waynes_world_45 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I want to dabble in Open Class, partly due to my aging eyes, but the finances right now just wont allow a several thousand dollar gun. I even had one that I had to let go, and the few times I shot it, I really enjoyed it. I have no ideas of making Master or anything. I'm a "B" shooter in production and probably only shoot about 5k rounds a year right now due to time and money. Is a used open Glock the way to go?, or an STI in some outdated caliber (9X21) that someone has upgraded from? Since my round count is fairly low, the price of exotic brass wont kill me. Can I get in for under $1000? I reload on a 650. what are you guys thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 First thought is , There is no open class in USPSA,second thought would be a used sti in 38 would be the cheap route, but you aint gonna do it for under a thousand, I guess the really cheap way to open would be to take your current production gun and accidntly on purpose like shoot 11 rounds out of a magazine, Welcome to open! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I think I'd invest in a good set of glasses or contacts before I'd try to buy an open gun that cheap. You're obviously a good shooter and enjoying the sport if you've made B-class, but $1000 is not enough money to buy a competitive open gun. In fact, I've been willing to pay in the $2k range for a decent S_I 9mm open gun (with at least a few mags) for quite some time, and I've yet to find one at that price point that I was willing to spend my money on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I shot Paras in open for many years until I upgraded to an STI. If it were not for the price of the brass, I would still be shooting 9x21. Its a good round that found prominence back in the old days when USPSA did not allow Major in 9x19. For some reason, used ParaOrdnance open guns seem to not hold their price nearly as well as and STI/SVI so that may be a good place to start. It wouldn't hurt to place an ad in the forum's classifieds once you have a handle on what you might want. There is a good chance someone out there may have one with an old Tasco sight that will stay within your budget. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkleskiw Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Nothing wrong with shooting a 40 in open. I did for a little while and made B with it. ::shameless plug, but there is one for sale in the classifieds. I know the guy selling it :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 It wouldn't be as competitive. but there are some 40 S&W open guns out there in that price range. This is one listed on BunBroker...They don't show a price, but I've got one almost identical to it and I paid around $700. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=211409410 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkleskiw Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 /off topic I hate the it's not competitive line. I shot with a guy up in Rochester, NY that made it to "M" with a 40. But, you do what you think is right. /on topic Good luck in open and finding one to fit your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 /off topic I hate the it's not competitive line. I shot with a guy up in Rochester, NY that made it to "M" with a 40. But, you do what you think is right. /on topic Good luck in open and finding one to fit your budget. Read my post again....I said "as competitive". When they make a 170mm mag that holds 28-29 rounds of 40 S&W, it will be "as competitive". I own two open 40S&W's, and a 38 super....Guess which one I usually shoot in USPSA matches? Now, the 40's for bowling pin matches? That is an awesome choice....180 grain bullet, big heavy comp, takes those pesky pins clean off the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkleskiw Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 My bad. 40 is still a good choice for a first open gun though. I just learned how to dissect a stage on where to make a mag change and it rarely mattered. Like you, I shoot my 38SC more anyway. Too bad they don't have a pin league around here, otherwise I'd probably keep the thing. Sorry for the drift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWLAZS Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Caspian guns are often found with mags at a great price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PINMAN44 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Lol not too be off topic but my forty open gun get's 28 rounds and so does my buddy Flyin 40 who is close to GM. Not too mention I'm close to M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jman Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) About $1,200 wrapped up in my 9 major Open G17. Stone cold reliable and a bunch of fun. Edited January 14, 2011 by Jman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mildot1 Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I found what I thought was a very good deal on a custom built STI in 9x23. I have shot a ton of 9x19 out of it, only shoot the 9x23 at large matches. If you have a round get in front of the extractor your screwed, but I only had that happen a few times and a new extractor solved that prob. As stated before, you can prolly find a good deal on a caspian or para. They don't seem to hold the value like others. Have fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-ManBart Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 You can sometimes find a used S_I Open gun for $1500 or a bit less, but the problem is that you'll need mags, and even three or four (minimum) will be another $3-400 even if you don't go crazy with them. R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resjudicata Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) I'd suggest the Glock open gun like shown above. One our local guys built one and I thought it shot great. You'd probably like it since you already shoot a Glock. Maybe just turn your existing Glock Production gun into an open with mag extensions for your existing mags. Chris ETA: I can get 28+1 rounds or 27 reloadable in my SV 170 mags in 40. Reliable as well. Edited January 15, 2011 by Resjudicata Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pro2AInPA Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 A G17 like pictured above is the way to get into open around the price point you're talking about. No way you're going to get into an open 2011 at that price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitestir Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Possibility***** http://www.jagerproducts.com/opendiv.html $550 kit $400 used G17 Look for some mags/bases, magwell and holster. Do the .25 trigger job. Tad over a grand with everything, but not bad to mess around with.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furyalecto Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) It seems like there are always open Glocks around. I lucked into an open Para. The gun isn't the limiting factor in the equation. An open Para, Glock, Caspian are all a gamble at that price. If possible buy the most wretched looking one from someone you know who has one that runs. (And make sure you can duplicate their pet load.) Edited January 15, 2011 by furyalecto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehli Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 Most economical? Load 12 into one of your Production gun's mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1911jerry Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 You might be able to find someone who is getting out of open and wants to trade his or her gun for something else plus cash. Keep your eyes open on the board. You might get lucky. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynes_world_45 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 thanks guys.....I will watch and wait for a while and then maybe try kitestirs idea...that package seems pretty good......how do the little optics compare to the full siza CMore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynes_world_45 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 About $1,200 wrapped up in my 9 major Open G17. Stone cold reliable and a bunch of fun. What are the details of your build? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mscott Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 thanks guys.....how do the little optics compare to the full siza CMore? That's a whole other discussion, but it seems the smaller optics solve any problems of ejected cases jamming up the gun since the Cmore hangs over the ejection port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I think I'd invest in a good set of glasses or contacts before I'd try to buy an open gun that cheap. If his vision problem is similar to mine, which is purely age-related, then glasses do not help much... that was one of the reasons I moved into Open - iron sights have become too much of a chore, slowing me down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynes_world_45 Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Yup...turning 47 this year...never needed glasses until age 40 and then just for reading...now it's getting worse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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