Entry level Pistol IPSC

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Mike_Porter

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Greeting Everyone!

Let me preface by saying I am in general new to shooting and currently own a S&W M&P .22. I have a lot of learning in fundamentals before i can truly look into getting in action shooting but! I have come to point where I feel I should look into getting a 9mm Handgun and i have a fairly limited budget so the handgun i would like to get would ideally be the one I would eventually compete with. Trying to keep it in the 600-800 range and i'm interested to see what everyone has to say! I have looked mostly at the S&W M&P 9mm or the Grand Power Q100 or should i try and find a used higher quality firearm like a CZ or Sigs? Let me hear your thoughts!


Thanks
Mike
 
Just about everyone in IPSC runs a Shadow 1 or 2. The other popular platform is the 1911. Lots of gear and upgrades available. Lots of knowledge here on this gun.
You’ll have lots of support at a Match if your gun goes down. Has a fantastic trigger. Has good weight and is reliably accurate.

Do what xldbldbl says. Get a CZ Shadow off the EE. You won’t regret it if you want to get into IPSC.

And this coming from a guy who would never buy a CZ!!
 
Mike_Porter said:
Greeting Everyone!

Let me preface by saying I am in general new to shooting and currently own a S&W M&P .22. I have a lot of learning in fundamentals before i can truly look into getting in action shooting but! I have come to point where I feel I should look into getting a 9mm Handgun and i have a fairly limited budget so the handgun i would like to get would ideally be the one I would eventually compete with. Trying to keep it in the 600-800 range and i'm interested to see what everyone has to say! I have looked mostly at the S&W M&P 9mm or the Grand Power Q100 or should i try and find a used higher quality firearm like a CZ or Sigs? Let me hear your thoughts!


Thanks
Mike
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My 2nd year in IPSC (Production) and have gone through the common options. I started with a Glock 17, HK SFP, PPQ, P226, CZ Shadow, and finally the CZ Shadow 2. As you probably noticed, I've slowly transitioned away from polymer firearms. If the budget is 600-800, I would recommend a used CZ Shadow or new (I have seen them for as low as $869+tax with free shipping). In my opinion, the weight of the Shadow is on the heavy side but I think it helps with the recoil management / target re-acquisition. I also believe the front sight is easy to acquire and the fiber is replaceable to other colors easily. Lots of options for OEM parts (different weights for recoil springs, hammer springs; different options for hammer, trigger, etc.) and still stay within production division. The sport can get very expensive, especially if you're gonna go through the trial and error by buying. I learned the hard/expensive way. If you have not taken the BB course, you should do it as soon as possible. The course will be a good indicator if IPSC is for you or not. Some instructors even offer the rental of the equipment (gun, belt, mags, etc.). For sure you'll see others in the course with different firearms, ask to try, the worst they can say is no, most would even offer their firearm to try without you asking.

I myself am contemplation moving to the Production Optic Division for the upcoming season. I just waiting for the Optic Ready Shadow 2. I think the optic will help me with my aging eyes without jumping into Open division.

Hope this helps. DS
 
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My take on it
Within your budget and/or for shooting for fun G17 gen 5
If shooting to win, even if only winning within your class, in production, CZ shadow 2 or tanfo stock ll

After many years of shooting classic with 2500$+ guns,
I now shoot local only and for fun, and just love how much the gen 5 glock is accurate and easier to shoot than other gens
 
Shadow 1 one would be a good start, and you can use it in IDPA and IPSC. The shadow 2 is awesome but is on the heavy side for IDPA. I have both and love them! As stated above EE always seems to have some nice shadow 1's posted.
 
Mike_Porter said:
Greeting Everyone!

Let me preface by saying I am in general new to shooting and currently own a S&W M&P .22. I have a lot of learning in fundamentals before i can truly look into getting in action shooting but! I have come to point where I feel I should look into getting a 9mm Handgun and i have a fairly limited budget so the handgun i would like to get would ideally be the one I would eventually compete with. Trying to keep it in the 600-800 range and i'm interested to see what everyone has to say! I have looked mostly at the S&W M&P 9mm or the Grand Power Q100 or should i try and find a used higher quality firearm like a CZ or Sigs? Let me hear your thoughts!


Thanks
Mike
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My advice... Ignore everyone telling you to buy X or Y gun. Go into a gun store and handle as many as you can. If I followed the advice on getting a CZ that everyone always gives, I'd be very unhappy with it... Not because the gun is bad, but because it's bad for me. Grip is everything and if your hand is too small or like in my case too big for a particular gun, you basics will be off making a great gun seem awful.

It is for that reason I'm still using a used P226 that I bought off the EE in production... It's the best fit for me.
 
JasC said:
Can your gun have cerakote or stippling to be run in production ipsc?
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For IPSC Production - No modifications to the frame/slides (stippling, painting, milling) other than how it came from the factory. Can't even colour fill the roll marking. You are allowed to change out parts if they are designed for use in that particular firearm by the manufacturer.
 
