blacklab

Welcome from newbie to newbie. Very nicely worded post. Sounds like your a good father and a super grandfather. Hope you have a chance to help teach your children's friends and grandchildren's friends. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a father figure.

Thanks for the input. I was talking to a few guys at the steel shoot today who dabble in USPSA. It sounds like I'm going to a match at the end of the month. Still not clear on what handgun to take. Sounds like I would be in the minor power factor, but would I be better off with my stock H&H VP9 or my 1911 open steel gun? (comp, c-more ,trigger job etc.) I like the open gun better but I don't want to look like a monkey fumbling a football. I assume all the big boys shoot open. Thanks.

For the past 35 plus years I've been in the shot gun world. That was easy, find a gun that fits, yell pull and break clays. Now I find myself in the handgun world. It seams to be a little more complicated then I was hoping. Shooting trap, sporting clays, 5 stand, etc. the rules were close to the same. Not so much with handguns. The last few months I've been shooting steel and having a ball. I'm in the open class because I like to use a dot. I'd like to do more than just steel, the run n gun sounds like a lot of fun, but I'm at a loss where to start. I've been reading up on USPSA, IDPA and IPSC rules. I read them but didn't understand them. They talk about limited, production, open and major power factor, miner power factor etc. etc. Ok so here is where I stand. I don't reload, I don't want to be the next state champion, I have a few different handguns from new in the box to tricked out in single stack and double stack, and from 9mm to 45. Not too much in the line of holsters or belts or mag pouches. My goal is to escape reality for a few hours a week, meet new people and have fun. I don't mind putting out cash for what ever I need, but at this point I'm not sure what that would be or if I should lean toward USPSA or IDPA. If anyone could give me a good starting point it would be greatly appreciated. Wow that was a lot of typing for 1 finger. Thanks in advance.

Quag, I'm new to the sport and currently only shoot steel. I am also working on tuning my 1911. I have a rock island in 9mm and put a Wilson combat extended slide release and ambidextrous safety on it and have no problems. I didn't think there was a difference between 9mm and 45 when it comes to safeties and releases . How does it shoot with the 11# spring? Just wondering because my next step is to change the spring. I thought a 9# might run nice. Not sure if it will be too light.

Thanks for the welcome. Hi-power Jack, no as of right now I'm only shooting steel. I think my next move is going to be IDPA. But like I said I'm new to the handgun world. Still trying to figure out the rules, gear needed, etc. Scottlep, thanks for all the advise so far.

New to this forum and to handgun shooting in general. Looking forward to reading the posts for helpful info.