Competing with your carry gun

[Red Cent]

A thread on this site planted a thought.

How many of you carry a J frame or smaller revolver? How many carry a 3" semi?

I don't fit in this mix because I don't carry that size of a handgun. If you do carry it, do you actually practice, either live fire or dry fire? Have you ever went to the range and set up some difficult scenarios or set up something that puts you out of the "box"? Can you actually, really, honestly, defend yourself or others?

Ever fired your SD firearm, laying on your back and with one hand?

Sit in a chair, grab your firearm and take out the BG through the window and down the hallway?

I have a M60-10. I have never fired a factory 125gr HP in the handgun. Don't care to. I use it in competition with light loads.

I practice with the Commander.

 

[Steve Raacke]

I use my daily carry Ruger P-89 and my daily belt slide holster or Uncle Mike Pro 3 duty holster for local USPSA matches.
Is that what you are talking about?

Steve,
La Open Carry Awareness League
www.laopencarry.org

 

[killchain]

I carry an LCP for most concealed uses, and if I go bigger I usually bring my 92FS.

I do compete with my 92FS.

Also, I have the priviledge of having work that encourages that kind of training you're talking about. A tip, though... have a buddy set the course for you where you can't observe it first, then try it. Don't get the cheat sheets and 5 min sneak peeks like the IPSC competitors.

 

[Red Cent]

IPSC style would not be a large hindrance running the course. Used to be an "A" shooter. IDPA is another story. I can see the guy slicing the pie in his house, looking for the real life bad guy(s). If someone would holler "COVER!!", he would be shot as he looked down at his feet.
But you do have a strong point. However, my point is that most people carry the small handguns with short sight radius, or a ditch and a blade, generally lousy triggers(small weapons difficult to tune), bunch of recoil and they don't seriously practice. I won't carry those little guys. Difficult to conquer.

 

[9MMare]

I do IDPA/IPSC practices and do the moving, sitting, backing up, thru 'windows' around 'walls,' etc. I do it with my carry gun, a full-size M&P.

However I dont do it HOW I carry. I purse carry and that is not allowed. So I use a serpa holster, 3 o'clock. I practice drawing from the purse at home.

I would like to buy a smaller, thinner carry gun tho, like a Kahr, and if I did, I would practice extensively with that, including the IDPA/IPSC practices.

I believe you have to be proficient with a carry weapon...so that as much as possible is automatic under stress. That is why I'm concerned about practicing with my SA competition revolvers.

 

[threefeathers]

9MMARE, Hi, have you attended any of Kathy Jackson's courses at FAS?
The defensive handgun courses have folks firing in every position they can think of and with every carry gun.

 

[Malamute]

I've shot a few steel plate shoots with a Ruger 45 single action. As long as there wasnt more then 6 plates I can shoot faster/better scores than with a 1911, and often better than a DA Smith. It's not from lack of shooting 1911's either, I just shoot revolvers better, always have.

 

[9MMare]

9MMARE, Hi, have you attended any of Kathy Jackson's courses at FAS?
The defensive handgun courses have folks firing in every position they can think of and with every carry gun.

No I havent but I'd like to. It's about 2 hrs away. Now that I have a little camper & can take the dogs, I may be able to sign up for something.

 

[mokin]

I've run three gun matches with my carry pistols. Not carried durring the match as I normally carry though. I go back to the range and practice drawing later. I will also through in some drills with a timer if I have time, ammunition, and remembered to bring the timer.

 

[GCBurner]

They're having an IDPA Back-Up Gun match at the club next month. I've never shot in an IDPA competition, but I'm tempted to take my .32 ACP Walther PPK, just to try it out. I understand the BUG scenarios are at only 2 to 10 yards, and the .32 meets the power requirement.

 

[cav637]

My carry gun is a Glock Model 19(9mm). I use it in IDPA. I use it in USPSA. I use it to plink. I do not use it to hunt moose.

