It's been about 35 years since my last competition with the brushed nickel Series 70 1911. Though some necessary modifications have been made, the appearance is out of the box. Since I have shot it north of 60K, we know each other very well.
Compete AND Carry
- Thread starter MarshallDodge
- Start date
Jim Watson
Member
Need a choice of "Occasionally". For IDPA and USPSA, I usually have a match gun and a "fight my way to and from the range" gun, but every once in a while, I will have a fit of SSP, CCP, or Production with a Real Sidearm.
I have a .380 that was a lot of fun back when IDPA BUG was a side match. But I don't care to shoot it now that BUG is a main match division. If I wanted to do that, I would take the Glock 43 that is my GSSF Pocket gun and actual Carry on Mean Streets Gun. I can't get it down to .380 ballistics, but it will go sub-minor for GSSF.
My timing was unfortunate, I had fibre optic sights put on the Colt Gov't .380 in the last days of BUG side matches. If I had left it alone, it would have better resale as a stock novelty.
I have a .380 that was a lot of fun back when IDPA BUG was a side match. But I don't care to shoot it now that BUG is a main match division. If I wanted to do that, I would take the Glock 43 that is my GSSF Pocket gun and actual Carry on Mean Streets Gun. I can't get it down to .380 ballistics, but it will go sub-minor for GSSF.
My timing was unfortunate, I had fibre optic sights put on the Colt Gov't .380 in the last days of BUG side matches. If I had left it alone, it would have better resale as a stock novelty.
Wow, that would be soft in a P-365.
LuckyDuck
Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2020
- Messages
- 44
Interesting question,
I'm likely the "odd ball" on the topic but I'll give it a go from my perspective since I reckon I have some experience here.
I regularly shot Steel Challenge, IDPA, USPSA, and the local GSSF matches. I found myself in a bit of a hiatus during COVID when matches dried up, ammo became unavailable and when it came back it was at supernatural pricing, etc but I'm wandering back into the competition rhythm lately.
It's been my experience that folks participate in shooting sports for various reasons and fall into different "tribes" as I'll call 'em.
There's the "true" competitors (which I am not), who spend countless energy trying to determine the most optimal combination of equipment to perform at their highest level during the game. I'd say that probably encompasses the largest group of 'regulars' because it's a competitive outlet for them from what I've seen. There's also the group that wants to see what the matches are all about and are likely on the more social end of personalities but on the lower end of firearm experience. I do recognize I"m generalizing there but just sharing my experiences and not trying to 'sell' my opinions as any sort of dogma.
Of course there's those that want to be there to practice reps with their 'carry/issued' gear. These are, from my years of participation, a group that seems to be dwarfed by the competitors/curious newbies exponentially but they certainly have a very unique approach and one of which I respect quite a bit.
As for myself- I'm that "odd/other" category who just like to get outside the house, be surrounded by folks of similar mindsets, and shoot. I'm not particularly motivated by having the 'best' of any certain element of equipment- I think "race/competition" guns are cool as heck but they don't have any particularly practical purpose as a firearm outside of playing the games so that's (for me) enough for me to be interested in learning about them/the approach but not to the point where I'm interested in purchasing one for myself.
I like getting out there and using "regular/factory" pistols with factory ammunition (certainly understand downloaded ammunition meeting pf giving an advantage to whichever game) but I'm only competing against myself at the end of the day. I like using my carry guns (and rotating through different ones/styles/platforms each month) with otherwise standard ammo because my personal focus is just getting out, practicing with standard guns/ammo in unusual range scenarios, and also using it as an excuse to shoot some pistols I've acquired over the years that otherwise would sit in the safe.
Reckon I'm just one of those 'variety being the spice of life' types. I'm personally fine placing mid-pack in local matches but get more enjoyment in my participation by rotating through different pistols/calibers and that variance essentially 'feeding' my desire to continue participating in the shooting games.
Hopefully that makes sense.
-LD
I'm likely the "odd ball" on the topic but I'll give it a go from my perspective since I reckon I have some experience here.
I regularly shot Steel Challenge, IDPA, USPSA, and the local GSSF matches. I found myself in a bit of a hiatus during COVID when matches dried up, ammo became unavailable and when it came back it was at supernatural pricing, etc but I'm wandering back into the competition rhythm lately.
It's been my experience that folks participate in shooting sports for various reasons and fall into different "tribes" as I'll call 'em.
There's the "true" competitors (which I am not), who spend countless energy trying to determine the most optimal combination of equipment to perform at their highest level during the game. I'd say that probably encompasses the largest group of 'regulars' because it's a competitive outlet for them from what I've seen. There's also the group that wants to see what the matches are all about and are likely on the more social end of personalities but on the lower end of firearm experience. I do recognize I"m generalizing there but just sharing my experiences and not trying to 'sell' my opinions as any sort of dogma.
Of course there's those that want to be there to practice reps with their 'carry/issued' gear. These are, from my years of participation, a group that seems to be dwarfed by the competitors/curious newbies exponentially but they certainly have a very unique approach and one of which I respect quite a bit.
