Philosophy of carry vs competition in weapon selection

[zookrider]

I plan to compete in IPSC Production Class using a full size Springfield XD9. Since the full size isn't the best choice for concealabilty, and the 9mm isn't the best choice for SD (arguable I know, but that's not the point of this thread) it occurs to me that I should get a sub compact XD40 for daily carry for a few reasons.

1. Better concealabilty

2. .40 S&W is a better SD cartridge

3. Similarity of design. Though I will obviously practice with both guns, the majority of my practice will be with the competition gun. Since the two are virtually identical, transition should be fairly seemless. Not so with another design. If I carried a 1911 varient for instance, it's operation would not be as automatic as a gun that functioned the same as my competition gun.

Thoughts? Discuss.

 

[Rob1035]

Using the same(ish) pistol for both is a good idea imho.

I personally would use the same caliber to make them even more similar...

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

For different reasons I went along the same path and ended up with a G22 and G27. I had considered the subcompact 45 GAP whatever that number is but I settled on 40 for carry because I was happy with the G22. So pretty much the G22 is for plinking and the G27 is for carry, although all my holsters have an open end so I can carry the G22 if I want/need to.

My wife just went through a concealed carry class and for ammo issues and to switch from her 1911 to the G22 then back to the 1911. In just a couple hundred rounds she had gotten used to not having a safety and was failing to put her safety back on/off when she was using the 1911, so keeping things the same I believe can keep you from screwing up.

 

[Super Trucker]

I have a service (4") XD 40 to play with but my every day carry is a S&W
J-Frame .357Mag. I just didn't see the point in the XD sub. The grip (with pinky extension) is almost the same size as the service model, and it is fairly thick. But if it makes you happy that is what counts most.

 

[Mulliga]

I compete with what I carry. Mostly because of monetary reasons, but I also think it's a good principle.

 

[mete]

I never "played" the IPSC game . I always used it to practice for the real thing. I use d guns and holsters that I carried ,1911 and various P7s.If you're serious about carrying do the same.

 

[only1asterisk]

I think I'd do both with a 4", either .40 or 9mm. I think they chopped the subcompact a bit much.

David

 

[brickeyee]

I think at least part of the decision needs to consider how 'competition' the weapon is. Light triggers pulls, red dot sites, etc are probably not going to serve well for a real carrry gun, particularly concealed.
A weapon that operates and andles as close as possible for both uses would be good.
A weapon with only reliability mods would be good also.
A full up 'race gun' would likely be a problem.

 

[The Drew]

I'd suggest a 4inch xd40 first, and try it out in competition... then if it doesn't work out then move up to the 5inch the advantage is that the 4inch is pretty easy to conceal... and if you can get away with the extra barrel the 5 isn't much harder....

 

[TOADMAN]

Whatever you shoot the best shoud be your daily carry.

 

[TonyB]

I've gone back and forth on this one....this summer I started to shoot my ccw in idpa..mostly because I discovered that my idpa gun(Glock 17) was the one I shot most often(once a week at least)and therefore shot the best..But NEVER carried.I carry revolvers.Most of the time it's a SP101(5 shot)and using it in competition is really a pain.So I bought a 6 shot snubby and started to carry it and use it in idpa.
Then something happened......the whole competition thing reared it's ugly head....I went back to the G17 so I could compete w/ the big boys....maybe too much testosterone or something...
but in theory....it would be ideal to use what you carry....

 

[jason10mm]

As long as you get SOME trigger time behind your carry weapon, the general skills you will develop in IPSC/IDPA/whatever should carry over. Having a similar manual of arms is helpful for malfunction drills and reloads, but you should really strive for the most generic, all encompassing set of skills (don't use the slide stop to drop the slide, etc) so you will be proficient with a wide variety of weapons, since you never know what will be in your hand when the moment comes (your CCW may be at home and you have a fallen LEOs service pistol instead).

But if your total training time is limited and you want to maximize your skills for the CCW weapon, then definitely stick to the same line of guns. The grip angle, design of the sights, recoil impulse, feel of the magazine, location of the mag release, the presentation from the holster, and most importantly the break and reset of the trigger are all things that will vary between makes and models. Specializing in one gun will enhance your competitiveness and probably help you in a SD scenario (provided you have the mindset to fight).

But don't get trapped into thinking that you HAVE to use a similar weapon for CCW to utilize your competition skills. At typical SD ranges the trigger pull, type of sight, grip angle, and reciol probably won't drastically affect your ability to hit the target. Panicking and blindly yanking the trigger will Intense competition will probably help you to focus and ignore distractions, letting you focus on the front sight and hit the target.

I know that on the 3 or 4 occassions that I thought I was actually going to need a weapon my heart rate was somewhere north of 200 and fine motor control was completely lost. Any subtleties of the weapon itself were masked by my adrenaline. Fortunately I never had to pull the trigger on anything that wasn't cardboard, especially in that state.

Bottom line, use competition to enhance your overall shooting skills. Choose your CCW weapon with a mind to what you can actually USE. If the subcompact XD works for you, great. Otherwise join the rest of us with a 642 or kel-tec in our pocket You can always use dry fire drills at home to keep yourself sharp with your CCW weapon, along with regular trips to the range. It would take a strong will to intentionally handicap yourself in a game like IPSC just to buff up on SD skills.

 

[Sam]

Mete and Toadman have the right philosophy on this one.
Subjecting your well trained defensive habits to gamesmanship can be detrimental to your health. I initially took up IPSC to improve my defensive skills, that's why it came into being. I gave it up when I started slipping into gamesmanship and going against my training.

Sam

 

[Souris]

I compete with my carry weapon. I am probably not as competetive as some people out there. Matter of fact last time I shot we had a string of 9 shots 3 and 3 and 3. I fired the first 2 targets and reloaded. People were asking me why I reloaded and I had to explain to them that I only have 7 rounds in the pistol.

 

[YammyMonkey]

When I shoot in IDPA I use my seasonal carry gun. In the warmer months I carry a compact size (4"bbl, ossifer framed) Kimber and in the colder months I carry a full size Springfield. My concern is more with the thicker clothes worn during the winter and getting a few extra fps out of my ammo to help negate the extra layers.

I'd say compete with what you carry; that's why I "compete," to get a better sense of what I'm doing right or wrong.

 

[imas]

Carry a G17 and shoot a G17

Threat solutions UCR is great

 

[MICHAEL T]

I can't belive no comments on ESTRAL and useing a warning shot. As we all know you never fire a warning shot. But no one said a thing. Are we allowed to use a warning shots now ? Just asking

 

[shooter1]

quote:When was the last time you shot a match that was all less than 2 targets, all from concelment, all at less than 10 ft, all strings of fire less than 2 seconds?


Sunday the 31st of July.The range was 5yds, from concealment. Only two strings, but everyone in my relay made the draw and double tap in under 2 seconds. Good pratice, huh?
str1

 

[Vitamin G]

Honestly, If i am ever placed in the situation where I have to draw my gun, i feel that firing a warning shot is going to make the bad guy think i'm incompetent, afraid, or both.
Either way, i'm worse off than had I just took the shot.

 

[TonyB]

I guess if there are 2 bad guys,you could consider the 1st shot on bad guy one to be a warning to bad guy two
of course by the time he realizes it he too will have hole in him

 

[Island Beretta]

Toadman has said all their need to be said on this topic..

Competition is a testing ground, use it.. since we don't always (or want) the unpleasant flavour of the real thing.!!