foxmeadow
Member
When I had but one gun....
Compete AND Carry
- Thread starter MarshallDodge
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MarshallDodge
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Carry optics division?
I've shot carry optics division using a Sig P365 with a Holosun 407K. I didn't do well against the full sized guns.
IDPA could use a carry optics division for the small stuff. Also, the BUG division is tailored around something like a Glock 26 when it would be nice if they would lower the power factor so stuff like the newer micros like the S&W Bodyguard 2.0 could play. But, I'd still be happy to shoot those if they will let me shoot them "not for score."Smokin Gator
Member
Yes. That's very popular now. But even many of the guns in other divisions look much racier then in the past. 10 or 15 years ago, probably less, you'd have been shocked to see what IDPA allows now.
somethingbenign
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I will say in my small circle guys are more likely to carry a more race oriented gun than when I first got into carrying. With the exception of one guy we all compete with carry/duty guns on the occasion we do compete.
Edit to add: In fact competitions have restricted me from competing with carry guns and gear quite a bit. Between minimum calibers, power factor in BUG division, and prohibitions on appendix carry I have not made a match a priority a few times. I'll get on my soapbox and say full house 327 in a snub revolver really should be valid for BUG.
Edit to add: In fact competitions have restricted me from competing with carry guns and gear quite a bit. Between minimum calibers, power factor in BUG division, and prohibitions on appendix carry I have not made a match a priority a few times. I'll get on my soapbox and say full house 327 in a snub revolver really should be valid for BUG.
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The question was asked in the present tense, so, my answer is “No.” In the previous century, specifically the very early Nineties, I did shoot a shoot-and-move type of competition, with a Colt Stainless Commander, which was my police duty pistol, and normal concealed carry pistol, at the time. The intent was to use what we carried. We were expected to use cover. If I remember correctly, this was before IDPA existed. No sponsors, no prizes, just shooters who wanted to improve their performance, under time pressure. So, 3.5 decades ago, my answer would have been “Yes.”
doubleh
Member
I can no longer move faster than a walk and can't assume the positions needed so it's a no for me.
We have a run and gun club here and years ago when I was still agile I went to one of their shoots to see what the rules were, equipment needed, and membership fees. I was met with dirty looks like I was there to steal something and no one even offered to say hello. I took the hint and left.
I don't carry either except in my vehicle now. Too uncomfortable. The good thing is I live in one of the safest areas in the country.
We have a run and gun club here and years ago when I was still agile I went to one of their shoots to see what the rules were, equipment needed, and membership fees. I was met with dirty looks like I was there to steal something and no one even offered to say hello. I took the hint and left.
I don't carry either except in my vehicle now. Too uncomfortable. The good thing is I live in one of the safest areas in the country.
Smokin Gator
Member
At our USPSA matches I always try to talk to people who are behind our squad watching that I don't recognize. I'll usually ask if they know someone here and about 50% of the time they do. They know at least a little about the matches. The other half are there interested, checking it out and I'll try to give them basic info and answer questions.
I'll explain that I have to get back to help resetting the stage and that it's expected of all shooters. I'll also tell them about a couple of other nearby matches in case they're closer to where they live. I hate the idea of someone showing up interested and no one taking a little time to talk to them.
Based on most of the comments I'm seeing I want to take a moment to clarify my earlier post. My primary carry is a Sig P320 X-Carry with RDS, a WML, and a folding gas pedal.
It barely meets USPSA Carry Optics rules and doesn't meet IDPA rules, but because it is what I carry I want to be as good as possible with it so I use it for competition knowing that I won't be winning the match overall unless a miracle happens, but I have managed to just barely shoot at Master level in qualifiers with it.
When I want to try and win the overall match I use a different gun that is specifically built for competition. Conversely, when I have to wear a suit and tie and want to be presentable and armed, I carry a much smaller gun like my S&W Shield or 642.
It barely meets USPSA Carry Optics rules and doesn't meet IDPA rules, but because it is what I carry I want to be as good as possible with it so I use it for competition knowing that I won't be winning the match overall unless a miracle happens, but I have managed to just barely shoot at Master level in qualifiers with it.
When I want to try and win the overall match I use a different gun that is specifically built for competition. Conversely, when I have to wear a suit and tie and want to be presentable and armed, I carry a much smaller gun like my S&W Shield or 642.
I don't know where you're shooting, but our local IDPA clubs...we have 5 within 90mins...all allow Appendix Carry for matches. We have guys shooting CCP and CO who compete carrying that way.
BUG was once ruled by .380 guns but have been taken over by guys shooting 9mm in the SIG 365. The problem is loading a 9mm light enough to just make the Power Factor of 95 ...that's a 115gr bullet at 826fps or a 147gr bullet at 647fps
armoredman
Member
This is one of the two sidearms I compete with...
And the only time I carry them.
So...no.
