First USPSA match pistol advice?

[heli03]

Hello all,

I going to be attending my first USPSA match in a few weeks. I will be shooting in limited/minor and would like to know which one of my pistols would be best. I will either be shooting a Tanfoglio Elite Match .38 Super or a Beretta 9mm.  I am proficient at shooting both pistols. The Elite Match is more accurate and a softer shooter.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Edited September 23, 2016 by heli03

[Mikeski]

Shoot whatever you are most comfortable with. Just go out to have fun and see what it's all about. 

[Hi-Power Jack]

2 hours ago, heli03 said:

 The Elite Match is more accurate and a softer shooter. 

+1.   I'd shoot the gun which YOU feel is more accurate and "softer".   

[Butters]

Agree with the above posts. Biggest thing with a first match is be safe, observe the good guys, and have fun

[mlmiller1]

Whichever you feel is best for you assuming you have a secure holster & several mags for that gun.

[S&W686]

Welcome to the Forum.  Just shoot and have a great time. 

[Sarge]

I agree with the above but keep in mind you will most likely lose a good portion of your brass. I would rather lose 9mm than 38 super! If you get hooked like most do you will most likely want to shoot the 9mm so you may as well start with it.

[JWBaldree]

I remember the conversation I had when I decided to do my first match. Asked my gunsmith / competitor guru about which gun, holster, mags, blah blah blah. He said just use what you are most comfortable with and have fun, because you won't be winning anything. He then told me that my first job was to go slow and be safe, don't do anything dumb like throw the gun down range while attempting a speed draw, and to make sure I get invited back.

Use your first match as a learning experience about the game, not the equipment. And watch out for the adrenalin dump after you shoot your first stage. Follow the ro's commands, and don't take too much advice your first few times out. Focus on safe gun handling, and all we will be good.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[alucardus]

First match just have fun and don't get DQed. So use whichever gun you feel you know better. The only thing you might consider is if you have more mags for one gun use that. I see new shooters all the time that will run out of mags and not be able to finish a stage.

[kneelingatlas]

Try not to shoot "fast", take as much time as you need to break each shot clean, pay attention to where the targets are, where you will shoot them from, be safe, be helpful, and have fun!

[Butters]

7 hours ago, JWBaldree said:

And watch out for the adrenalin dump after you shoot your first stage. Follow the ro's commands

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
 

This is a great point. Alot of guys rush showing clear and fumble or drop their mag on the ground. Then they bend down and try to pick it up while muzzling everything in sight

[3gunnuts]

Shoot really fast and don't miss.  

 

But seriously, TAKE YOUR TIME.  You are going to see a lot of guys really burning it up.  Don't try to keep up.  Shot your own stages at your own pace. Once you have some experience under your belt you can start speeding up.  

[propeine]

I'd shoot the Beretta because I'm a cheap brass monger but like everyone else said, go as slow as necessary to be safe and make hits but otherwise just have fun!

[Jephro]

The soft shooting has value but after the beep you won't even notice the recoil.  I have tried a bone stock H&K 45, 10mm in limited and S&W 625 .45 in matches and not once did I notice the recoil.  In fact on one stage with the 10mm (not powder puff loads, around 207 PF factory rounds) I started inexplicably (more than just that I suck) missing.  I kept easing off the grip thinking I was pulling the gun with the trigger to the point that I limp wristed and stovepiped on the fourth try.  Recoil never entered my mind.  Down the road it will matter but you will change your mind on what you want to shoot a zillion times before then.  I would go with the most reliable and then cheapest comfortable option to start.  Be safe and have fun.  Plus, slow and smooth is fast.  You want to start training your muscles with the proper technique and if you do that the speed will come.  We like to have new shooters so just remember for now that your only competition is yourself.  It is way more fun that it looks and is instantly addictive.

And welcome!

[EliteGuard]

Take the pistol you are the most comfortable with, have a holster for, and a sufficient number of magazines. It sounds like you are better with the Elite Match. You aren't going to win your first match. Take your time at the first match. Have fun and make sure you are paying attention to what you are doing to avoid getting DQed. 

If after the match you are still not 100% sure on what pistol you want to use then run the other pistol at the next match. Nothing says that you have to continue using the same pistol.

[thejez]

On 9/24/2016 at 8:39 AM, Sarge said:

I agree with the above but keep in mind you will most likely lose a good portion of your brass. I would rather lose 9mm than 38 super! If you get hooked like most do you will most likely want to shoot the 9mm so you may as well start with it.

+1

[joerenew]

Thanks for posting this question I am new as well and the advice will be helpful for me as well. I am nervous but I don't expect to win anytime soon so that helps. I plan to just go have fun and make sure I really pay attention and learn for the first few matches

[johnbu]

I wish the OP would update on the match!

[lorenzobishop040]

I shot my first uspsa a couple weeks ago just shoot what ever gun you want and have a good time and watch what the more experienced shooters do .

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[joerenew]

Great tip Lorenzo my first match is coming up and I am not interning to do well just get some experience under my belt and will be doing the same

[glazer1972]

I had some guys let me finish some stages with them awhile back and I shot what I had with me.  A M&P9.  These guys were even nice enough to give me enough ammo to finish with them.  I'm going back to enter the next time they have one.  Super folks.

[Peterock]

I shot limited with basically a stock Glock 17 solely because I,wanted to run full mags after shooting IDPA for a while.  Tons of fun and I shot pretty well.

[ArrDave]

I would suggest the beretta purely for cost reasons for ammo.  

[Peterock]

The Witness gives you a good reason to start reloading......

[Nick179]

On 9/23/2016 at 0:45 PM, heli03 said:

Hello all,

I going to be attending my first USPSA match in a few weeks. I will be shooting in limited/minor and would like to know which one of my pistols would be best. I will either be shooting a Tanfoglio Elite Match .38 Super or a Beretta 9mm.  I am proficient at shooting both pistols. The Elite Match is more accurate and a softer shooter.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

I would suggest doing some dry fire with both and see which one is easier to manipulate (safety, mag release, slide stop) and go from there. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast!  Don't even think of running your first few times.  Ask lots of questions and listen, make sure you tell your RO or MD it's your first time and help setup, paste, paint, and breakdown. You'll get more help than you want if you're a good guy and fellow competitors will get you set up with anything you need. Make sure to bring double the ammo needed for that day, reshoots, dropped mags, bad ammo. Get a checklist of the basics (gun, ammo, mags, eye and ear, gun bag or original box, water bottle, snack bars, cleaning cloth if mags are dirty) and don't do anything with out being told i.e. I bagging your gun. It's a great sport with great people and you'll be hooked!  Have fun and be SAFE.