Sidearms & Scatterguns Pistol shooters, what's next?

[308pirate]

I've determined my pistol skills are seriously lacking, and so am putting some time and money into tuning myself up with my CZP01. It'll be going off to get milled for an RMRcc here in a couple weeks, and a new owb holster should be coming soon, that'll compliment the AIWB I'm using currently. Looking forward to becoming a bit more proficient with the gun I've got on me most of the time.

All you need are two of each of these

CZ 9mm - 17 Round Magazine Tube Body by Mec-Gar

CZ 9mm - 17 Round Magazine Tube Body by Mec-Gar

benstoegerproshop.com

CZ Shadow 2 Spring and Follower Kit for Mec-Gar 17 Round Magazine by Grams Engineering

CZ Shadow 2 Spring and Follower Kit for Mec-Gar 17 Round Magazine by Grams Engineering

benstoegerproshop.com

CZ Shadow 2 & SP-01 | +5/6 Basepad by Henning

BSPS stocks the CZ Shadow 2 Magazine Extension Plus 6 Rounds by Henning Group H141-MC17 for adding rounds and still fits within the 140mm magazine limit

benstoegerproshop.com

To make a pair of 140 mm long magazines. Then with the owb holster and the optic on the gun, go shoot USPSA matches.

They'll show you what you suck at. What to do from there is up to you.

 

[ArTeeKay]

All you need are two of each of these

CZ 9mm - 17 Round Magazine Tube Body by Mec-Gar

CZ 9mm - 17 Round Magazine Tube Body by Mec-Gar

benstoegerproshop.com

CZ Shadow 2 Spring and Follower Kit for Mec-Gar 17 Round Magazine by Grams Engineering

CZ Shadow 2 Spring and Follower Kit for Mec-Gar 17 Round Magazine by Grams Engineering

benstoegerproshop.com

CZ Shadow 2 & SP-01 | +5/6 Basepad by Henning

BSPS stocks the CZ Shadow 2 Magazine Extension Plus 6 Rounds by Henning Group H141-MC17 for adding rounds and still fits within the 140mm magazine limit

benstoegerproshop.com

To make a pair of 140 mm long magazines. Then with the owb holster and the optic on the gun, go shoot USPSA matches.

They'll show you what you suck at. What to do from there is up to you.

Are there any particular holster retention requirements for shooting matches? Magazines are something a person can always use more of, but I'd really like to be able to have one gun belt set up the right way, instead of two that are sort of half assed because of a lack of budget.

Secondarily, I assume finding matches is as easy as finding the USPSA website, and hunting around there? Or is there a different place I should be looking to get signed up for matches?

 

[houndog]

Recently bought a CZ Shadow 2, which I'm really loving. Accurate, great ergonomics, good trigger, recoil is very flat, and the gun has been 100% reliable. Based on how much I like this gun I'm seriously considering getting a CZ Tactical Sport Orange.

Have to admit that until a couple of months ago CZ pistols weren't on my radar at all. Own a CZ 452 .22 rifle which is fantastic, but pistols were all S&W's, Sig's, H&K's, a couple of Glocks and my beloved RRA 1911.

Oh, and I'm embarrassed to admit, but I'm probably the opposite of 308Pirate ... own too many pistols and instead of buying more should focus on shooting the ones I own a little better.

 

[gigamortis]

Recently bought a CZ Shadow 2, which I'm really loving. Accurate, great ergonomics, good trigger, recoil is very flat, and the gun has been 100% reliable. Based on how much I like this gun I'm seriously considering getting a CZ Tactical Sport Orange.

Have to admit that until a couple of months ago CZ pistols weren't on my radar at all. Own a CZ 452 .22 rifle which is fantastic, but pistols were all S&W's, Sig's, H&K's, a couple of Glocks and my beloved RRA 1911.

Oh, and I'm embarrassed to admit, but I'm probably the opposite of 308Pirate ... own too many pistols and instead of buying more should focus on shooting the ones I own a little better.

I've always gravitated more toward the pistols that pass my blind sight picture test. With closed eyes, pick up the gun from the table with your natural 2 hand grip and point it at the wall. Open your eyes and take note of the sight alignment. If the front sight is sitting in the rear notch, you have found a pretty good natural pointer. Sell the guns that don't fit and stick to getting proficient with the ones that do.

