59Bassman

I would guess that most people shooting .40 aren't buying factory new brass. Some may be, but it's rare. In the last year, I've amassed a 5 gallon bucket of .40 S&W brass. I've not paid for any of it, other than maybe a couple hundred Speer cases from buying factory ammo. The rest is range pickups. While I'm not fond of the .40 as a caliber either, I do believe that it is about the best choice for Limited. Brass is readily available on the cheap. Almost all of the "modern" experience in reloading components, firearms setup, and mag tuning is based on the .40 S&W. It's proven and it works. The only reason you wouldn't choose a .40 for Limited is either 1) you have another gun you like shooting already in another acceptable caliber (e.g. .45 widebody Para or Glock 20) or 2) you really want to go it alone and choose a caliber "just to be different". If I were building a hard-use defensive pistol to stake my life on in daily carry, I'd take a 10mm over a .40 any day of the week. But in USPSA, .40 rules the roost in a game gun.

Is that a stippling job or grey skate tape on the two-tone? Nice looking blasters.

What about one of the new CZ 75 CTS guns? Longslide, SA CZ 75. 9mm goodness in a package designed around the cartridge? Mags available with capacity up to 23 rounds?

While it's true that 9mm isn't much cheaper to reload, I think a good 9mm pistol is a fantastic first start, especially if you're not sure which game you want to play. My CZ-75 Shadow is a competitive platform in USPSA Production, IDPA SSP & ESP, 3 gun/Multigun, and Steel Challenge. IMHO, trigger time in different sports can't help but increase a person's capabilities. I can travel with the gun and mags and buy affordable, division-appropriate ammunition at pretty much every WalMart and sporting goods store in the country. I just got my first .40 again after a long time without one. I don't hate the caliber, but I will admit to preferring 9mm and .45 ACP. I think your XDm Competition in 9mm will be a fantastic platform to get started with, and one you probably will never outgrow regardless of what you ultimately get into.

Pretty rare to see a TS in the wild. I think I'm the only one shooting a TS or CTS at the couple of clubs I shoot at. 75's in production are another story. There are probably a 10 or more shooters with 75's competing regularly in USPSA, IDPA, and 3 gun around here.

So far, I ordered a Grams kit (call them, they know what you need for a CZ 75). Last night I put that kit into one of my Mec-Gar AFC mags with a +2 base. Normal capacity for the mag is 19. With the Grams kit, the mag easily fit 21. I'm hoping the longer base pad gets me 2 more.

My 1911 holster is a Comp-Tac, and I like it very much. I also have a number of Blade Techs, and those are fantastic as well. There are a number of choices for mag pouches. I have a set of the Uncle Mike's double pouches (cheap but they work) and CR Speed Versa Pouches (expensive to set up for 1911 - probably about $40/pouch). I like the CR Speeds very much, and they're very versatile if you want to shoot other divisions. But they've got a much higher initial setup price. I normally carry 4 on my belt, one in the gun, and a spare in my back pocket. I don't think I've had to go for the spare (yet!)

I don't know that the comparison is quite right. In the case of the STI/SVI pistols, there are very few other options in high capacity 1911's. Even fewer with a polymer grip frame. And most of the competitors are known to have quality and performance issues. Additionally, you can get an entry-level STI for about 60% of what a Sphinx costs. In the case of CZ and Sphinx, the Sphinx is up against a pretty established pistol that has an outstanding reputation for out-of-the box quality and accuracy, along with the ability to have a very nice trigger. The claims of a limited life made in this thread are honestly the first I've ever heard mentioned about a CZ. Not doubting the possibility, but I've not heard that in any of the previous threads about CZ.

My comment was more based on the shape from the side view. I agree that the Beretta is thicker side-to-side, but from a grip profile perspective, they are very similar. In fact, it was my wife who first brought the CZ into the house - I did not want one under any circumstances. However, she loves the 92 and wanted something with a similar grip. The CZ 75 compact grip overlays almost exactly on the 92FS, only a bit shorter. I don't disagree with your thoughts on frame thickness, but in overall shape, I do believe they're more similar than most other pistols out there.

In my experience (having owned/currently owning a 92FS, 92FS Compact CZ-75 Compact, CZ-75 Shadow, and CTS) through the grip the CZ and Beretta are very, very similar. The CZ may be a fraction slimmer. They feel pretty similar in the hand. However, they shoot somewhat differently, and I prefer the 75. With the Beretta, you've got that goshawful decocker on the slide, and no good place to rest your thumb if you're a 1911 shooter. The 75 is a better fit if you're used to shooting a 1911, IMHO. Also, with most 92FS models, you're stuck with the front sight that Beretta gives you unless you want to have that stub milled off for something new. The CZ at least gives you some options.

I've got a CZCustom extended pad coming, and had a nice chat with Grams engineering today. With any luck at least one of my mags will be 22 or 23 at the start buzzer by next week.

Bob- The inner/outer belt setup allows for a couple of benefits. First, you can position your holster and pouches anywhere on the belt - you are not constrained by your belt loops. This is very beneficial for Production and Single Stack shooters, who may be trying to fit 5 or 6 mag pouches on their belt behind the hip bone. Not being constrained by belt loops also allows you to put the holster in a consistent position, regardless of what pants or shorts you're wearing. Depending on the maker of your pants on a given day, your right-side belt loop may be an inch away from the pants you wore yesterday. Makes consistency difficult. I will say that I looked at the Tac Grip belt and had the same reaction on price. I don't see enough wrong with my Double Alpha setup at a bit more than half that price that would cause me to switch. Note that if you get into IDPA, the inner-outer combos are not legal. They are legal for USPSA in all divisions, however.

