I'm a long time PPC shooter and have loaded thousands of .38 special loads on my Dillion Square Deal B press. I have never reloaded any auto pistol loads at all, but I can get different dies for any handgun calibers for the SDB. Now that I want to get into IPSC shooting, what entry level gun/caliber do you recommend that I can reload using my press ?? Perhaps a basic 1911-style pistol in .45ACP ? Maybe a Glock 17 in 9mm ? I hear that many don't bother reloading for the 9mm because it is cheap to buy loaded rounds in bulk. Is this true ?
From PPC to IPSC
- Thread starter JWM
- Start date
stormbringer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S.W. Ontario
.45 acp is much more expensive than .40 or 9mm even if you reload.
You can actually start shooting IPSC with yoru PPC rig that you already have. That would give you an opportunity to see what is going on and perhaps try a few guns.
Personally I use a .45 1911
My 12 year old son uses a P99 in .40 S&W ( loaded down to minor)
My 15 year old daughter uses a Glock G17 in 9mm
It all comes down to what you like in a handgun. Some people swear AT Glocks other swear by them. Find out what you like then determine what Division that puts you in and work from there.
Personally after trying my daughters G17 I wish I had started there.....great gun with a speedy mag change ( to me)
You can actually start shooting IPSC with yoru PPC rig that you already have. That would give you an opportunity to see what is going on and perhaps try a few guns.
Personally I use a .45 1911
My 12 year old son uses a P99 in .40 S&W ( loaded down to minor)
My 15 year old daughter uses a Glock G17 in 9mm
It all comes down to what you like in a handgun. Some people swear AT Glocks other swear by them. Find out what you like then determine what Division that puts you in and work from there.
Personally after trying my daughters G17 I wish I had started there.....great gun with a speedy mag change ( to me)
JWM said:
Entry Lvl pistol I would say CZ75(new ~600$), you can shoot production div with it, which you cant with a 1911. Its the more stock class gun class. I know many people load 9mm becuase they can save money. It adds up if your shooting 4-5K a week. Also with a glock its not really recomened to shoot lead out of it.
45acp isn't that cheap. 80-90$ per 1000 for once fired brass, Depends if you use lead or jacketed bullets (50 -90) Taxes shipping etc. Were you can usually get 9mm brass for 20$ per 1000, bullets ~40 per 1000 for lead RN.
I agree with Storm...you already have a working rig and a gun you are very famliar with and shoot well (I presume) the only thing is some PPC holsters are drop rigs and not allowed for IPSC unless you use that rig in the perfomance of your regular duties as a police officer. As a IPSC instructor I would recommend you stay with that rig to get started (take your Black Badge with it) and shoot revolver division and if you decide to go to an auto later try other shooters guns to see what you like then decide.
Iwould recommend a .40 though ...will make major where a 9 won't .and with the right load can be very soft shooting.
Iwould recommend a .40 though ...will make major where a 9 won't .and with the right load can be very soft shooting.
Most typical PPC revolvers (ie: with bull barrels and four position sights) are not allowed in Revolver Standard Division (see paragraph 18 and 19b below). Secondly, typical PPC .38 Spl loads won't even make minor Power Factor.
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JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I too shot PPC for years before starting IPSC. I would get a basic 1911 style.45 (say Norinco) or 9mm say Glock (you can always sell it later) because almost all the courses of fire favor 8 or 10 round shot multiples. I later went to revolver IPSC but with a 625 and moon clips that way you never lose your brass which is the most expensive component.
- Location
- Halifax - NS
If you go 1911 for IPSC, 40S&W Caliber is your best bet.
Unless, of course - you have some real love of the 45ACP caliber, (which many of us do) and a lot of extra money.
45ACP brass is significantly more expensive, and harder to find. 45 projectiles are more expensive, etc. 10mm in same boat for brass. 9mm is cheap, but you'll score minor vs. major.
You're going to get a lot more rounds downrange if you shoot 40 and you'll take no divisional scoring hit.
If you go Glock 9mm, you won't regret it either. The Glock usually competes in a division where everything is minor so 9mm is not a disadvantage.
Unless, of course - you have some real love of the 45ACP caliber, (which many of us do) and a lot of extra money.
45ACP brass is significantly more expensive, and harder to find. 45 projectiles are more expensive, etc. 10mm in same boat for brass. 9mm is cheap, but you'll score minor vs. major.
You're going to get a lot more rounds downrange if you shoot 40 and you'll take no divisional scoring hit.
If you go Glock 9mm, you won't regret it either. The Glock usually competes in a division where everything is minor so 9mm is not a disadvantage.
Azone:
I just want to clarify that according to you I can at least take the Black Badge course with my current PPC rig ? Thats good news, because I hate to spend alot on a new gun right off the bat. My current PPC holster is the Bianchi model 02, cup challenge. It is an open faced holster with covered trigger guard. I won't use my light kicking wadcutters for the Black Badge course, but I'll reload some hotter 158 grain SWC around 800 feet per second. What do you think of this arrangement to get statrted ? Would I be legal to compete in revolver division with a six inch bbl .38 revolver (bull barell,ribbed sight), and the 158 grain SWC ??
I just want to clarify that according to you I can at least take the Black Badge course with my current PPC rig ? Thats good news, because I hate to spend alot on a new gun right off the bat. My current PPC holster is the Bianchi model 02, cup challenge. It is an open faced holster with covered trigger guard. I won't use my light kicking wadcutters for the Black Badge course, but I'll reload some hotter 158 grain SWC around 800 feet per second. What do you think of this arrangement to get statrted ? Would I be legal to compete in revolver division with a six inch bbl .38 revolver (bull barell,ribbed sight), and the 158 grain SWC ??
JWM said:
You can use that rig in a match because it's not a drop holster.
As for a load, the one I use is 158 LSWC, 4.3gr/Bullseye and this gives me a 130000 PF. Also a nice load. I shoot this out of a 4" barrel.
Your revolver will put you in OPEN, in a match.
RePete.
stormbringer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S.W. Ontario
Major and Minor are expressions of POWER FACTOR>hoochie said:
Weight of bullet (grains) X Velocity ( feet per sec) Divided by 1000 is Power factor.
Major and Minor PFs separate people with lighter loads from larger loads by virute of the scoring system.
Example........STD Minor is between 125 and 170 pf while Major is over 170
Yes you can take the course with that rig...in fact I encourage it because you are familiar with it and won't have to learn an autoloader during the course which would make it that much more difficult for you. (the course is tough enough as it is)...the good news is that you get more time to do your reloads with the revolver than the guys with the autoloaders do
if i like it then maybe ill broke out the my CZ97-B
