hphobo

Yes, reloading. My wife and I already spend as much on ammo every month as our mortgage payment so saving something will be nice. If you all don't mind I have a few questions, one concerning gun mods and more concerning equipment. Just want to make sure I'm interpreting the rulebook correctly. 1. Can't find this in authorized or prohibited modifications (Appendix D5). In SS can I or can I not install a flared mag well as long as the gun still fits in the box? 2. I'm 99% sure that I'll be using a Comp-Tac International holster without the drop offset as that's what I use in IDPA and have always been happy with them. In keeping with CT gear, can anyone tell me if their Beltfeed mag pouch is in fact legal? Their website says it is and the Appendix D5 #10 seems to confirm it. I'd carry that at the 9 o'clockish area along with a Twin Mag pouch at about 6 o'clock for the start and Barney mags. http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=33 3. Can anyone offer a better/cheaper alternative for #2? 4. And finally, in SS can I mount all of this onto a range belt? Again I think the rulebook says yes but I want to make sure. And can you suggest one that's reasonably priced but good enough for a schlub who shoots occasionally? Thanks!

Thanks for all your replies. So the first part of the puzzle is in place. I am now the proud owner of an STI Spartan V in .45ACP for cheap which should be in my hands by the end of the week. That'll give me the option of shooting two divisions but I'll start in SS due to the lower cost of related gear. Time to get reloading supplies together as well. To begin with I'm thinking about using Atlanta Arms reman 185 JHP cartridges as I've always had good luck with their 9mm and .40S&W stuff. Any thoughts on those loads or a better alternative until I save enough brass for reloading?

As stated in the original post, I have no interest in shooting Production. I'm simply looking for a new game and a new challenge with a new toy. Between what I saw yesterday and what I've learned here it comes down to a 1911 chambered in .45ACP in SS or L-10. The determining factor then is which is cheaper to gear up for (holster, belt, mag holders and mags) and if there is any major difference in shooting strategy. Any thoughts on those subjects?

I'm thinking that with lessened recoil I'd be able to spend less time thinking about shooting and more time thinking about the game. But honestly having little experience shooting a 1911 and zero experience shooting minor power factor .45ACP I don't know if it'd make a worthwhile difference. I'm used to shooting full power ammo out of my G21 in CDP so it's not like I'm afraid of it. Just trying to explore options and learn from other's experience. As I said from the get go, I want to try to figure it out before plopping down the money...

From a practical standpoint, what is the difference between competing in SS or L-10, besides the obvious mag capacity limits? And can you legally load .45 to minor power factor in either division or would you even want to? I don't know if it'd be helpful or not but the thought has occurred to me that it might be easier to start minor and then move up.

Which make perfect sense as I hadn't found a 2011 near my rice range. I was thinking Single Stack with something like the STI Spartan V or something similar. I can do a new Spartan in .45ACP for under $600 out the door which means my total investment would be under $1k plus ammo. But I'm still open to other (and cheaper) alternatives... http://www.stiguns.com/the-sti-spartan-v-2/

Thank you. It was a lot of fun. Met a lot of great folks and got hooked on another shooting sport.

Hey all, thanks for having me. Although I'm an intermediate level IDPA and Steel Challenge shooter with a few years experience in both disciplines, until yesterday when I volunteered to be the dedicated squad scorekeeper for the annual Toys For Tots match I had never even seen a USPSA match in the flesh. And as I had already been considering getting involved on a limited basis, yesterday was the final nail in the coffin. I gotta do it. To keep this intro thread short I'll just drop this link to my longer question thread and hope to get some advice. Oops, can't create a link but it's there. Thanks for your help!

Looking for some advice. Decided it's time to add the occasional (quarterlyish) USPSA match to my monthly or more often IDPA and Steel Challenge schedule. And I'd like to use your collective experience to try to avoid some of the buy and try that can go into starting a new discipline. I have some very strong ideas on what I want and mostly don't want but would appreciate your opinions to fill in some gaps. I have no illusion of being the next Brian Enos or Rob Leatham nor do I intend to buy the most expensive equipment available. I'll settle for being the old, cripple and half blind guy shooting reasonably priced equipment whether new or used. If with some practice and experience I can be a good, solid C class shooter that'll be great. In other words i just want to have fun. So without further ado, here are some does and don'ts. I do intend to buy a new to me pistol that will be 1911 or 2011 based pistol because I don't have one, keeping in mind that I want to do this relatively inexpensively. Yes, I know there aren't any cheap 1911's out there. I do want to shoot either .45ACP or .38 Super. I lean toward the .38 super because that gives me the option to shoot major or minor. And it sounds cool. Besides, I need another caliber to deal with. I do want to shoot iron sights only. I do not want to shoot Production division because there's already plenty of opportunity for that. I do not want to use optics. I do not want to spend a bazillion dollars to do it. So, right out of the chute that eliminates Production, Revolver and Open. And because a race gun no doubt costs more than I want to invest I'm pretty sure that leaves out Limited as well. So I think I'm looking at Single Stack or Limited 10. But there's probably more to this than I'm aware of. Your opinions, advice and guidance will be greatly appreciated even if I ultimately don't follow it. Thanks for your time and consideration.