My first pistol with IPSC fun competition in mind

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dm9

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My shooting experience to date has been in cowboy mounted shooting using .45LC revolvers. I'd like to also get involved in IPSC so I'm on my local black badge waiting list and looking into my first pistol purchase. By first I do not expect this to be my last pistol purchase, just my first pistol purchase. My goal in all shooting sports is just to have fun competition. By the way I am left handed. I would switch all mag releases over as I humbly believe the trigger hand fingers and thumb have their defined purposes.

For pistol choices, there certainly are a lot of choices! I visited a shop yesterday and held three in my hand. A Glock 17 Gen 4, M&P 9 and CZ 75 SP-01 (not shadow). All were close in same overall length. All were distinctly different in one way or another. I will try to explain the differences at least from my impressions. My impressions may or may not make sense. Here goes.

The Glock seemed lightest in weight and narrowest in grip. I did not have the chance to try the different back straps. The narrow grip and back strap in place seemed to feel that my trigger finger went further down the frame and my fingers wrapped more around the grip. Larger back strap might change this. Overall feeling was holding the gun from behind. Drop in the bucket sight was different for me.

The M&P 9 seemed to be slightly heavier than the Glock. The grip was wider and shaped to fill more of my palm. Overall feeling was I was holding the gun in my hand. Being left handed I found the ambidextrous slide control to be a plus. Three dot sight.

The CZ 75 SP-01 was definitely the heavy weight and solid feeling. Similar good grip and overall hand feel. DA/SA is familair to me from my revolver shooting. As it was not a Shadow it had standard sights. Wish they had a Shadow to see the fiber sight but not available at this shop.

From a cost perspective there is a difference here as well: Glock 17 Gen 4 = $800. M&P 9 = $600, CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow = $950.

What did surprise me is I thought I would feel a clear winner in my hand. I did not. Each pistol had unique charateristics but overall I felt I could aquire a good sight picture quickly with all of them.

In my SA revolver shooting I have shot many different revolvers. Different frames, grips, hammers. I always found after handling and putting sufficient rounds through them I found what made each one feel unique and then found how to make them work for me. I think this might be what hampered me from finding a clear winner above.

At this point, the M&P 9 is the most left-handed friendly, felt ok in my hand and is the cheapest. Any reason I should not make this my first purchase?

Darrell
 
Have a look at the FN FNS 9L (or 40L). It's currently selling for $599 at a couple of CGN dealers.
Gun is fully ambidextrous, has a 5" barrel, good trigger, comes with 3 mags, is used by some in IPSC already and since you're left handed, did I mention it's fully ambidextrous?
I have a Glock which I really like, and an FN, I shoot my son's M&P, and I would pick the FN (although I haven't shot the CZ).
Did I mention the FN is FULLY ambidextrous?
 
Out of the three you mentioned above, the CZ75 would be my pick. I don't own one personally (as yet) but my buddy lets me shoot his all the time and for me. It pointed very naturally for me (everyone's a little different) and I could swear it almost felt like I was instinctive shooting. Recoil was easily managed for double taps and it probably didn't hurt that the pistol has some weight to it. I never bought one 'cause I never really liked the overall look but it's slowly growing on me esp when it shoots that well. Huh, odd I don't own one as yet...

Best thing to do would be to hit the range and chat up your fellow members and try out each pistol.
 
If given the choices presented here........ The grip angle on the Glock is significantly different than the others. Switching to another pistol down the line may require a bit of an effort. M & P often have a mag safety which is a hassle when showing clear and hammering down at the end of the stage. CZ is heavier, a little easier to keep steady and accurate. The FN may pose a problem with availability of mags and pouches/ holsters. There is a reason why the CZ is so popular in production class.
 
Some other things to consider when evaluating the pistols are:
- natural point of aim and sight-picture acquisition (I.e. If you grasped the pistol, closed your eyes and brought the pistol up, which one was closest to being aimed at your target)
- trigger pull and reset (I.e. Aiming at an object, pull the trigger and see which pistol has the least sight movement. Also test how quickly the trigger resets for another shot. Remember that IPSC has a huge speed component.)
- recoil control (check this by double tapping at the range to see how close together your rounds fall).