 

[308pirate]

Are there any particular holster retention requirements for shooting matches? Magazines are something a person can always use more of, but I'd really like to be able to have one gun belt set up the right way, instead of two that are sort of half assed because of a lack of budget.

Great question. First off, don't buy any competition specific gear (other than the magazines I showed) until you actually try it. A decent kydex OWB holster with 3 kydex mag pouches on a strong EDC belt is all you need to get started. If you don't like the sport, everything you bought so far still has a use.

To address your question about retention, it doesn't have to be something crazy like triple retention or anything like that. Just the way the gun clicks into a normal kydex holster is enough. In USPSA we run with pistols a lot, but we run very little with holstered pistols.

Once you do decide you like it, talk to people at matches especially those shooting the same equipment division as you (carry optics) about their belt setups, the whys, the likes and dislikes.

Most of us end up with something similar to this. Mine is very similar in both components and layout

Secondarily, I assume finding matches is as easy as finding the USPSA website, and hunting around there? Or is there a different place I should be looking to get signed up for matches?

To find matches you should use both the USPSA website and Practiscore

Find USPSA Matches - USPSA.ORG

uspsa.org

Practiscore | PractiScore

practiscore.com

 

[308pirate]

I've always gravitated more toward the pistols that pass my blind sight picture test. With closed eyes, pick up the gun from the table with your natural 2 hand grip and point it at the wall. Open your eyes and take note of the sight alignment. If the front sight is sitting in the rear notch, you have found a pretty good natural pointer. Sell the guns that don't fit and stick to getting proficient with the ones that do.

What he said

 

[Cascade Hemi]

I shoot the occasional USPSA match either in Single Stack major, or Production. The Open and Limited divisoins with their 50oz+ guns are fun to watch, but I see them as just range toys, not something that will likely be on your hip when out in society. I look at Open and Limited divisions like Top Fuel and Funny Car in drag racing. I'm more of the doorslammer kind of guy favoring Pro Mod and Pro Stock. Neither sport is tactically sound, but the main thing I get from both of them is maintaining good marksmanship while under time stress without having to spend over $1500 in my equipment.

So far you've made every excuse possible for sucking. The same guys that dominate in limited and open at the local USPSA matches also dominate the local outlaw concealed carry matches. The people that lose do so because they don't practice. The skill and practice directly translates to all aspects of shooting, even rifles.

 

[Anb618]

I've always gravitated more toward the pistols that pass my blind sight picture test. With closed eyes, pick up the gun from the table with your natural 2 hand grip and point it at the wall. Open your eyes and take note of the sight alignment. If the front sight is sitting in the rear notch, you have found a pretty good natural pointer. Sell the guns that don't fit and stick to getting proficient with the ones that do.

^Why I’m still carrying an XD40. It points naturally, despite a shit trigger and only 12rd mags.

 

[gigamortis]

So far you've made every excuse possible for sucking. The same guys that dominate in limited and open at the local USPSA matches also dominate the local outlaw concealed carry matches. The people that lose do so because they don't practice. The skill and practice directly translates to all aspects of shooting, even rifles.

Some folks just barely have enough time or ammo resources to just shoot matches. Monthly matches are my practice. I run what I brung straight of the trailer. I choose to stay proficient with something that is likely to be on my hip when out among society. I already know shooting Single Stack or Production isn't likely going to put me in the top 5 or 10 overall. For what its worth, I usually run at a B class performance in the divisions I shoot in and I am content with that. I don't have the time or ammo to shoot 100s of practice rounds between matches like most of the Master and A class shooters.

While I am supportive of all shooting disciplines, I do find that the more serious USPSA guys, who are without a doubt excellent shooters, are kind of upity about what they think other shooters should be doing. I have found that the general makeup of the IDPA crowd is a lot more laid back and welcoming to newer shooters. Both sports have their pluses and minuses. As a former IDPA match director myself, I enjoy seeing people have fun and getting their match registration money's worth. Its very satisfying to see new shooters make real progress in their shooting performance as they get hooked into the sport.

 

[gigamortis]

^Why I’m still carrying an XD40. It points naturally, despite a shit trigger and only 12rd mags.

