IPSC Pistol Question

Howie

Howie

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Greetings all, and this is my first post in the Action Shooting Games area of this forum. :d

I am going to take my black badge course this summer and get into shooting IPSC with a buddy from work. He has a shiny new CZ75.

I have a question regarding the suitability of my 9mm pistol. I bought a Smith and Wesson M-39 pistol in the mid 1970's and I have shot it tens of thousands of times, but never in an action shooting game such as IPSC. Would this gun be a reasonable piece for a beginner in IPSC? I do have 5 eight round mags for it, but I do not have any mag pouches or a suitable holster for it. I don't imagine that the mag pouches would be hard to obtain as they are regular single stack 9mm mags, but an IPSC legal holster might be a problem for such an old gun. If I can locate a holster, would the M-39 get me "in the door" to what looks like a fun time shooting IPSC?

Note that the M-39 is prohibited due to barrel length (4 inch). I do have an ATT for it however, but I do not know if IPSC would allow it. As I said, I am very new to this game.


 
Pistol is approved for production but it would not make a great pistol for the sport as your at a disadvantage in mag capacity, also for reloading single stack is inherently harder. If your set on doing it with that gun you'll need more mags. And 10 rounders if they are available
 
Yes, it will get you in the door. You may want to look at a nylon holster of some sort if you have trouble finding one specific to that pistol
 
Actually, an 8 round mag works just fine unless you need to take extra shots for points. Holsters can be an issue, but you probably can get a speed holster with a barrel rest that will work very well. Another very good, but somewhat ugly option is to get a kydex holster (even mould your own as it is quite easy to do), then craft a belt carrier attachment out of aluminum bar 1/8" x 2". You need about 16" to make the holster offset and belt drop/attachment, 6 #6 x 1/2" and 4 #6 x 5/8" (3/4") bolts and locking nuts, plus one #10 x 1/2" bolt and nut. As a lefty I have made 2 holsters like this and they work very well. I will post a picture in a few days when I get back home.
 
The pistol you have will be fine for your Black Badge course. With your setup you will be at 40 (+1 depending on the stage) rounds - this is the bare minimum for 8 round magazines - so in regular IPSC competition you may be at a disadvantage if you have a malfunction, inadvertently drop a mag, or are shooting at steel plates.

But I would caution against getting a new pistol until you have completed the BB course and completed a couple of matches. Once you get past the first couple of matches you can decide if you are going to stay in Production Division or move to a different division.
 
1riot1ranger said:
The pistol you have will be fine for your Black Badge course. With your setup you will be at 40 (+1 depending on the stage) rounds - this is the bare minimum for 8 round magazines - so in regular IPSC competition you may be at a disadvantage if you have a malfunction, inadvertently drop a mag, or are shooting at steel plates.

But I would caution against getting a new pistol until you have completed the BB course and completed a couple of matches. Once you get past the first couple of matches you can decide if you are going to stay in Production Division or move to a different division.
Click to expand...

This +1
Get's you through the door, do a couple of matches and then decide what you want to do/where you want to go. You never know the Open bug might bite ($$$) or you might want to go Standard...

Plenty of free advice in IPSC :)
Lots of people will let you try a few rounds through the different classes of guns, get on range, make some contacts and have fun!
 
Howie said:
If I can locate a holster, would the M-39 get me "in the door" to what looks like a fun time shooting IPSC?
Click to expand...

I used a cheap UTG holster (it was $12 from Amazon) on a casual leather belt that I already had during my BB course. The holster fits most pistols. And if possible try to borrow a couple of single stack mag pouches from someone, so that after finishing BB you can have the possibility of getting mag pouches for double stack mags or ones that can do both.

I would delay all purchases and borrow as much as possible until after the BB course.
 
First one. I softened up this one to make it slide easier. It still holds it upside down. The holsters are easily convertible between IPSC and IDPA just by changing the attachments. Both holsters are made of 0.080" kydex. 2 sheets for about $24. You could use 0.060" kydex as well.

M&P9 Pro CORE holster
16498362016_39c5f44e9e_z.jpg


Frame to convert conceal holster to IPSC use. This is the 2" Al bar. Total cost for 2 rigs, $11 plus small bolts.

16336913680_253ffe933d_z.jpg


This is the Girsan/Beretta 92 kydex using a similar frame mounted to the belt.
16336678428_ce6e84c346_z.jpg

15901800984_9da2ac595c_z.jpg

15904207173_af72ae84b0_z.jpg



A simple press to form the holsters or magazine pouches. You need 2 clamps to close it tight.

16338098819_5a838f69fb_z.jpg



A 2 plus 1 IDPA style magazine pouch for about $14. This works well, but I would recommend the individual IPSC style pouches.

15904206083_79d741810c_z.jpg
 
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