deerslayer

If you go to a USPSA match, you will hear, "Don't shoot IDPA. You have to shoot from cover and wear concealment." If you go to an IDPA match, you will hear, "Don't shoot USPSA. They use $3000 race guns and Star Wars holsters." Use your 1911 on both and see for yourself which you like better. Beware, the USPSA guys at MSSA don't like anyone wearing any kind of camo at their matches. It promotes a "bad image."

Not true. IDPA stages are limited only by the imagination of the guy who creates the stages. There are some talented match directors, and there are others. IDPA is not always a simple list of targets that everyone shoots in a specified order. Many stages offer several ways to shoot them, some not so obvious. Some courses of fire simply say, "shoot them in any order." After the last guy shoots a stage, I often hear, "Why didn't I think of that?" Most IDPA shooters have carry permits, while many would be suprised to learn how many USPSA guys don't even carry (at least, that is the case locally).

Comp-Tac can't be beaten if you like kydex.

Welcome to the club.

If you are a male, Uncle Mike's kydex holsters are not legal for IDPA (too much offset). Not to worry, you should be fine at a club level-type monthly match--they are usually less formal and are especially lenient on first time shooters.

I never said I was a competent reloader j/k The .40 seems a little less forgiving to reloaders. Also, too many guys are too eager to pick up any old brass case they find and reload. Many inspect them, some don't. It seems like the majority of guns that blow up seem to be .40s, Glocks and all others included.

Come out and shoot IDPA at MSSA--it's only minutes from Lakeland!

I meant that most shooters do not like both.

You are at a slight disadvantage when considering bragging rights, but technically, you are only shooting against other 8-shot .45s.

If you are a competent reloader, and your Glock is a generation three, you'll be fine. I would be hesitant to reload .40 for ANY gun, however.

April 13?

I carry and compete with a Glock 19, and I can verify that the 34 shooters usually have an advantage. At five feet, the 19 is better. Anything past 7 or 8 yards, 34 all the way.

Most people prefer one or the other.

Actually, the ninija vest (5.11) is quite useful in IDPA. I wear one quite a bit in competition. It serves as a good duplicate of what I wear on the street, the multiple pockets are handy for storing extra mags, timer, scoresheets, etc., and it's nice to have one garment that I don't mind caking with lead dust, getting muddy, etc. I have worn it in public a couple times, usually when I'm making a stop on the way home from a match.

Last Friday or 3rd Friday?

I know where you are going with this, and I agree with ya 100%--Glocks, M&Ps, and Kahrs are easier to shoot (fewer controls/restrictions); therefore, the average dummy probably shouldn't use one. While Glock probably outsells all the competition, I seriously doubt that there is a 25:1 ratio. What I'm getting at is that there are probably too many Glocks out there--only trained, experienced shooters who are always conscious of their triggers should carry Glocks, or anything similar (specifically, XDs, M&Ps, or Kahrs). All others probably need to stick with 12 pound first shot double actions.

Not sure if your gun would be the best, but it would probably outsell all others here.

Excellent post, Jason F. IDPA is just a game, and a lot of IDPA bashers criticize it as not being tacticly sound, giving false hope/confidence to shooters, etc. Others abuse the sport by exploiting every rule and "gaming" for an advantage, only to make a mockery of its original intent. I think (as you have illustrated) that one of IDPA's biggest benefits is that it is an excellent test of a shooter and his carry gear under stressful, unfamiliar conditions. It is often an eye-opener, although usually an enjoyable one. Many soon get caught up in the competition aspect of it (I am not totally innocent either), but most, after their first match, come to the realization that they are not nearly as prepared for a confrontation as they initially thought. IDPA is not training, and nothing truly prepares anyone for a gunfight, but competitive shooting can help measure how lacking one is to be truly competent with his carry gear.

If I point my Glock at someone and intend to use it, you can bet that my finger will be on the trigger.

LOL, the buzzer has exposed many an "expert."

match scores are posted, along with an explanation: http://www.idpa.com/matchresults/2008/2008_Tri_Sta_Reg.pdf

Sure, magazine disconnects have been around forever (see the Browning High Power), but, until recently, nobody ever insisted that all guns must have them in order to pass some firearms-ignorant lawyer's safety litmus test.

If I am struggling with a thug, the last thing I am going to worry about is bumping my mag release in order to disable my gun. The typical argument is that cops can do this when knuckling with a thug, but I submit that A. most cops are right-handed B. many LE guns have a mag release on the left side C. most cop retention holsters securely cover the trigger guard/mag release area D. The cop bumping the mag release to prevent the thug from using his gun is a bit far-fetched. I've never heard or read of it happening (except maybe in movies). Even if I did have the presence of mind to do so, I wouldn't like my chances of hitting such a small target with the tip of my finger while fighting off a bad guy. I think the odds of gouging his eyes or ripping off his nuts would be much better. I suppose the nut dimensions correlate to the success rate of removal.

Mars says that line of reasoning is baloney and he's NEVER wrong.

Hmmm...Glock 19 with more rounded edges, maybe multiple grip backstraps, something a little stronger than the Fisher-Price sights, a dovetailed front sight, with the rear of the trigger guard trimmed down a little. No manual safety required for me.