Powder River Precision has trigger goodies to improve your XDs.

 

[Anb618]

Powder River Precision has trigger goodies to improve your XDs.

Not allowed to alter the trigger on a duty pistol (dept policy). I actually have a PRP kit in the basement for it for when it gets retired.

 

[22lfb]

Rink shoulder stocks for my Pardini SP & P210

 

[Steel head]

I have no plans to upgrade or buy any other pistols, sold many of them years ago
Still carry my trusty G23(that I try to keep practiced on for obvious reasons).
Still enjoy shooting my 1911
Also have a 22 pistol I should start shooting again.

 

[danatkins]

Swapping red dot on my carry gun from a 509 to 507. Maybe either a walther ppq 22 or ruger mk4 22/45 haven't decided which yet

 

[Longshot231]

I got my dream pistol last year. Well, it was almost a dream pistol.

Ever since I held a SIG M-49 (or P210) about 30 years ago, I always wanted one for myself. Then SIG came out with the Americanized P-210. It was on sale at the LGS and I grabbed it.

The pistol is everything that they say it is. Depending on how I am dressed, it is my EDC. It appears the SIG stopped making the P210 carry or standard model. If I can find a good deal on that one, I'll probably get it.

The P210 super target model will get me drooling.

Targets at 25 yards with cheap ball ammo.

 

[Maverick3009]

I spent enough money last year on guns and cans (Staccato C2 DPO, Rugged Obsidian 45, Rugged Oculus 22, YHM Resonator R2, .300blk SBR build, .350L Ruger American w/ chassis, CZ Shadow 2 on last day of the year).

For 2022, I want to get into USPSA or IDPA (if I can find a club close enough to me in Indiana) using the Shadow 2 or my carry P365 w/ XL grip. More than likely I'd go for Carry Optics division once I get my Shadow 2 milled, P365 is currently having the slide done by JW.

 

[Steel head]

I got my dream pistol last year. Well, it was almost a dream pistol.

Ever since I held a SIG M-49 (or P210) about 30 years ago, I always wanted one for myself. Then SIG came out with the Americanized P-210. It was on sale at the LGS and I grabbed it.

The pistol is everything that they say it is. Depending on how I am dressed, it is my EDC. It appears the SIG stopped making the P210 carry or standard model. If I can find a good deal on that one, I'll probably get it.

The P210 super target model will get me drooling.

View attachment 7775359 View attachment 7775361

Targets at 25 yards with cheap ball ammo.

View attachment 7775364

Awesome pistol!

 

[Longshot231]

There might be one more dream pistol but I have a lot of them in .22LR now. What difference, other than money, can one more make?

 

[308pirate]

It's a ton of fun until you get tired of pasting targets for 3 hours for a minute and a half of trigger time.

I suppose if all I did was paste targets and shoot, I would find it miserable too.

But I do more than that. I take turn running the squad, giving my friends shit and trash talk, and generally being social.

Then again, it's not for everyone.

The biggest time wasters in the shooting sports that I have participated in are rifle matches, both precision and NRA.

The most enjoyable has been sporting clays, but the monumental expense to remain competitive and the complete lack of gun handling safety from all the fucking fudds in it killed it for me.

 

[308pirate]

I spent enough money last year on guns and cans (Staccato C2 DPO, Rugged Obsidian 45, Rugged Oculus 22, YHM Resonator R2, .300blk SBR build, .350L Ruger American w/ chassis, CZ Shadow 2 on last day of the year).

For 2022, I want to get into USPSA or IDPA (if I can find a club close enough to me in Indiana) using the Shadow 2 or my carry P365 w/ XL grip. More than likely I'd go for Carry Optics division once I get my Shadow 2 milled, P365 is currently having the slide done by JW.

I'm next door to the east and have shot matches in quite a few Indiana clubs. I'll hit you on pm later.

 

[phxfa]

I got my dream pistol last year. Well, it was almost a dream pistol.

Ever since I held a SIG M-49 (or P210) about 30 years ago, I always wanted one for myself. Then SIG came out with the Americanized P-210. It was on sale at the LGS and I grabbed it.

