Shooting a G19 in USPSA

[Lefty GLOCK 19]

How disadvantaged am I shooting a G19 in USPSA? I'm not expecting to win any competitions (even local ones) any time soon, but I was told using 9mm would put me in "minor" and detract from my score.
I was allowed to shoot in Production, by only loading ten rounds per magazine. Can the 19 be competitive in production?

[ezterra]

I see no reason why the G19 cannot be competitive. Especially if that's all you got. If you are shooting production, every one is scored minor, so there is no disadvantage to shooting a 9mm. The longer sight radius of the G34/35 will have a slight edge at distant shots. The G34/35 might also provide a little better recoil management just because of the longer slide. And because the G34/35 has a longer barrel, it will be inherently more accurate for the farther shots.

All that being said, if you are competent with your G19, there is no reason why it can't be competetive against the other guns being used.

[DannyR]

The G19 can be as competitive as any other pistol in Production Category of USPSA, IDPA and GSSF Amateur Civilian Category.

[Jim Watson]

Come on, guys. A G19 is not "competitive" in the sense of helping a normally good shooter win matches. If it were, you would see them on the line. It is something you can get started with if that is what you have on hand, or if you are intent more on practice with your carry gun than on top scores. (No point telling me that D. Sevigny could beat me and my best gun with a G19. D. Sevigny isn't asking a bunch of strangers on the internet what to do.)

Lefty, I suggest you enter your G19 in Production where everything is scored at Minor power factor. Get enough magazines to carry you through a long stage with ten rounds per mag.
Have a good time and think about a dedicated match gun when you have learned the ropes.

[ManNamedJed]

I just started shooting USPSA this year. I started with a G19. Did I win any matches? No. Was it because of the G19? No - I am new and still getting the basics down. It is more than fine as a starter. I would reccomend getting a 3.5lb connector and doing a .25 trigger polish.

Go and have fun with it. Look at other's guns, try them out if they will let you. If the bug bites, and it likely will, choose which area you want to compete in and buy something that will work well. I ended up going with a Sig 226 and am very happy with it.

I got my wife to try a match last week. I took her to the range beforehand to try out my various pistols. She chose the G19.

[DannyR]

Wake up. Some folks, like myself, shoot the G19 better than other Glocks. I have a G17, G17L (1988 factory ported), G19, G26 and G34 and shoot the G19 best of all. The sight radius is perfect for my old eyes and the grip best fits my hands. Same results with the G24C/G23 and G37/G38.

[ricedw]

Originally posted by Jim Watson
(No point telling me that D. Sevigny could beat me and my best gun with a G19. D. Sevigny isn't asking a bunch of strangers on the internet what to do.)



Sevigny could beat me if he shot a hi-point or Jennings.

[Lefty GLOCK 19]

Thanks for the advice. I'll invest my money into more practice, so if I do get a more competitive gun, I'll know how to use it well.

[Rikki]

I shot my 1st USPSA match a couple of weeks ago- and I used my G-19.
I'm like Danny- the sight radius is very comfortable for my old eyes.
I'm starting to get into that sport a little...I thought about a 34, but I hit everything I shot at with my'19(NOT FAST but hits)...so...I'm buying WWB 100 round Value Packs instead of a new gun...
I also think that I don't know enough about the game yet...I may not want to shoot the class a Glock puts me in forever...So I'm gonna shoot my G-19 for now and see what all I can learn about the "other classes and guns".
It sure is challenging-enjoy what ever you got!

[Hunterjbb]

The G19... i started with the G23 cause it's what i had and it worked well till i got the "itch"..

Use the G19 till you "know" the game or games you want to compete in, then you'll know which path you want to follow.. and you'll make a better decision then just impulse buying a pistol.

Good luck and have fun..that's the hole idea anyway


Jeff.

[ezterra]

Originally posted by Jim Watson
Come on, guys. A G19 is not "competitive" in the sense of helping a normally good shooter win matches. If it were, you would see them on the line.

