Where to compete with the gun I'd actually carry?

[45dotACP]

I want to compete, but is there any competition anywhere that lets a guy use a laser or weapon mounted light?

[Lon]

Depends on what clubs you have around and what style matches they put on. Lasers and WMLs are not allowed in IDPA or USPSA iirc. There might be a WML exception for LE duty weapons, but I'd have to double check rule book.

If you have a good relationship with a club that hosts matches, they may let you run them for no score. I am lucky, the club I shoot indoor Monday night matches (USPSA based) lets me run a laser/WML in the dark if I want. They just put me in open class competing against the rest of the red dot guys.

[Lon]

Oh, yeah. Check for a KSTG match.

[PPGMD]

You can use both in USPSA Open IIRC.

You aren't going to be able to stay at the same pace as people with red dots, comps, 170mm magazines, and mag wells the size of a small station wagon. But you can shoot it, and compare your HF (basically points per second) to limited and production.

[orionz06]

It's a shame when USPSA becomes the avenue to shoot what you actually carry.

[rob_s]

It's a shame when USPSA becomes the avenue to shoot what you actually carry.

Unless I misunderstand the latest rule book, IDPA allows for an "outlaw" class at local matches that allows you to shoot and see your scores.

Then the shooter can come up with all their reasons why they got beat with their ninja gun by a guy shooting a stock Glock from a strong-side IWB holster and wearing a t-shirt.

[orionz06]

Allows for... Not "will let you and then report scores for you"...


Not that it keeps me from playing but I find it laughable that they're stuck 2 decades back and show no signs of caring that they've become a joke.

[OldRunner/CSAT Neighbor]

Per Rob above > " Unless I misunderstand the latest rule book, IDPA allows for an "outlaw" class at local matches that allows you to shoot and see your scores. "

I run an M&P CORE w/ an RMR06 @ my local IDPA club matches w/ out issues. They tabulate my time/score, not that I get all spun up about it mind you.

While I am an IDPA SO, any of the other 30 or so shooters could do the same w/ the understanding that RDS's are a no-go @ sanctioned matches. FWIW I treat IDPA as training, could care less about the game/gamers as I had this very discussion w/ Paul when I was trying to decide about shooting IDPA sev. yrs ago.

[JM Campbell]

I ran a rmr G17 in a IDPA local clubs 3 gun match with standard mags in "outlaw". I shot the whole match pistol only, took my division and 11th overall. Yes they were bitching I had a $500 sight on a pistol, I thought I was at a disadvantage shooting against ar-15 with brakes/comps and $1200 1-6 optics....go figure.


It was fun smoking some dudes with a pistol only....yes sir it was.

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[Jared]

It's a shame when USPSA becomes the avenue to shoot what you actually carry.

I actually think it's kind of appropriate really. I think that some of the founding ideas from Cooper and the rest were pretty much "no limits, see what works." Now I grant that there was really no way to tell where the masses would take that "no limits" part, but the fact that some of these new technologies (like RMR's) are allowed in USPSA really shouldn't be a surprise.

Nor do I find it particularly surprising that a sport formed at least in part in protest to USPSA forbids a lot of stuff that USPSA allows.

If anything, I think the whole thing illustrates a couple points. First, the equipment available to the average citizen with a CCW has truly come a long way. The whole red dot optic on a pistol thing was for such a long time a gamer thing, and was railed against by many for a long time. Now, slide riding optics are becoming accepted. Second, I think the idea of a division where (Almost) anything goes (USPSA Open) is a good thing. Yes, it will end up being a rather expensive equipment race. That's unavoidable with a division like that. Where it shines though is when folks want to experiment. Wanna AIWB a pistol with a slide mounted RMR and a WML? Open is there for you.