Differences and similarities of civilian competition and combat shooting

[Colorado Osprey]

I am of the firm belief

"It's your ass on the Line.. it's your decision alone to make."

anyone can sit back and make the "your gun is poop" arguments all day long, but whether you decide a Baer, G-Lock, lorcin or a jennings is your gun of choice... its your choice alone.

Agreed... and most will agree that if you shoot and/or collect guns at one time or another you will also own a 1911.
In my experience; If you shoot long enough........ you get over the 1911 and move on.
I was a die hard 1911 person. At one time I had 17 of them. At this time I don't own one.
My son has recently found the allure of the 1911 and was begging for one... but after shooting a couple already realizes its short comings compared to modern pistols.

[alxone]

I am of the firm belief

"It's your ass on the Line.. it's your decision alone to make."

anyone can sit back and make the "your gun is poop" arguments all day long, but whether you decide a Baer, G-Lock, lorcin or a jennings is your gun of choice... its your choice alone.

yep , you guys can have that fancy crap ill stick to my crappy 213 (tokarev) for defense . dont get me wrong i like my 1911's just fine but a tokarev has 0 pride of ownership and is a fine shooter once you get the hang of it .

[streetglideok]

Only models I've seen problems with on 1911's are versions with "match barrels" and "tight tolerances". My Kimber, being a custom shop model, is pretty tight. It feeds factory ammo decently, but hates reloads. I use only wilson mags as well. My two Colts, one a Defender, and another a 90's vintage series 80 enhanced govt, eats everything. The kimber goes with me to the range to look pretty, the Colts are on my side as they are made with standard tolerances and work as Browning designed them. If I dont carry a 1911, then its my XDM. It has always gone bang. Another thing, 1911s have different lube needs and desires then say a Glock. I use strictly gun grease.

[RMAC757]

Aaaand this is why I only trust my HK's.

With your Cherry Creek based SOCOM Unit.

[MarkCO]

Well, if the posted reason for his article is the 1911, then the focus is misguided. Why rail on competition when he SHOULD have been focused on reliability. Done correctly, a 1911 is very reliable.

I actually agree and disagree with him on some points...MOST people have no idea what a stressor is nor what it will do to them. Competition does induce stress beyond what most people encounter. For the average CCW or recreational shooter, competition stress will point out the flaws in their technique, equipment and personal disposition that can then be worked on and tuned through focused training.

The ability to shoot, at high speed on the move is a very good tool to have in the operators tool bag, and one that is sorely missed by many "operators". Steel Challenge and other less dynamic sports probably have a little to offer, but when you mave to USPSA, there is more, and then when you move to 3Gun, even more. Competition, if pushed, does help the "no think" operation of the weapon systems leaving the operator with more mental and physical reserve from which to draw in order to fight fully. There are a handfull of highly trained operators who are also high level competitors...maybe Sawyer should have talked to a few of them before he wrote his article.

Anytime you are really good at one thing, you tend to diminish the value of other avenues of training, but that has proven to be in error. ALL high level athletes now cross train, football players take ballet lessons and swim, etc.

[spqrzilla]

I got tired of these kind of puffed up BS threads when the author was still filling his diapers.

[Gravy Sandwich]

Matches are to a shooter what heavy bags and light sparring are to a fighter. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Sharpienads]

I'm not a badass operator, nor will I ever be one. But this article seems a little silly to me. First, the differences he points out between combat and sport shooting are obvious. Second, why would you take a tight-tolerances "race gun" into combat? Third, why would you tell somebody not to carry a 1911? As said before, the decision on what you carry should be your decision, but it should at the same time be an informed decision.

Oh yeah, and since I'm not a badass secret squirrel operator like the author, I get to carry a Beretta M9 as a sidearm. I would much rather carry a 1911.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I've seen more FTFs and FTEs from Glocks and XDs than my 1911 but mine isn't tricked out nor do I shoot as fast as most with the Glocks or XDs. As Sawman points out in his editorial, I also don't have anyone shooting back at me nor am I worrying about finding effective cover.

My interest in IPSC is not to pretend that I'm SF or SWAT but rather to experience shooting from a different perspective than standing still in a range box plinking at a circular target (there's still a slight adrenaline rush albeit probably nothing to compare to actual combat).

I want to learn to control my shots while on the move and avoid overshoots or bad shoots. I will never be an IPSC grand champion, SF operator or SWAT team member but at least I can practice so I'm standing like a dumb struck plinker if or when I need to use my gun in real life.

[Sawin]

This reminds me of a quote I read somewhere a few years back...pardon me while I butcher it, but the point it conveyed was essentially the one above.

Colts, Kimbers, and Les Baer's are what you show your friends, Glocks are what you show your enemies.