sperman

I e-mailed customer service last Friday (5/16/08). I recieved this reply today. From: Rossini, Mark [mailto:MRossini@smith-wesson.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:07 AM To: Perman, Scott Subject: RE: M&P 9L Availability scott- they just started shipping should be very shortly thank you

Thanks for everybody's advice. I am now a member of the USPSA, and have a few more mags on order. If I could impose on the group with one last question: Can you recommend a .45 ACP round to use in the match. I'm sure I will get into reloading some day, but don't want to deal with it just yet. Thanks again, Scott

I have a Tuarus 1911, and a holster already. I've been told the Taurus wont stand up to competition in the long run, but if I get serious I'm sure I'll be upgrading some of the parts and pieces anyway. So now the question is: Limited 10 or Single Stack? In either case it sounds like a stock gun will be at a disadvantage against one that has all of the mods within the rules, but it will be a while before the gun is a limiting factor.

I bought a 24/7 last fall, not really knowing what I was doing. It's not a very good gun, and definitely not the right gun for competition. If I shoot Production, I will get a M&P 9 (probably wait for the 9L, as long as it comes out in the next month or two.) I went to my local range and rented a Glock 17, SD & the M&P. But I wasn't as accurate with any of them as I am my 1911. I'm sure putting 50 rounds through a range gun isn't a fair assessment of how accurate I would be given practice time with a new gun, but I guess I'm a 1911 snob wannabe. I just like the single stack gun. Scott

I'm more accurate with my .45 than with my 9mm, so I don't think recoil is much of an issue, but I am intimidated by the number of magazine changes. I went to a match a couple of weeks ago to watch and one of the COF's had 15 or 16 paper targets. That's a lot of rounds, without any misses. I know reloading is part of the sport, but since I am just getting started I would rather focus on my shooting skills. It will be a while before I am competing against anyone other than myself.

I am a looking to start shooting in competition for the first time, and I'm not sure what division I should start in. I was originally thinking of shooting production, but I much prefer shooting my 1911 than shooting my plastic gun. If I'm going to be stuck with a 10 round limit, am I better off shooting a minor single stack? Limited doesn't seem like a great place for a new shooter to start, but the idea of an unlimited magazine is appealing for someone who hasn't spent a lot of time practicing reloads. There is also the question of cost. I can get a good production gun for about $500. All of the 9mm 1911's I've seen have been over $1000. TIA for your help. Scott