deerslayer

IMHO, grip safeties give a false sense of security. They are not as beneficial as advertised.

Is there any IDPA going on in Dickson? I thought it was just USPSA.

What would be the difference?

Unfortunately, this may be the first time I do not participate in the general election. Fred is out and Paul won't win the nomination, and I don't see much difference in any of the other candidates, Democrat or Republican. If I do vote for one of the Republican lesser-of-two-evils, it will be with a clothespin over my nose. I'm no political analyst, but I am hoping for an Obama nomination--I think he's more beatable than Hillary.

If possible, go to the range and rent a Glock 19, a Smith M&P, and a Springfield XD. Try to find similar sizes and barrel lengths to avoid apples-to-oranges comparisons. These are all ~$450-$550 guns, and have reputations for simplicity, accuracy, and reliability. Night sights will usually add $75-$100. Also, lots of aftermarket sights, holsters, and other accessories will be common for all three, especially the Glock. A cheap gun doesn't always mean a good first gun. $600 will allow you to find a great first weapon, and you may never feel the need for a different one. I have found that a more expensive weapon is not always an upgrade. BTW, if you decide on the M&P, I would strongly recommend finding one that DOES NOT have the magazine disconnect safety option. These are rarely in stock, but ordering one should not be a problem. I may get flamed for this, but the magazine disconnect is a terrible feature, in my opinion.

Baloney, that's the perfect weapon for IDPA. I started out with a compact Glock .40, and now mainly use a compact Glock 9mm.

I would rather carry a .40--they are usually more CCW friendly. If I had to shoot a bad guy, I'd rather use a .45--bigger holes are more effective. That said, the .40 makes possible a gun that does things the 9mm and .45 can't-- an excellent compromise. Although I shoot a lot, and ammo price is therefore always a concern for me, I think some of the best advice you've been given so far is to choose whatever you are more comfortable with, regardless of what caliber the gun may be.

Glock 19

Put one in your holster and see how it conceals. As for shootability, I shoot the 27 in IDPA every now and then and usually hold my own. YMMV

and another

Here is a side-by-side comparison.

Not true. The grip is a hair shorter along the front, but significantly shorter down the back. Notice all the bobtail 1911s hitting the market? Rounding off the corner of the butt reduces "printing" and this is exactly what happens when you put a Pierce +1 on a Glock 26 or 27. You also have a 1/2" shorter barrel. Even with the extension, it is easier to conceal than a 19/23.

Midway and OMB both sell factory Glock mags.

What he said

http://www.ombexpress.com/product~cat~426502~sku~GA078.asp http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=7&Categoryid=13410&categorystring=10613***687***11341***8898***

No MD here, but I was shooting competitively quite a bit indoors (now I shoot mostly outdoors for a variety of reasons). We have had several people with extremely high lead levels. Supposedly lead poisoning of shooters results not from handling ammo, not from reloading, but from breathing fumes at indoor ranges. I recently got my lead level checked, and it was 12 micrograms/deciliter. Some of our guys registered over 40.

I don't even consider it an affliction.

After shooting a friend's gun, I would consider a 2.5 lb. Vanek trigger kit in a Glock a radical modification for IDPA.

Not sure yet; last year, we had shotgun start--start wherever you want, shoot whenever you want, with anybody you want. I like this way better than squading, but different MDs do different things.

Depends on the stages and the match director. Many stages involve shooting targets in the open on the move. Others allow for a variety of ways to shoot the stage; the shooter just has to figure out which one is best for him, and sometimes discovers an even better way to shoot it in the process. Most IDPA guns are close to stock, but rarely bone stock. Some are radically modified.

same here

I am cross-eye dominant, but don't consider it a problem. I assume you mean you are right-handed and left-eye dominant. I shoot left handed, with a weaver stance, both eyes open, and look at the sights with my right eye (head turned ever so slightly to the left). So, I am the mirror opposite of you, and I've never had a problem. If you can, with gun in right hand, rotate (not tilt) your head slightly to the right, shoot with both eyes open and use your dominant (left) eye. If this doesn't work, try to close your right eye. Still no luck, close your left eye. Last resort, shoot left-handed. My .02.