JasonR

Oh, well actually I was just commenting on popularity, most of guns I see are long dustcover. I prefer a short dustcover gun with a severely lightened slide. A bull barrel, long dustcover, and tungsten guiderod each weigh roughly the same so you can swap parts to get the right weight. A long dustcover pistol with a steel guiderod weighs the same as a short dustcover pistol with a tungsten guiderod. So can start with a short dustcover model and a tungsten guiderod and when you learn to control the recoil better replace it with a steel guiderod for a really light gun. If you start with a long dustcover and steel guiderod and want a lighter gun later, you'll need to have a bushing barrel installed to drop weight. Heavy guns absorb recoil better, lighter guns move between targets faster. I can handle recoil a lot better than I can move a heavy gun. When i first began shooting I liked heavier guns but I've come around. The above is a much better thought out plan than I went with. Follow Pickles advise and save yourself from having to buy an extra gun or two as you advance/learn...... Lots information, thanks! What STI frames/guns are normally used in IPSC/IDPA? Does anyone ever use the light rail frame or the tactical STI....or are rails not used in competition?

What are the most popular frames..? I see three offered on their website.

Does anyone just buy the frame and then send it to a machine/custom guy ? If so, what frames are most popular..?

What STI 2011 do most people use in 3-gun and other pistol only divisions? Iron sights only!

Well I don't plan to go into this full time...I just don't have the time. I didn't know there were proper practices and drills for mag changes etc. I thought it was more of a hobby sport, but i would like to compete a bit. What's the benefit of a mid length AR?

Cool, thanks. My Benelli does have a choke, though. So should I use a 9mm or .40 pistol? And is a Colt LE6920 ok to start out with?

Cool, I'll buy an AR and just go out and shoot.

Actually, I don't understand or agree with that. The pistol in USPSA 3 gun is scored identical to a full pistol match. A good pistol is USPSA pistol matches is a good gun in 3 gun. Maybe the original poster meant with so many shots fired the pistol isn't nearly as important in 3 gun as it is in a pistol only match. Either way, points are points, I don't want to drop any if I can help it. If you're buying a pistol for both, you're looking for a Limited class gun. STI is a great choice, see the rest of the thread for cheaper options. If you consider STI, make sure you budget for magazines. I didn't explain my point well enough. Given his situation, I would think Jason should put money into a rifle next and "shoot what he gots" pistol-wise. My statement not to get hung-up on pistol is simply because, in my personal experience, its not where most of the points and/or time is won/lost in 3/multi-gun. Which, is not to say the pistol in unimportant in 3-gun. Just not as important as in a pistol only match . Utimately it depends on your goals, Jason. Well it seems I only have 2 choices with my current pistol selection: USP .40f (have to buy JF and 16 round mags) or USP .45f tactical (12 rounds of .45 acp). I WANT to buy a USP .40 Expert anyways, so I was going to use that if I buy it...

Ok, so the pistol isn't super important in 3 gun? If I want to get into pistol matches...do I have to start off w/ an STI?

I would like to be competitive, but I understand that I probably won't be until I have a lot of shooting under my belt. So I think I'm going to start w/ a USP Expert, My Benelli m1, and buy a good, reliable AR15. Then I'll go out and shoot and practice, and shoot and practice, and if I really get involved with it I can further upgrade my guns...

I've got a bunch of USPs, mostly .45 cal and 3 .40s. I want a USP Expert anyways, and I think it would be a decent competition gun and not too spendy.... I don't have any semi auto rifles yet (my dad does, but he's out of state), I'm only 22 so I'm just getting started and have spent my time buying mostly HK pistols. I was going to buy my first AR in the next couple of months...something simple..maybe a Colt LE6920 or RRA/Stag rifle. It just seems every time I post about using the stuff I have, people say I have to have a STI pistol or Benny Hill M1 etc. :\

Ok so 3 gun seems like alot of fun, but I'm almost scared away with it from hearing what I'll need to be even remotely competitive. For pistols, I've heard STIs were the only way to go...and they are usually customized by someone like Benny Hill...and I think are around the 2k mark. I'm a college student, dammit! I was thinking of buying a USP Expert, as I'm an HK fan, and I think it would work very well for the price. From what I've heard Benny Hill Benelli's are the way to go. Most people seem to run a 20-22" barrel, and I can't find a Benelli M1 or M2 w/ that length barrel. I have a mint M1, but it has ghost rings and a 18.5" barrel. :\ And for a Rifle most use an AR. What ARs are people using? What should I look for? I'm confused by this whole 3 gun thing now, and IPSA and USPSA or whatever the acronyms are confuse me even more. :\ Posting pictures of your gear would help a bunch, too.