Practicing with minor PF competing with major?

[kevin c]

Both sides (match ammo only vs economizing w/ other loads) have good points.

Ideally? Yeah, I'd like to have the money to run my match load all the time, but at 21 cents each round, it adds up quick. And that doesn't even include the wear and tear on the gun.

Yes, I have to make a transition from the practice load, be it cheaper but still equivalent PF moly centerfire loads in the same caliber, or 22 LR rounds through my conversion, but I don't think it's something that will throw off the experienced shooter. New shooters, I think, do need to spend at least some time learning recoil management, which shooting 22's will not help with.

But for one shot draws, transition drills, movement drills, and accuracy training, lesser loads can get the job done for less money.

Edited April 14, 2012 by kevin c

[Darqnezz]

Shoot whatever you can get your hands on. It doesn't really matter what caliber you use. If you make your practices count, you will improve.

[TriggerJockey]

In my experience using a 22 conversion it helped me learn other aspects of the pistol. I was able to get a better (and cheaper) grasp on trigger reset by not having major PF recoil to contend with. I could really feel the click of the reset and was able to get it muscle memorized for about $100 worth of 22LR. I will suggest that you hammer down on a few of your match loads the day before a match just to get the feel right. Here's to cheap practice

[motosapiens]

I prefer to practice with the same ammo I compete with. I like to know exactly what the gun should feel like when I pull the trigger and it recoils.

the same ammo feels very different to me in practice vs a match. I don't even notice the recoil when shooting a match.

From reading this thread, it seems like it makes a big difference to some people, and not much difference at all to others. Try it and see which group you fall into.

[AAZone]

For practice matches I shoot 9mm and .45 for matches, different recoil is not really a problem for me. The only issue I have is the different triggers and timing. I just shoot the .45 in practice before the match and in the match once the timer goes off, all the thoughts about POI/Triggers/timing/recoil all go away.

[Olivers_AR]

Vote more more trigger time and saving costs are a good thing. Movement, filling two rounds up in a mag and practicing mag drills, practicing 21f, etc, plenty of reasons to get a load it.

Yes using your correct/match load before the match is a good thing. I just ran a practice day (200 rounds) for 3 gun using minor loads in the G35, no score kept, no times kept, good application of cheap bullets.

Edited May 6, 2012 by Olivers_AR

[theycallmeingot]

I know shooting light loads in practice makes me shoot match loads in practice WAY worse. but at an actual match i shoot fast and dont notice recoil at all. i think trigger time is better than "not screwing up timing" or any other voodoo mumbo jumbo.