Wanting to get into competition pistol shooting, what handgun to buy?

[streetstang67]

I'm gettin a new autoloader soon and I would like to participate in some competitive handgun shooting. I don't know what class or type or anything, all i know is that it looks like fun and I'd like to do it. I was planning on getting a new pistol anyway, so I figured I could choose one that would work in competition.

Only restriction is that it needs to be a good all purpose handgun, under $500 or close to it.

 

[lycanthrope]

Depends on the type of competition.

 

[HSMITH]

Close to $500 and would cover about most competitive disciplines well? Glock.

If you care to expand on what type of competitive shooting you want to do there might be more info that can be shared.

 

[ojdidit]

I was in the same situation about 3 years ago. I bought a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 for $550 and some GOOD 8rd mags and went shooting (a little IDPA and a lot USPSA-style). I wasn't very good, but it was a lot of fun. Then I put $200 into a trigger job and internals for a light trigger pull. Then $300 to cut the frame for a beavertail grip safety and fit a mag well. Then $80 for a heavy guide rod to reduce muzzle flip (not sure that's within the rules, but ohhhhh what a difference). Not to mention the endless number of grips I tried to get the right feel. Then my local club put guys with 10rd mags in with us, so I bought $100 worth of those. I will say that I went from finishing around 18th out of 20 to around 4th. But, I would bet most of that gain came from practicing and competing for 3 years. Needless to say my thoughts on competing for low $ were flawed.

So listen close, if you want to compete without creating a money pit like I did BUY A 9mm GLOCK. Period. Not something that looks like a Glock, not some "project" 1911, not a .45 ACP Glock, or any other semi-auto. All the fastest polymer-framed pistol shooters at my club and the ones I've visited have Glocks. There are other pistols there, but they don't seem to score as well. Get some good mags, an inexpensive holster, and shoot the pi$$ out of it. As your skills improve you will be competitive with the best guys there, and you didn't spend a mountain of cash like I did. Check out www.BudsGunShop.com for good prices. Your $500 buys plenty with those guys.

Sorry, this post turned into a rant. Take any advice you like and leave the rest.

 

[streetstang67]

I definitely will be getting a 9mm, it seems like a great all purpose cartridge.

 

[LHB1]

What kind of competitive shooting do you wish to participate in? Go to a match and see what guns, models, options, calibers, etc. they use. A good choice for Bullseye shooting would probably not be the best choice for IDPA or IPSC, etc.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[steveracer]

I was going to say CZ

Get a CZ-75 for about $400. Then get a lot of magazines and a really good holster. You can now compete in most pistol games.

 

[lil ski]

You should figure out what kind of competitive shooting you want to do. A 9mm is not good for every thing.

 

[streetstang67]

Well since this is not a dedicated competition pistol, I'll stick with 9 mm

Hopefully this handgun will get me into some competitions, then if/when I get more serious, I'll get a dedicated competition gun.

 

[Justin]

9mm is fine for IDPA.

It's ok for IPSC, but the rules will kind of skew against you.

For any of the more traditional pistol sports it'll be pretty much out completely.

 

[mscott]

G17 or XD Tactical

 

[Joe D]

If you do not reload get a G34. I you do or plan to get a G35. The G35 is the most versatile gun available. You can shoot Limited, Limited 10, Production, SSP, and ESP. You can load to either Minor PF or Major PF.
You can also get a 9mm conversion barrel from Lone Wolf Dist. for $89.
A G34/35 will cost about $100 more than a G17/22. Pick your budget.

 

[streetstang67]

so far...

four recommendations for Glock

one recommendation for CZ-75

one recommendation for XD

 

[lycanthrope]

But...you never really answered the question...."Which competition?"

Many people are under the wrong assumption that a good competition pistol is not a good pistol for self defence. A decent 9mm or .40 Glock/1911 is an excellent option for either and trigger pulls acan be modified quickly and easily on both platforms.

But....for Bullseye.....most people aren't going with Glock.

The 9mm is nice and works well in IDPA SSP or USPSA Production for the Glock platform. In Glock .40 it's IDPA SSP or USPSA Limited or L10.

For the 1911 the .45 ACP works well for IDPA CDP and USPSA L10. In .40 it's IDPA ESP and USPSA Limited or L10.

In those two games the .40 offers more options than the 9mm or .45 (from a competition point of view since 9mm doesn't make Major in USPSA).