 

[ChCx2744]

I think IDPA-style, defense oriented training is a good idea. IDPA kinda has it down, but I think it would be interesting if a whole new field of IDPA-style defensive/CCW only scenarios and drills opened up. There's a workout program called "Cross Fit" and it's a program where you don't know what your next workout is, but each one is pretty intense. If they had some sort of "Cross Fit" or "SPEAR" for defensive firearms, that would be very interesting and worth the effort. Maybe we're onto something here?

 

[Red Cent]

CHC, another reason that sparked my comments is a new game. Pocket Carry Class requires J frames or smaller. Semi autos cannot have barrels longer than 3.65"s. An example would be the Colt Defender. 3"s for the revolvers.
Discreet Carry Class allows K frames with the 3" limititation. I have ordered a custom 3" heavy barrel for my Dan Wesson.
At this time, it allows a range of holster positions. Concealment garments are required per IDPA.
Some of us were in for a suprise about the level of "prowess" that we had NOT achieved.

 

[ny32182]

I used to compete with my carry G19; I now use a 34, but if anything, competition has confirmed my notion to not carry a smaller gun since they are harder to shoot well. I could probably shoot the 19 almost as efficiently as the 34, but feel the drop off in performance would be rapid if going to a gun smaller than the 19.

 

[Nushif]

I used to carry smaller guns as well, but ever since taking my first course where we did practice drawing and shooting (sadly only dryfiring) as well as gun handling I carry a PT911.

For me at least it seems the Compact Service pistol is the beast deal in terms of capabilities for both the gun and me. So I guess the answer here is ..

Because of mild competition I changed my carry gun?

 

[benEzra]

I've shot USPSA matches with my EDC (S&W 3913LS) and it was an eye-opener initially (you don't know what you don't know until you try to run your gear under stress against the clock) and eventually a confidence builder (once I learned better skills and saw the improvement).

Even if it handicaps you a bit in the scores, I'd highly recommend shooting your EDC in matches periodically just to become more competent with it. Also, once you can run a small pistol well in a match, you will probably do even better when you transition back to a full-size.

 

[Red Cent]

I agree BenEzra. Cowboy has a low power factor and so does the PCCA game. However; if you learn to shoot the pocket gun with light loads, the subconscious will take over with the carry loads. We all realize that trigger control is paramount for accurate shooting. We learn that by practice. Speed is another plus achieved by practice. There is a world of difference in the full size handgun compared to a 16 ounce (or less) pocket rocket.

 

[Drail]

I used to shoot a lot of IPSC and steel and pins a few years back and had dedicated race guns for the games but once in a while I would shoot a match with my carry gun, a revolver. It was very educational and taught me to practice those reloads. Especially after getting to watch Jerry Miculek at a match. The reload slowed me down but I still got hits where they needed to go. And everybody at the match got some good laughs out of it. If you never tried a match with your carry rig, do it.

 

[9MMare]

I've shot USPSA matches with my EDC (S&W 3913LS) and it was an eye-opener initially (you don't know what you don't know until you try to run your gear under stress against the clock) and eventually a confidence builder (once I learned better skills and saw the improvement).

I've found this to be very true benEzra. It really helps to apply pressure, even if it isnt a real-life situation. That is the one reason that I consider entering a match...for the added stress.

And yes, it is also a confidence builder. It also opens your eyes up to areas where you are not prepared, that you probably never even considered.

Plus, I love moving and shooting I find that a very valuable lesson...if you ever do have to draw IRL, MOVE!!! I hope it is now one of those automatic things for me.

 

[9MMare]

I used to shoot a lot of IPSC and steel and pins a few years back and had dedicated race guns for the games but once in a while I would shoot a match with my carry gun, a revolver. It was very educational and taught me to practice those reloads. Especially after getting to watch Jerry Miculek at a match. The reload slowed me down but I still got hits where they needed to go. And everybody at the match got some good laughs out of it. If you never tried a match with your carry rig, do it.

Yup.

I once bought a bad batch of ammo..cheap junk...it gave me plenty of practice speed clearing. That is what I ended up using it for...I still have some. I mix it into target practice, it's random, and if there's a problem, I practice speed clearing bad rounds.