 1911 in L10 before the new Single Stack division was opened. In my club I was fairly competitive because of the Major PF and the set mag capacity. In Production, I couldn't compete. They had the advantage of mag capacity and light, quick-shooting guns.