Competition pistols

[Domingo]

I use my 1911 9mm for uspsa & IDPA lots of fun I end up on the middle most of the time other shooters have better guns than mine(RIA) they think the gun makes them better
I say use what you have 9mm is cheaper than 45acp

[Lead Waster]

Well, that's the beauty of the game (USPSA), you pick what works for you and try different strategies, since your score is based on hits and time (ie your score is points for hits divided by time).

Power factor is weight of the bullet x muzzle velocity (grains x fps / 1000)
Major is minimum 165. Also bullet must be .40 min to be major, except with revolvers and open class.


Minor - less recoil this allows you to get back on target faster, but typically also the holes are smaller (minor 9mm, who shoots minor .45?) so a barely hit target might be a miss with 9mm. You need to be accurate though and get A-zone hits because other zones are less than if you hit them with a major pf load (typically .40 or .45)
Scoring is 5 A zone, 4 for B or C zone, 2 for D.

Major - more recoil, but higher scores for non-A zone hits ... so slower back to target, but if you are shooting as fast as you can (hosing the targets) it's kind of OK because the scoring is higher for B,C and D zone hits. Scoring is 5, 3 and 1.

In production division, everything is scored minor, so might as well use 9mm for that.

So ... your choice ... how do you shoot? Will you slow down and try for all A-zone hits (my choice as a novice)? You'll get more points, but slower time. Or try and shoot faster and take the non-A zone hits for lower score? Do you think you need to maximize your non-A hit points?

How about reloading? In Single Stack, minor (9mm) guns can use 10 rounds, but major guns only get 8.

etc, etc, etc, etc ...

So ... a lot to think about so it's actually best to NOT think about that! How do you not think about it? Simple ... just focus on having fun instead of trying to beat everyone at first. Shoot production so that everyone is on a basically even footing with you in terms of scoring. Try and get A hits versus going fast ... why? Because going fast too soon with get you disqualified if you forget about the 180 rule, and if you let your finger stay in the trigger gaurd while you run or reload, etc....

Too many things to think about besides your score, so you might as well slow down and focus on just A-zone hits and not DQing.


And of course, the reliability of your gun is important in your overall satisfaction in the game. if you need to clear misfeeds or whatever all the time, it's frustrating. But as you play the game and STICK TO ONE GUN, you'll get to know it better and you'll have even more fun!

So bottom line again ... OP, shoot with what you have, all the guns you have are already good to go if you have the mags for them. Only decide on a gamer gun after you decide how you like to shoot.

[speedrrracer]

Not sure I agree with your scenarios. Might Dave have won, Steve taken sixth or Rob taken 2nd if they were shooting major? That question will probably never be answered, but the question is still there. If you're shooting fast and all A hits, there is an advantage to shooting minor (10 rounds vs 8).

It's a fair question, and the answer is in their expected results. A 2nd place for Sevigny is a fantastic result for him in single stack, perhaps even above where you'd expect him to finish. A 3rd for Leatham, at his age, is probably a reasonable result for him.

So shooting minor doesn't seem to be harming their results, and the question then must be addressed: is it actually helping their results?

1) If you're PRO FAST and can shoot A's all day long.... a 9mm 1911 might be just the ticket!

Yup...whatever.

Dave Horsman. Last year at WSSC, he shot minor and finished 7th, above many Masters shooting major. Oh, btw, he's just an A class shooter. I guess the scorers made a mistake, since you said his name should be at the "bottom of the list every time".

Go on with your hyperbole....we're all learning so much.

[Inkman]

Not sure I agree with your scenarios. Might Dave have won, Steve taken sixth or Rob taken 2nd if they were shooting major? That question will probably never be answered, but the question is still there. If you're shooting fast and all A hits, there is an advantage to shooting minor (10 rounds vs 8).

Dave S was shooting major .45 but his match ammo from i think Atlantic Arms chrono'd minor. It was kind of a shock. Stats showed that at major he would have beat TGO by about 17 pts overall in '13 at Pasa Park. had he not gone minor.

Al

[SuperSet]

If 3-gun is in your future, strongly consider the G34 since magazine capacity is extremely important and there is no major/minor power factor consideration.