"Power Factor Advantage'? Pls explain

[ElDub1950]

Getting started in some IDPA and USPSA and before too long want to add another gun just for competition. Most likely a Glock 34 or 35.

During a recent IDPA intro class, during a break, one of the instructors commented he sticks with .40 for competition because of the "power factor advantage" it gives him compared with 9mm. I didn't have time to get a clarification.

Disregarding all 9 vs 40 wars, and I understand power factor calcs, but I'm missing the connection for how a certain power factor over another power factor, provides an advantage during competition?

Sort of seems like a lower power factor, as long as it meets the minimum would be an advantage but pretty sure I'm incorrect because that's opposite of the instructor's comment.

Maybe this doesn't apply to beginners shooting Stock Service Pistol and using good quality off the shelf ammo ??

Any info is appreciated.

[Sofatactical]

its idiocy and needs to be done away with
Buy a G34 and shoot production.

[Tumbleweed.13]

In SSP and Production class there is no power factor advantage.

Power factor come into play in the different divisions, where you can get more points for areas of the target if you are shooting major power factor vs. Minor power factor.

See page 67 of the USPSA Rule Book

[ElDub1950]

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed.13

In SSP and Production class there is no power factor advantage.

Power factor come into play in the different divisions, where you can get more points for areas of the target if you are shooting major power factor vs. Minor power factor.

See page 67 of the USPSA Rule Book

Ah, OK, that's the piece I wasn't connecting. Thanks for that info.

[rmatt]

either that, or he feels like when he loads 40 to make the power factor for esp or ssp in idpa, he likes how it is better than say, how he might load for 9.

i have shot lots of different competition loads for idpa from other people, all in g34 or 35. there can be a surprising amount of difference in the feel.

my factory 115gn fmj 9mm going 1250fps out of a g34 will feel different than his home made load of 180grn 40 going jjjjjust fast enough to make power factor in esp.

now if you wanna talk about uspsa, then yeah there is a huge diff between shooting major and minor.

but for idpa it just sounds like to me he prefers how he can finese 40 rather than 9.

[HighLander51]

SSP is minor, ie, 125 floor. 125 grain bullet going 1,000 fps, that's all. Your 'instructor' is full of nothing...

now if you wanna talk about uspsa, then yeah there is a huge diff between shooting major and minor. Yes, you earn twice as many points for B,C and Ds in major, but thats the rules..

[Scotty]

Originally Posted by HighLander51

then yeah there is a huge diff between shooting major and minor. Yes, you earn twice as many points for B,C and Ds in major, but thats the rules..

Only D's are twice the number of points. Major is 5-4-4-2, minor is 5-3-3-1.

If you are shooting USPSA in Open, Limited, Limited-10, or Single Stack, the difference in gun handling between shooting major pf vs. minor pf is not big enough to offset the points difference.

For IDPA and shooting factory ammo, there are no reasons to go with a 40.

[Yar]

The comment could be out of context too. Maybe the "instructor" shoots both uspsa and idpa and comment was loosely based on that.

A bigger bullet and/or more energy can be an advantage on falling steel plates. Things like popper are more forgiving on low hits and they fall with more authority. One of the things I sometimes get stuck on is watching steel fall even when I should call the shot and move on. I do not want to hit a plate, it falls slowly and I end up watching it in my peripheral vision. I don't see how this can be good for my shooting. I prefer to shoot a hotter load and know if I hit the steel, it is down.

[HighLander51]

Originally Posted by Scotty

Only D's are twice the number of points. Major is 5-4-4-2, minor is 5-3-3-1.

What I mean was 2 C's major is down 2, and 2 C's minor is down 4 (twice the points down)

[Sofatactical]

Originally Posted by Yar

The comment could be out of context too. Maybe the "instructor" shoots both uspsa and idpa and comment was loosely based on that.

A bigger bullet and/or more energy can be an advantage on falling steel plates. Things like popper are more forgiving on low hits and they fall with more authority. One of the things I sometimes get stuck on is watching steel fall even when I should call the shot and move on. I do not want to hit a plate, it falls slowly and I end up watching it in my peripheral vision. I don't see how this can be good for my shooting. I prefer to shoot a hotter load and know if I hit the steel, it is down.

HAHA yeah, I've done the same. shoot it and then stare at it like a moron watching it fall, all the while I could have burned down the rest and come back to it if it didnt fall.
I usually just hit it with a double tap real quick. the additional .13 split is a small price to pay for the peace of mind.

[ElDub1950]

Originally Posted by Yar

The comment could be out of context too. Maybe the "instructor" shoots both uspsa and idpa and comment was loosely based on that.

A bigger bullet and/or more energy can be an advantage on falling steel plates. Things like popper are more forgiving on low hits and they fall with more authority. One of the things I sometimes get stuck on is watching steel fall even when I should call the shot and move on. I do not want to hit a plate, it falls slowly and I end up watching it in my peripheral vision. I don't see how this can be good for my shooting. I prefer to shoot a hotter load and know if I hit the steel, it is down.

Good tip! I'm sure there are tons of thing I'll learn as I get started.

Seems like every weekend I plan to go, something comes up with work or the family

[HighLander51]

Originally Posted by ElDub1950

Seems like every weekend I plan to go, something comes up with work or the family

Ok, just so you know, a tried and true competitor gets all of that domestic and family stuff out of the way. It's Saturday morning at 0800, you better be at the range. Work pays for bullets, but it does get in the way, maybe one weekend a month, anything more, get another job. And bring the kids to the match, they can brass for you, almost pays for the whole gig...