Cheapest way to start IPSC/PPC?

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philthygeezer

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Hi all,

I'm joining a range and would like to take the Black Badge course and start shooting competitively ASAP. (I've been shooting off and on since the late eighties, and I'll be practicing regular shooting with a .22 in the off hours.) So far I'm thinking a Glock 17 with 5 mags and adjustable sights/extended mag release for the IPSC production category would do the trick.

Is this a good choice? Can you recommend the best way to go about doing starting in IPSC without hand loading or incurring huge ammo expense?
 
where do you live, and have you considered IDPA as well ???

IDPA all you need is a gun, 3 magazines, holster and a double mag pouch, a good belt and a concealment garment. total cost to rig up for IDPA is under $100 if you shop around.
 
Westicle said:
where do you live, and have you considered IDPA as well ???

IDPA all you need is a gun, 3 magazines, holster and a double mag pouch, a good belt and a concealment garment. total cost to rig up for IDPA is under $100 if you shop around.
Click to expand...

I'm in southern Ontario. I was considering an STI 9mm rig because of IDPA (I think they don't shoot IDPA at my club), but the pistol is unsuitable for IPSC production class and only makes minor in standard class.

Should I be worried about the major/minor thing?
 
I you are going to shoot both IDPA and IPSC, I would stick with 9mm, assuming your going to shoot Production in IPSC, Major/Minor doesn;t matter, everyone is scored minor in Production division.

For starting out, keeping price at around $1000 get yourself:

Glock 17 or STI GP6 or M&P 9mm
3 Additional Mags
BladeTeck Holster
2 Double Mag Pouches, Uncle Mikes will Work
A decent Belt 1 1/2" wide- If you can swing it, get a CR Speed Belt, not necessary, but well worth it
 
9mm all the way for ammo. A good (used) complete rig/gun is the best/least expensive way to go. Check the EE or local clubs to see what is for sale.
 
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Nice post , 100% Right on

7.62mm said:
I you are going to shoot both IDPA and IPSC, I would stick with 9mm, assuming your going to shoot Production in IPSC, Major/Minor doesn;t matter, everyone is scored minor in Production division.

For starting out, keeping price at around $1000 get yourself:

Glock 17 or STI GP6 or M&P 9mm
3 Additional Mags
BladeTeck Holster
2 Double Mag Pouches, Uncle Mikes will Work
A decent Belt 1 1/2" wide- If you can swing it, get a CR Speed Belt, not necessary, but well worth it
Click to expand...
 
Do you have an ATT? If not, this process will test you patience, at least it tested mine. I wanted to start competitively back in Jan, but will just be doing my first match coming up.... :( Hopefully, the same doesn't happen to you
 
philthygeezer said:
I'm in southern Ontario. I was considering an STI 9mm rig because of IDPA (I think they don't shoot IDPA at my club), but the pistol is unsuitable for IPSC production class and only makes minor in standard class.

Should I be worried about the major/minor thing?
Click to expand...

I think, and I was (am) wrong on many occasions. But I think that you should not worry about this kind of things at all. It supposed to be about fun, not rules and restrictions you need to follow. I would choose a gun I like to hold and shoot with and only then care about what league I can join with it.

On the other hand I choose IDPA, so what I could possibly know anyway. But seems to me IPSC and "cheap" do not go well, starting with black badge course fee by the way :)
 
I have to agree with owlowl. Shoot in whatever class your equipment puts you into and don't sweat the major minor issue. At least for now. There's so many rules and issues about what fits this and that in IPSC that it'll rot your brain if you worry about them overly... other than the safety related items of course. Just take what you have and go shoot. At some point if you begin to realize that your equipment is holding you back and this disadvantage actually becomes important THEN do something about it.

Hmmmmm... I don't really have that "drive for the trophy" do I...... :D
 
I took a look at the Glock and the S&W M&P the other day. It's really tough for me to hit the Glock mag release even shifting my grip. Two questions:

1. In the IPSC production category, can one add the factory extended mag release to the glock?

2. The CZ SP01 Shadow looks like a wonderful pistol, but are there dangers associated with a decock for the start of every round? Also, does the Shadow come in .40 S&W?
 
Thanks to the ring on the end of the hammer of the Shadow it's not as bad to lower the hammer as it would be with a simple tang. To lower mine (right hand shooter) I rotate the gun 90 to the gang banger's position and firmly grip the ring of the hammer between my thumb and forefinger. With any amount of practice at all this is easy and reliable. To both practice this as well as the first round DA shot I've made it a habit from day one during regular plinking sessions to do this for almost every mag change. At this point I'm well practiced. I started off with the gun upright and pinching the hammer but my left hand was at an odd angle. Rolling the gun 90 degrees to a flat "slide left" position lets you pinch the hammer more securely with a natural angle to your left hand and wrist.

Some will show you a method where you put your thumb between the hammer and the slide and then roll it out of the way to lower the hammer. I tried that and either pinched my skin or found that my fat thumb left too much of a fall if I rolled it out so as to avoid being pinched. All in all for the Shadow I found that pinching the ring with two fingers was far better for me.
 
There is nothing wrong with to start with your set up

Glock 17 you probably do not need the adjustable sights for ipsc.
5 Mags
Uncle mike's kydex mag holders
Uncle mike's kydex holster
Uncle mikes belt.

Lots of people say they want to try ipsc. Some take the black badge. A few actually show up for matches. You can start with a 50 dollar or a 500 dollar belt, holster and mag pouches. You will shoot about the same either way. Some folks say buy right and buy once. This sport is evolving and the participants are always updating thier gear. They buy right and then they buy right for the next season.
 
That's the best way...

The only thing I would suggest (and you probably already do this) is to #### the hammer back all the way before you pull the trigger to drop the hammer. That way your not waiting for the hammer to fall...

It's hard to explain...easier if you just try it.


BCRider said:
Thanks to the ring on the end of the hammer of the Shadow it's not as bad to lower the hammer as it would be with a simple tang. To lower mine (right hand shooter) I rotate the gun 90 to the gang banger's position and firmly grip the ring of the hammer between my thumb and forefinger.
.
Click to expand...
 
it is safest to grip the hammer with the weak hand fingers,..lowering it instead of using one hand. IMHO.

Jason is correct,...buy gear you will be happy with,..do not let the price influence you too much. I find that buying better mag pouches can be of benefit to some. Holsters either work with you or against you. Can't go wrong with a Bladetech.
 
Quigley said:
That's the best way...

The only thing I would suggest (and you probably already do this) is to #### the hammer back all the way before you pull the trigger to drop the hammer. That way your not waiting for the hammer to fall...

It's hard to explain...easier if you just try it.
Click to expand...

Yes, I already do that but didn't realize it until I was reading what you wrote. I may not move it but I pinch and pull back enough to at least load up my fingers even if not always enough to move it so that I've got the spring load taken first and then pull the trigger to move the sear out of the way.
 
to put it into prospective for Phil, my 5'2" girlfriend does it all of the time and has never had a problem. it is one of the things we teach in the BB course.
 
Thanks all. I'm leaning to the CZ but will post a poll and ask for people's experience on both pistols. The reliability and price of the Glock appeal as well as the quality of its magazines, and knowing that I can swap the factory mag release for a factory extended mag release makes the gun viable.

Only variable left: is the CZ a better gun for cheap LRN practice ammo?
 
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