FYI, The STI Spartan 1911 in .45 is going for under $600 these days.

The Glock 35 can be shot in IDPA ESP and SSP as well as USPSA Production, L10 and Limited.

 

[SoCalShooter]

If you shoot bullseye...three gun, you really only need two guns, a .22lr and a service pistol such as a 92fs or a .38 revolver or a 1911.

 

[browningguy]

I'd give a close look at the EAA Witness Elite Match. It's not a carry gun but an incredibly accurate pistol for match shooting. I have one in .40 and am looking at getting one in 9mm for IDPA ESP. They run around $429 at the gunshows here, and there is nothing as accurate for twice the price. I currently have about 30 pistols, 5 BHPs (including a Competition model), CZ75, etc., and nothing I own is as accurate as the Match out of the box. It also has the advantage of a superb SA trigger and very good sights.

 

[LHB1]

Quote: "If you shoot bullseye...three gun, you really only need two guns, a .22lr and a service pistol such as a 92fs or a .38 revolver or a 1911."

Not quite. You must have a .22 LR pistol, a .45 ACP pistol and optionally, a centerfire pistol larger than .32. Most of us just shot the .45 ACP in both the centerfire and .45 classes, thus needed only that gun plus the .22 pistol. A 9mm or .38 can be shot only in the centerfire class but then you must still have the .22 LR and the .45 ACP unless they have changed the rules since I quit shooting Bullseye.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[lil ski]

Not quite. You must have a .22 LR pistol, a .45 ACP pistol and optionally, a centerfire pistol larger than .32. Most of us just shot the .45 ACP in both the centerfire and .45 classes, thus needed only that gun plus the .22 pistol. A 9mm or .38 can be shot only in the centerfire class but then you must still have the .22 LR and the .45 ACP unless they have changed the rules since I quit shooting Bullseye.


The rules are still the same. I have been shooting bullseye for over 10 years and I still have yet to see a 9mm shoot centerfire. Most use a 32, 38 or 45 I have seen some 44s. I don't think the 9mm has the bullet selection as the others for shooting bullseye. Just my 2 cents

 

[streetstang67]

Well I'm getting a lot of suggestions...one more question though:

Anything in particular I should NOT get? any handgun or feature I should stray away from?

 

[Longbow]

Glock 35/34 or XD 9mm/.40 cal Tactical. It will give you more options on what division you would want to compete in, in USPSA. Mags for these guns are more affordable too.
Stay away from those with DA/SA pull. The trigger characteristic is hard to master. It can be done, but its harder to master than DAO pistols.
Just my .02 cents.

 

[Joe D]

I thought the 9mm was used for Service Pistol Matches.

 

[Caseless]

CZ-75 SA or Springfield Armory XD 9mm
Minimal maintenance required for either.

Glock is OK if it comes with metal sights.

 

[HighVelocity]

I would stay away from guns that force you into a single class until you have been competing for a while and know where you want to be. For example, a Springfield xd is only allowed in ESP class (in 9mm).

A Glock 17 is less than 5 bills, carry-able, accurate enough and reliable out of the box, accessories are abundant and mags are cheap compared to other guns. You can use it in SSP or ESP class in IDPA and you don't need to be an aerospace engineer to work on it.

my .02

 

[Igloodude]

Well I'm getting a lot of suggestions...one more question though:

Anything in particular I should NOT get? any handgun or feature I should stray away from?

You have in effect said "I want to get into driving a car, inexpensively. What car should I get?" And city commuters have told you "get a reliable 4cyl" and rural types have told you "get a pickup truck". Until you narrow down what sort of competition you're looking at (even to say 'action pistol' or 'conventional pistol') the answers aren't going to be nearly as useful.

What you shouldn't get into? A handgun that doesn't feel nice in your hand, before during and immediately after pulling the trigger.

 

[streetstang67]

Hmmm, I think a better comparison would be me saying:

"I'm wanting to get into racing cars, what car should I get that I can drive on weekdays and race on weekends? The car needs to run on pump gas, and handle well for road racing and accelerate well for drag racing. I know this is a compromise, but it will help me get into the sports and decide which I like best. Whenever I pick one, drag racing or road racing, I will get a dedicated race car."

Maybe thats a better comparsion, I know yal need more specifics on which competition I want to get into, but I don't know yet. So, what I'm asking is with the few specifics that I have given, what do you suggest?

Thanks a lot!