Newbie wanting to get started in IPSC, is 9mm the way to go, or .40? I know 9mm is the least expensive, and that is a factor, but what are your opinions about the 2 calibers? I have had .45's before but want to try something different, looking at production division. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
IPSC Handgun Caliber
- Thread starter seebarg
- Start date
If you want to shoot production, 9mm is the way to go. Any other calibre will likely put you in a competitive deficit unless you can shoot major loads very fast.
If you shoot Major, then Standard or Classic divisions would be the place to be.
If you shoot Major, then Standard or Classic divisions would be the place to be.
- Location
- Halifax - NS
Pick your division / type of gun first - that will help determine the caliber.
Production - 9mm
Standard - 40
Open 38 supercomp or 9mm major
Classic - 9mm if you listen to Eric Grauffel. 40 Major if you shoot in the US. 45acp if you have lots of disposable cash.
Production - 9mm
Standard - 40
Open 38 supercomp or 9mm major
Classic - 9mm if you listen to Eric Grauffel. 40 Major if you shoot in the US. 45acp if you have lots of disposable cash.
curious to know why 40 major in the U.S??? are uspsa stages more catered towards 8 round mags?
- Location
- Halifax - NS
Yep. The field is leveled more in USPSA for Single stack major vs. minor.
USPSA has a rule requiring no more than 8 scoring rounds from a single position while IPSC is 9.
That said, the guy who won the Florida Open in Single stack was shooting 9mm Minor...
ah ok that's not too bad then, 40 is too expensive for me anyway
. it costs me about 16c a round reloading 9mm frontier 147s with Vitavouri powder.
I've talked to a number of guys shooting SS in the US including Leatham and generally the consensus has been shoot 9mm except at the SS Nationals or a SS specific match like WSSSC.
- Location
- Halifax - NS
That makes a lot of sense - Thanks!
Are his comments online somewhere for me to read? If you can keep your A count high enough then I understand the concept... Except that in that case you don't gain extra shots (because you have no need for them) ... But you do gain flexibility in where to reload.
Area 1 is coming up and this may be a good chance to put theory to the test. I've been a diehard Major proponent, but a 500 round match in Minor could be educational.
-Ivan-
- Location
- Halifax - NS
Dunno, his comments were direct to my face last summer when I asked him "Major or Minor for Classic?"
His response:
(read with a cool, confident french accent...)
"Minor with IPSC; you can't give up the extra rounds."
1riot1ranger
CGN Regular
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I'm glad this discussion is still ongoing. I think it adds to the flavour of the game.
I could go either way (major or minor). I would prefer to shoot minor, but feel there is an advantage to shoot major in most of the matches I've attended.
I could go either way (major or minor). I would prefer to shoot minor, but feel there is an advantage to shoot major in most of the matches I've attended.
- Location
- Halifax - NS
Me too!
Do it, DO IT!
lol
If that were true, why is it (in jurisdictions where magazine capacity isn't limited by law as in here in Canada) that the same doesn't apply in Standard/Limited?
My guess would be that the difference between 8 or 10 in classic is a 20% advantage. Much like revolver although it will be 6 and 8 which is a 33% advantage.
In an unregulated magazine the percentage of advantage is small and negated by multiple opportunities to reload (only 9 from one place).
As for the OP; 9mm.
As a new shooter you need to send rounds down range to acquire greater skill so cost is very relivent. It doesn't take very long for the cost difference of ammo (between 9mm and a different caliber) to eclipse the purchase price of your gun.
Unless you have deep pockets, a good back (to pick brass) and a burning desire to shoot a larger caliber...
In an unregulated magazine the percentage of advantage is small and negated by multiple opportunities to reload (only 9 from one place).
As for the OP; 9mm.
As a new shooter you need to send rounds down range to acquire greater skill so cost is very relivent. It doesn't take very long for the cost difference of ammo (between 9mm and a different caliber) to eclipse the purchase price of your gun.
Unless you have deep pockets, a good back (to pick brass) and a burning desire to shoot a larger caliber...
I've only been to 3 L1 matches so far. I shoot classic 45. I found most stages are designed so that you'll get opportunity to reload every 8 rounds. So the only difference I can see is you get 2 chances per mag to make up for miss if shooting minor, vs only 1 chance for entire stage if shooting major. But if I'm missing then I'm probably going too fast.
I don't know if L2 or L3 matches are any different though.
Really depends on who designed the stage and if they had a vision on how they expected it shot.
I would hypothesis that most matches are designed by someone who shoots a division where the round counts doesn't matter and would only ensure you don't have to take more than 9 from one place. Given that, if true, you will eventually find yourself doing a static reload where someone else doesn't.
I never liked the 8/10 split in classic nor do I like the 6/8 proposed in revolver...
Power factor should be reflected in score, not also in the ability to engage.
But, I think it's great your coming out with the .45, please do continue.
I would hypothesis that most matches are designed by someone who shoots a division where the round counts doesn't matter and would only ensure you don't have to take more than 9 from one place. Given that, if true, you will eventually find yourself doing a static reload where someone else doesn't.
I never liked the 8/10 split in classic nor do I like the 6/8 proposed in revolver...
Power factor should be reflected in score, not also in the ability to engage.
But, I think it's great your coming out with the .45, please do continue.