I see your point, and it's well taken. However, for the average C/D class shooter, the gun will make much less of a difference than proper practice and good fundamentals. Until a shooter has a solid foundation in his/her skillset, the gun will not make that much of a difference. However, once the person is a competent and proficient shooter, say B class or above, that's when the differences in guns will start to play a role in being competitive.

I used to work in a bicycle shop, so I'll use bikes as an analogy. We would often see people buy the full race, $4000, mountain bikes because that's what the pros use, they are super light weight and handle very well. However, when the person buying the bike weighs 200 pounds and has 20% body fat, the bike is not the limiting factor to his ability to compete in races. It's his physical condition. Sure, the $4000 bike will out perform the $1200 bike, but most cyclist are not at that level to realize the full benefits of a full race bike.

Yes, Dave Sevigny will smoke you me and most anyone else with a production Glock 19. However, when he's competing against people like TGO, that longer slight radius might make the difference between A and C zone shots, and for those guys that's the difference between a win or loss.

All that being said, I shoot a G34 in production because one day I will beat Dave Sevigny and I want to practice with what I'm going to beat him with :thumbsup:.

[Jim Watson]

If you are going to quote me, quote me:

Lefty, I suggest you enter your G19 in Production where everything is scored at Minor power factor...
Have a good time and think about a dedicated match gun when you have learned the ropes.

There are two opposing schools of thought in starting competitive shooting. One is "I gotta have the best." and the other is "Any old thing will do." Both are wrong.

[ezterra]

I didn't quote you on that last paragraph you wrote because I totally agree with you on it. I just didn't quite see eye to eye with you on the part I quoted you on. All I'm trying to get across is that it's easy to go out and start buying all the cool "race gun" type of stuff, but if you're a C/D class shooter, that money would probably be better of spent attending classes, buying a timer, targets and stands, and buying ammo to practice.

[rhino465]

One potential advantage of a G19 over a G34 is that the slide probably cycles faster. Probably not a big deal, but it's something.

BTW ... barrel length (as long as its long enough to stablize the bullet) does not affect inherent accuracy in pistols. Sight radius makes a difference in how well you can shoot it, but there is no reason why a G34 would be inherently more accurate than a G19 or even a G26.

[Lefty GLOCK 19]

Thanks for all the responses.
Mainly I was worried about classification; I didn't want to find out that my A shots were worth half of somebody else's shot, because I used a 9mm, and he used a .40 or .38super or something. If everything is minor in production, then I guess it doesn't hurt me much (other than the shorter sight radius).

I am curious why "production" limits us to 10-rd mags. Is that a left-over from the dark days of the AWB?

[Jim Watson]

Yes. Production and Limited - 10 were USPSA's nod to the AWB.

IPSC rules don't have a capacity limit in Production and they don't care about L-10. Most foreign lands besides Canada, if you can get permission to buy a pistol, they don't much care how many it holds.

[shootingbuff]

I am like Danny R in this. I shoot the compacts better than the full size guns and I actually dislike the P/Ts.

Shoot what you have and after you have a few matches and your skills are up if then you think you need a new pistol get one. Don't worry about it until then.

Improving skills should be the concern along with having fun.

sb

[kyjack45]

I have shot with Dave Sevigny at the 2005 Single Stack Classic. Although he shot his .45 ACP 1911 well, he shoots a Glock better. If you already shoot a Glock well you would shoot USPSA better with your Glock. I recommend shooting the same type of gun for six months or a year, and expect to take two to three months to get used to a 1911 or double-column equivalent after switching from a Glock.
Major power instead of minor will on the average 5% higher score (assuming half As and half B, C, or D), but will cost 30-60% more on ammo or reloading components.

