So, if I want to plan ahead to participate in a future event, what all would I need (outside of normal carry/range gear)? I assume:
1. OWB holster
2. Magazine carrier that can hold 2 magazines
Anything else?
You can run IWB if you want.
The magazine carrier requirement will depend largely on what division you want to shoot. The typical Glock, M&P, XD, and DA/SA guns fit well in Production division (not class). In that division, the number of rounds in the magazine is limited to 10, so you will need at least 4 magazines to complete a 32rd course of fire, and at least 3 pouches in which to hold them. Most will have more. I have 5 pouches on my production rig, for example. (I rarely use the 4th and 5th pouch back, but they are nice for certain stages)
Those guns can also be run in limited division, albeit at somewhat of a disadvantage, loaded to full capacity. That way, a Glock 22 or what have you, with 15rd mags would be fine only running 2 mags on the belt, and 1 in the gun.
I use a Ruger SR9c, and have multiple 10- and 17-rd magazines. So, for some competitions, I would need 4-5, 10-rd magazines, but for others, 2 17-rd magazines would suffice? Or, in the capacity-limited division, can I use a 17-rd magazine loaded with only 10 rounds?
(I know, I know; these questions are probably ALL answered at the class; my travel schedule has precluded me from attending that, as well.)
I agree 100% with that. My position is that the gear plays the smallest part as long as it's reliable and not wildly inaccurate.
Rob, I have no idea what you shoot, but how much did you gain when you switched to whatever you shoot now? Was that gain immediate and repeatable? It's a serious question...
I use a Ruger SR9c, and have multiple 10- and 17-rd magazines. So, for some competitions, I would need 4-5, 10-rd magazines, but for others, 2 17-rd magazines would suffice? Or, in the capacity-limited division, can I use a 17-rd magazine loaded with only 10 rounds?
(I know, I know; these questions are probably ALL answered at the class; my travel schedule has precluded me from attending that, as well.)
I agree 100% with that. My position is that the gear plays the smallest part as long as it's reliable and not wildly inaccurate.
Rob, I have no idea what you shoot, but how much did you gain when you switched to whatever you shoot now? Was that gain immediate and repeatable? It's a serious question...
Rob shoots Production division. Right now he uses a Tanfo Stock II aka the "UNICORN". But he shot a FNH and a Glock before he picked up the Tanfo Stock II. He loves the Tanfo Stock II but I think he can shoot all the guns mentioned above at the same fast speed.
On close hosey stuff, yes. But if I need to hit a mini popper at distance on the move, or a partial target covered with no-shoots, I want the Unicorn.
On top of that, for our sort of competition, there's a lot to think about when running a stage, ESPECIALLY when you're starting out. Where to reload? Timing on an activating target? managing risk on no-shoot targets? Having a terrible trigger, or tiny magwell, or crappy sights that require conscious effort to "manage" is adding that much more to think about when you're trying to get as many points in as little time as possible.
I can fully relate to this. I have shot exactly one USPSA match, and that match had 6 stages. Of those 6 stages, I shot a total of 1 the way I had planned to shoot before the buzzer went off... and it was the El Presidente classifier! I failed to engage a bunch of targets, and I mean a BUNCH... I had 70 penalty points on one stage. But I don't think I had any mikes... I shot pretty well, I just didn't shoot enough! Well, at any rate I had fun and didn't DQ myself and that was the goal for the day. I hope the holster for my SP-01 arrives before I go to my next match, but at my skill level my M&P 40 isn't holding me back. I am the weak link.
I can fully relate to this. I have shot exactly one USPSA match, and that match had 6 stages. Of those 6 stages, I shot a total of 1 the way I had planned to shoot before the buzzer went off... and it was the El Presidente classifier! I failed to engage a bunch of targets, and I mean a BUNCH... I had 70 penalty points on one stage. But I don't think I had any mikes... I shot pretty well, I just didn't shoot enough! Well, at any rate I had fun and didn't DQ myself and that was the goal for the day. I hope the holster for my SP-01 arrives before I go to my next match, but at my skill level my M&P 40 isn't holding me back. I am the weak link.
I am the weak link.
Glenn you shot very well for the first match. Like I told you after the match you did better than most first timers. You had decent accuracy and was safe. As for forgetting targets those were some good stages for that. Several on our squad forgot some targets and they weren't new shooters.
It won't be long before the I'm new thing won't get you any sympathy from the guys when you miss a shot or forget a target.
There are lots of M and GM shooters who shoot Glocks and M&P's and it doesn't seem to hold them back.
BTW Kudos to you for helping Dave and Dan set up the stages during the week.
I use a Ruger SR9c, and have multiple 10- and 17-rd magazines. So, for some competitions, I would need 4-5, 10-rd magazines, but for others, 2 17-rd magazines would suffice? Or, in the capacity-limited division, can I use a 17-rd magazine loaded with only 10 rounds?
(I know, I know; these questions are probably ALL answered at the class; my travel schedule has precluded me from attending that, as well.)
There is a 140mm mag length restriction in Limited.
Some base pad / mag tube combinations will exceed 140mm. There is an "official" gauge available somewhere. Dawson and TTI do a pretty good job recommending which ones to use with what brand mag tube, but sometimes it takes a little trial/error.
"Dawson +1 SNL" usually require some tuning to fit the gauge in my experience.
I think TTI 4g2 are designed to fit the 140mm gauge, but I'm not 100% sure about with SVI tubes.
I'd call TTI or Dawson and get thier recommendation.