Carry gun --> Competition gun

Burk Cornelius · Dec 12, 2013

Do most of you try to carry the same firearm platform that you compete with?

i.e. Glock-->Glock; 1911-->1911; XD-->XD; M&P-->M&P; 2011-->2011 (you get the idea)

Or do you feel like it doesn't really matter?

jtischauser · Dec 12, 2013

I think it can matter. I carry a glock, LCP, & LC9 and compete with 2011's. I did used to compete with the glock a bunch which helps with familiarity with the platform. For those of us of this forum that actually shoot a lot a slight difference in trigger pull isn't gonna matter as long as the fundamentals are solid. What I would avoid is some weird carry gun that has a safety and/or mag release you're not used too.

Burk Cornelius · Dec 12, 2013

Yeah, I agree. To me the most important thing (more than trigger) is safety/no safety.

When I shoot my 1911 at the carry gun match I invariably have issues clicking the thumb safety off. That is why it is a MUST to practice with what you carry

WillR · Dec 12, 2013

I carry the same 1911 as I compete with in single stack. Same for the G19. But not the 2011's. The grip safety is pinned, the magwell is to big, and the trigger is on the light side. Not ideal for a carry gun.

Corey · Dec 12, 2013

Jesse Tischauser said:
For those of us of this forum that actually shoot a lot a slight difference in trigger pull isn't gonna matter as long as the fundamentals are solid. What I would avoid is some weird carry gun that has a safety and/or mag release you're not used too.

I agree with Jesse

I carry a kahr or keltec 380 and compete with a glock, I like a carry gun with a safe action trigger for simplicity but number one rule is the gun has to point the same. After getting ample trigger time with my glock the long trigger pull on the kahr does not bother me at all. I do have a G26, G19 and had a G36 I just prefer the narrower Kahr for carry, but that is all personal preference.

Burk Cornelius · Dec 12, 2013

WillR said:
I carry the same 1911 as I compete with in single stack.

Nice

Corey · Dec 12, 2013

WillR said:
I carry the same 1911 as I compete with in single stack. Same for the G19. But not the 2011's. The grip safety is pinned, the magwell is to big, and the trigger is on the light side. Not ideal for a carry gun.

Not picking on WillR, (I do think it is a great idea to shoot a match with ones carry gun) I just know how I am wired.
I do not carry or keep any of my competition guns loaded my biggest fear is randomly dry firing, expecting a click and hearing a boom.

My carry guns are always chambered and ready to go.

WillR · Dec 12, 2013

Corey said:
Not picking on WillR, (I do think it is a great idea to shoot a match with ones carry gun) I just know how I am wired.
I do not carry or keep any of my competition guns loaded my biggest fear is randomly dry firing, expecting a click and hearing a boom.

My carry guns are always chambered and ready to go.

That's a great point. No matter what you are dry firing with check and recheck that thing. I go into a different room where there is no ammo to do dryfire practice. (When I actually get my lazy ass in gear)

Jeff T. · Dec 12, 2013

9 times out of 10 I compete with the same gun I carry. XDM 3.8 .40
Occasionally I will compete with and XDM 4.0 or XDM 5.25.

drmitchgibson · Dec 12, 2013

I did for a while. Carried a 1911 after getting my 2011 comp gun. I carry a Walther PPS now because of its super-slim profile and, funny thing, it is largely a copy of a Glock. Which is what I started shooting volume with. I don't feel there is any detriment to competing with and carrying two different but very familiar firearms.

45recoil · Dec 12, 2013

Jesse Tischauser said:
I think it can matter. I carry a glock, LCP, & LC9 and compete with 2011's. I did used to compete with the glock a bunch which helps with familiarity with the platform. For those of us of this forum that actually shoot a lot a slight difference in trigger pull isn't gonna matter as long as the fundamentals are solid. What I would avoid is some weird carry gun that has a safety and/or mag release you're not used too.

This is why I most likely will not engage the thumb safety (more like a nub) on my new m&p shield9. I was used to carrying the m&p 40c without a thumb safety anyways

Wall · Dec 12, 2013

Jared Carpenter said:
This is why I most likely will not engage the thumb safety (more like a nub) on my new m&p shield9. I was used to carrying the m&p 40c without a thumb safety anyways

you need to get used to that safety, in case it gets accidentally/subconsciously engaged.
Even if you plan on not engaging it, get used to flicking it off.
You just wouldn't want to expect it to be off & it's not.

The Antichrome · Dec 13, 2013

Do racecar drivers compete with the same type of car that they drive on the street?

Matt1911 · Dec 13, 2013

The Antichrome said:
Do racecar drivers compete with the same type of car that they drive on the street?

depends on how redneck they are.

Larry Mullican · Dec 13, 2013

My first training, carry and match gun was an M&P 9c. So changing over to a 1911 with a safety was a bit challenging. It took a lot of practice and even competing with the 1911 ( Pro Carry II, shorter barrel) for those change responses to become instinctive. I compete a lot with an XDM 5.25. I mostly carry my 1911 open and concealed. Occasionally I carry a Sig .380 that is almost identical to a 1911. So operating the safety and trigger are very simular. I do think I need more range time with the Sig P238. ' Can't have pressure on the slide like you can with a regular 1911, where your thumb is resting constantly down on the safety. I do constantly check those safeties to be sure they are on. Both weapons stay chambered with hammer back. My first year with the M&P, I did not carry with a round chambered as I did not feel competent enough for that. The tritium sights I had installed on the M&P allowed for an easy one handed slide rack.

poopgiggle · Dec 13, 2013

Matt Rigsby said:
depends on how redneck they are.

I RACE IN MY FOXBODY AND DRIVE IT TO WORK

MY CHILDREN WERE ALSO CONCEIVED, BORN, AND EDUCATED IN IT

Jefpainthorse · Dec 13, 2013

I do. And I generally compete with what I drove over with on me.

But I shoot IDPA.... Out of the box, no mods is how I roll.

dennishoddy · Dec 13, 2013

The Antichrome said:
Do racecar drivers compete with the same type of car that they drive on the street?

Exactly. Its all in the mindset. I have three vehicles, and have the same car gun in each.

Hunting is another platform.

Match is another platform.

The only exception used to be the carry gun matches where I shot the car guns. Wish I were closer to shoot more of them.

The most important aspect of that carry gun match was to..... use your carry gun. Great practice.

poopgiggle · Dec 14, 2013

I carry and compete with M&Ps because 1) I want to bust 'em like Chris Costa 2) I can share magazines and holsters and elephant dung between the three guns, and 3) I can cannibalize one for spare parts if another breaks.

Muscle memory for maximum potentiation of efficiency of weapon system manipulation in dynamic critical incidents is nice too I guess.

MetropolisLakeOutfitters · Dec 26, 2013

I tried to do this, got an FNX-40 thinking it was a jack of all trades. What I found was that a 4" barrel is pretty stinking small of a sight picture to compete with on 5" steel at 25 yards. Also found that it was great for a one handed gun but when trying to use two hands, the lower height of the slide made the safety lever rather uncomfortable. Also the only way to be accurate with it is to kind of stage the trigger, which burns up time. And, it isn't even all that concealable. So based on that I don't really think it's a great idea, you are compromising in multiple aspects in both realms when you try to make one gun pull double duty.