Jim Watson
Member
A local rules match presented last week by the Prac-Tac wing of the Steel City Gun Club at Brock's Gap Training Center, Hoover, Alabama.
Maximum barrel length 4" with a category of "Glock 19, if you must" not eligible for prizes.
To be carried concealed under an Aloha shirt, 6 rounds loaded; lots of reloads on hand for 18 shot stages.
Target and prop layout rather like IDPA or USPSA, time plus scoring, targets neutralized or not by two USPSA A or B hits. (Yes, I know USPSA no longer prints the B on the head but these folks were using old stock targets and familiar terminology.)
I don't have a maximum gun for the match so I shot my Ruger LC9s and loaned my Glock 43 to my colleague who shoots a G34 in regulation matches.
Stages were pretty tough; ranges long for a sub-4" gun or with hard cover/no shoots, color coding, etc.
Lessons Learned:
I am about a 10 yard shooter with that little gun, farther is tough.
I can sometimes hit better with it left handed than right.
It is not speed load or slide lock load friendly. The magazine does not always drop free and does not always insert without depressing the catch. The slide stop cannot reasonably be depressed by thumb, must yank the slide "slingshot" to close.
The trigger is narrow with prominent safety tab, my trigger finger got pretty tender.
Not stuff that seems important for a couple dozen rounds of monthly familiarization but shooting a lot on the clock, it matters.
But there is a good side.
It is reliable, zero malfunctions ever with two or more factory loads and three or four reloads.
The trigger pull is smooth and light, my PPC revolver should be so fine. So light that I am glad I got the version with thumb safety.
My friend with my Glock 43 had the same limitations of light weight and short sight radius on accuracy, but the gun was easier to run. It fed, fired, and functioned reliably, and was easier to reload, manual of arms what she is used to.
If I don't trade into a 4" gun by next year, I will take my OACP.
Maximum barrel length 4" with a category of "Glock 19, if you must" not eligible for prizes.
To be carried concealed under an Aloha shirt, 6 rounds loaded; lots of reloads on hand for 18 shot stages.
Target and prop layout rather like IDPA or USPSA, time plus scoring, targets neutralized or not by two USPSA A or B hits. (Yes, I know USPSA no longer prints the B on the head but these folks were using old stock targets and familiar terminology.)
I don't have a maximum gun for the match so I shot my Ruger LC9s and loaned my Glock 43 to my colleague who shoots a G34 in regulation matches.
Stages were pretty tough; ranges long for a sub-4" gun or with hard cover/no shoots, color coding, etc.
Lessons Learned:
I am about a 10 yard shooter with that little gun, farther is tough.
I can sometimes hit better with it left handed than right.
It is not speed load or slide lock load friendly. The magazine does not always drop free and does not always insert without depressing the catch. The slide stop cannot reasonably be depressed by thumb, must yank the slide "slingshot" to close.
The trigger is narrow with prominent safety tab, my trigger finger got pretty tender.
Not stuff that seems important for a couple dozen rounds of monthly familiarization but shooting a lot on the clock, it matters.
But there is a good side.
It is reliable, zero malfunctions ever with two or more factory loads and three or four reloads.
The trigger pull is smooth and light, my PPC revolver should be so fine. So light that I am glad I got the version with thumb safety.
My friend with my Glock 43 had the same limitations of light weight and short sight radius on accuracy, but the gun was easier to run. It fed, fired, and functioned reliably, and was easier to reload, manual of arms what she is used to.
If I don't trade into a 4" gun by next year, I will take my OACP.