The pistol is everything that they say it is. Depending on how I am dressed, it is my EDC. It appears the SIG stopped making the P210 carry or standard model. If I can find a good deal on that one, I'll probably get it.

The P210 super target model will get me drooling.

View attachment 7775359 View attachment 7775361

Targets at 25 yards with cheap ball ammo.

View attachment 7775364

What holster is that?

 

[cas6969]

USPSA/IDPA are like Golf and Bowling, the better you are the less you do of it. The end goal is to do as little of it as possible.


There's a couple (imaginary) holes in my 5 gun lineup, I own nothing in .475
And while I have .510, I don't have .500 and obviously that's a huge oversight. Maybe I'll plug one of those gaps this year.

 

[obx22]

I've always gravitated more toward the pistols that pass my blind sight picture test. With closed eyes, pick up the gun from the table with your natural 2 hand grip and point it at the wall. Open your eyes and take note of the sight alignment. If the front sight is sitting in the rear notch, you have found a pretty good natural pointer. Sell the guns that don't fit and stick to getting proficient with the ones that do.

If I did that I’d be screwed as the only gun I’ve ever held that nailed it was a Sig228. I’m more about mastering a variety of firearms.
What I give up in instinctive speed I try to make up with consistency.

 

[Longshot231]

If I did that I’d be screwed as the only gun I’ve ever held that nailed it was a Sig228. I’m more about mastering a variety of firearms.
What I give up in instinctive speed I try to make up with consistency.

Do you own any flintlocks or matchlocks? Sorry but I could not resist

 

[obx22]

Do you own any flintlocks or matchlocks? Sorry but I could not resist

Only a squirrel rifle flinty so far

 

[Longshot231]

Only a squirrel rifle flinty so far

 

[Supersubes]

I watched Gun Jesus review the Laugo Alien. That seemed interesting. I dont spend much time in sidearms, so maybe its been beat to death already.


I did just get my first Nighthawk in. Seems nice.

 

[mrtoyz]

Don’t have any more handguns on my list other than a high end 2011 45cal… totally bummed I cant find any. STI told me, before the switch to Staccato, that 45 just wasn’t in demand anymore. Sad

 

[Choid]

I plan to buy no guns this year. A buddy of mine who is a great 1911 smith is retiring soon, so after years of threatening, I am having him build me one one on a Les Baer frame and slide, but I already own the gun part, so it doesn't count.

 

[Gustav7]

I was just wondering what all the pistol shooters on the Hide were looking to add to their collection this coming year.

I carry a full size 1911 in 45ACP daily, and have decided after trying several different plastic fantastics and ending up getting rid of them all, that I am sticking with the 1911 platform.

I've gone back and forth on a single or double stack 9mm, and I think I've finally settled on my next acquisition. A double stack Rock Island. I don't want to spend the coin on a STI or some other high dollar 2011 and decide I don't like it, so this fits the bill nicely.

I'd like to even get it milled for a red dot and jump into that pond.

So what are the rest of you looking at for the coming year?

If you don't like the plastic guns, but you want 9mm, then look at something like a CZ SP01 or P01.

 

[ArTeeKay]

I plan to buy no guns this year. A buddy of mine who is a great 1911 smith is retiring soon, so after years of threatening, I am having him build me one one on a Les Baer frame and slide, but I already own the gun part, so it doesn't count.

No chance your buddy goes by PK, is there?

 

[308pirate]

Some folks just barely have enough time or ammo resources to just shoot matches. Monthly matches are my practice. I don't have the time or ammo to shoot 100s of practice rounds between matches like most of the Master and A class shooters.

Dry fire is how most of us get good for the same reason as yours. 2021 was my best year in USPSA so far and not coincidentally it was the year I shot the least live fire in practice and the year I spend more time than ever in dry fire practice.

While I am supportive of all shooting disciplines, I do find that the more serious USPSA guys, who are without a doubt excellent shooters, are kind of upity about what they think other shooters should be doing.

I think that's a huge generalization and I have found the reverse to be true, the better a shooter is the more he's concerned with what he does and the less concerned he is with what others do.

I have found that the general makeup of the IDPA crowd is a lot more laid back and welcoming to newer shooters.

