Which pistol for IDPA?

jetdriver · December 4, 2004, 09:01 PM

Okay, I am undecided. I am thinking about getting into IDPA locally, and have narrowed down the two pistols I want to get into to 2 or 3. I used to own a Glock 21, and liked it for many reasons. I currently own a smaller .45 for CCW. But, I am really interested in the Springfield XD 9, 4". I am drawn to 9mm for IDPA because ammo is cheap. I have narrowed it down to a GLock 21, or Glock 17. Or the SA XD9.

Pro's for the .45 that I can think of:

It's a .45! (i like .45...) but also I have another pistol in this caliber.

I have a Glock 21 frame, so I was thinking of getting a used 2nd gen G21, then I would have one frame with finger grooves, and one without.

I am very comfortable with Glocks, lots of aftermarket parts, etc.

Cons... ammo is expense, relatively speaking.

Pros for the XD9:

lots of 9mm ammo for practice.

I really like the ergonomics of the XD. grip angle...etc.

Jim Watson · December 4, 2004, 09:16 PM

Nothing wrong with an XD, I mean Rob Leatham shoots one. But he works for Springfield. The rest of the SSP shooters use Glock, about 80%.
G17 is fine, G34 MIGHT be better.
G22 or G35 .40 cal would be good IF you reload, a light loaded .40 is said to be softer to shoot than 9mm hardball.
G21 costs more and kicks more, where is the competitive advantage?

GeneS · December 5, 2004, 12:18 PM

jetdriver,

I think the SA XD9 is only allowed in ESP division, where most of the competition is 9mm/.38 Super/.40 caliber 1911's. Though there are plenty of people who do very well with an XD.

If you want to shoot in SSP, the Glock 17 or 34 are about as good as it comes.

Gene

jetdriver · December 5, 2004, 06:13 PM

Thanks for the reply guys. What are the number of people using G21's?

Jim Watson · December 5, 2004, 07:18 PM

At the 2004 IDPA Nationals, 330+ shooters competing:
95 Glocks, 5 of them G21 .45s. (and one G30 .45)
(43 G34s, 31 G17s, 6 G19s = 80 9mms)

Last year there were 8 G21s out of 90 Glocks, and that one G30.

Oh yeah, this year there were two (2.0) XD-9s.

DanV1317 · December 5, 2004, 09:55 PM

You can't go wrong with the glock 17. thats for sure.

John Forsyth · December 6, 2004, 02:18 PM

If you reload, then the G21 would be just fine. I know a master class shooter that uses one and is very good with it, but again he reloads his own ammo using 185gr SWC's.

If you do not reload, the best choice is either the G17 or the G34.

jetdriver · December 6, 2004, 07:55 PM

what about power factor? is the 9mm too light?

Jim Watson · December 6, 2004, 09:21 PM

A G17 etc enters IDPA in Stock Service Pistol, SSP, with a minimum power factor of 125. Common WWB runs around 1130 fps for a 115 grain bullet, PF 129.9. SSP was written FOR 9mm, pretty much.

An XD9 enters in Enhanced Service Pistol, ESP, (because it has a nominal single action trigger pull) with the same power factor.

9mm is just about perfect, cheap and adequately powerful.

Handy · December 6, 2004, 09:31 PM

What's uncompetitive about the G21? Against other .45s it will do fine.

donkee · December 8, 2004, 07:09 AM

I use a CZ75, so I better leave now!

Sorry

jetdriver · December 8, 2004, 10:19 PM

Thanks again guys. This pistol is just for competition. I carry a 45 for CCW, but am thinking that 9mm is better for me for competition, because ammo is inexpensive.

December 4, 2004, 09:01 PM	#1
jetdriver Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 153	Which pistol for IDPA? Okay, I am undecided. I am thinking about getting into IDPA locally, and have narrowed down the two pistols I want to get into to 2 or 3. I used to own a Glock 21, and liked it for many reasons. I currently own a smaller .45 for CCW. But, I am really interested in the Springfield XD 9, 4". I am drawn to 9mm for IDPA because ammo is cheap. I have narrowed it down to a GLock 21, or Glock 17. Or the SA XD9. Pro's for the .45 that I can think of: It's a .45! (i like .45...) but also I have another pistol in this caliber. I have a Glock 21 frame, so I was thinking of getting a used 2nd gen G21, then I would have one frame with finger grooves, and one without. I am very comfortable with Glocks, lots of aftermarket parts, etc. Cons... ammo is expense, relatively speaking. Pros for the XD9: lots of 9mm ammo for practice. I really like the ergonomics of the XD. grip angle...etc.

December 6, 2004, 02:18 PM	#7
John Forsyth Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 378	If you reload, then the G21 would be just fine. I know a master class shooter that uses one and is very good with it, but again he reloads his own ammo using 185gr SWC's. If you do not reload, the best choice is either the G17 or the G34. __________________ John

December 4, 2004, 09:16 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Nothing wrong with an XD, I mean Rob Leatham shoots one. But he works for Springfield. The rest of the SSP shooters use Glock, about 80%. G17 is fine, G34 MIGHT be better. G22 or G35 .40 cal would be good IF you reload, a light loaded .40 is said to be softer to shoot than 9mm hardball. G21 costs more and kicks more, where is the competitive advantage?

December 5, 2004, 12:18 PM	#3
GeneS Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2000 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 190	jetdriver, I think the SA XD9 is only allowed in ESP division, where most of the competition is 9mm/.38 Super/.40 caliber 1911's. Though there are plenty of people who do very well with an XD. If you want to shoot in SSP, the Glock 17 or 34 are about as good as it comes. Gene

December 5, 2004, 06:13 PM	#4
jetdriver Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 153	Thanks for the reply guys. What are the number of people using G21's?

December 5, 2004, 07:18 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	At the 2004 IDPA Nationals, 330+ shooters competing: 95 Glocks, 5 of them G21 .45s. (and one G30 .45) (43 G34s, 31 G17s, 6 G19s = 80 9mms) Last year there were 8 G21s out of 90 Glocks, and that one G30. Oh yeah, this year there were two (2.0) XD-9s.

December 5, 2004, 09:55 PM	#6
DanV1317 Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2004 Posts: 331	You can't go wrong with the glock 17. thats for sure.

December 6, 2004, 07:55 PM	#8
jetdriver Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 153	what about power factor? is the 9mm too light?

December 6, 2004, 09:21 PM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	A G17 etc enters IDPA in Stock Service Pistol, SSP, with a minimum power factor of 125. Common WWB runs around 1130 fps for a 115 grain bullet, PF 129.9. SSP was written FOR 9mm, pretty much. An XD9 enters in Enhanced Service Pistol, ESP, (because it has a nominal single action trigger pull) with the same power factor. 9mm is just about perfect, cheap and adequately powerful.

December 6, 2004, 09:31 PM	#10
Handy Junior member Join Date: August 31, 2001 Posts: 8,785	What's uncompetitive about the G21? Against other .45s it will do fine.

December 8, 2004, 07:09 AM	#11
donkee Junior member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 449	I use a CZ75, so I better leave now! Sorry

December 8, 2004, 10:19 PM	#12
jetdriver Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 153	Thanks again guys. This pistol is just for competition. I carry a 45 for CCW, but am thinking that 9mm is better for me for competition, because ammo is inexpensive.