[Ian]

I would love to shoot my Glock that I carry all day every day, a production 19, purchased with 15 round mags, but I would have to shoot in limited :shocked:

[luxone]

Originally posted by Ian
I would love to shoot my Glock that I carry all day every day, a production 19, purchased with 15 round mags, but I would have to shoot in limited :shocked:


Actually you wouldn't have to shoot limited. If you only load 10 rounds in your 15 round mags you could shoot production.

[Ruffshot]

I think the G19 is capable of being competitive in the right hands. If that is what you have to get you in the game then use it. Only a small number of people shoot anywhere near the full potential of their gun. Of those people they all have one thing in common. They all practice a lot. And it is quality practice. Any of them could pick up almost any gun and do well. As a relatively new IPSC shooter I can tell you that having fun is the most important thing. Also remember that you shoot against the people in your division and class, not against the GM class shooter with the full race gun. Take your G19 and WWB and have some fun.

[Ian]

Actually you wouldn't have to shoot limited. If you only load 10 rounds in your 15 round mags you could shoot production.

Thanks, my wife and I do shoot production, and with a 34 mostly.
But the point that I wanted to make is that I should be able to shoot the handgun that I purchased for duty/carry with the magazines that came with the gun, in production.
Thanks to Bill Clinton, I can't. So it's either, everytime you move, reload. Or shoot in limited.
Trying to load 10 rounds in a 14 magazines is a real pain, and totally unrealistic.

[Rikki]

I sure don't want to disagree with you, and I see your point, but I'm shooting my G-19 in production with 10 rounders.
One of the things I never understood in a class I took was that the instructor said to NEVER practice with your "CARRY" mags...
He said to check them for function, but NOT to practice with them.
OK, that said, I got a bunch of 10 rounders and I'm using them for USPSA...I know, they are just 10 rounders, but I save my std cps for carry, and let the 10 rders get dropped in the mud, gravel, and occassionally stepped on...
I like using the 10 rders because it forces me to reload under the clock and it's a level playing field.
NASCAR has restrictor plate, we got 10 rders????
It's all good.

[rivvy7071]

I have been shooting for over 40 years. 16+ in USPSA. I have had practically every Glock,1911 and misc other pistols. I have done very well with 1911's, and fair with Glocks. You need to stay with one gun for a year or more. I currently am using a 19 in Production. I have used a tricked out 35 with Match barrel, Heinie sights, brass mag well etc. The 19 for me now (at 57 yrs old) is actually much easier to shoot faster and accurately. A 35 has a large heavier slide. This heavier mass has more recoil than the lighter, shorter 19. More important is the transition from target to target. The 19 is quicker to bring about. Accuracy?? Realistically, how many targets in any USPSA match are beyond 50 to 75 feet? I have reloaded for 16+ yrs as well. My recipe for the 19 is incredibly accurate. Find a load that shoots dead-on at 50 to 75 feet. Stay with that load and practice. The 19 is a great gun. Shoot straight, be safe and have fun!

[shootingbuff]

Originally posted by rivvy7071
I have been shooting for over 40 years. 16+ in USPSA. I have had practically every Glock,1911 and misc other pistols. I have done very well with 1911's, and fair with Glocks. You need to stay with one gun for a year or more. I currently am using a 19 in Production. I have used a tricked out 35 with Match barrel, Heinie sights, brass mag well etc. The 19 for me now (at 57 yrs old) is actually much easier to shoot faster and accurately. A 35 has a large heavier slide. This heavier mass has more recoil than the lighter, shorter 19. More important is the transition from target to target. The 19 is quicker to bring about. Accuracy?? Realistically, how many targets in any USPSA match are beyond 50 to 75 feet? I have reloaded for 16+ yrs as well. My recipe for the 19 is incredibly accurate. Find a load that shoots dead-on at 50 to 75 feet. Stay with that load and practice. The 19 is a great gun. Shoot straight, be safe and have fun!

Going and giving my secrets away - dang. Now I wont get that deal on that second 19 I have in the works ;-) or have an advantage when all those P/T folks turn in their alleged crutch for 19s.

sb