tbarker13

I love the Kahr CW9. Replaced the G26 that I used to carry. The Glock, to me, is just too chunky. Also love the trigger on the Kahr.

I have a gun in production now (or it will be at some point soon) by Matt Cheely. I'm having two different slides built. 1) .40 cal with sight tracker for USPSA 2) 9mm tri-topped for IDPA. Some would suggest just going with a SDC .40 and loading it minor for IDPA. But I really wanted the sight tracker. And I really like the option of shooting cheaper 9mm reloads.

I assume you know that the XDM will put you in the ESP Division, while the Glock will put you in the SSP division. I don't see that it makes much difference, though. My club's ESP and SSP shooters seem to run pretty close, in terms of scores. Pick the gun you feel most comfortable shooting. Both are great guns.

Had one for about 6 months. Loved it. Very reliable. And very easy to shoot. It's one of the few guns I've regretted selling. But it was just tough to have that much money tied up in a gun that, for me, was just a carry gun. (Not that it's not important to have a solid carry gun. But I figured I could spend a lot less and still have a great carry gun.)

Great to hear. I'm trying to forget that I've even placed this order - just enjoying my other guns for now. But really looking forward to life with the new gun.

I spent the past year doing production in IDPA. Then when I started shooting USPSA, Limited just looked fun and very different. Plus, I really wanted to go down the 2011 path. I could see myself doing production again. But for now, it's Limited in USPSA and ESP in IDPA. They work pretty well together.

Why shoot anywhere if you aren't enjoying yourself? I started in action pistol through IDPA. I've become a safety officer. I've started to design stages. And we have a great, friendly core of shooters in our club. Monthly matches are very well attended. I've started to become more involved in USPSA. I like them both - but only because I have fun doing both. If it's not fun, don't do it.

I think a lot of this depends on your expectations regarding IDPA. Do you simply want to go out and shoot to practice CCW style shooting? Or do you want to be a serious competitor? I see the Glock 19 (which I started with) as a nice entry gun to IDPA. It won't be a significant handicap - particularly not on shorter courses of fire. Things are going to be more difficult when you are confronted with longer 20 yard shots and maybe even closer targets where you have to deal with tight shots created by non-threats and hard-cover targets. In the end, you have to figure there is a reason serious competitors opt for the 17s and 34s when they pick their guns. As for the concealing part of the equation - that's really for you to decide. Some people think a full-size 1911 is just perfect for CCW. Others don't want anything bigger than Kahr P380. Personally, I tried both a 19 and 26, but ended up going with a Kahr CW9. It just works better for me.

4-6 months isn't bad, I've been waiting 9 months so far for a Brazos build and I still have three to go. My next build will be one of Matt's guns. Matt has been great to work with. This is my first time down this path - and he has been incredibly patient with all of my questions. I'm trying to add a bit of personalization to the two slides (9mm and .40) by having something (a latin phrase) inscribed one side of each slide.

I'm an SO with IDPA. I find that it can help to make it clear - before the shooting ever starts - that anyone not shooting or getting ready shoot, should be downrange pasting after a stage run. Most people at our matches are pretty good about it. An occasional reminder - shouted out to the entire squad - as the day goes on can also help.

For weak-hand shooting, I find it a must-have. I just get a much more secure grip on the gun.

I've been going through this myself with my first experience using 2011 mags and grams. I ended up using a small file (I think some people use dremels). My way was probably slower, but I felt like I had a little more control over it. At first they were locking back with 1 round in the mag. Then I took off enough to get it to lock back with an empty mag. Took off a little more and - no lockback at all.

A couple reasons - at least for me. 1. It may not be a ton cheaper to reload 9, but over thousands and thousands of rounds, it adds up. 2. 9mm brass is so much easier to find after matches. And I don't mind losing it, when I'm not in the mood to pick it up. Maybe later, I'll end up wondering why I'm using two different calibers. But for now, it makes sense to me.

This is the route I took. One top (in .40) for USPSA and one top (in 9mm) for IDPA.

He estimated 4-6 months on the build. I'm hoping for four. But mentally preparing for six.

I had one of each, though I definitely shot the 17 much more than the 34. Both have moved on to other owners. But now I find myself thinking about getting another SSP gun. I'm leaning toward a Glock - either the 17 or 34. I do think though that it will be the 17. There's just something about the handling of it I liked better than the 34. It could be that I just didn't spend enough time with the 34. But my gut says 17.

Well, after much thought, I settled on my gun. Going with the short dust cover, hybrid barrel and tungsten guide rod. And I went ahead and added the 9mm top, set up for IDPA. Figuring this wonderful piece of machinery will handle pretty much all of my competition needs between the two games. Of course, now comes the waiting.

I just got my new limited gun yesterday and it is exactly what your wanting. It is a short dust cover 5in hybrid sight tracker, as for recoil that is all perceived differently by everybody but to me this gun shoots extremely flat with hardlly any felt recoil. I will be having another sight tracker top end fitted in 9mm for steel challenge. Awesome. I'd love to see a photo of it. Your description certainly does sound like what I'm looking for.

I just ordered an essentially-stock Eagle from Brazos. First thing I've ever ordered from them. But I'd say they were very easy to deal with. Very friendly. The gun had just arrived that day from STI. I added a fiber optic sight, trigger job and shaved down magwell (to fit the IDPA box). All of that has added a week to my shipping date. I'm pretty happy with that.

Matt mentioned something along those lines as well - the ability to change out guide rods. I do like the idea of having that versatility. And I think I kind of like a heavier nose on the gun. If only I could spend a month shooting one of each:) Even better, if I could own one of each.

Thanks for that Brazos link. That was a great read. I have talked a bit (through email exchanges) with Matt about the recoil issues. I'm paraphrasing, but he suggested that the combo I'm looking at would be pretty close to what I'm shooting now. As long as it's close, I think I'd be fine with that. I mean, the Edge (essentially stock) that I'm shooting now feels like it has virtually no recoil. I'm probably worrying too much about the recoil issue. I've just spent most of my handgun life with 9mms. So 40 is just something I'm getting used to. I'm betting the combo of tungsten guide rod and heavier hybrid barrel will get me where I want to be.

After shooting with my current limited gun (STI edge, no slide cuts, etc.), I've gotten the craving for something different. And after reading tons of threads here, it looks like I'm going with Matt Cheely for my new baby. I want something that's going to keep the felt recoil fairly soft. I'm torn between a couple configurations. The one I'm leaning toward is: Short dust cover, hybrid (sight tracker) barrel, with tungsten guide rod. The hope is that the heavier barrel, tungsten guiderod and lighter slide will combine to keep me pretty close to what I'm shooting now - in terms of felt recoil. The added bonus is that I can always add a second top later if I want to shoot 9mm ESP in IDPA. And I could switch out guide rods if I decide I want a lighter front. The other option would be the full length dust cover with or without the hybrid barrel. I guess the only thing holding me back from 100 percent commitment to my first build is the fact that I've never shot a gun like it. I'm trying to find someone locally with something similar to give it a shot. Just wondering if anyone else has gone through a similar scenario. In the end, I'm sure that no matter what I choose, I will enjoy shooting it.

Thanks. Yeah, I should have said that I ordered a few sets of followers and springs.

I think I'll end up going that route. I've messed with the springs, but just can't get all of the followers where I want them to be. Shot in a club match today - ended up having several mag-related feeding problems. Just ordered a few grams followers to see if that clears things up.

I'd probably end up selling it and getting a second limited gun. I like the idea of focusing on a division. And considering how long it takes to get some of these guns repaired/modified, it's always nice to have a backup for whatever your primary gun might be.