Need advice on competition handguns

[Ledspreader]

Hello all.... new to the forum.... new to them in general, but i need advice. I am a 3 gun nut. shotty skills and ar skills are pretty good, just need to work on pistol skills. Anyways, i was looking on some advice on pistols to set up for open comps. I am looking into Glock 17, 17l or 34. I am not set on glock, but it is affordable, easy to work on and get comp parts for.....,.I am not looking to break my bankout on $1,000 sigs and H&k's.......... Let the flood gates open and i welcome all advice.

[jrswanson1]

What division are you shooting in? Have you shot the above Glocks already? Are you using open sights or are you getting optics? Glock, S&W, FN, H&K, all make 9mm competition guns. If you're going USPSA multi-gun, I'd stick with tactical for a while before going Open.

[Ledspreader]

What division are you shooting in? Have you shot the above Glocks already? Are you using open sights or are you getting optics? Glock, S&W, FN, H&K, all make 9mm competition guns. If you're going USPSA multi-gun, I'd stick with tactical for a while before going Open.

I have shot glocks before. ( actually just picked up my G17 and i love it).... i was thinking of going race gun, i think those skills will help me out in 3gun. This is going to be a slow work in progress mind you. I am in no rush. I will prob have 2000 or 3000 rounds through it before i even start to aquire the parts. i do like your advice on tactical though and might start there first.

thx

[gregj]

You might also check with Hatfields Gunsmith in Manassas. He builds a lot of comp guns, and supports the shooting sports quite a bit. I shoot USPSA and IDPA, but no experience in 3-gun, so I cant help much more than this. Good luck in your decision.

[Ledspreader]

I was just curious to know what classes you are shooting in?.... maybe i can use you for just comp shooting advice in general.

[M1A4ME]

First, I'm a 1911 guy.

I recently bought a Glock M31.

My nephew bought a Springfield XD in .45 acp and it shoot pretty darned good.

If I was in the market for another new handgun I would seriously be looking at one of the XDMs. For paper I'd pick a 9mm. For serious use I'd pick the .45 acp (1911 guy, remember).

[jrswanson1]

I shoot at the Black Creek 3-Gun match, I'm using a ParaOrdnance P16-40 that's been tuned by Hatfield's. The last match I ran a CZ-75b since we were running an AK for one of the stages. I'm shooting in the Tactical Division, so I can run an optic on my rifle and open sights on pistol and shotgun. I'm not a Glock guy, but I ran a G35 for a few matches. Nice gun, just didn't fit me. If you get a G34, it's a good basic action match gun. You can pimp it out however you want and do very well with it, as long as you practice. I don't get enough pistol practice, so my times suffer.

[Ledspreader]

I shoot at the Black Creek 3-Gun match, I'm using a ParaOrdnance P16-40 that's been tuned by Hatfield's. The last match I ran a CZ-75b since we were running an AK for one of the stages. I'm shooting in the Tactical Division, so I can run an optic on my rifle and open sights on pistol and shotgun. I'm not a Glock guy, but I ran a G35 for a few matches. Nice gun, just didn't fit me. If you get a G34, it's a good basic action match gun. You can pimp it out however you want and do very well with it, as long as you practice. I don't get enough pistol practice, so my times suffer.

How do i get the practice in this area. Can i get time at black creek. Is there a membership process.i got an email that they were shooting steel yesterday, can i just show up. do i need to pay .......what, what, what, what,???????????????????????

[Chasbo00]

i got an email that they were shooting steel yesterday, can i just show up. do i need to pay .......what, what, what, what,???????????????????????

Black Creek has a monthly all-steel pistol match using USPSA rules. It's the second Saturday of each month.

Check out their steel site: http://blackcreeksteel.wordpress.com/

[Ledspreader]

i got an email that they were shooting steel yesterday, can i just show up. do i need to pay .......what, what, what, what,???????????????????????

Black Creek has a monthly all-steel pistol match using USPSA rules. It's the second Saturday of each month.

Check out their steel site: http://blackcreeksteel.wordpress.com/

Thx for the replies bud......I have never shot comp before and have little pistol experience. I was kinda of hopeing to get brokin in slowly. Is there away to join and get alot of practice before i do a comp. I want to learn the ins and outs by talking to other memebers ETC, ETC, ETC

[Chasbo00]

Thx for the replies bud......I have never shot comp before and have little pistol experience. I was kinda of hopeing to get brokin in slowly. Is there away to join and get alot of practice before i do a comp. I want to learn the ins and outs by talking to other memebers ETC, ETC, ETC

For beginning action pistol competition, I think starting with IDPA is your best bet. There are also more IDPA match opportunities than other type matches in the central VA area. Join this site to get announcements for IDPA matches:
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/VAIDPA/

You don't have to be a great shot to shoot in action pistol matches; but, you do need to be safe while drawing and handling the handgun during movement and shooting on the move. You also need to know the rules - especially the ones relating to safety.

I recommend you post a message on the VAIDPA group stating what you would like to do. There are three outdoor ranges relatively close to you that have IDPA matches: Black Creek, Cavalier, and Rivanna.
http://bcidpa.wordpress.com/
http://www.cavrpc.org/
http://www.rrpc.org/
There is also an IDPA match at the indoor range in Richmond (Dominion I think) some Monday nights, but I don't know much about this one.

[jrswanson1]

i got an email that they were shooting steel yesterday, can i just show up. do i need to pay .......what, what, what, what,???????????????????????

Black Creek has a monthly all-steel pistol match using USPSA rules. It's the second Saturday of each month.

Check out their steel site: http://blackcreeksteel.wordpress.com/

Thx for the replies bud......I have never shot comp before and have little pistol experience. I was kinda of hopeing to get brokin in slowly. Is there away to join and get alot of practice before i do a comp. I want to learn the ins and outs by talking to other memebers ETC, ETC, ETC

One more thing. If you don't have that a lot of pistol experience, take a class. Proshooter here has a defensive pistol class near Richmond. That will get you the basics and you can go from there.

[FenrirKildar]

I have been using a Glock 17 Gen 4 in 3 gun and been pretty happy with it. I also use it for USPSA Production Matches, and a couple of different pistol action shoots in the area and haven't had any problems with it at all. So I would say go for the 17.