beretta mini cougar or G17 for IDPA

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notos&w

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both are 9mm. the DAO mini cougar is my carry gun so id really like to practice w/ it. however, mags and mag pouches are hard to find for a decent price and the ones for the Glock are much cheaper. im not too concerned about winning or even being competetive, i want to participate for the practice. however, i dont want to handicap my performance.
ive gone back and forth several times so i welcome you input on which gun i should use. also, any good (read: cheap) sources for mags and pouches would be appreciated.
 
If you are not a cutthroat competitor and gamer setting up a match gun, shoot the Beretta to stay in practice with your carry gun.

Mag pouches hard to find?

How is a mini cougar magazine or its pouch different from any other double column 9mm? Anyhow, even if it is somehow distinctive, you only have to find and pay for one.

How many magazines do you have now? You can get by with three, although six would be nice.
 
I'd say stick with the carry piece, but Ideally you should work into carrying the 17. A good holster (G-Code paddle) and it's quite doable.
 
How is a mini cougar magazine or its pouch different from any other double column 9mm?
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the magazine is shorter, the pouch should be about the same. the real problem is finding someone who sells both. otherwise i really get screwed on the shipping.


You can get by with three, although six would be nice.
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i have two. here is the crux of the issue. G17 mags: 17 bucaks. Cougar mags: 30 bucks is as cheap as i can find them.

four cougar mags would be $120, more than i can spend on magazines.

i carry IWB and dont have any plans to change. thanks though.
 
Here is a question? Won't regular Beretta 92 mags work in a mini couger only they hang out the bottom? I honestly don't know the answer.

You only need 3 mags as a minimum. Just spend the extra $30. (equivelent to a couple boxes of ammo). And then you have the comfort of using your carry gun.

As for the holster, IWB works just fine. But make sure you have a good holster that you can reholster with 1 hand. The floppy fabric kinds are unsafe.

How do you carry your spare magazines anyway? If you just drop them in a pocket normally, just do it for the match also. Sure mag pouches are a million times better, but if you are on a budget it is better than nothing. It is far better to start shooting now and upgrade your equipment as you go, rather than wait until you have great equipment.

Also you may want to check after market magazines like Mec Gar and Promag. They usually work pretty good and are closer to $20 than $30 for factory magazines. I would avoid USA magazines. While cheap they do tend to have more problems.

You can always shoot your G17, it is a fine gun. But if you are shooting IDPA to increase your skills you might as well run with your carry gun.
 
Won't regular Beretta 92 mags work in a mini couger only they hang out the bottom? I honestly don't know the answer
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not without a slight modification. a spacer is available to fill the gap b/w the full size cougar mag and mini grip; ~$8 shipped from BUSA.

thanks for your thoughtful replies. i might start w/ the Glock b/c of the availability of aftermarket support and rotate in the cougar.

right now im not really "carrying" spare mags. just set them on the table or put in a pocket until the one in the gun is empty.
 
...shoot the Beretta to stay in practice with your carry gun.
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Excellent advice, Jim Watson. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure some of you will if need be, but IDPA was meant as a SOMEWHAT realistic approach to situations the average Joe might encounter while carrying a concealed handgun. If someone doesn't carry a full-size 1911, Glock, etc. normally, then why would they compete with it? Just to win? Forget about winning and try to learn something. IDPA is not IPSC and it wasn't meant to be.

notos&w, the above wasn't really directed at you, it's just that seeing people at IDPA matches with guns they don't normally carry deviates from the original purpose of IDPA. Heck, I've even used my CZ75BD myself in IDPA, but I don't carry it. But the next match I go to will see me using my Glock 26. If others score higher, so be it. My only reason from now on for attending IDPA matches will be to improve myself WITH MY CARRY GUN.
DAL
 
DAL--
No offense but the only place IDPA is more realisitic is in Bill Wilson's mind. Both IDPA and IPSC are games. Both games can teach important lessons (i.e. shoot acurate, shoot fast) Last I checked you could use any gun and/or holster configuration you wanted in IPSC (even more than IDPA) and IPSC allows you to be more creative in attacking a stage, (reload anyway you feel comfortable) so if you don't care about the game IPSC would seem to be a better choice.
Now don't get me wrong I love to shoot IDPA, but I am tired of hearing how it is the "correct" way of shooting. Fact is both sports will improve your skills. As long as you are having fun, it shouldn't matter which gun you shoot. I am of the firm belief that if you shoot one gun well you will probably shoot many guns well.
 
faustulus, no offense taken. True, IDPA is not really realistic in terms of a real-world encounter, but it does TRY to emphasize the need for cover--at least at the matches I've been to.

I think the main thing shooting games have to offer is shooting from odd positions and angles, shooting under pressure and, last but not least, FUN! If there's one thing that IDPA matches have shown me, it's my weakness as a shooter, and that's worth its weight in gold.
DAL
 
TDDude, thanks for the link. after a lot of looking i found that site - it is one of a very few.

i like you sig line - my wife and i PLANNED to have a kid normally monday evening but God decided that it was better to have a C section tues morning. Since He is so awesome and knows what is best i am confident there is a reason. anyway, the line is right - God has plans for us that might not fit into our schedule but He loves us and is looking out for us.
 
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The cover rule while tactically sound has just become a game's subjective rule for SO's to ignore or use as a club depending on how they like the shooter. The only way it works is if the shooter approaches it with the spirit and intent of the rule in mind in order to practice using cover. If cover is there at an IPSC match I try to use it correctly. I forget a lot :)
 
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