RCBS Rockchucker Supreme Master kit. Everything in the kit is top quality, and will last you for many, many years. The Rockchucker is one of the best single-stage presses ever made. Even if you ultimately go to a progressive down the road, you'll still keep the RC on your bench for other tasks, or for low-volume rifle loading.

I thought at least in 9mm the Trojan had a ramped barrel, the Spartan was non-ramped. Don't recall where I got the information - is this incorrect?

Arched with a magwell for me. When I bought my last 1911, I could not shoot it as accurately as my others until I put that arched housing on it. Just more comfortable for my hand shape and size.

I think PistoleroJesse nailed it. In the CZ line, the custom shop SP01 is probably as good as it gets for USPSA Production. But because I wanted a "do-all" 9mm, I bought the 75 Shadow. I have been extremely pleased with the 75 Shadow, and don't regret that choice for a second. The only thing I wish I'd done differently was spring for the adjustable sight.

Good Lord, that's beautiful.

I don't think it's as much of a looser chamber as much as the Glock .40's originally had a gap at the base of the chamber where the feed ramp was. I think that they've corrected this in later models, but the "Glock Bulge" was due to this section of the brass that had no chamber around it. Hence the "unsupported chamber".

I pitch any ICI, Aguila, or military crimped 9mm. Everything else gets loaded. I can't seem to tell much difference through my Hornady LNL.

My 75 Shadow does double duty as my Production gun, a SSP gun, and a 3 gun pistol. I've discovered that my Mec-Gar AFC's with +2's are too big to fit the box, so I've ordered a small stack of Mec-Gar's without the +2's to use for USPSA and IDPA. But I've been dumb enough to register for the Rockcastle Pro-Am, and I'm wondering if I can configure my mags for a couple more rounds at start. I like the Mec Gars, and they have worked extremely well. However, I'm wondering if there are other combos that will give me more than 19 rounds. I took the Grams spring and follower out of one of my CTS mags, and I was able to get 20 in a CZ factory 18 rounder with the Grams spring and follower, but I didn't like how the follower sat for the last couple rounds. Any other thoughts, combos to consider?

Love the CZ Shadow, but I do wonder if I will ever truly be comfortable withe DA on the first shot. Lots more practice to do before I'm willing to try it in a match. I was concerned with the DA first pull. From everything I'd read, the DA pull was responsible for cancer, global warming, and the real estate crash. So I used a Beretta 92 for a couple of 3 gun matches. And what I found was that when the buzzer went off, I was aware that the first pull was different, but I never felt it. I will try to make it easier by drawing to a full target whenever I can, I can't recall an instance where the DA pull bit me. It's MUCH different on a square range firing line.

I get frustrated at times. I try to show up early (or the day before) to help set up. At a match, I typically try to help the squad move - taping, scoring, whatever. I will pick up brass, but only after the match is over and props are taken down. The frustrating part is a few of the regulars who are out a couple times a month, have been shooting for a couple years, and have no idea how to score. They've never learned because they're too busy pocketing the previous shooter's brass between each shooter. If you reload and want to help out around the range, stick around and help yourself. If there's nothing else to because everyone else is doing a job, OK. But if being a brass chicken is keeping you from learning how to help, and you're cherry picking the .45 ACP I JUST SHOT, please hold off until we're done shooting.

After some panicked browser work over the "Too Soon" window I kept getting as the time ticked past 9:30, I got through. AM 272. This will be my first "major" three gun match. Gulp!

I believe the correct choice in your poll is "yes". Part of the beauty of Production is that there are so many competitive choices. If there is a full-size Double Action/Single Action, Double Action Only, or Striker Fired 9mm you shoot well, it's going to be an acceptable choice for Production, assuming it's on the list. I've seen folks shooting Glocks, M&Ps, XDs, CZs, Berettas, Sigs, Rugers, Caracals, EAAs...they all work well assuming you put in the time to practice and learn the gun. The differences may come down to availability of aftermarket parts that you may want such as sights, holsters, or trigger kits. But that has less to do with the suitability of the gun, and more to do with the overall popularity. Everyone will have a preference. For example, I shoot a CZ 75 Shadow in Production, and have been very happy with the choice. But someone will come along shortly to explain why a Glock 34 is a better choice due to consistency of trigger pull, availability of aftermarket parts, and sight radius. Someone who shoots an XDm 5.25 will then explain why the XDm is superior due to ergonomics. You get the picture - everyone has spent money on one of these guns, and everyone has reasons why it's the choice for them. In my opinion, your best bet is to try to get to a range where you can try as many of them as possible. Or ask after a match when a competitor is using a gun you're interested in - most guys won't mind you shooting their gun a bit to see if you like it. Pick a gun that feels good in your hand and that you shoot accurately. Buy one. Buy some more mags, a holster, and pouches. Then shoot that gun until you wear it out. By that point, you'll know what your next one needs to be.

This past weekend was 3 gun at a new (to me) facility. I headed down with a few other guys who shoot at my club regularly. The 3 folks I knew there were all better shooters that I am, so it was interesting to be on a squad with them and watch how they did what they did. Also interesting to have one of them remember that I'd been a sporting clays shooter and ask what I was going to do on the first shotgun stage it was flattering even if I had to admit that nothing in sporting clays prepared me for 3 gun. After a lot of inner turmoil, I decided to shoot my new CTS, so between an almost-new AR and the CZ, I was shooting a pretty new setup. All of the guns ran well, and I ended up with a single miss on a pistol target. I am shooting low with the AR through the scope, but I'm running it pretty quickly. I did much better at movement. I made a definite plan of where I wanted to be during the walkthrough, and then when the buzzer went off I moved as fast as I could between positions. This included the 50-yard sprint down the rifle range to a second prone position. Overall, I was pleased with how I moved, and saw some improvement. It needs to be a continual focus, however.