IDPA gun choice.

[baddarryl]

After shooting my first IDPA match I now hate my once beloved P89. The first DA pull is a killer. I bought a Glock 26 yesterday and am in love with the constant trigger pull. I am the kinda of guy that will carry what I shoot in the matches. My choices if another Glock, as I really am impressed with the 26, for a carry/IDPA gun would be Glock 17, 19, or 34. What would you suggest as a good balance for both?

There is also the ever sexy CZ 75 SA, but I like the idea of one platform as the rules allow me to use the 26 as a back up. That P89 may be for sale real soon. Ah choices.....

[Ambishot]

I'm running a G19 and love it. I have SA/DA pistols, but for carry I prefer the consistency in trigger pull that you get with pistols like a glock.

If you're looking for suggestions for glock models in IDPA, you really need to ask yourself what type of shooter do you see yourself as and how do you view IDPA. If you're looking to hone your pistol handling skills or hoping to get more of a "real life" feel from IDPA in terms of training, then I'd suggest a more realistic carry gun like the 19 or even a 17.

If you're more into the gaming aspect of IDPA, then the 34 is what you're looking for. Lighter trigger, and overall a better platform for an out of the box race gun for a decent price.

As you said, you'd probably carry the gun that you would compete with, then you might have answered your own questions. My advice would be borrow/rent/shoot both a 19 and a 34 and see how they feel. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a 17 as its advantages over the 19 are slim if you're considering a model 34 as an alternative. Also, some people complain about the grip on the full size frame glocks (17,34) vs. the compacts (19,23).


Hope this helps.

Best,

Ambi

[CatsEye]

Very good advice from Ambishot. If your set on shooting a Glock then what he said is right on. The 17 or 19 can be effective in IDPA and for daily carry. If you just want a competition gun then the 34 is the way to go.

[baddarryl]

Picked up a very clean used Gen 3 17 today. After looking at a 19 I decided that it was yes very conealable, but offered not a huge advantage over my 26. With no budget for a pure match gun, I picked up a 17 and said yep, this will do. I suspect it a little more accurate then a 19 due to barrel length and will carry my 26 most of the time anyway. We'll see how it all goes. I think using one platform will be a wise thing. Thanks guys.

[Waldog]

Don't count out the S&W M&P. Comes in 9mm, 40 and, 45 ACP. Stock trigger is pretty good. It is very easy to get a trigger job cheap. Also comes in a "Match" version with a slightly longer barrel. A Very nice IDPA SSP shooter.

[MrWesson]

If you dont plan on reloading lead bullets later on to save money a glock is a great start. Mags are cheap/plentyful, trigger parts are cheap, holsters, etc.

I have a M&P and a XD and imo the XD needs a trigger job to compete while the M&P is pretty good out of the box and even better after the trigger breaks in.

If it were my money I would buy a Springfield XD service essentials package because for 349.99 @ palmetto state armory you get the gun,2 mags, 3 add mags and a mag holder on the springfield gear up promo.

Add a match trigger from PRP and you are in business(maybe a fiber optic front sight), another mag holder and a XD holster and you are in business.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Can't go wrong with a Glock 19. Look at the list of guns that were just used in the IDPA championship. Lots of various 1911s but the most popular type by far is the Glock.

That being said - I also shoot a 1911 for fun. One good point about the 1911 platform is that it lets you practice malfunction drills more than the Glock.
Ducking for cover. At the last match, I shot - that certainly was the case for quite a few and mine has seized up in two matches!

I'll shoot my 26 or a revolver once in awhile to get trigger time.

[Jim Watson]

Come, now Glen, not all Glocks are created equal.
The G19 is a fine carry gun and there is nothing wrong with excercising your carry gun at a match. But the 2010 Nationals line count shows seven (7.0) G19s lost among 48 G17s and 68 G34s. Plus single digit numbers of the various non-9mm models.