As someone who shoots both, I have not found that to be true in my area. I have seen an equal level of welcoming attitude towards new shooters. What I have noticed without a doubt is that the overall skill level of regular participants is quite a bit higher in USPSA. I have seen two new shooters that started in IDPA switch most of their attention to USPSA and then come back to IDPA to crush almost everyone else they used to shoot with.

Based on my observations of performance and progress, the majority regulars in IDPA around here seem to put their pistol away when they get home from a match and don't touch it again until it's time to drive to the next match. Maybe that's what you meant by a "laid back attitude"

 

[Longshot231]

Some folks just barely have enough time or ammo resources to just shoot matches. Monthly matches are my practice.

Dry fire is how most of us get good for the same reason as yours. 2021 was my best year in USPSA so far and not coincidentally it was the year I shot the least live fire in practice and the year I spend more time than ever in dry fire practice.

I got this for Christmas and it works as advertised. I plan on getting a couple other caliber of laser cartridges.

iTargetPro (Laser Firearm Training System) Shoot Your Gun in the House

iTarget allows you to practice dry fire training with an actual firearm by using the iTarget Pro app and a laser bullet. Safe, Fun and Effective Training. Firearm training at home using a laser bullet and a phone app. Save on ammo while developing better marksmanship. The best laser training...

www.itargetpro.com

 

[308pirate]

I got this for Christmas and it works as advertised. I plan on getting a couple other caliber of laser cartridges.

iTargetPro (Laser Firearm Training System) Shoot Your Gun in the House

iTarget allows you to practice dry fire training with an actual firearm by using the iTarget Pro app and a laser bullet. Safe, Fun and Effective Training. Firearm training at home using a laser bullet and a phone app. Save on ammo while developing better marksmanship. The best laser training...

www.itargetpro.com

That might be helpful with iron-sighted pistols if you avoid the temptation to stare at the target. I would use it solely to correlate your shot call based on your observation of the sights to the actual hit on target. Otherwise you're cheating yourself out of the most powerful tool in a shooter's tool box: calling the shot accurately without any confirmation from the target. People have asked me before how am I able to send makeup shots on paper targets so fast when targets are too far to easily see holes. Shot calling is how.

Trigger manipulation is important, but not the most important skill in practical shooting.

 

[Longshot231]

That might be helpful with iron-sighted pistols if you avoid the temptation to stare at the target. I would use it solely to correlate your shot call based on your observation of the sights to the actual hit on target. Otherwise you're cheating yourself out of the most powerful tool in a shooter's tool box: calling the shot accurately without any confirmation from the target. People have asked me before how am I able to send makeup shots on paper targets so fast when targets are too far to easily see holes. Shot calling is how.

Trigger manipulation is important, but not the most important skill in practical shooting.

That is true but with the cost of ammunition it's not that bad of a tool. Nothing replaces the actual experience of firing the gun with real ammunition.

Airguns are another viable alternative to getting some trigger time in with lower costs.

 

[gigamortis]

Based on my observations of performance and progress, the majority regulars in IDPA around here seem to put their pistol away when they get home from a match and don't touch it again until it's time to drive to the next match. Maybe that's what you meant by a "laid back attitude"

I have been pistol shooting in USPSA and IDPA for about 12 years now. I shoot two to three matches a month, mostly IDPA. I’m that guy that puts the pistol away after a match and doesn’t pull the trigger again until the next match.

When I have my head together in a match, I’m a fast Expert/sandbagging Master in IDPA. The “M” for master class doesn’t stand for “mistakes” for sure. Minor mistakes is pretty much what keeps me from a consistent Master performance.

An Expert classificationin IDPA is pretty much a “B” class shooter in USPSA. At 53 years old, I’m content with my shooting skill accumulated thus far. When loading components were plentiful a few years back, I did practice more, but found myself reaching a performance plateau in which practice wasn’t yielding a higher classification any more. I figure I’m now going as fast as my information processing ability will let me go between target acquisition and getting the trigger pulled. If I was able to get in the sport 20 years earlier, I’m sure I would be faster, but I’m still having plenty of fun.

 

[308pirate]

I have been pistol shooting in USPSA and IDPA for about 12 years now. I shoot two to three matches a month, mostly IDPA. I’m that guy that puts the pistol away after a match and doesn’t pull the trigger again until the next match.

