favorite calibers in ipsc?

mickfcpk

mickfcpk

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what is your favorite caliber for ipsc?

the 9mm is cheap to shoot,recoil is almost inexistent but somehow people seem
to go toward .40 cal.

only reason i can think of is more knock down power on steel target.

beside that why would you go with a .40?
 
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Before choosing caliber and handgun type, decide what Division you want to compete in. Simply stated, the rules set out Division specific requirements such as action type, max. handgun size, minimum trigger pull weight, sighting system, compensator.

Then research IPSC's rules regarding Power Factor -Minor PF or Major PF- and remember that these rules are also Division specific. Generally, the greater PF loads yield more recoil which tends to slow you down unless your Div. allows a compensator. On the other hand, a greater PF usually cycles the gun faster... Whatever Division you choose, you will benefit by loading your own so that you get the most out of your HG.

Generally:
- In Production Div., 9mm Minor seems to be the most advantageous.
- In Standard Div., .40 makes Major and is very popular.
- In Open Div., .38Super makes Major and is very popular.
- In Revolver Div., 38Special is very popular.
- Using a Major load in Production is a disadvange.
- Using a Minor load in Standard is a disadvantage.
 
colecreek said:
Before choosing caliber and handgun type, decide what Division you want to compete in. Simply stated, the rules set out Division specific requirements such as action type, max. handgun size, minimum trigger pull weight, sighting system, compensator.

Then research IPSC's rules regarding Power Factor -Minor PF or Major PF- and remember that these rules are also Division specific. Generally, the greater PF loads yield more recoil which tends to slow you down unless your Div. allows a compensator. On the other hand, a greater PF usually cycles the gun faster...

Generally:
- In Production Div., 9mm Minor seems to be the most advantageous.
- In Standard Div., .40 makes Major and is very popular.
- In Open Div., .38Super makes Major and is very popular.
- In Revolver Div., 38Special is very popular.
- Using a Major load in Production is a disadvange.
- Using a Minor load in Standard is a disadvantage.
Click to expand...

thanks,

just what i was looking for.
 
Cost and the availability of brass is also one thing to consider

you can shoot 10mm/ 357sig but it gets expensive if you can not find your brass
 
colecreek said:
Before choosing caliber and handgun type, decide what Division you want to compete in. Simply stated, the rules set out Division specific requirements such as action type, max. handgun size, minimum trigger pull weight, sighting system, compensator.

Then research IPSC's rules regarding Power Factor -Minor PF or Major PF- and remember that these rules are also Division specific. Generally, the greater PF loads yield more recoil which tends to slow you down unless your Div. allows a compensator. On the other hand, a greater PF usually cycles the gun faster... Whatever Division you choose, you will benefit by loading your own so that you get the most out of your HG.

Generally:
- In Production Div., 9mm Minor seems to be the most advantageous.
- In Standard Div., .40 makes Major and is very popular.
- In Open Div., .38Super makes Major and is very popular.
- In Revolver Div., 38Special is very popular.
- Using a Major load in Production is a disadvange.
- Using a Minor load in Standard is a disadvantage.
Click to expand...

You pretty much nailed it but;
-in standard division 40 is the minimum caliber to make major PF, however scoring minor is not a disadvantage IF you shoot A's.
-in revolver not very many people I've seen use it (in my area)because most ammo doesn't even make minor( +P loads do), most of the guns are a split between 45ACP or 40 S&W (625 & 610).
I can't agree more with : division / caliber / gun, in that order.
Cheers
 
RUPZUK said:
You pretty much nailed it but;
-in standard division 40 is the minimum caliber to make major PF, however scoring minor is not a disadvantage IF you shoot A's.
-in revolver not very many people I've seen use it (in my area)because most ammo doesn't even make minor( +P loads do), most of the guns are a split between 45ACP or 40 S&W (625 & 610).
I can't agree more with : division / caliber / gun, in that order.
Cheers
Click to expand...

those also use moon clips not speed loaders which are generally faster to reload
 
mickfcpk said:
what is your favorite caliber for ipsc?
Click to expand...
Entirely depends on the division I am competing in.

40 for Standard; 9mm Minor for production and 9mm Major for Open.
This is entirely based on simple economics. They are cheaper than the alternatives.

45ACP, 38 Super and 38 Super comp is far more expensive to shoot and therefore cuts back on the number of practice rounds you get downrange.

Everything we shoot in IPSC puts steel down; but you have to hit the steel first - and that's where more practice comes in.;)
 
Freedom Ventures said:
45ACP, 38 Super and 38 Super comp is far more expensive to shoot and therefore cuts back on the number of practice rounds you get downrange.

)
Click to expand...
Actually that's not quite true. .38 super and supercomp brass can usually be reloaded more times than 9mm since it's not running quite as high of pressure when loaded to major. Since we use the same bullets and only a little more powder we actually get a lot more use, and therefore lower cost than 9mm
Dave Re wrote an excellent article on this.
http://re-gun.com/2011/05/starline-38-supercomp-brass/
 
Freedom Ventures said:
Entirely depends on the division I am competing in.

40 for Standard; 9mm Minor for production and 9mm Major for Open.
This is entirely based on simple economics. They are cheaper than the alternatives.

45ACP, 38 Super and 38 Super comp is far more expensive to shoot and therefore cuts back on the number of practice rounds you get downrange.

Everything we shoot in IPSC puts steel down; but you have to hit the steel first - and that's where more practice comes in.;)
Click to expand...

No more expensive than anything else, I shoot my own cast bullets in everything I Ioad.
 
PH Racing said:
Actually that's not quite true. .38 super and supercomp brass can usually be reloaded more times than 9mm since it's not running quite as high of pressure when loaded to major. Since we use the same bullets and only a little more powder we actually get a lot more use, and therefore lower cost than 9mm
Dave Re wrote an excellent article on this.
http://re-gun.com/2011/05/starline-38-supercomp-brass/
Click to expand...

9MM brass is free, thousands of rounds on the range floor,

only time i see .38 super bass is when someone missis picking it up after they shoot it.

so most that i know have to buy their .38 super brass.

which is costly.
 
lots of good points here... but to only answer the original Question (which caliber is our favorite), .45acp.. I really enjoyed shooting it for years, but finally switched to .40 for cost factor...
 
mickfcpk said:
what is your favorite caliber for ipsc?

the 9mm is cheap to shoot,recoil is almost inexistent but somehow people seem
to go toward .40 cal.

only reason i can think of is more knock down power on steal target.

beside that why would you go with a .40?
Click to expand...

If the IPSC popper is calibrated correctly then 125 PF is enough for knock down.

Lot's go with the .40cal so they can shoot the 1911 or 2011 for the SA (just one reason but many more) as opposed to Production DA/SA or SF pistol with heavier trigger lb. Also a little cheaper than shooting .45cal but some may argue that.

If one day they get rid of Major in all divisions and everyone is scored Minor regardless of the caliber they favor I'd switch to a 9mm single stack 1911 in a heart beat.
 
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