My 1911 (actually a 1991A1 9mm) is clearly obsolete and possibly defective.
Unless the sights were right in the middle of the target when I pulled the trigger yesterday, it dropped points for me. But it did go off every time I pulled the trigger, and was always ready for me to pull the trigger. Several other makes were less cooperative.

However, my current SSP is a S&W Plastic M&P and would be my choice if starting from scratch.

[chris in va]

I didn't have very good luck with my g21sf in IDPA...couldn't get used to the grip angle. My scores proved dramatically once I started using my CZ75.

[baddarryl]

Just got back from the range with the 17. At first I couldn't hit a thing with it. I shot my 26 better the first time believe it or not. I ran el cheapo Independence ammo though it and as I concentrated I got a little better. Then I checked the ammo in the 26 and things were about the same. I got a box of Seller and Bellot and groups tightened up. Sadly I inherently shoot my P89 (as it is the only pistol I have had for 20 years) better. Hopefully time, getting used to a whole new feel, and practice will get me a little better on the Glock. Double taps were especially tough. Honestly a little disappointed in my shooting. Hell, it could have just been a bad morning. Functioned flawlessly BTW. More will be revealed!

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Since my chance of winning a competition are nil, I like to play with my carry gun. Thus, the 19 is dual purpose. If I were a serious youngster, I'd get a 34.

But I shot my 642 in a match once. I just shoot IDPA for trigger time and fun, nowadays.

[RickB]

Where are these Glocks that never malfunction? I shot a Glock-only match last Summer (with a borrowed gun), and in my squad of fifteen shooters, we averaged a malfunction every 400 rounds. That's pretty typical from my observations. I think my 1911 malfed in 2010, but can't remember for sure.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

I said 1911s malfunction usually more than the Glocks!

At least around here they do. Unless someone fools with their Glock - as they do with their 1911. And then they don't run , either.

I had a bad mag that caused a couple of malfunctions recently. I also had a great Glock jam.

A fired casing spun 180 degrees and the slide closed on in, jamming the mouth into the breech face. SO had to call a stop so we could get a jackhammer to get it out. Got a reshoot - local match.

So I guess they do jam a bit.

[MLeake]

I've run a different gun in each IDPA shoot I've done. I'm less concerned with winning, than I am with figuring out which guns work best for me - so I look at IDPA kind of like pre-season football: it's more about weeding out and fine-tuning than it is about competing.

[Steviewonder1]

I shoot IDPA for fun and use a G-19 with no issues. The last Gunfighting Class I took earlier this year had 10 students with 8 Glock's 1 SIG and 1 student had 2 Kimbers. The only issue was the 2 Kimbers kept jamming, stovepiping, and double feeding. No Glock or SIG issues. I own 2 1911 Guns and have never had issues with either. You just don't know when things will happen. The Kimber owner said he was going to the gun store and trading in his Kimbers for Glocks.

[baddarryl]

Took the 17 to the range for the second time today and shot much better with it. I think I can get up to par with it. Still no issues. On this note the 19 seems a good compromise between the 17 and 26. If I had any sense at all I would get a 19 and trade the others. Can you guys carry the 19 as easily as the 26? Obvious factors not withstanding.

[MLeake]

A lot of problems that might be attributed to the choice of gun at an IDPA match should more likely be attributed to the shooter.

Years of static range practice, and a couple rounds of GSSF (again, static, though with multiple targets) had not trained my muscle memory for shooting while moving, or reloading on the move.

Yes, the gun can make a difference. However, I find that footwork (and not locking knees; duck walking; applying martial arts concepts of movement; etc) have much more impact on IDPA performance than does the choice of gun - assuming the gun is not ridiculously unsuited.

You can practice for IDPA without firing a shot. Practice moving fore and aft, laterally, and diagonally while holding your sights (or, as another poster in another thread suggested, a glass of water) level. Practice drawing from under a cover garment. Practice inserting a mag or speed loader while moving to cover.

I suspect you will find that as those things start to feel natural to you, the choice of gun will matter less and less.

[baddarryl]

Wow Mleake! That's great info. Thanks!