And the only time I carry them.
So...no.
somethingbenign
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I was referring to points of time over the entirety of my shooting life not just right now. It definitely was a sticking point the first few matches I completed in. The range was nice enough to have a loaner "universal" OWB holster they had just for guys like me that didn't have a legal holster. This is back when 40 S&W was still the primary LEO cartridge and AIWB was largely considered irresponsible. Crazy to think I've been into shooting long enough to see such drastic changes, I don't feel that old yet.
halfmoonclip
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Our little, Club league, insists we use guns we could carry. Sometimes I use a BG2.0.
It's nothing fancy, but it does get us shooting things we could carry.
Moon
It's nothing fancy, but it does get us shooting things we could carry.
Moon
I've shot my Sig P365 9mm in BUG, but I was making the 125 power factor doing it. I can't load a .380 up enough to make the power factor. I have tried with my Sig P365-380, Glock 42, and S&W Bodyguard 2.0 and just can't do it in those short barrels with published load data within SAAMI spec.. (I can do it with factory 102 grain Golden Sabers, but that would be an expensive match!) Perhaps the local matches don't care, but I haven't tried to shoot one with standard 90-95 grain ammo that only makes a power factor in the 80s. I did load some 9mm for my Sig P365 using 95 grain .380 bullets at just over 1000 FPS, but I decided that I would rather shoot my Bodyguard 2.0 not for score if they will let me than to game it with a light 9mm round. I hope to try that in a couple of weeks.
CajunBass
Member
I shot with a local IPSC club back in the late 70's using a box stock Colt Government Model, 1911, 70 Series. Race guns hadn't really arrived yet, the cool kids were shooting basically the same thing, but with trigger jobs, improved sights and such. Plus they knew how to shoot.
Concealed carry was "may issue" in those days, so there wasn't a lot of that, but had there been, that Colt would had worked just fine.
Concealed carry was "may issue" in those days, so there wasn't a lot of that, but had there been, that Colt would had worked just fine.
For those in TX, Eric - https://sensibleselfdefense.com/about-us runs short range, well planned carry gun matches. Stages are based on real world incidents. Folks shoot carry guns (except for the occassional gamer who wants to practice his 'game'). The shots can be hard with a small revolver or semi. Quite fun and a challenge. Making a head shot at a distance with something like J or G42 is interesting (before you say it never happens, it was based on when it did).
Here's a write up and video of such: https://blog.krtraining.com/kr-training-december-2024-newsletter/
Here's a write up and video of such: https://blog.krtraining.com/kr-training-december-2024-newsletter/
C-grunt
Member
I compete with my duty gun. Glock 17, Steiner MPS, and Surefire 300U light.
nofendertom
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Makes me wonder how many who compete and carry with one gun are in law enforcement.
Smokin Gator
Member
That looked fine. But usually when people talk about a more carry gun/ self defense type match they complain that USPSA is just shooting out in the open blasting targets. The hidden stage where you didn't know where targets were in advance was very straight forward. I'm fine with that it's all shooting but just doesn't look that much different.
Rockrivr1
Member
A friend of mine competes with a S&W 625 with a dot. Lots of moon clips and ammo carrier for them. He’s quick with the reloads. At first I thought he’d have a hard time keeping up with semi autos but overall, not so much. Much better than me, though that isn’t hard. 
Neither IDPA or USPSA have much realism. Lots of folks have commented that too much of USPSA is a track meet as a major time component. My take is that both just give you practice on drawing and getting good hits on targets in a reasonable time. Another critique of USPSA is that folks don't priortize good hits if it slows them down. They are happy with Cs if it helps the overall hit factor math. On DA STREETZ, Cs are not good. IDPA use of sticks for cover now was because of folks whining on cover calls.
If you compete to practice gun handling and marksmanship skills as compared to emphasize winning through gaming, it's fun and practice of some skills. Many gamers don't carry at all, anyway.
Smokin Gator
Member
I'd be happy to make a C hit on an adversary before they hit me. Not a first shot lethal hit but it would cause them a seconds pause. Even if you're shooting for your best score you are at the same time practicing your gun handling and marksmanship.
You see it many times where a shooter shoots a match in 100 seconds. Another shooter is only slightly more accurate then the first shooter but takes 175 seconds but thinks they were the better shooter. In IDPA I've seen shooters who took 3 times as much time to shoot a match, but hey, they were the fewest points down.
I didn't notice how the scoring worked in that video but the shooting was just standing out in the open. I compete and carry.
You see it many times where a shooter shoots a match in 100 seconds. Another shooter is only slightly more accurate then the first shooter but takes 175 seconds but thinks they were the better shooter. In IDPA I've seen shooters who took 3 times as much time to shoot a match, but hey, they were the fewest points down.
I didn't notice how the scoring worked in that video but the shooting was just standing out in the open. I compete and carry.
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