It's like buying a car.
Test drive.
Ask people to let you shoot the different platforms. They are different.
1911's, CZ's, double action, single, striker. Production, Classic, Open???
Take your time. You'll find something that works for you.
Welcome to the most fun you can have with your holster on!
Randy
 
In your expected price range you will likely be looking for a production gun so get a copy of the current production list, go to a gun store and buy what speaks to you best.
Just make sure the exact model you buy is on that list...
As for me, I’m another happy CZ owner (Shadow 1 & SP-01 Tactical).
 
I use a Norinco 1911 in classic division. I've shot a friend's cz and don't care for the double action first shot, plus I like to tinker with guns, so the other option for me would be standard division where they don't have the first trigger pull rule. A single action only cz would be a very nice gun to shoot. Quite a few of the guys I used to shoot with on a regular basis started with polymer guns in production division, and I think all of them have switched to Shadows now. Another consideration is mag price and availability, you will probably end up with at least 6 if you shoot more than a couple events.
Kristian
 
MartyK2500 said:
My take on it
Within your budget and/or for shooting for fun G17 gen 5
If shooting to win, even if only winning within your class, in production, CZ shadow 2 or tanfo stock ll

After many years of shooting classic with 2500$+ guns,
I now shoot local only and for fun, and just love how much the gen 5 glock is accurate and easier to shoot than other gens
Click to expand...
That's good to know Marty, a gen 5 could be on my wish list
 
MartyK2500 said:
My take on it
Within your budget and/or for shooting for fun G17 gen 5
If shooting to win, even if only winning within your class, in production, CZ shadow 2 or tanfo stock ll

After many years of shooting classic with 2500$+ guns,
I now shoot local only and for fun, and just love how much the gen 5 glock is accurate and easier to shoot than other gens
Click to expand...

A CZ or Tangfoglio will make you more competitive. If you want to shoot to win, you need to practice.
 
Awesome responses guys I appreciate it all! I did see that shadow on sale at EE, i will have the final amount of funds available in early September so hopefully for me its still there . I am a tad nervous buying stuff used off a forum, not against it just I have a general understanding of firearms and know nothing of the small little bits and bites that are signs of a good or awful used gun and 800 bucks is a lot of money lol. I live in southern Ontario and i don't live around a lot of gun stores that carry much in the way of hand guns so i'm kinda out of luck unless I gotta travel which may be worth it in the long run, I got pretty big oven mitt hands i'm 6 4 300 pounds. The only other issue I have is I feel I haven't really shot enough to develop a preference for any of the gun style and only way do that is shot a lot of different hand guns I totally get that, but that's where i'm stuck I am the first of my friend to get into shooting, one of friend's dad is into firearms, but he is busy and i don't like to bother him and and I am super new to my gun club. So i turn to you lovely ladies and gentlemen.
 
I recommend a used Shadow as well. :)

Regarding hand size, etc, fine tuning the fit of a pistol can often be done by changing the grip panels. Slavex is a big boy and when he holds a Shadow, it looks like a muzzle is appearing out of his fingers. He shoots it extremely well!

Get a good grip nailed down, before you start trying to see if a pistol "fits" you or not. Practice the following method on your .22. It will serve you well until a qualified coach can work with you to fine tune things. Often this tuning can be done at your black badge course too.

 
Mike_Porter said:
Awesome responses guys I appreciate it all! I did see that shadow on sale at EE, i will have the final amount of funds available in early September so hopefully for me its still there . I am a tad nervous buying stuff used off a forum, not against it just I have a general understanding of firearms and know nothing of the small little bits and bites that are signs of a good or awful used gun and 800 bucks is a lot of money lol. I live in southern Ontario and i don't live around a lot of gun stores that carry much in the way of hand guns so i'm kinda out of luck unless I gotta travel which may be worth it in the long run, I got pretty big oven mitt hands i'm 6 4 300 pounds. The only other issue I have is I feel I haven't really shot enough to develop a preference for any of the gun style and only way do that is shot a lot of different hand guns I totally get that, but that's where i'm stuck I am the first of my friend to get into shooting, one of friend's dad is into firearms, but he is busy and i don't like to bother him and and I am super new to my gun club. So i turn to you lovely ladies and gentlemen.
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I wouldnt be too nervous buying from the EE here, I have over 60 deals on here now with not a single issue, just check feedback and the amount of posting they do, anyone that is a regular member here is unlikely to purposely try and screw anyone. If your mitts are as big as you say you may eventually want to move to standard division but to be competitive you would need to get something like an STI Edge which would be quite a bit more than your budget would allow right now. Like jimbo stated above, proper grip and a change of the grips would help more than just finding a gun that fits you and trying to compete against shadow,s and tanfo's in production, ex: if you were gonna race nascar you wouldnt buy a sprint car or drag car just because it fit you better, you buy a car that is competitive, change the seat and learn to drive it properly or buy one of the other cars and race it in its respective category. That being said, if you were to buy a used shadow and down the road you wanted to change guns and or divisions you would get most if not all of your money back, there is very little to go wrong, unless its pushing 80 to 100k rounds a couple springs, maybe a slide stop or extractor and your good to go. As for you not shooting enough to develop a preference is a bonus really, you should not have any bad habits and have no muscle memory built up for any certain style firearm yet, buy something that will be competitive and learn to shoot it well.
 
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