.22 for IDPA practice ?

hounddawg · November 26, 2012, 04:25 PM

trying to talk myself into buying a M&P 22 for IDPA practice but handled one today and the trigger had about 3/8 inch pre travel. I have a M&P 9 but with a Apex trigger kit in it so the triggers are worlds apart. I also have a Buckmark but converted it to optics and it has a long barrel. Great for Streel but doubt it will help my IDPA times. I am also considering a Buckmark with target irons and a 4 inch barrel. Not really sure that would help me all that much though. Other thoughts were a Colt or SIG 1911 in .22

I figure if I make some practice targets at 1/2 or 1/4 size that would make of good practice in the draw, target acquisition and transition. I have piddled with IDPA, ICORE and Steel a bit but never anything more than a occasional match for fun. I will never be a serious competitor but would like to sharpen my skills a bit. I won't have the money for anything until January so no big rush. Any thoughts from those who have more experience at this sort of thing would be welcome.

RickB · November 26, 2012, 07:07 PM

You can handload 9mm for about $4 per box of fifty. During the last "ammo crisis", I sometimes paid double that for rimfire ammo. I'd spend the money you have earmarked for a rimfire pistol, on a handloading set-up.

hounddawg · November 27, 2012, 06:02 AM

thanks for the reply. Should have searched this before posting. Seems like it has been beat to death already. On the reloads I figure 3 cents per primer, 6.5 cents per LRN and maybe a penny for powder so maybe 5 dollars per 50 so point taken on the price

Jim Watson · November 27, 2012, 10:51 AM

I like subcaliber practice, agreeing with Jeff Cooper who said "You can learn about 80% of what you need to know with a .22."

I have an Ace, a Kadet Conversion, and a K22 for the purpose.

I use them for warmup on the draw and target transitions. I do not double tap with a .22, the lack of recoil will give you funny ideas. I normally shoot some centerfire after warmup with the .22.

The problem with the M&P .22 is, as you have seen, that it is not an M&P. It looks and hefts like one, but the swinging hammer lockwork completely changes the actual shooting. Maybe somebody will bring out a conversion like you can get for 1911, CZ, and Glock.

hounddawg · November 27, 2012, 02:50 PM

Quote:

The problem with the M&P .22 is, as you have seen, that it is not an M&P. It looks and hefts like one, but the swinging hammer lockwork completely changes the actual shooting. Maybe somebody will bring out a conversion like you can get for 1911, CZ, and Glock.

APEX is working on one, might be out sometime next year. If I can build up my toy money a Sig 226 with a conversion kit might be the next addition to my safe. No worries one way or the other, any new pistol is a fun pistol and I have no fantasy of ever making Distinguished Master. Just to have a set goal though I am going to start a organized training regimen though and see how much I can improve before summer

found one at http://shooting-performance.com

Offtopic but last week I got a friend interested by showing him some IDPA videos. He has not shot anything since his Army days but recently retired and was in need of a hobby. he just ordered a new Sig, holster etc and is interested in competing so looks like I will have a weekday training partner now. Rumor on the street is that his wife is shopping around for a hitman to take me out now

November 26, 2012, 04:25 PM	#1
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 760	.22 for IDPA practice ? trying to talk myself into buying a M&P 22 for IDPA practice but handled one today and the trigger had about 3/8 inch pre travel. I have a M&P 9 but with a Apex trigger kit in it so the triggers are worlds apart. I also have a Buckmark but converted it to optics and it has a long barrel. Great for Streel but doubt it will help my IDPA times. I am also considering a Buckmark with target irons and a 4 inch barrel. Not really sure that would help me all that much though. Other thoughts were a Colt or SIG 1911 in .22 I figure if I make some practice targets at 1/2 or 1/4 size that would make of good practice in the draw, target acquisition and transition. I have piddled with IDPA, ICORE and Steel a bit but never anything more than a occasional match for fun. I will never be a serious competitor but would like to sharpen my skills a bit. I won't have the money for anything until January so no big rush. Any thoughts from those who have more experience at this sort of thing would be welcome. __________________ Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. - Ronald Reagan

November 27, 2012, 06:02 AM	#3
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 760	thanks for the reply. Should have searched this before posting. Seems like it has been beat to death already. On the reloads I figure 3 cents per primer, 6.5 cents per LRN and maybe a penny for powder so maybe 5 dollars per 50 so point taken on the price __________________ Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other. - Ronald Reagan Last edited by hounddawg; November 27, 2012 at 06:10 AM.

November 26, 2012, 07:07 PM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Posts: 4,782	You can handload 9mm for about $4 per box of fifty. During the last "ammo crisis", I sometimes paid double that for rimfire ammo. I'd spend the money you have earmarked for a rimfire pistol, on a handloading set-up.

November 27, 2012, 10:51 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,673	I like subcaliber practice, agreeing with Jeff Cooper who said "You can learn about 80% of what you need to know with a .22." I have an Ace, a Kadet Conversion, and a K22 for the purpose. I use them for warmup on the draw and target transitions. I do not double tap with a .22, the lack of recoil will give you funny ideas. I normally shoot some centerfire after warmup with the .22. The problem with the M&P .22 is, as you have seen, that it is not an M&P. It looks and hefts like one, but the swinging hammer lockwork completely changes the actual shooting. Maybe somebody will bring out a conversion like you can get for 1911, CZ, and Glock.