Shot my first pistol match with XD(M) .40! W00T!

[eric.cartman]

I'm not gun slinger people, and this was my virgin match so I took it slow

Comparing to other tricked out pistols there, XD(M) .40 is not a good choice for competition shooting, at least not in stock configuration... in my opinion. Soooooo, I've decided to get another XD(M) 9mm OD Green/SS and trick it out; aka. heavy guide rod, extended threaded barrel + compensator, trigger job, mag well, etc etc. Hopefully next match I'll do better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJwmk5MXkM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y-Vovog5To

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nixtkm5Tllw

 

[Sam1911]

Meaning no disrespect at all, what's with the rush to modify an already great gun? If you didn't win your class, on your first day out, I'm 99.999999% sure it isn't because you didn't have all the race junk bolted to your gun.

That stuff is great, if you really want to compete in Open class and need to shave miliseconds off your time to beat the other front-runners. But you're going to need to build years' worth of skills first before any of that bolt-on stuff is going to make the difference for you.

I always caution new shooters that the first thing they need to buy is about 10,000 rds and the entry fees to a year's worth of matches. Once they've burned through those, they'll be far better qualified to decide just which boat anchor/race junk they need to bolt onto their guns.

It's easy to get all excited about building the best race gun you can. It's also easy to have your interests develop and find that you're the proud owner of a relatively useless $3,000 gun only suited to a kind of sport you don't care to play anymore.

Just my very humble opinion!

Now for the important message: GREAT JOB and CONGRATS on shooting your first match!

-Sam

 

[Jim Watson]

To be specific, putting a compensator on a common service pistol will require you to enter Open Division and compete against 28 shot scope sighted .38 Supers which will push you even farther down in the standings. Put your money into ammo and maybe even a class from a pro.

If you want a new gun for Christmas, get the 9mm which will have less recoil and ammo cost, and have the trigger smoothed, but leave off the other bells and whistles. Shoot Production until you are pretty good at it.

 

[CatsEye]

I agree with what these guys said. Spend 6 months to a year shooting what you have. By then you will actually know what you want for the sport.

 

[JoeSlomo]

Good for you!

Competition will improve speed, accuracy, AND your ability to handle your firearm safely.

Most importantly, imo, it's FUN!

As mentioned above, DON'T WORRY about your equipment so much. Especially not at the beginning. Shoot in your division, and don't worry about the other divisions, especially those "cheetin'" bastage limited and open guys with their fancy expensive rigs.

I shoot single stack / CDP, ie, my beloved 1911's. Equipment is relatively cheap, there are open and limited shooters who have spent more money on their magazines than I did on my gun, and while I can't compete against the higher capacity guns when shot by someone of equal or greater skill when I have to do mag changes, we single stackers STILL lay the smack down on those who think the "equipment" will do the job alone.

Stick with what you got man.

 

[chbrow10]

+1 to Sam:

"the first thing they need to buy is about 10,000 rds and the entry fees to a year's worth of matches"

That is very, very, very good advice.

I've been shooting USPSA since July of 2008. Due to the fact that I am poor, I've shot essentially the same gun (A $420 RIA 1911) for that entire time, with very few modifications. I spend my money on match fees and reloading components. Last May, as a D shooter, I beat every C shooter at the Mississippi Classic. The top C shooter was shooting a $1500 gun. I am now a C shooter and placed 2nd in C class at the Louisiana Gator Classic in October.

All the advice here is spot on. Practice and shoot what you have.

 

[mlaustin]

Congrats on your first match! Sounds like you're already pretty hooked, but to echo the comments of everyone else before me, I would only add things to your gun which would also be useful in a self-defense scenario rather than turning it into a race gun. As has been pointed out here, there aren't degrees of adding certain bits on - once you do, EVERYTHING is legal against you and you're at a massive disadvantage rather than a small one.

If you want a similar gun that works in stock classes and is set up from the box for match shooting, see if you can find a used Glock 34 or 35.

 

[Steve 48]

I generally shoot with a Glock 35 which shoots well and fast in matches. I have tried the 1911's but found it more cumbersom to shoot.

 

[David E]

There are SIX, count 'em, SIX divisions in USPSA. You're wanting to put your gun in the hardest division, Open, after only shooting one match ?

The XD-m in .40 would do well in Limited 10 division as it is. Likewise, it could make an impact in the Limited division, as well. Buy a couple extended mag bases to increase the capacity to 20+ rds and you'd really be set for Limited. (I just did this with my M&P .40 last weekend)

If you reload, then shooting .40 minor makes it viable in the Production Division.

A trigger job may help, but other than that, you don't need much, if anything else.

Next match, shoot Limited Ten and have fun.