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How do you decide when you are being limited by your equipment?
How do you decided when you are being limited by your equipment?
I certainly don't feel like I'm in that position, but I thought it might be an interesting discussion topic. I only have experience with IDPA, which isn't real equipment focused in the first place, but I'd like to hear from people from all kinds of competitions. What have been your experiences?
"There are no finger prints under water."
While IDPA limits both holster and magazine capacity, both can make quite a difference in other disciplines.
On some firearms, when you get to moving along on a stage, rather than having to remember to move your finger forward far enough, a "short reset trigger" can shave some time off the clock.
Originally Posted by Irving
I use my end-goals to define how far into the equipment game I go. My goal has always been to be more 'thoughtful' when I shoot, and to use it as a sort of training when I can't get the range time in the military. The ROs I'm sure get tired of hearing me ask my two questions: did I hit all the bad guys? and did I hit any hostages? That's what I really concern myself with.
I still use a G34 in all pistol competitions. The only thing I've done is put different sights on it.
My goal has never been to be the fastest with the smallest groups.
ive done pretty well when cha-lee didn't show up and Hoser used a revolver.
id say use your goals to define whether or not its worth it to you to positively eliminate equipment as a possible point of friction. It can get expensive!
Just doing what I can to stay on this side of the dirt.
You could give me all the best stuff and put me up against a great shooter running mediocre gear and I'm going to get my ass handed to me. Skill and practice will take you further than anything.
Find another shooter who's skills you admire and see if he'll let you use his gear. If you shoot better than you ever have then your equipment is probably holding you back. If you still shoot like you normally do then maybe you haven't reached the limits of your gear just yet.
Pick a gun game, poll the field of competitors performing well, then test drive the gear if possible. Doing this will get your gun and gear selection narrowed down to the most viable options.
After that its all about honing your skills so you can make the most of what you have chosen to use. In the practical pistol shooting sports like USPSA, IDPA, or Steel Challenge it's usually the Indian not the Arrow getting the job done. You also don't want to hobble yourself by choosing a gun or gear that goes against the grain of what is needed. It also has to function reliably 100% of the time. I have seen more match performances trashed because of unreliable equipment than using less than optimal gear.
^^^^This!
When my son wanted to get his second guitar, I told him that a great musician makes a mediocre instrument sound good. A mediocre musician can only get mediocrity out of the finest instrument.
I think there are two kinds of people running the latest and greatest gear; sponsored competitors who are given good equipment, and gear whores with lots of money. Since I will never be good enough to get sponsored, I guess I need to go whore some more gear with the little bit of coin I can afford
This is pretty much how I feel about gear. I occasionally wonder if I'm missing out on something just because I've never experienced it before. For example a lot of people talk about upgrading triggers. I don't feel like I need to , but maybe it's because I've never tried one. Good comments so far.
Any personal experiences where you were skeptical about a new piece of gear, but once you tried it out it was night and day?
"There are no finger prints under water."
It really depends on the game, the only game I really play is long range rifle, and it's a gear whore's wet dream, but damn it gets spendy. Some of the least expensive items can give you huge strides. BUT there's certain items you just can't skimp on and none of those are cheap.
Best thing I can say for a guide, is see if you can test drive someone else's wiz-bang gear and if it works better for you, then it's an advantage you might consider, If you don't instantly feel it as an added benefit, it's probably not worth it. You'll know immediately.
Nothing is more limiting than gear that won't run. Period.
​"there's a smile on my face, but a demon inside"
The question is do you want to compete and have fun. OR compete till you're sponsored and doing nationals, so to speak?
Way back when IDPA was starting in CO (you know who you are) I watched and listened to those more experienced than me. Outside of a belt, the gear was what i carried daily. I honed what skills i had, using the tools before me to improve my overall performance. Could i have purchased the latest high tech holster of course. That's not how i ccw'd or was it a place i wanted to compete in.
Hone your skills then decide if you want to go to the next level of competition. YMWV
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"when you're happy you enjoy the melody but, when you're broken you understand the lyrics".
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