Best products from r/CompetitionShooting

For videos, 3GM provides a solid overview of the fundamentals. You get to see three top GMs: Saul Kirch (Open), Max Michel Jr. (Limited) and Angus Hobdell (Production) explain and demonstrate grip, stance, trigger control, and the like. 3GM-2 gets into more advanced technique like barricades, SHO/WHO, shooting on the the move. The Matt Burkett videos are also pretty good, but I prefer the 3GM series.

Sadly, none of these videos explain the importance of gripping the shit out of the pistol with your support hand.

Book wise, I'd get the BS combo pack. Practical Pistol covers technique in detail while the other two books explain live- and dry-fire practice. His video does a good job closing the feedback loop between dry-fire, live-fire, and matches. Ben is to be commended for laying out a good skill development process—do X, Y, and Z and you'll get better. I don't think he hits on the importance of missing enough.

All this covers shooting skills, but none of this covers competition, which is a completely different thing. The closest thing today is With Winning in Mind. I'm trying to convince a buddy of mine that he needs to write this book…

I'd suggest you re-asses your priorities.

You are just starting out in competition. That's great! You're going to have a lot of fun!

However, you'll be shooting against folks who've been playing this game for a while. You're not going to come in, sweep the field, and come home with a first place trophy, a new car, and a magnum of champagne.

If you aren't shooting to win, that means you need a different set of goals. Here's your 3 goals for the first few matches you shoot:

1. Be safe.
   
   
2. Enjoy the match.
   
   
3. Don't get disqualified.
   
   That's it. Until you get used to the range commands, safety procedures, engagement order, reload with retention, emergency reload, blah blah blah, those 3 things are more important than your score, or even your hits. You need to get good at the game before you can become competitive, and there's no substitute for experience.
   
   What this means is your firearm choice doesn't matter. You can go out there with a $100 meme high-point and achieve your inaugural goals just as well as you could with a $6000 custom Ajax 2011. So take your G43 out.
   
   Get a kydex holster and 2-4 mag holsters from Amazon today. It's $40 and you'll have them in plenty of time for this weekend. Feel free to go fancy and get better gear, but that $40 I linked will get you started.
   
   Now that you have a line on the gear you need, no excuses, get out there this weekend. But the only IDPA match is 100 miles away? Drive. You haven't taken the safety class yet? That's your task this weekend. The only safety class is 100 miles away? You know what to do. No excuses.
   
   For bonus points, you'll be shooting in the BUG (back-up gun) division. You'll be competing against others with low capacity compacts. You don't have to worry about how those custom 2011 shooters are doing, because they are in a different division. You might be pleasantly surprised at how you place in your division with your 43... but don't expect champagne or a trophy.
   
   There you go, you've got your marching orders. Order your gear today, get signed up for a match and/or a safety class for this weekend, and then study. Here's your study material:
   
   http://richmondhotshots.com/docs/IDPA%20New%20Shooter%20Info.pdf

I was in the same exact boat as you a few weeks ago.... Wanting to get into USPSA but not break the bank.

I just picked up an Uncle Mike's competition belt and three off-brand mag holders from Amazon for about 50 bucks shipped (prime for the win). Haven't given it all a range test yet, but it all works great in my living room. Very happy w/ the quality.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RYMDLK8/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_ppljzbRZ4BCTA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X981ZDY/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_8pljzbA9B4P7T

Well. Lets start on gear.

Gun - something basic to learn with.
Glock 17 - $499, lets call it $550 with transfer and shipping. These can also be gamed out with trigger kits and slides and barrels and titanium sex aides.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_43/products_id/13704/Glock+G17+G3+17%2B1+9mm+4.48%22

Mags - Going to want to get 4 extra of these to shoot production.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/930445055/glock-magazine-gen-4-glock-17-34-9mm-luger-polymer-black


Holster - No point in buying a holster twice.

Very good production holster. Can remove the drop for IDPA.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1387193018/blade-tech-doh-dropped-and-offset-belt-holster-glock-17-22-31-asr-loop-kydex-black

Mag Pouches - Basic but can be upgraded. 5 of these

http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4116.php

Eye / Hearing Protection - Basic, wear earplugs + these when shooting indoors. The linked page has decent eye protection recommended at the bottom.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687702&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001E8PPM0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RVZCWMEQWMC71GH34YG

Belt/Clothing - Shoot what you have or buy what you will eventually want.

http://www.crspeed.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SUPERHITORQUEBELT

(FOR IDPA, PICK ONE) http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=idpa+vest&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=40067038687&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13085732033880745886&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1ckj1d00h9_b


Now, for where to start.

Find a local club google something along the lines of USPSA (city name). Or use the USPSA's tool.

http://www.uspsa.org/locate-uspsa-clubs.php

You didn't mention your shooting experience, but if you have never shot a pistol before don't go expecting to shoot your first time. Your going to need to learn to shoot safely and relatively accurately first. Your also going to want to spend some time dry firing (practicing with your pistol and gear with no ammo) before going to shoot a match. People at a match are very friendly with rookies and would be happy to help, buy you are expected to have a solid understanding of your pistol and be able to shoot somewhat accurately.

Like mentioned earlier, if you can find steel challenge in your area, start there. No movement and you can get some practice drawing and shooting under time constraints.

Once you get really good and start winning, do not expect any payoffs 0.001 percent of shooters can make a career out of this.

Respond to my post if you have any questions and I can try to answer.

I'd say neither.

1. You should give your iPhone to someone else and get third person video of you. First person video shows you your targets, where third person video shows you what you were actually doing. Third person video is much more useful for improving.
   
   
2. If you do want to compliment your third person video with a first person perspective (which I do, so no shame there), the Mobius Action Camera is probably the best value, dollar for dollar, out there. It's not fantastic audio quality or fantastic video either, but it's good. Example.

I have one of these For Uspsa. I keep my ammo loose in a drawstring sack, and reload after I've completed a stage. If the place you're going is nice, you probably won't ever shoot first on a stage, use the time before your run to watch what others are doing, when they reload and how they approach the stage.

If you're playing IDPA you won't get as many options as far as how you actually run the stage but if you play uspsa it's super open, so strategizing about how to run the stage and executing it as planned are huge parts of the game.

I’m new to game shooting and picked up a Blade Tech Signature with the Tek-Lok attachment point. I’ve only used it once, but liked it a lot.

Blade-Tech Industries Signature Series OWB Holster Glock 34/35 Right Hand with Tek-Lok Attachment, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FJ4UGA0/

Wolf Tactical Rigger's Belt. Low cost at $20, I originally bought it to use for my work belt. The 2-ply nylon is nice and stiff for hanging a radio and other equipment off of it. Used to swap it out between work and shooting, but was so happy with it that I bought a second one to use exclusively for shooting. Velcro closure works great (or you can thread it through the more secure buckle). Just a cheaper way to get the same practicality of the more expensive belts.

I found out about them from one of my Brothers friends who wears one in Winter to keep cool/cold air off his neck and wears it cold/wet in the summer.. He is folically challenged which is why I think he started to wear it in summer...

Back to me... I used to wear a coolibar protective sun drape... I would wear it loose to let air flow. It was very good at keeping me from getting sun burned but I would have to take it off every 30 minutes or so (and get into the shade) or I would get too hot.

I was at a surplus store in town looking for some knee pads this last spring (was already well over 100F here by then) and I saw the shemagh. I figured, what the heck, and bought it....

I threw it in my cooler with my 5 liters of frozen water bottles and 1/2 gallon of water in the bottom of the cooler. I would just wring out the shemagh, and wear it over my head and wrap it around my neck. OMG did it make a difference. Even though the shemagh never had a chance to get cold when I re-wet it (I would do it between each stage) it still worked well... Now I bring 2 of them so one is always in the cooler, getting cold/wet. I can swap them must faster now too... I change how I'm wearing them depending on the direction of the sun but most times it is at least over my head AND around my neck... Around my neck alone leads to a sunburned face...

I don't wear it over my mouth when wet though.. I don't want to waterboard myself.... I have worn it that way dry when I was 4 wheeling in the desert with blowing wind... It was much nicer having that on blocking the sand from my face/mouth/nose. It didn't do much to keep me cool, but it didn't make me hotter either..

Hopefully all that rambling answers your questions...

oh yea, I'm not one of those tactical people.... I more or less stand out at matches... I wear bright green Salomon speedcross shoes and even my shemaghs (primary ones) are green... Not exactly a tactical look...

You need a pistol, a belt holster that covers the trigger guard and a belt (which you already have). Mag pouches are nice to have, but your rear jeans pocket will work also (at least for the first match). Decent functional gear is fine; you don't need to have "the best" gear to start out with.

I started with a 5.11 belt, a Blackhawk holster, and a Fobus double paddle pouch ($25). You can use the SERPA version or non-SERPA version of their holster (some ranges don't allow SERPAs to be used).

It wasn't the gear that was holding me back.

Upgrades never hurt. I just have seen so many people get equipment tunnel vision so I harp on it. Sounds like you have your priorties straight. If you have extra cash buy this
https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Fire-Training-Practical-Pistol-Shooter/dp/1497319633/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1524539065&sr=8-2&keywords=ben+stoeger+dry+fire

It's cheap, and if you stick with it you will improve.

I have this belt, and it has held up fine for over a year. Any similar belt will work just fine and be comfortable for USPSA and 3 gun. I use it for both.

However, these belts would not be ideal for a handgun/carbine class. Not that it wouldn't work, but you would want more of an operator belt for that situation, like the ronin tactics, t-rex arms, crye, etc.

USPSA competitions are quite different from carbine classes. USPSA belts tend to be more bulky because you want speed, operator belts tend to be a bit slimmer when it comes to mag pouces, etc, to keep you more agile. The competition belts will work fine, but you will quickly realize you need the right tool for the right job.

Curious at how are your thumbs getting hurt? Without knowing that I'm not sure what type of glove would help you or if it would be better to just change your technique. That said just to throw one out there I know a couple people who use these gloves for other types of work and like them. Supposedly work well so long as you aren't dealing with grease or oil.

They're $21 but I use and love these.
https://www.amazon.com/Safariland-773-Competition-Magazine-Laminate/dp/B003YD0I7A/

Another user on here recommended these - $25 for 3 pouches. He said they were a knockoff of more expensive gear, but I have zero experience with them. You might want to give them a shot!

https://smile.amazon.com/Tactical-Magazine-Multi-angle-Holster-Competition/dp/B06XY38WX4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1503721393&sr=8-3&keywords=pistol+mag+pouch+competition

https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Fire-Training-Practical-Pistol-Shooter/dp/1497319633

These? I'll probably try them out. Loglife Tactical Magazine Pouch Pistol Bag Multi-angle Speed Molle Holster Mag Pouch For IPSC USPSA IDPA Competition 1.5'' belt (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XY38WX4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6ai0Bb8HJ6NYS