Change of pace..IDPA pistol.

[Pavulon]

considering something new for IDPA. Have a Glock 17 which I beat up in matches. By FAR the most reliable pistol I own. Considering a Glock 34 as it uses same mags and ammo. Anyone use this pistol? Like it, dont like it?

Thought about jumping into single stack (45acp) but cost of shooting is punishing.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. IDPA might be a little different than USPSA, but...

have you looked at the CZ line of competition pistols?

I'm pretty sure the CZ 75-TS is IDPA prohibited but CZ should have a IDPA approved version.
Their single action pistols are seriously sweet. Steer clear of the Omega line or the DA lines for competition.
Great mag capacities, nice ergonomics, and the price is great for what you get.
A fraction of what you would pay for a 1911/2011 based racegun.

FWIW, I'm a USPSA guy (runnin' 'n' gunnin'! :P) and I am (was) a CZ owner and carry a Glock daily.
I use my glock only because I want to practice with my daily CCW. I highly reccomend CZ.

[benEzra]

2. I've shot a Glock 34 once and liked it.

Shoots just like a G17, but with a longer sight radius. I only wish the slide were completely enclosed; I don't like the big oval port in the front of the slide, and would rather they had trimmed the weight by thinning the roof of the slide a little but keeping it fully enclosed, to keep dirt and dust out of the mechanism better.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Wrong folder.

You're looking for Outdoor Life. This is for gun policy/law.

[Pavulon]

5. I usually stick to that but

decided to try this.

[RamboLiberal]

8. IMHO IDPA kind of fits since it is the shooting game for CCW

and defensive use of handguns simulation.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. Kind of, but the rules are too overbearing.

Go here. do this. do that. shoot only while you have cover. put your spent mag back in your pocket...
It's a little to mechanical and restrained to be considered real world training.
The only thing that's more CCW oriented is the firearm & equipment requirements.
If you want to practice CCW with more freedom in USPSA, nothing prevents you from using CCW type pistols and mindset.

I prefer USPSA much more. It's more "free spirited" in that you usually get to make your own strategy.
Bring, for the most part, whatever you want to shoot and when you hear the buzzer and GO! Plus you get to shoot more.
You want a mag with 20+ rounds? Go for it! You want to reload just because you can and drop the old one? Fine!
Want to shoot while sprinting sideways? No problem! Feel like doing the Neo cartwheel-while-shooting move? There is no spoon!

(Protip: that last one might get you DQ'ed and banned for life.)

[Pavulon]

11. I do like the stock rule.

IDPA is just close to me. I look at it like a game, not training, just something fun to do on sunday.

[RamboLiberal]

14. And I'm not a big fan of USPSA

Sorry but IMHO USPSA is the kind of mindset that would get you killed in real life. It's run and gun, don't use cover, drop mags whenever the strategy suits you even if it's right out in the open with you exposed to targets(read bad guys). It's definitely free-spirited except for the shooting boxes and lanes, don't dare step your foot out of those. And then there's all the walkthroughs and 5 minutes of airgunning rehearsing the strategy. Always reminds me of my martial arts days when people would take 10 minutes setting up their fancy board & blocks breaking. You don't get that kind of rehearsal in real life.

And I find the scoring of USPSA mind-boggling and hate it's basically on the curve based on the best shooter in the class. Then the major and minor power factors which in this day and age of really finely tuned guns is outmoded. Heck the race gunners .45 & super 38's shoot with less recoil than my Stock 9mm.

USPSA you can't run with mags loaded over 10 rounds in Production Class or Limited 10 which is where the majority of CCW guns and gear are - so no advantage there. If you go over to compete in Limited or Open where you can run full mags then your stock gun will be outclassed by the race guns and their up to 28 round magazines.

IMHO the rules in IDPA are fairly simple. I get more penalties that I don't even know what I did to get in USPSA than ever in IDPA. At least in the latter I know I used cover wrong. Only problem I have is there is the occasional range where they seem to setup cover that are procedural traps in IDPA. There's one range I shoot in my area is like that.

And rules - my eyes glaze over reading the USPSA rule book and how they will cite a rule for example 9.4.2.5.1

I've rarely seen a local IDPA club even pull out the rule book at a local match.

Both are good shooting sports and I do admire the USPSA shooters - they are usually better than IDPA shooters. And I like that they have 3 gun. Just wish I had the money & the guns to compete in that, though not many 3 gun matches in my area anyway.

If I was allowed to write the IDPA rules I would up the round count, allow shooters to load to full capacity of mag that comes with stock guns except in a state where still limited to 10 rounds and would encourage design of courses that stayed within sound self-defense principles but made the shooter solve the problem a bit more.

[RamboLiberal]

4. Had a Glock 34 for a number of years

Put probably 10,000 rounds plus through it in IDPA & other shooting contests. Great pistol. Shot well with it.

Right now I shoot a S&W M&P. Shoot well with it as well, but it's had a few more hiccups than my Glock. Even had to send it back to factory for new extractor.

