What I learned shooting IDPA today

[JLaw]

Had lots of fun at the Thunder Tactical match today, much thanks to all the SO's, set-up'ers and tear-down'ers that made it happen.

Today was a good learning experience for me. Just wanted to share, so feel free to comment.

I've been shooting the Beretta 92 in SSP since late December. Since I'm shooting SSP I'm carrying a semi-auto as well, may as well stay consistent, right? Carry gun is a Smith & Wesson 908, compact, single stack 9mm, traditional DA/SA action. Well the Beretta is a traditional DA/SA pistol also, so they're similar enough right? HA!!! Was I in for a surprise.

I decided last night that I would shoot my everyday carry gun in this match and see what happens. Well I could have done better. The gun did it's part, while the shooter had several FTT's (failure-to-think!). Going from a double stack to a single stack was more challenging that I thought, those single stack 9mm mags sure are short and thin, makes 'em a little buttery during reloads. The slim grip was also something to deal with. The recoil was just slightly sharper than that of the Beretta due to the 908's compact size and weight. I walked away from the match enlightened, but knowing I didn't do as well as I should have.

What I think happened was I was so used the the Beretta from shooting it so much lately that I was overwhelmed going back to shooting my carry pistol in a match. Almost everything was different. I got so caught up in trying to re-learn the 908 and single stack magazine handling that I started messing up on the basics...proper grip, reloads, shot timing. Not that I haven't shot the 908 lately, I shoot it quite frequently, just not in IDPA competition. Quite an eye-opener.

After today I've realized it would be a great benefit to me to either take small hit and shoot a smaller gun in IDPA and continue carrying the 908, or start carrying the Beretta as my every day gun and continue shooting it in IDPA. I was astounded how "lost" I felt when I drew that little 908 when the big Beretta's normally there, luckily this was just a match and not a real encounter. IDPA is a game, this is true. But for some (like me) it's the closest thing to "real life practice" we can get.

Here's an IDPA question for you folks though...my 908 has a decock/safety and a magazine disconnect. So first time around I showed clear and realized that I couldn't pull the trigger to drop the hammer (magazine was already ejected), luckily the SO was gracious enough to let me show no magazine, chamber empty and decock only. If I decide to shoot this gun in IDPA again, what would an SO who doesn't know me from Adam want me to do when I drop the hammer and holster? Hmmmmm.

So that's about it. I don't know if anyone else here carries a different gun that what they shoot IDPA with, but I learned today it might be a good thing to shoot that carry gun a little more often in competition, or make changes to carry the gun you shoot IDPA with.

JLaw

[Target1911]

Shoot your carry gun a little more and while under some pressure but you dont have to shoot it all the time. if you trade between the 2, your mind will (in a short time) go on auto pilot and you will do the right thing regaurdless of which pistol is your hands. But you must do it enough for it to be second nature.

[yerasimos]

Good learnings, JLaw.

When I have shot a pistol with a magazine disconnect in IDPA, the SOs would typically allow me to insert an empty magazine taken from a pocket, so the firing pin could go forward on an empty chamber, which was understandably important to them.

My carry pistol is virtually identical to the pistol that I use for IDPA, dry fire and much of my live-fire practice, but they are seperate so that the carry pistol is virtually always in a state of readiness and accessibilty. I can also experiment (ie, try out different sights, cleaning techniques, etc) on the non-carry pistol before doing the same to the carry gun.

If you can carry a larger, higher-capacity pistol with decent concealment and minimal, tolerable discomfort, I would suggest this course. High ammunition capacity is desirable, and a larger pistol will probably be easier to control and absorb more recoil because of the greater weight and more complete grip of your hands.

Paradoxically, I have been reconsidering the snub-nose revolver for carry. I am coming around to the idea that they offer some major advantages over pistols (especially pistols with magazine disconnects) within kissing/clinch/grappling distances, where fights can easily end up, even though this extreme close quarter shooting is not frequently practiced in IDPA. IIRC, JLaw, you had/have a penchant for snub-nose revolvers, and would suggest those over small pistols if you cannot carry the full-size Berretta for whatever reason, while keeping in mind your capabilities with the snubnose revolver at non-ECQ distances. (Hearkening back to, "A man has got to know his limitations," my marksmanship with a snubnose revolver at 7+ yards is terrible, so I personally would not use it except at much closer distances.)