A second gun, pistol

[Glass]

Some musings about something I discovered today on the back of an old shooting club membership renewal. I have a CZ phantom in 9mm. Plolymer. To own one you have to be in a club, do a set number of comp shoots on range per year (6), pay a fee to the sporting shooters association. Pay an annual license extract fee.

Apart from paying a fair few fees it's not very onerous or a drag to meet the requirements. I object to having to do it but not openly.

Back of the renewal form said you have to do 6 comp shoots before the end of the calander year for 1 gun or 8 comp shoots for 2 or more guns.

So I've been under the impression 2 guns was 2 times the comp shoots, 3 was 3 etc. It's only 2 additional shoots per year and I only do 6 comps, well record the first 6. Then I do a mix of comp or just regular blasting away. Different target types see. Two of those would fill the hole.

I don't know if you have to do the qualify, which I did with the first gun. It was 13 shoots in 6 months. After you qualify you buy your gun and your good.

I'm happy with the current gun but it needs some smithy work. Just to smooth the trigger a bit. Pistol smiths in this town number 2. Both with 6 mths waiting list. One wants to retire. Both ex mil. A heavier guide rod might help as well.

Anyway back to the point. Thinking or dreaming of a new pistol. Can have 9mm or .38super (used to be 357sig) . 9mm doesn't hold any prospect for IPSC comp because of power factor. .38super stays below the .40 + calibre ban and gives power factor to match it with the guys using .40+.

I really like the Springfield XD. Another polymer. Just a sweet gun. Not going to be a realistic comp gun. 38super needs to be all hard stuff. No plastic frames here. Tanfoglio seem to be a favourite down this way. Probably because they are down here. You can build up on a CZ type platform, which I am familiar with. We're really talking about a race gun now. Don't think I'm that comitted.

Ok good full metal pistols in < .40 cal. Non race. Any suggestions?

[Heimdhal]

Sig 226 would fit you nicley, though you dont want 9mm. You could get it chambered in .357 Sig, which would fit your bill entirley, but it wont be cheap.

My honest suggestion, even though you said all metal, is obvisouly, get a glock 19. It gives you all types of benefits and very few draw backs, in fact hte only real draw back is dumb ass competition rules in IPSC/IDPA about 9mm. Its hog wash. I competed IDPA with a 9mm, a lot of guys do and that whole "power factor" rule is out of date and dumb. Big reason I got OUT of IDPA, well that and I couldnt afford to shoot my .45's anymore.


If you really want to stay away from 9mm while staying UNDER .40, .357 sig is your best bet. You can get a glock 23, swap the barrel and the mags out and you're good to go for under $600.

The ammo is also slightly cheaper than .38 super. There is a reason that you see .38 super mostly in over-regulated competition circuits like IDPA/IPSC and NOT on peoples hips. Its not a bad round, and there are some good loadings in it for sure, but the cost negates the advantages when a 9mm in +p or +p+ is ballisticaly its equal and there are HUNDREDS of loadings in 9mm for half the price.


You can go with the XD's, they arent BAD guns, per se, but for the price, there are better out there, especialy as far as LONG TERM durability and fit and finish go.

If you've got the money to compete with .38 super and the gun is going to primarly be IPSC, get the Tanfoglio in .38 super.

If the gun is also going to double as a carry gun, an appocolypse gun or generaly anything else in conjunction with IPSC, get the glock 19 and suck up the double taps, or get a glock 23 and swap for .357 sig for competition and .40 or 9mm for everything else.


my silver dimes worth ;)

[Glass]

Thanks for the reply Heimdhal. It's interesting because I really like the Sig's. I haven't actually used one but they just look the business and people say exactly that. While I was waiting to pay my club subs there was a guy talking with one of the range marshalls about all the different guns the club hires out. (He's keen on his own pistol. Excellent!). They have a big chart on the wall of whats available and whats out of service. Seems about 30/70 in service vs out of service. Must be the smithy shortage.

Anyway the marshall was talking about Sig's and I'm standing there going oh yeah Sigs!. hmmm

Thanks also for the info on the 357 v 38super. last time I looked at IPSIC which was about 2 years ago the favoured round was 357 sig. Now it seems to be the .38super and yes I think expense is a real barrier. Perhaps the good shooters are getting a backer to cover the cost of ammo and consumables.

I've seen the 357 in action and it's snappy as. Kind of barks if you know what I mean. Compared to the .40+ calibers which just go that deep boom. and .45's with that smooth ka-chunk. Man I love that sound. Could it be the perfect round for a self loader? All the mechanics and the forces just come into equilibrium...... and it's just lead hurling nirvana.

[Awoke]

I have a close friend that owns Kimbers, Smith & Wessun, and a bunch of really expensive handguns.

He swears by his XD. It's his favorite. If I buy another poly gun, it will probably be the XD(m) or the XD. I love my Glocks.

Taurus makes a really nice poly gun as well, call the PT24/7 G2.
It basically takes all the positive characteristics of the XD, the Glock, the PT24/7 OSS and combines them into one nice poly gun, available in multiple chamberings and barrel lengths. I would consider one of those too.

[JJ.G0ldD0t]

+10 on the Sigs
+10 for Glocks
+1 for XD's

S&W auto's are shit. inaccurate and break alot.
Taurus autos- Had one once. Never again.
Kimbers are like Harley Davidsons. They kik ass when they run- suck when they don't and are more for show than anything else.


If I had lots of money, I'd probably only have Sigs, Glocks and 1911's


Why not a Colt 1911 in 38SPR?