Keeping my eye on what Glock is doing with new 4th gen pistols with changeable backstraps. I wouldn't mind picking one of those up at some point when right model out in 9mm or maybe even trying a 40 cal.

Only problem with 4th gen as far as I know is they don't interchange with mags from older Glocks.

What area of country do you shoot IDPA? I'm in SW PA, Northern WV area.

[Pavulon]

6. NC.

I have had good luck with the 17 and the 34 fits my hand but dont really know anyone who is shooting one. Pretty much everyone I know shoots M&P or 1911 stuff.

[RamboLiberal]

7. Those things go in cycles

Not the 1911's in CDP, but in SSP the predominant pistols can be the flavor of the year. A lot of IDPA shooters I know are still using Glocks. I'm betting with the RTF Glocks and now the changeable backstraps Glock will be competing with the M&P's, CZ's, etc.

[gorfle]

9. Springfield XDM in 9mm?

That thing holds 19+1 rounds of ammo. Sounds like a great competition gun.

[RamboLiberal]

15. Only problem with it is for some stupid feature

IDPA PTB deem it an ESP pistol so you have to compete in that class. No biggie at local matches IMHO. I have an XD in 9mm that I won at a match (Not an XD-M) and usually compete with it in reshoots or as a primary if my M&P has a problem.

[gorfle]

16. What is ESP? n/t

[RamboLiberal]

17. Enhanced Service Pistol

Usually for stock semi-autos that shooters have done modifications to not allowed for SSP but are still allowed within IDPA rules.

Been a lot of discussion why Glocks & M&P's etc fit in SSP but an XD doesn't. This is what Ken Hackathorn wrote on it:

For Stock Service Pistol Division, DA pistols are required. The Springfield Armory XD is a design in which the trigger only releases the striker; it does not cock or retract it...Thus the XD is a Single Action...Glocks are DA because, while the striker is partially pre-cocked, the trigger does retract the striker a short distance before releasing it. So we consider the Glock DA and it is placed in Stock Service Pistol Division. I have had people argue that the XD’s trigger not only releases the striker but also moves the firing pin safely out of the way. Thus, they argue, the XD should be considered a Double Action pistol...

http://www.idpa.com/tj.asp?ID=110

ESP
Handguns permitted for use in this division must:
A. Be semi-automatic.
B. Be 9mm (9x19) or larger caliber.
C. Have a maximum unloaded weight of 43 oz., including an
empty magazine.
D. Fit in the IDPA gun test box measuring 8 ¾” x 6” x 1 5/8.”
with an empty magazine inserted.
E. Be loaded to the division capacity of ten (10) rounds in the
magazine plus one (1) round in the chamber. Should division
capacity not be achievable because of lower magazine
capacity, load should be to maximum mechanical capacity of
magazine plus one (1) round in the chamber. Competitors
must use the same capacity magazines through out the
competition (Example: if you start with a 9 round magazine,
you must use that capacity magazine throughout the match).
Pistols approved for SSP may also be used in ESP and CDP
depending upon caliber, even if the pistol in question has a fulllength
dust cover. However, should the pistol in question have a
modification that removes it from SSP, it must meet all other
division criteria for ESP or CDP, again depending upon caliber.
PERMITTED Modifications (Inclusive list):
1. Sights to another notch and post type (see “sights” in
glossary for further information).
2. Grips (no weighted grips; see “weighted grips” in glossary
for further details).
3. Internal accuracy work (includes: replacement of the barrel
with one of factory configuration, the use of Accu-Rails, the
use of Briley Bushings).
4. Internal reliability work.
5. Checker frontstrap and backstrap.
6. Checker or square and checker trigger guard.
7. Cosmetic checkering/serrating.
8. Extended thumb (may be ambidextrous) and Beavertail grip
safeties.
9. Extended magazine release (button may not be oversize in
diameter or protrude more than .2” out from the frame).
10. Factory installed cone style barrels on pistols with a barrel
length of 4.2” or less.
11. Full length guide rod manufactured of material that is no
heavier than common steel.
12. Hammer and other trigger action parts to enhance trigger
pull (includes the use of over travel stop).
13. Beveled magazine well and add-on well extensions.
14. Custom finishes.
EXCLUDED Modifications (NON-Inclusive list):
1. Full length dust covers of carbon or stainless steel.
2. Oversize diameter magazine release buttons.
3. Trigger shoes.
4. Slide lightening (see “slide, lightening” in glossary for
further information).
5. Refer to Appendix ONE-A. Firearms-Non-IDPA-Legal
Modifications.

http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf

[ManiacJoe]

12. Is there something about the G17 that you want to change?

Or are you just looking for something new?

If you like Glocks, I would think that the 17 would be a good choice for IDPA.

[Pavulon]

13. No, just a longer bbl on the 34..

the 17 is great, more an excuse to buy a new pistol. This happens once a year or so.

[ManiacJoe]

18. Now I see the problem.

You are working under the misconception that you need an excuse to my a new gun!
:evilgrin: