IDPA preferences

Good sights, at least 3 mags, a quality holster, safety glasses and ear plugs/muffs.

Plenty of ammo. and around $20 for entry fee.

Really, that is all you need to get started. You will find out what else you want to have when you shoot a match or two.

 

Make sure to check the weight of it. Sometimes the Railed guns can get you into weight issues with CDP and ESP.

Otherwise Ditto_95 has it covered.

 

SSP= stock service guns. G17/34, M&P, XDM. Division is ruled by 9mm as well as ESP, but for the most part the gun needs to be stock
ESP= trick your SSP gun out. lightened trigger, magwell as long as it fits in the box, basically w/e you want within the limits of the rulebook
CDP=.45's! It can be a 1911 or G21,M&P45,etc

My best advice for getting into competition is "buy yourself a Glock". Im shooting a Wilson CQB in CDP/Single Stack right now. Next year, I know for sure 1911's will not be used in my rotation because Glock's and M&P's are simply faster! The big advantage comes during the reload. If you are more worried about having fun while shooting a 1911, then by all means, go with the Sig or anything else! Id also recommend you take a hard look at STI's lineup before you purchase anything from Sig Sauer, but if you want to be the most competitive, I think the G21 and M&P are going to be the 2 fastest guns in CDP.

 

@rsx22.
I believe your totally wrong in your estimations conserning the 1911 in CDP. 1911's have won more than anything else in all type of action shooting, and that won't change anytime soon. IDPA is an accuracy game all the way, and nothing in CDP can beat the triggerpull of a 1911.
Round count stays the same in CDP, unless something has changed, and I can't see how other guns can't beat reloading time....
Don't get me wrong, just trying to see where you're comming from???
CDP Master
SSP master
SSR master
ESR master
IDPA # A00003

 

These guy's seem to have everything covered. I will offer one additional piece of advice I found helpful. I use electronic hearing protection at IDPA matches so I can hear the safety officers commands, who's on deck and who's in the hole.

When I hear "cover - cover" and get a procedural, the electronic hearing protection blares those words like when I attended rock concerts in the late sixties :mad2:

 

gajones06 , either way you look at it , these matches are alot of fun ! The guys that shoot them are even better than you might think .

When I started a few years ago , they knew that I was new at it and one by one , they would pull me aside and offer really constructive advise and

boy was it worth it ! Just go with an open mind , eyes and ears ! My first gun was a Sig 220 and I had a blast!! Just my 2 cents !

 

I've shot CDP with everything from a box-stock Colt ORM 1991A1 to a Les Baer PII. Occasionally a Commander or Springfield Champion to stir things up a bit. I plan on shooting ESP exclusively next year with a Springfield Loaded 9mm.

 

Just a quick correction, XDs and XDms are in ESP not SSP. This is from Springfield importing/calling them single action for the BATFE and IDPA takes that designation. Since it's isn't DA or Glock's safe action, it can't be used in SSP.

 

Right, and don't forget to insert an empty mag before weighing.

CDP is 41ozs
ESP is 43 ozs.

You can run a 45ACP in both.

Another thing that you should do is read the rule book.

http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf

 

Essentials for me on a competition level 1911 is decent sights, extended mag button with lighter spring (just don't put a paddle style button, which isn't allowed), and a big mag well. My preferred is the Infinity, but they are expensive and take some fitting. Dawson and Tech Ware make big mag wells as well.

Here is a comparison.
Old School S&A, Dawson Ice, Infinity / SV, and a wide body STI with EGW magwell.


I'll have to take an updated pic with the Tech Ware I have on my Les Baer.

With the more modern mag wells, a 1911 reload can be just as fast, if not faster.

If you're running a single stack .45, don't bother with ESP. Not only are you dealing with more recoil, but you are limiting yourself to 8+1 instead of 10+1. You can't used extended mags, so you can't run the 10 round .45 mags.

 

It's not uncommen that folks shoot ESP first at local matches, in order to warm up, and then use that same gun for CDP for shooting their "main" event. Local clubs usually charge either $5 or 10 for re-entries. Also, that way you get to shoot some more after f.ie. 100 miles of getting there. maximizing the trip you maid say...

 

Agree it's a great way to put rounds down range. Most clubs I know make you shoot the "for the match" gun first, to not give a competitive advantage. If you really want to re-shoot, get a GLOCK 21. Not aren't you giving up rounds in ESP, but you can shoot SSP too!! Three divisions, one gun. :tongue: