Defense/gaming gun question

[Levy]

I would like some advice. I have been shooting idpa for about two year and this year I have decided to get serious about shooting by doing dry fire and live fire practice. I also want to shoot more uspsa. I shoot a walther p99 da/sa in 9mm. It has a 4inch barrel. It is also my Home defense/ sometime carry gun. So here is the question. Is it ok to use it for the shooting sports and defense? Even though I will be putting 6000 to 10000 round throw it a year? Or should I go out and buy a dedicated gun for gaming? If so any suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

[ttolliver]

I don't have experience with the P99 to give a breakdown of it's pros/cons for competition, but I can pass along one bit of wisdom that I'm surprised someone hasn't tossed out yet.

Even though some guns are clearly more suited to gaming than others, as long as you are comfortable with this gun and can shoot it accurately you can make a lot of progress before it's actually what's holding you back. And to prove it you can hand that gun to a really good shooter and it won't keep them from shooting an amazing stage.

That being said, very few of us need much of an excuse to buy another gun. So don't take that as a recommendation not to go shopping, hehehe. Just don't think you need to. Usually the advice is that if money is a little tight, put the money into ammo and a few training tools rather than a gun.

[steviesterno]

i can say some stuff, since I started shooting with a QA p99 in 9mm. It was good enough for IDPA, and got me hooked on USPSA. It is not the best gun for the games. That's true. However, it's a really ergonomic design, and I have piles of ammo through it. Never a glitch. I was new to shooing and I couldn't make the gun fail, despite how much I messed with it. this same gun is still one of my go to, end of the world HD/carry guns because it just plain works.

If you really like it, I would suggest possibly a second in a similar or the same configuration. That way you could do all your dry fire and practice with one, and keep the other nicer for carry. I had a hard time with Walther's specific mag release when I started shooting a different platform, so it's not the kind of thing I'd want to fumble under stress.

Come to think of it, I need to find a good holster for it and put it back into rotation...

[perrysho]

Opinion !

Five gallon buckets of ammo (practice) will improve your score sheet more than a new pistol. LOL

If your heart is set on a SV or STI and you have a thick wallet, have at it.

We only come this way once, whatever makes you happy.

Perry

[Ronnie j]

Walther p99 you'll find a reason the hate it long before it wears out.

[Flatland Shooter]

I think its a good idea to carry something very similar to what you shoot in matches. The more you shoot one platform the more competent you will be with it should you ever be in a situation where the SHTF. (Example: After almost 50 years of shooting 1911/2011 guns, I still search for the thumb safety every time I draw my Glock 34.)

But, I would not use the same gun for games and carry. Your match gun will get a lot more use which may mean some parts will start to wear out before you know it. You may wish to adjust your match gun to better suit the sport. I may be in the minority, but my carry gun will be as close to out-of-the-box stock as possibly.

But then I shoot in Open and everybody knows Open guns break a bunch.

Bill

[snertley]

Shoot what you have like. Or it is a good reason to buy another similar gun for play. I mostly shoot my 5" XDs but I carry a 3" XD sc. Same guns just different sizes. Though at least 1 match a year I shoot the carry gun using my Inside the waistband holster. Good practice and lots of fun.