Back-up pistol
- Thread starter DanRR
- Start date
As a Cowboy Action shooter who attends 20-25 matches a year, requiring 4 firearms to compete, both my wife and I have a complete set of backup guns when we travel to a match. This is just talking main match guns, and does not include side matches. When you are a high volume shooter and you spend anywhere from 1 hour to 27 hours driving to a match, having a broken firearm is not acceptable and would result in the waste of a lot of money if you don't have one.
juancarlos
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- The Island
If you decide to keep a backup it's best to have exactly the same platform. That way if your gun has an issue in the middle of a match you can request to switch to your backup which must be the same platform.
Personally, I don't keep a backup but I do have two different guns (and all the gear to go with two different platforms) that I use in IPSC so if I go home one day due to a technical issue at least I can use my other gun the next day. Not ideal but I tend to get bored and switch between Classic and Production.
Personally, I don't keep a backup but I do have two different guns (and all the gear to go with two different platforms) that I use in IPSC so if I go home one day due to a technical issue at least I can use my other gun the next day. Not ideal but I tend to get bored and switch between Classic and Production.
EASTVAN#81
Member
- Location
- EastVancouver BC
Yes & Yes again.. at the start of this IPSC season I added a backup with same platform.. saved my ass at Provincials cause I needed it! I would add one if it's possible.
Northaways
Regular
- Location
- Northaways
Yes and yes again. Two Shadow 2s. One is my practice Gun and second is my match Gun. And before I picked up my second S2 my backup gun was the Shadow I initially started shooting with.
crazyjackrabbit
CGN Regular
I normally only shoot lvl1 and 2s. I bring a back up, but not of the same platform.. If I were more serious I would have 2 of the same.
FreedomIsn'tFree
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Buffalo.
Yes and yes once more. I'm one of the few that run a Glock so I've never needed my back pistol but I bring it with anyway.
Good morning Onagoth,
I was a wheel gunner....new to pistols now.
Does it happen often to have to replace parts when competing ?
Anything that can be done before ?
I know that you cannot predict what can go wrong; please let me know, from your experience, what parts I should carry.
Thank you,
Dan
I was a wheel gunner....new to pistols now.
Does it happen often to have to replace parts when competing ?
Anything that can be done before ?
I know that you cannot predict what can go wrong; please let me know, from your experience, what parts I should carry.
Thank you,
Dan
guppie1160
Regular
- Location
- Halifax Area
I just purchased my second gun keeping with the same platform....haven't had an issue to date but now I'm ready 
Not sure, I do not shoot revolvers. For my semis though, I've never had a handgun break during a match (knock on wood)
I carry spare slide stops, firing pins, extractors and springs. Spare magazine parts, spare sights, etc, etc
Northaways
Regular
- Location
- Northaways
Re: Match Spare Parts
Things that I've seen go on guns at matches that are easily repairable are: fibre optics, slide stops, extractors and haven't seen one go at a match...yet...but perhaps a spare firing pin and firing pin spring is a good idea. And as it's a spare parts kit you may as well keep all you're parts together, so throw spare hammer, recoil and mag release etc springs in there as well. Spare trigger return spring also went on me once but that's a one hour + job for me, so not something easily done during a match. And don't forgot yer cleaning/lube kit and basic tools kit. I keep all of above in small cleaning kit case.
Since my Ghost the one holster inexplicably locked up on me at Provincials last year I also throw an extra holster in my range bag as well.
When I was trying to source a couple extra slide stops and other misc parts for my Shadow 2 the dollar value of the parts I was going to order from only European supplier I could find with spare S2 slide stops, blew me away. That's when I started looking around on the EE for a gently used backup S2, which I ultimately picked up instead.
Was never a Boy Scout, but I do try and live by there 'Be Prepared' motto. As another poster commented, sometimes you end up investing and of travelling a long distance to a match, and stuff happens, so pays to be prepared. Plus you score extra brownie points with yer squad mates when you can help them out of a jam.
Things that I've seen go on guns at matches that are easily repairable are: fibre optics, slide stops, extractors and haven't seen one go at a match...yet...but perhaps a spare firing pin and firing pin spring is a good idea. And as it's a spare parts kit you may as well keep all you're parts together, so throw spare hammer, recoil and mag release etc springs in there as well. Spare trigger return spring also went on me once but that's a one hour + job for me, so not something easily done during a match. And don't forgot yer cleaning/lube kit and basic tools kit. I keep all of above in small cleaning kit case.
Since my Ghost the one holster inexplicably locked up on me at Provincials last year I also throw an extra holster in my range bag as well.
When I was trying to source a couple extra slide stops and other misc parts for my Shadow 2 the dollar value of the parts I was going to order from only European supplier I could find with spare S2 slide stops, blew me away. That's when I started looking around on the EE for a gently used backup S2, which I ultimately picked up instead.
Was never a Boy Scout, but I do try and live by there 'Be Prepared' motto. As another poster commented, sometimes you end up investing and of travelling a long distance to a match, and stuff happens, so pays to be prepared. Plus you score extra brownie points with yer squad mates when you can help them out of a jam.