As for myself- I'm that "odd/other" category who just like to get outside the house, be surrounded by folks of similar mindsets, and shoot. I'm not particularly motivated by having the 'best' of any certain element of equipment- I think "race/competition" guns are cool as heck but they don't have any particularly practical purpose as a firearm outside of playing the games so that's (for me) enough for me to be interested in learning about them/the approach but not to the point where I'm interested in purchasing one for myself.
I like getting out there and using "regular/factory" pistols with factory ammunition (certainly understand downloaded ammunition meeting pf giving an advantage to whichever game) but I'm only competing against myself at the end of the day. I like using my carry guns (and rotating through different ones/styles/platforms each month) with otherwise standard ammo because my personal focus is just getting out, practicing with standard guns/ammo in unusual range scenarios, and also using it as an excuse to shoot some pistols I've acquired over the years that otherwise would sit in the safe.
Reckon I'm just one of those 'variety being the spice of life' types. I'm personally fine placing mid-pack in local matches but get more enjoyment in my participation by rotating through different pistols/calibers and that variance essentially 'feeding' my desire to continue participating in the shooting games.
Hopefully that makes sense.
-LD
Jim Watson
Member
So what? I have been to state, regional, and national championships in several shooting sports.
My slogan is "I have been beaten by the best in the world."
My motto is "Last place on the scoreboard beats everybody who didn't show up."
My comment was meant as a joke, but I wholeheartedly agree with you. Frankly, I never competed because I never found the allure in it. I used to play billiards, snooker and 9 ball with a friend of mine who competed in Vegas tournaments and had won 3 of them. He always told me to enter, he said I could beat everyone because I would defeat him 6 out of 10 times frequently. Again I never saw the allure or appeal in competing, just not my thing, I do what I do for pure enjoyment.
I have a friend who is a national revolver champion who consistently came in second after Jerry until health problems made him quit. At our IDPA matches, I consistently came in 2nd after him! But I also came in last in Revolvers. This is a riddle to be figured out. Actually, I was close in accuracy but an order of magnitude different in times! I shot revolver quite alot in IDPA, no so much in USPSA unless it's a short range, low count explicitly carry gun match.
Archie
Member
I suppose, in a sense.
Long ago in the dim past I shot NRA 2700. Later I shot a version of the primordial IPSC in those days ...
Now I'm too old and eyes are not as good. But I do shoot in a bi-weekly 'practical pistol' match. The gun I shoot most (I have - ahem - several) is a old, worn and altered S&W model 10. It is my main self defense arm.
This is not a high stakes match. This is not considered a high stakes handgun, either.
Long ago in the dim past I shot NRA 2700. Later I shot a version of the primordial IPSC in those days ...
Now I'm too old and eyes are not as good. But I do shoot in a bi-weekly 'practical pistol' match. The gun I shoot most (I have - ahem - several) is a old, worn and altered S&W model 10. It is my main self defense arm.
This is not a high stakes match. This is not considered a high stakes handgun, either.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I selected “No” because I no longer wish to compete in any run and gun shooting sports and that includes CAS when it was run and gun and not “stand and deliver” wimp loads.
Besides, since retiring and moving to an area that has no tactical type or action type shooting competitions (except for one range) it’s not really that important to me and I am not driving a hundred miles to compete.
The one range near me that does offer IDPA and other competitions apparently doesn’t want new members / shooters since they never returned my calls and the one email they did answer was terse and snotty, so to h*** with ‘em.
Besides, since retiring and moving to an area that has no tactical type or action type shooting competitions (except for one range) it’s not really that important to me and I am not driving a hundred miles to compete.
The one range near me that does offer IDPA and other competitions apparently doesn’t want new members / shooters since they never returned my calls and the one email they did answer was terse and snotty, so to h*** with ‘em.
Our local club has had problems with with too many folks wanting to sign up. So we had to add an extra match sequence. Usually we run two, now it's three. However, it's just guys. The facilities for women are yuk. Also, IMHO, the emphasis on fancy guns and track meet courses of fire is a negative.
Smokin Gator
Member
One thing about competition is that if a shooter is honest with himself he will have a much more accurate idea of where he ranks compared to other shooters then someone who only shoots on their own or with a couple of buddies.
Yeah, the berms are being redone and talk about the johns. The indoor range though is fixed without a new building.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
I usually carry a P226 legion in appendix.
I usually compete with the same gun, same holster setup.
Lately I have been dipping my toes into revolver shooting (as I sometimes carry my L frame revolver) and I made my own holster for the purposes of both carry and compete.
I usually compete with the same gun, same holster setup.
Lately I have been dipping my toes into revolver shooting (as I sometimes carry my L frame revolver) and I made my own holster for the purposes of both carry and compete.
Steve51
Member
Nope. Never have.
Looking to seeing that the next time we shoot together. I'm always looking for something other than my Comp-Tac
Corpral_Agarn
Member
I hope to be sporting an owb holster of my own design next time
I'm finding that kydex is a remarkably forgiving material
entropy
Member
No. I haven't competed in pistol in many years, and I'd look silly carrying a Trap gun. I'm going to do some 3 gun just for fun this summer, but the pistol will be my 1911, which I haven't carried, except for hunting, since 2011, right after CCW became legal in WI.
Rick McC.
Member
Believe it or not; it hides just fine OWB under a tee shirt.
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