Although I'm not IDPA classified in them, I've committed to using my revolvers in at least two IDPA matches each year; to maximize the experience, this year I did it in back-to-back matches, which enabled me to capitalize on improvements and having a continuous/consistant dry-fire practice regime throughout the 2 month period.
In both matches, I used my Ruger GP100 in the Stock Service Revolver division in a Kramer horsehide IWB holster. While fully within compliance with IDPA SSR guidelines, my GP100 has been extensively refined and tuned by Chris Peters some 10 years ago; the only changes that I've subsequently made are to use the smaller/round-butt Ruger grip (the one that's OEM for the fixed-sight GP100), and to switch out the OEM 14 lb mainspring for a 12 lb Wolff, and similarly switch the 11 lb OEM trigger return spring with a Wolff 8 lb (To obtain the best balance of spring performance, I simply got the Wolff GP100 Shooters Pack, and did research and hands-on experimentation-on my particular gun, the 12/8 combination yields a lighter, smoother totally reliable combination without compromising trigger reset or reliability even with CCI primers {eight different factory cartridges/loadings were tried after the springs were installed}). Others that I came across in my research indicated that the 12lb mainspring was the best for across-the-board reliability; lower weightings tended to necessitate lighter primers (i.e., Federal) for 100% functioning; while the preponderance of shooters recommended the 10 lb trigger return spring to ensure a strong reset, my highly tuned and internally polished/cleaned up GP performed just fine (and with a lighter triggerpull) with the 8 lb Wolff trigger return spring.
The GP100 plus Chris' action job plus a set of Millett Orange Bar sights worked well. Yeah, I was bog slow (in comparison to my Glocks which are what I usually use/carry, to say nothing of in comparison to the other auto-pistol toting competitors), but I was particularly pleased with my accuracy-due to dry- and range-fire practice, my index with the revolver was surprisingly effective.
Using the new IDPA rules revision, throughout the match my primary reload was a Safariland Comp III speedloader kept in my strongside jacket pocket, with the second and third reloads being held in HKS speedloaders in a Bianchi Accumold dual pouch, mounted strongside, just ahead of the holster. I only needed to resort to the HKS reloads a couple of times throughout the 7 stage match, but when I did, I encountered zero problems in withdrawing them from the velcro-flapped Bianchi pouch (other than my slow speed). For additional practice, my initial administrative load before each stage was done with a Bianchi Speed Strip, since that's a consistant reload source when I choose to carry a revolver. So throughout the match I was able to consistantly utilize 3 different reload devices.
While shooting the match in a squad where the most common pistol was a full-size Glock, in a squad of above-average skill fellow shooters (including one hearty soul using a 5-shot J-frame snubby for real-world practice), I never felt undergunned or frustrated by any limitations inherent to using a revolver per se. Having limited cartridges on board definitely forced me to hone in on accuracy, resulting to a slower overall time but my accuracy was definitely there. When practicing I noticed a discernable difference in draw times when using the Kramer horsehide holster in comparison to the kydex Blade-Tech IWB I had made for my Security Six, but in the match itself I never perceived that the draw time was unduly slow with the horsehide holster.
For ammunition, I used Remington/UMC 125gr SJHP .38 Special +P; I've found it to be consistantly reliable, and a great analog for my real-world carry, the Remington Golden Saber 125 gr +P JHP cartridge. During the match, I encontered 1 primer that failed to ignite (firing pin indentation appeared to be more than sufficient, so I assume that it was simply a defective primer).
While I only occassionally carry a revolver, I very consistantly keep one (usually the Security Six) in our nightstand drawer, so the match use (and pre-match practices) of the GP was time very well spent in a conceptual sense.
The heavy barrel of the GP provides a very steady platform; while my standard/half-lug Security Six barrel is more dynamic in terms of being quicker to get from draw to initial shot, and quicker in target-to-target transition times, but the GP was definitely a tad steadier, and the weight decreased the necessary shot-to-shot recovery times.
The Wolff spring set definitely enabled me to take advantage of Chris Peter's superb work (both at the time he did the work, and currently he was/is a senior Ruger employee {I believe that he's currently the head of their New Hampshire Customer Service Department}, so he felt compelled for purposes of liability to remain with the OEM springs, which are overly heavy-the Wolffs literally transformed the character of the action (for the better).
The smaller "round-butt"/compact Ruger grips are excellent; their decreased size makes for much more viable concealed carry, without there being any compromise in grip whatsoever.
The upshot (every pun intended) was that while I hardly set any IDPA match performance land-speed records, I'm very pleased with using my revolver in IDPA competition. There is a definite tranferrence for real-world use and carry techniques, and I feel much more confident in the viability of my using a revolver in self-defense applications due to both the matches and the pre/post match practices.
Best, Jon
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by caleb