When I have my head together in a match, I’m a fast Expert/sandbagging Master in IDPA. The “M” for master class doesn’t stand for “mistakes” for sure. Minor mistakes is pretty much what keeps me from a consistent Master performance.

An Expert classificationin IDPA is pretty much a “B” class shooter in USPSA. At 53 years old, I’m content with my shooting skill accumulated thus far. When loading components were plentiful a few years back, I did practice more, but found myself reaching a performance plateau in which practice wasn’t yielding a higher classification any more. I figure I’m now going as fast as my information processing ability will let me go between target acquisition and getting the trigger pulled. If I was able to get in the sport 20 years earlier, I’m sure I would be faster, but I’m still having plenty of fun.

I'll take this to PM so as to not derail the thread even more LOL

 

[308pirate]

That is true but with the cost of ammunition it's not that bad of a tool.

It's actually not necessary at all to have productive and effective dry fire sessions. And it can be hughely counterproductive if used inappropriately.

Nothing replaces the actual experience of firing the gun with real ammunition.

As confirmation of training, yes. As training itself, not necessarily.

 

[Redfisher60]

Just my 2 cents, I've been shooting USPSA for over 30 years, though I took a chunk of time off starting in 2000. I just think it is an extremely valuable tool to learn confident/safe gun handling under pressure and at speed. In USPSA I shoot primarily open (my first open gun was a 10mm single stack with Iron sights, 40S&W didn't exist yet). For outlaw matches I occasional grab plastic 9's to play with, I shoot them well, just not as good as a fullbore race gun. Good thread gentlemen.

 

[Redfisher60]

Oh, to keep in the spirit of the OP, a 4.5" volquartsen black Mamba is probably next on my pistol list.

 

[Choid]

My latest little handgun project I have been working on. Rebuilt a blue 9mm DW Valor to 9x23 Winchester with all new internals and DLC finish. Came out really nicely. Flats on the slide are high polish but it is hard to tell in the photos.

 

[phxfa]

Oh, to keep in the spirit of the OP, a 4.5" volquartsen black Mamba is probably next on my pistol list.

Get the flat top/optics ready version

 

[cas6969]

View attachment 7775463

I don't know, I think this may be giving inlines too much credit.

My line has always been "Shooting an inline is like kissing your sister."
(if you can convince yourself it's alright and that "it's the same thing", well that's your problem)


Though I'll admit the last week or so I've been thinking about buying a Remington 700ML, sticking it in a chassis with a giant scope and any other tactical trinket I could hang off it. Building a completely ridiculous, ironic rooney gun. Or I may just throw my money in the trash.

 

[tylerradke]

It's actually not necessary at all to have productive and effective dry fire sessions. And it can be hughely counterproductive if used inappropriately.



As confirmation of training, yes. As training itself, not necessarily.

Where are you out of? I have shot a few matches in fort Wayne but haven't jumped in feet first yet.

 

[308pirate]

Where are you out of? I have shot a few matches in fort Wayne but haven't jumped in feet first yet.

Near Dayton. You should check out the indoor matches at Midwest Shooting Center in Lima. Second Sunday of the month January through March. I think they'll move them outdoors to Lima Sabres for April on.

They're on Practiscore

 

[SwedishMoose]

Just picked up an FN 502 .22. It's a lot of fun so far. I think my next step is a Ruger No. 1 in 6.5 creedmoor or an mp5k PDW.

 

[tylerradke]

Near Dayton. You should check out the indoor matches at Midwest Shooting Center in Lima. Second Sunday of the month January through March. I think they'll move them outdoors to Lima Sabres for April on.

They're on Practiscore

That's good to know. We just got a Midwest in fort Wayne this summer. Maybe they will have something there this winter too.

 

[CaptArab]

I'm pretty happy with my 550, but the occasional crimped primer pocket makes me long for an 1100

 

[308pirate]

We just got a Midwest in fort Wayne this summer. Maybe they will have something there this winter too.

Matches are in Lima only right now.

 

[AngryKoala]

I have a few nice 1911s but I really like the Dan Wesson lineup, maybe a Pointman.
I might like a a USP compact 45 also. I have never shot any Walthers and a few look very enticing...

I just want a USP tactical for non stupid prices