airforceblue7032

So it seems in any particular division it's mostly about preference and what gun you prefer to shoot. I wish I had the funds to simply purchase a new gun every couple months. I would have an awesome selection to chose from. Thanks everyone for the comments

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like if I want to stay with the 1911 platform and be under $900, you all are suggesting (not in any order): 1. SA Range Officer 2. Rock Island Tac II 3. STI Spartan If you had to rank the above, would you say #1 Range Officer, #2 Spartan and #3 Tac II?? I'll have to do some number crunching and see just how much money I'd save in handloading by switching from .45 to 9mm. Maybe I'm only saving a fraction of the cost and buying a new gun really is not called for. I'm not particular about any other division in IDPA. I understand that I'm competing against only the other 1911's in .45 cal. So do you think there is any competitive edge one can get by shooting a 9mm in ESP than a .45 in CDP??

I got ya. I'm also kicking around buying the M&P 9 Pro Series or the Springfield XD. Have you shot either of those?

Thanks for the comment. I was thinking the same...I do like the 1911 platform. It just looks bad ass. I load my 45's to meet the minimum PF for IDPA. I know I could load them lighter since I'm not shooting any sanctioned matches, but I figure I should shoot the type of load I would when I eventually do shoot at that level. When you say your VIP is lightweight, what do you mean and why isn't it fun to shoot matches with?

Hello all, I've been shooting IDPA for less than a year with my S&W 1911 in .45 cal. It's my only pistol and I bought it before I knew anything about IDPA. I also starting hand loading .45 cal at the same time I started IDPA. I've been kicking around the idea of switching to 9mm. The lower cost of ammo and the lighter recoil has been on my mind this year. My funds are a bit tight so my options are limited. I would like to stay under $900 for a new gun. I also need to consider the added equipment I will need with the new 9mm; Holster, mag pouches, and materials I will need to begin hand loading 9mm. I'm still on the fence whether or not I want to sell my 1911 and the hand loading dies/primers etc. to finance the new gun. I've done some brief research, and it seems like the best gun for my price range would be the Springfield Range Officer. I also like the STI VIP but that's much to high. If I don't want to stay with the 1911 platform, there are other choices out there. I like the Springfield XD, but I haven't heard much about that gun and if IDPA shooters like it. I know the Glock's are very popular, but I've shot a few of those and did not like them. Do any of you have some advice? I appreciate any guidance and wisdom you have. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for all the comments. I would have to mention that I'm not a fan of living somewhere during the summer's where I melt every time I walk outside. So I'm not sure if Arizona is my bag. However, living too far north and freezing my butt off doesn't sound to good either. Maybe southern Colorado? Utah?

I'm not sure where to post this question, but I wanted to get your thoughts on something regarding IDPA. I'm in the Air Force in will retire in the near future and I know shooting IDPA, Steel Matches and other types of pistol competition is something I want to be heavily involved in after I retire. Currently I'm shooting maybe twice a month due to other commitments. So, my question is: If you could move anywhere in the US where would you go that allowed the greatest opportunity to become a competition shooting junkie? I know this is a off the wall question and maybe I won't be able to get a good answer because there isn't. Best case would be to live near a top notch shooting range and be even closer to where the better state matches are hosted. What would you suggest? I'm sure state gun laws would play a factor as well. Sorry for such an off the wall question. Maybe someone else here wondered the same thing. Thanks in advance for your comments.

good ideas everyone. I will play around with those and see what I come up with.

That's a confidence booster...How did you do American Horse??

PM sent

Nice video...those stages look fun to shoot. I'm new to IDPA and shoot CDP with my S&W 1911. How long you been shooting? What do you use for an action camera? I have no feedback because I'm too new to the sport. But I do hope to be in a spot in the next year where I can offer helpful advice.

Thanks Kenny, but I've seen that sheet before. That's the one I referred to being tailored around USPSA. I contacted the guys at Power Factor about a similar sheet centered around IDPA and had no luck. I'm not real familiar with excel and all the formula's and such, but maybe I can play around with it and create something similar.

I've seen one out there tailored for USPSA. Does anyone here have or know someone who has something they use to track their performance in IDPA? Thanks in advance.

I just began shooting late summer last year. I only have one gun...S&W 1911 in CDP.

Crazy...I was thinking the same thing and just about to post the same thread. I got my copy of my magazine a couple weeks ago, but nothing since.

I shot my first classifier last month in CDP with my S&W 1911. I did well for me...marksman. I was happy with that since I wasn't expecting it. Before that, I had shot about 8 local matches. I'm looking forward to my first sanctioned match in September and another in October. My goal is to earn expert in CDP by this time next year and be excepted at the S&W Indoor Nationals by spring of 2016. I don't think I'll have any where near enough points to qualify to attend Nationals Feb 2015.

It's crazy reading posts in how someone shoots the classifier for the first time and makes Expert or better with minimal time/experience in the sport. I just recently joined IDPA with maybe 8 local matches under my belt. I shot the classifier for the first time in CDP and made Marksman. I was pleasantly surprised because I totally expected to stay a novice. My goal is to make expert by this time next year. I just got my timer in the mail along with a copy of Refinement and Repetition by Steve Anderson. I realize the book is catered to USPSA, but the dry fire skills taught translate to IDPA.

Wow...86th! Well, that doesn't boost my confidence. How many times have you tried since?

Yes...that's the place I go. It's the only IDPA range in the area and I'm already driving about 40 min. Do you shoot there as well? Thank you as well. What was your AFSC?

There's such a wide opinion here...some say 5, some say much higher than that. My goal is to apply to attend the S&W Indoor Nationals next year. With the sanctioned matched located close to me, I'll only be able to hit two matches. Only issue is I don't know if they will be Tier 1 or 2 matches, thus I don't know if I will get 2, 3 or 4 points total. I guess, I'll apply regardless and let the chips fall where they may. I probably shouldn't attend a National match without several sanctioned matches under my belt anyways.

I'm stationed in DE and have been in the military since 2001. I recently got into hand-loading and IDPA. I'm excited to get better at shooting and my goal is to attend the S&W Indoor Nationals next year. Nice to meet you all. Looking forward to the advice and feedback.

This looks like a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to shooting this coming fall.

I'm new to IDPA and I'm not familiar with what you are talking about. For example, next year for the Smith & Wesson indoor nationals, do you have to qualify in some type of point scale before you can be considered to compete?? I'm real excited to make a goal for myself...to be able to attend that match and actually not suck. Edit: I found another thread that mentioned something about it. I think I understand it as, you have to compete at a sanctioned match in order to get points. And in order to attend Nationals, you have to have so many points to get in. Where do I find more info on this point scale? Is it true that only last years points count for this year?

I'm new member of IDPA. I shot about 3 club matches last year just before winter and loved it. So far this year, I've shot 3 times as well. I also just completed the Classifier and made Marksman in CDP!!! I didn't expect that at all. I shoot a S&W 1911 in .45 ACP. I also load my own ammo...a first for me as well this year. I'm stationed in Delaware and have a family of 4. Been living here for 4 years and enjoy it very much. I wish I was closer to my gun club, but it is what it is. I'm looking forward to meeting and getting plenty of advice from you all.