I found the Glock and M&P fell short on trigger feel and recoil control compared to CZs and 1911 platform guns.
 
kiradog said:
If given the choices presented here........ The grip angle on the Glock is significantly different than the others. Switching to another pistol down the line may require a bit of an effort. M & P often have a mag safety which is a hassle when showing clear and hammering down at the end of the stage. CZ is heavier, a little easier to keep steady and accurate. The FN may pose a problem with availability of mags and pouches/ holsters. There is a reason why the CZ is so popular in production class.
Click to expand...

Bladetech now makes mag pouches and holsters for the FN.
 
JUST A SUGGESTION ... before you get too carried away I would humbly suggest you attend SEVERAL IPSC matches as a specatator. Don't forget to bring your "eyes and ears" ( glasses and hearing protectors). Check out the kinds of guns being shot AND the related equipment required ... holsters, belts mag pouches AND the number of magazines required (in practical use, NOT the bare minimum!

REASONING: IPSC guns and related equipment could well shoot over 60,000 rounds a year (practice and matches). CONSEQUENTLY gun parts WILL BREAK or need replacing, likewise you'll need a MINIMUM of 6 magazines. Will replacement OR competition style parts AND magazines for the fancy "gee golly whiz" gun be available AND at a reasonable price????

If one wants to "test the waters" and ease into IPSC I'd recommend a Glock 9mm. If one intends to start seriously I'd recommend a COLT 1911 9mm since it could eventually be "converted" into a full "comped race gun" in .38 Super using the same slide. Be cautious about getting involved with the .40 cal - nasty sharp recoil that leads to a host of breakages and metal fatigue problems - thereby nullifing the one round advantage over the old .45 ACP.

BOTTOM line is: Your BEST source of advice comes from experienced IPSC shooters who will be more than willing to visit with you and answer your questions (providing they are not preparing to shoot).

Good luck in your quest and have fun!!!
 
kiradog said:
M & P often have a mag safety which is a hassle when showing clear and hammering down at the end of the stage.
Click to expand...
Nowadays it is rare to run into a M&P with the mag disconnect still in place. Unless it is a LEO requirement the M&P's have been coming into Canada without the disconnect for a number of years now.

To the OP the M&P 9MM FS or the 85 Combat both would be excellent choices for a lefty just starting out. Both are fully ambidextrous. You will have fun with with either. The M&P's show up regularly on the EE and can be had at a reasonable price. The 75 Combat will cost you a bit more. The M&P will have a faster learning curve to master the trigger. If you have small hands you will find the M&P much easier to get comfortable with. I have Medium Large hands and have no trouble with with either, I use the large grip panel on the M&P.

Take Care

Bob
 
You should try a Grand Power X-Calibur if you can. It's fully ambidextrous and the mag release is really easy to switch to the right side of the frame. I have both the CZ SP01 and the X-Caliburs, and prefer the X-Caliburs for IPSC. Really smooth DA trigger and nice light SA trigger. Low felt recoil, very accurate, and the slide auto-forwards on a speed reload if you run the gun dry while shooting a stage. The only downside was the polymer grip is a bit slippery, but feels great once I put some friction tape on it.
 
The cz75 in any of its forms is a solid gun with a lot of affter market goodies. I own a sp-01 as well as a s&w m&p there is no comparison in quality and accuracy.
 
If the M&P feels good in your hands, buy it and learn to shoot it well. The range kit is not a bad deal, comes with bladetech holster and mag pouch. You'll need a few more mag pouches and mags for competition. And don't forget to cut the mag springs on M&P mags. The nice thing is, if you don't really like it, you should be able to get OK resale value.
Get your Black badge and shoot a few matches, you may find in match situations you either love it of hate it. It may be your first, but probably not your last, but fondling something in the store and actually shooting it in competition are very different things.
I personally shot a Glock 17 as I really dislike that double action first trigger pull. The CZ is a nice gun, but that DA pull puts me off. I have a couple of Berettas that I tried using, but again the safety and DA just puts me off. You need to be comfortable both with yourself and with your equipment. Get out and shoot a few matches and you'll soon find out what works and what doesn't.
 
Good comments. Thanks all!

I'm joining a local club that is active in IPSC this Thursday.

For those that do participate in IPSC, do you have just one pistol?

I like the post above that says find the one that feels good in your hands, buy it and shoot it well. That is exactly my goal. Pick a good feeling entry pistol that I can easily learn semi-automatic shooting. Remember I've just been a SA revolver shooter so far. As I'm left-handed I want one that is left handed friendly, as a minimum left handed mag release. With this in mind should the CZ be my once I gain experience purchase and first be either the M&P 9 or Glock 17?
 
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