[compglock17]

I posted this in another thread, I thought it might help:

Just thought Id throw this out there, since I’m a huge fan of learning to shoot/reload while moving (preferably to cover!!), I have found a simple and effective way to teach the folks at my agency to move and be steady with a weapon. The best part is, you can do it at home! I have them take an empty, 20 oz. water bottle, fill it about 1/3. Then hold the cap end in your dominant hand, and obtain a "shooting" grip, as best you can, with both hands. Now, hold the thing out in front of you, and move. Try to keep the water from sloshing about. Work on that for a while, then move on to dry fire then to live fire. It has proven out well for me and my guys! For carbine work, tape the water bottle to the front sight! I don’t recall where I picked this up or from whom, but it sure works well! And once you have the live fire movement down, start working on the reloads while moving. Just make sure to get the motor program of the reloads down first, as we must crawl before we walk and walk before we run!

[redleg1013]

I must have missed the point; do I need to sell my Sig for a Glock and skip the ambition of having a 1911? I know that I am still new enough that you can smell the shrink wrap; I had thought that the notion of IDPA was 'you have a CWP, and are jumped by a gang of ninjas, now fight your way out' you know more real world than a carnival shoot. Anywho I know that I'm going to more or less suck at first, but if I stick with my Sig is it just going to be a perpetual goat rope? I may draw a bit of heat for this but is an honest question, borne from a lack of knowledge: What's so great about Glock? Is this like a Ford vs. Chevy thing or is it because they are very affordable, common as dog turds, and on par with the Honda Civic as far as the range of aftermarket tricking out that can be done?
Really I want something that is going to go bang each and every time (I did have two Hornady Steel Match rounds that failed to fire) and from time to time I'd like to go out and play... Any help?

[MLeake]

DA/SA is harder to double tap with than are trigger systems with consistent pulls from first to last. Not that it can't be done, but it takes more work.

The 1911 offers a relatively light, consistent pull with short travel and short reset.

The Glock isn't as nice, but is closer in character to a 1911 than a DA/SA. The Glock can also be loaded to 10+1 for IDPA, and often will not require a reload in a string of fire where a 1911 will.

In those strings that exceed 11 rounds, I find the tapered top of a double stack magazine is a bit faster to insert in the well by feel than is the tighter fit of a single stack.

Personally, though, I prefer M&Ps over Glocks, and 1911s over M&Ps.

[Gryff]

I like the XD, M&P, and Glock platforms because you can buy a competition model, but have a different model as your License to Carry or home defense weapon that has the exact same manual-of-arms and basic feel.

My competition gun is an XD9 Tactical, and my home defense gun is an XD45 Tactical. My wife competes with a Glock 34, but her carry gun is a Glock 26.

[ConlawBloganon]

Shoot what you carry. Carry what you shoot. Buying a special gun for IDPA that you never carry or nightstand entirely defeats the purpose of IDPA.

[Gryff]

Shoot what you carry. Carry what you shoot. Buying a special gun for IDPA that you never carry or nightstand entirely defeats the purpose of IDPA.

Just remember that IDPA is not training.

[redleg1013]

So here's my advice question to further muddy the water: I have a P226 40 S&W that I have saved up enough to send in to get the Action Enhancement Package, the Short Reset Trigger, Stainless Guide Rod, and TruGlo TFO (plus shipping). Do I go ahead and follow through and get all Mil-Spec'd out plus a TFO or do I go MacGyver with Midway and Dawson Precision? My issue is that I keep losing my front sight focus (I know, slow down and shoot as fast as you can see... it was an NRA pistol qualifier) on this indoor range where the alley light was less than great for my aging eyes. I am planning on doing more of the indoor shoots until the outdoor season starts including some road trips to the closest IDPA club. Ideally this is what I will carry on me when I decide to cough up the $400 (class plus permit... I guess 6 years as an MP doesn't count) to conceal what I can already walk around with openly. Any suggestions,or BTDTs?