9mm or 45 for idpa?

Im toying with the idea of getting into IDPA and was wondering what caliber you preffer.

Im up for either I guess but was leaning toward 9mm since i have so many guns that are chambered for that. Maybe a single stack 9mm 1911?

Unless you plan on shooting CDP I would go with 9mm. Cheaper ammo means more practice

I prefer 9mm. Ammo costs are lower, and I find I can shoot it better in the less-than-ideal conditions that matches tend to create (one handed, weak handed, moving, etc.)

If you choose to shoot .45 you'd normally shoot in Custom Defensive Pistol, unless you decide to handicap yourself by shooting against smaller calibers in a different division.

I've seen 9mm 1911s do very well in Enhanced Service Pistol. IIRC they end up with only 10 rounds in the gun vs. 11, due to the length of a single stack magazine and the overall size limitations established by IDPA. This can be a disadvantage, or sometime an advantage, depending on stage design.

New to IDPA but chose 9mm due to cost. You can always run both, as $ permits.

With factory .45 I would agree with you but .45 loaded down to the power factor floor is very manageable.

Good point. Up until now I have only been shooting factory ammo (just got my Dillon 550 set up this week).

9mm is the way to go unless you want to shoot CDP

I would suggest a G17 fed with lots of 9mm. Shoot it in SSP & ESP. Or, G21 in 45acp for CDP, SSP & ESP but you'l be shooting against 9mm's in SSP & ESP.

G17 for SSP & ESP would be my first choice.

mince

I decidec to use my G17 and love it. It does great, heck it's better than my abilities at this point.

Hell shoot what ya got. It's IDPA, use your normal carry gun. Why spend all that time and training on a gun or caliber you don't carry?

There is one thing I don't agree with with IDPA and prod. USPSA. 10 round magazine caps.

I'm not in Cali or any other state that regulates firearms to 10 rounds why should I have to shoot like that?? It's not like I stand around my house ad think to myself "self you know what would be neat?? Why don't you just put 10 rounds into that G17 today?"

IPSC Production doesn't have a set capacity like USPSA Production - and so IPSC Production turned into something of a capacity race between manufacturers as of late (it's at least part of the reason why pistols like the SP-01 have 19-round factory magazines).

As the purpose of Production is provide a means to be competitive with out-of-the-box guns (and hence appeal to those who can't afford to drop a few K on a Limited or Open rig), it does make sense to even the playing ground by keeping everyone at the same capacity.

Because IDPA and USPSA are nationwide organizations. (international, really) So you have to have rules that work the same for competitors in every state. 17 rounds for one gun and 10 for another just doesn't work.

IDPA was started because enough USPSA shooters were sick of the equipment race that they started a totaly seperate shooting sport. Then when USPSA saw shooters moving to IDPA, they created the Production division to try to get them back. The whole reason for IDPA and USPSA Production division is that you don't need a gun with high cap mags. Level playing field, no equipment race. Show up with your carry gun and gear and possibly even win the match.

You wanna fill your G17 up and shoot? Do it in USPSA Limited or Open. Let us know how well you do.

Gringop

I shoot C class in Limited division with a bone stock G17

USPSA number is A-59201

I have started shooting production more often to get classed and I classed D. I'm working on improving that. I'm also about to start running my 1911 in some matches to get classed in Single Stack.

And I'm up to speed on why IDPA was started. I've been looking at doing some IDPA shooting. Seems more "real world" oriented.

What do you normally carry?

If you normally carry a .45, and you are gaming to go along with your pistol training then shoot the .45. Having to push the limit with the .45 against folks shooting a 9 will probably help to make you a better shooter.

A SS 1911 in 9mm is a joke to shoot. ESP if you reload the 9mm down to PF. Great platform for ESP.

I've run both. More often than not I use 9mm.

Not having a magazine capacity limit in IPSC Production has created much tears and heartache amongst us damn foreigners.

Why? In Standard (Limited) or Open, if someone comes up with a magical way to squeeze a few extra rounds into a magazine, you can go out and buy these new Ubermags for your pistol. On the other hand, if you want to increase the number of rounds in your Production gun, you need to go out and buy a whole new gun. So what has effectively happen is that out of a production list of over five hundred guns, a handful - the Glock 17, the CZ SP-01, the Para LDA, and a few others - are competitive.

We were hoping that the problem was going to be solved at the last General Assembly with a 15-round limit - ten round limits make IPSC Regional Directors break out in a rash and stab the 'Vote No' buttons - but instead, an insane complusory reload rule was introduced covering all divisions to fix the mag problem in Production Division. Madness.

Details? Is this IPSC worldwide, or just in your region?

Worldwide, but the motion failed.

I agree, I started IDPA with my G30 45ACP carry gun and shoot in SSP class and do fine with it. I also shoot with a G19 in 9mm on occasion because I do sometimes carry it and 45 ammo was hard to find lately. I also shoot full house loads because I consider IDPA "trigger time" and not so much competition. Just my view!

Like said above, shoot whatever you carry/plan on using. The small IDPA matches are an awesome way to get good practice. We use a lot of interesting scenarios in our matches (a lot of them involving vehicles) that mimick situations we might face everyday.

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