WestPat

I am new to competitive shooting and the only match I have shot so far is a local Steel Challenge match. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I shot an older custom STI 9mm that is set up for Limited. I guess I don't know any better, but it seems like people are disenchanted with the sport as a whole because PCCs or Rimfire can just own each match. I think that I will continue to pursue SC for at least the first year to help me improve my drawstroke, vision, and transition between targets. I also think that it is a way to judge improvement since you are repeating set stages. Those are my thoughts anyway. I appreciate any thoughts or perspectives that are different from mine. Thank you.

Hello, I have apparently picked an interesting time to enter into the world of USPSA and SC. I wanted to start in limited, because I had a good used gun set up for it, and I thought it would help me to become a better shooter. Now, with LO coming up, I can adopt the gun over since it has a plate. What would you recommend? Also, I like SC better since I am just starting into the sport, as I feel that it will help me get used to competition and improve my draw stroke and vision skills. Do many people start there and then move to USPSA? Any and all commentary is welcome.

Would this be a useful gun for BullsEye shooting?

I just bought an MPA DS9 Hybrid before the LO rule posted. It is a wonderful gun that I will use for limited until May 1st, then put an optic on it. Of all the 2011 style that I have handled in the 3-4K range, the DS9 is hands down nicest fit, finish, and handling. David

That Holosun combo is fantastic, although the magnifier does not have the most clarity. I love the 510c reticle options. Have not shot it in comp, but have it on a PCC 9mm that easily reaches out to 100yds. Good Luck

Stress relief and free brass!

Hello, I have loved to shoot my entire adult life. I have always been blessed with land and have had some manner of a "range" at home or at the parents or in-laws. It's been an escape for me and a way for the family to gather and have fun. I have always worked to improve my accuracy, but I have never trained in an organized manner, or with a goal in mind. Now I am 47 and the kids are grown, and the funds are more plentiful, and I can still run and zig-zag with minimal consequences. I have decided to get off the sideline and go test my skills, meet new people, and train so that one day I will be ready to dominate the Senior Division! My first match was shot on 2/25/2023, it was Steel Challenge, and I met my personal goal of shooting at least one run of each stage under 5 seconds, and not getting DQ'd on a Procedural. I am an ICU nurse, and I am proud to say that nerves did not play a factor at all. Not I am looking forward to my first USPSA match soon, and I am a little nervous about that. I chose to start in Limited, because my eyes are still good and I have a Millennium Custom that I bought from a friend who had much luck in that Class. I welcome any and all advice, encouragement, and constructive criticism. I understand that my physical abilities do have an expiration date, so I want to make sure that I am effective and purposeful going forward. I think my areas of greatest need are efficiency of movement, mindset, and stage planning. I am comfortable in my technical skills and what I can and cannot do. I hope that this will be a journey of personal fulfillment and full of new friends and experiences. Please share it with me. David West IG @mrddubbs

Thank you!

You are welcome. Good luck in finding the perfect gun, and safe shooting! David

The mark on the slide and above the slide release are fingerprint smudges. I took the pictures at the gun store before I decided to buy.

Thanks!

I am just trying to share my findings and experience, as limited as they are. I don't want to become an MPA apologist, but I will say this. The guns on IG are all non-serialized guns that are probably displays and mockups that they have been used over and over. Next to the other guns in the $3K range that I have handled, my DS9 fit, finish, and feel is better than all of them. I would love to attach pictures of my own gun, but I am having trouble meeting the size requirements even though it says that my pics are only 3.8mB. Any tips on that? I believe their problems are in the past, and I hope they continue to get better and better. David

Hello jt1207, I have very little experience, but maybe some insight directly related to this question. I have a Millenium Custom Limited(STI base) built at a time when Shay Akai and Derek Janowiscz were partners. It has been maintained over the years and has won several AL state titles and good showings at nationals with the previous owner. It is smooth as silk with no wobble or wiggle and a fresh trigger job right before I bought it. That is my baseline. This week I bought a MPA DS9 Hybrid. 3100 tax and all at my LGS(Brick and Mortar site for GunPrime.com) I believe that as the DS9 relaxes into itself, it will surpass the MC. I was also able to handle new Staccato XL and C-2, Wilson Combat FX-9, and an STI DVC carry, side by side by side. The DS9 as a total package was far superior to all of them. The fit, finish, and handling of that DS9 is so far above each of those guns, and is also comes with a tag stating the measured trigger pull of each gun. It is signed by the single gunsmith that built it, and initialed DL for Inspection. Turns out that is David Lyell, USPSA Grandmaster. I found a video where he states that he handles each gun before it leaves the facility. Here's what else YouTubes and the Interwebs taught me: MPA bough CK(Cheely/Keigan) Arms and employed Bobby Keigan and staff to continue building for them. The first 300 guns or so had some growing pains, but every negative review was followed by a glowing review of how MPA took the guns back and smoothed, polished, and retrofitted as needed. They build 90%+ of the parts in house, and it would be my guess that the problem guns happened when all of that was coming online. My S/N is north of 01000. Check out the videos from user X-Ring and TheHumbleMarksman. Easy to watch, good accuracy tests. They are expanding with specific guns for USPSA Open, Limited Optic, and IDPA, but from what I can tell they are all based on the DS9 Hybrid. The Aluminum Agressive grip(I have) seems to be the grip that everyone gravitates to, and it absolutely welds the gun to my medium sized hands. I had to go to work to pay for this beast, so I have only ad time to put 35 rounds through it, with MBX and STI 140mm mags. The wife and 9yo shot it as well. They got 10, 10 and I got 15. It has Kensight irons with red fiber front post. It shoots where its pointed and fed the entire mix of Federal Premium and my JHP handloads. I think this second gen of the DS9 is a well kept secret because of the stigmas of the early guns. I think that the more they make it out into the wild, the more demand will increase. I hope these are helpful points, and if you can find one, I think you will be well served purchasing one. The optic plate is an addition $150 with free shipping from MPA and they have Vortex, Leupold, RMR and co-witness options for each one. Hopefully this helps! David

Hello, I have been cruising along, learning about 2011/DS stuff, and this forum keeps popping up with plenty of answers, so I signed up. I have finally taken the plunge into Competitive shooting with USPA/Steel Challenge. I already owned a Derek built Millennium Custom Limited gun that I just had to have for no other reason than it belonged to a friend and it is awesome. I recently purchased a MPA DS9 because I have no impulse control, and then justified it once I found out about Limited Optics coming soon(good timing). Is there a subforum for RDS? Anyway, I am glad to be here. hopefully to learn many good things and become a shooter worthy of my guns. David W.