Help choosing new limited gun

[Grouse870]

I just started shooting uspsa so I’m unclassified right now I’m currently shooting my duty gun (S&W M&P .40 longslide) but would like to get a more dedicated gun. I’m sticking with the M&P since I seem to do better sticking with one platform plus I’m an armorer and I carry a shield off duty. I was originally going to buy a 2.0 5” in 9 and just shoot limited minor (my mags are in front of my hip which is why I’m shooting limited) replace the sights and maybe a magwell and call it good. But I have a line on a used 1.0 .40 for really stupid cheap but it’s a 4.25” barrel but I could basically get the gun, sights, magwell, and holster for the price of the 2.0. 9mm is cheaper (I don’t reload) but it scores minor I like 9mm better and have a few other 9mm guns so ammo isn’t an issue. But with the .40 I can shoot major which helps my scores, mags are cheaper, and the initial start up is a bit cheaper. I do also shoot steel challenge if that matters. Before I started shooting uspsa I was just going to buy the 9mm but uspsa made the decision more difficult

[Wake27]

What price are you looking at for the 2.0? S&W offers really good military pricing, I’d assume that goes to LE as well. Also the earlier M&Ps sometimes had issues. The .45 was ok, the 9s has problems, I don’t know about the .40s but definitely look into it if you weren’t aware. Personally, I’d go with the 9. Cheaper in the long run and the texture on the grip would be a major plus, IMO.


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[Grouse870]

429 for the 2.0 5” is the cheapest I’ve seen. I was quoted 450 for the LE price at a different shop. The .40’s were relatively issue free as far as I know the ones we have are about 6+ years old and besides some slide stop issues ours have been fine.

[HopetonBrown]

I would really not like to shoot Limited Minor. The marginal cost of 40 ammo vs 9mm ain't worth it.

[Bucky]

Seriously, if this is a dedicated USPSA gun get a 5” gun. Either 9mm or .40 is fine, BUT if you go 9mm, I’d set it up for, and shoot Production Division. OR.. get a 9mm MOS and shoot carry optics.

[Leroy]

If you reload your own ammo get a 5" gun. You will be able to load .40 major that recoils less with a 5" gun vs. the 4.25" gun. During a high round count practice session and general long term shooting it will result in less fatigue, more practice time, and quicker improvement.

[ranger]

I have a Gen 1 M&P Pro 5 inch in 40 and I have a Stormlake 40 to 9 conversion barrel. I shoot it 99% of time as 9mm. It is 100% reliable with the 40-9 conversion barrel with no other modifications other than using 9mm mags. Added an APEX trigger kit including the replacement polymer trigger. It serves me well in various shooting competitions. You can pick up used M&P 40 mags really cheap - AIM Surplus often has them. If you decide to go 40 and you reload, stock up on 40 brass while it is cheap.

[Jim Watson]

I’m sticking with the M&P
my mags are in front of my hip which is why I’m shooting limited
9mm is cheaper (I don’t reload) but it scores minor
I like 9mm better

You have backed yourself into a corner. I see two ways to avoid being handicapped by equipment.
Plan A: Go 9mm, move mag carriers, shoot Production.
Plan B: Pay more for .40 ammo, shoot Limited Major.

From what I read, Limited Minor seems to be populated by 3-gun specialists who want trigger time with their pistols and don't really care about being competitive in USPSA.

Me? I don't care to shoot Major from such a light weight gun and would take Plan A.

[Grouse870]

I have a Gen 1 M&P Pro 5 inch in 40 and I have a Stormlake 40 to 9 conversion barrel. I shoot it 99% of time as 9mm. It is 100% reliable with the 40-9 conversion barrel with no other modifications other than using 9mm mags. Added an APEX trigger kit including the replacement polymer trigger. It serves me well in various shooting competitions. You can pick up used M&P 40 mags really cheap - AIM Surplus often has them. If you decide to go 40 and you reload, stock up on 40 brass while it is cheap.

I hadn’t thought about a conversion barrel. That might be the best of both worlds. I don’t think I’m handicapping myself too bad shooting limited. I’m just trying to balance actually being somewhat competitive but still getting trigger time with something close to my duty setup (mags in front of my hips) the 5” .40 has a lot of appeal since it will be really close to my duty gun and mags are really cheap.

[ranger]

I used to shoot Open and then Limited. I quit shooting to "win" and kept shooting for "practice" and "fun". Nothing wrong with shooting M&P in Limited (major or minor) or Production as long as you are having a good time and meeting your goals.

[Jim Watson]

OK, plan C: Read the rules. I shoot mostly IDPA so I had to actually spend five minutes looking up the relevant paragraph in USPSA.

5.2.8
Competitors deemed by the Match Director to be full-time law enforcement officers with arrest powers or military personnel on current active duty orders, may be entitled to use their duty holsters or similar holster and related equipment when such equipment does not strictly satisfy the equipment or other requirements of the declared Division.
The Range Master will remain the final authority in respect of the safety and suitability of using such equipment at USPSA matches. The use of such equipment, except as otherwise permitted in the rules, is restricted to Level I matches only.

So, first, ask the MD where you will shoot if he is ok with a duty rig with forward magazines in Production.

I do not see you benefiting from a conversion barrel. You say "would like to get a more dedicated gun" so if you want to shoot 9mm, buy a 9mm gun. Purchasing a .40 and then a 9mm barrel for it does not compute. It takes the Buy Big, Shoot Small crowd a good deal of shooting to amortize the additional barrel and magazines.

[Grouse870]

Having fun is the most important thing but I’m not going to lie I have a competitive streak in me when it comes to shooting. The match I ran in last month had the LE guys run there mags behind the hip that were shooting carry optics (which I think is close to production rule wise besides the mag restrictions)