first USPSA Limited match

[newageroman]

I just did my first USPSA limited match this pas Saturday. I should have been doing this stuff 10 years ago, so much fun. I was going slow and safe. I had a couple of errors (shooting outside the box and failure to engage). My sights were off and causing me to shoot about a foot low, but I have that fixed now.

It was a lot of fun, great folks. The BEST piece of equipment I brought was a pair of mud boots. I really like the DAA belt and BOSS hanger/bladetech holster. The race master mags are also very well designed. Took a while to get them adjusted right with the inserts and such...

I'm running an old beat up 75B-SAO conversion with CGW parts. I had a couple failures to extract, besides that the gun ran great. I've had some intermittent extraction issues before, but replaced the extractor, so I'm kind of stumped. I did put the production hammerspring back in to ensure proper primer ignition. I was having light primer strikes on CCI Winchester and Fiocchi primers with the Black 11.5 hammerspring.

I just put the white 8.5# hammerspring back in and the trigger is awesome! I am working up loads and trying federal primers with the white spring.

Looking forward to 3 gun next month!
The one thing that I did notice that even the more seasoned competitors with specialized guns did have some misses and malfunctions.

[2morechains]

Fun ain?t it?  I started shooting USPSA 10 years ago and also wish I started earlier in life. 

Reliability is paramount in this game.  You can?t throw down a good score if constantly messing around with your gear or ammo. The guns I shoot in this game are mainly custom or customized factory guns. Some of them do take some wringing out to get them to run reliably but it is worth it IMO. Occaisionally I?ll shoot one of my EDC carry guns that is pretty close to stock, and the difference between those guns and my comp guns is pretty pronounced.   

I also like the BOSS Hanger.  Over the years I?ve experimented with different holster systems or attachments, but think they hit a winner with the BOSS.  It keeps the gun at the correct legal distance from the inner belt, its solid, and allows the user to establish a good grip on the draw.  I use it on my 3-gun belt as well. 

I used to shoot a SP-01 Shadow from CZC in Production division.  I had no issues using a 11.5 lb hammer spring when paired with the extended firing pin and reduced firing pin spring.  The 11.5 reliably ignited all my reloads using CCI or S&B primers, but you did have to make sure the primers were fully seated. 

[MoRivera]

I'm just getting into USPSA and plan to shoot some limited with my Shadow 2 that I converted to SAO, and a Tactical Sport Blue.  Both in 9mm.

I have a question......if you're not really concerned with how you rank nationally or what have you and just want to shoot well and have fun, does one really need to step up to major power factor in Limited?  Will they look down upon you or something?  I just don't want to get a whole other gun just for that, as I really want to compete with my SAO 9mm guns (I can also shoot my Baer 1911 in .45 for Single Stack), and I want to do well, but I don't want to disrespect the competition etc. by sticking with minor.  Thanks for any advice.

[IronicTwitch]

Stick with Limited minor, 9mm SAO CZ's are a blast.  I'd still like a SP-01 or Shadow 2 with a SA trigger just for fun...be a solid, reliable gun that easy to shoot to lend to any friends that just want to try a USPSA match too.

[MoRivera]

Stick with Limited minor, 9mm SAO CZ's are a blast.  I'd still like a SP-01 or Shadow 2 with a SA trigger just for fun...be a solid, reliable gun that easy to shoot to lend to any friends that just want to try a USPSA match too.

Cool.  My Shadow 2 in SAO rocks!  Have used it for some local steel/knockdown and it's a machine for that.  Handles better out of there draw than I thought it would, that's why I want to shoot it in USPSA Limited.  I also shoot a Sig P226 Legion SAO in IDPA ESP, so there's that too, but for USPSA which doesn't have the weight limit of IDPA, I want to shoot the S2 and TSB.

[2morechains]

I normally shoot Limited in major PF, but the last month of so I?ve been playing around with shooting my 2011 9mm for fun.  Its not a disrepect to the sport, tho some people might wonder why you?re doing it due to the lower points associated with minor.  But if you shoot a pretty high percentage of As, and do it just as fast if not faster then its a wash.  Especially on stages with a lot of steel.   

In 2017 before CZ was able to show they?ve produced enough Shadow 2s to be certified legal for Production Division, there were a bunch of early converts, including at least one CZ Team member that was shooting his S2 in L-10 division (minor).  I believe he won at least one Area Championship in L10 doing that. 

The important thing is you?re shooting. 

[MoRivera]

As long as they don't think I'm being a girly-man! 

[sdlrodeo]

Nah, As are 5pts in both major or minor, which is what you should be aiming for anyway. Plus with a 24 round start (9mm in a 140mm mag) instead of 21 for .40 you may have a better spot to reload. That and less recoil management are all benefits. Still gotta be fast and accurate in both. If you got it, run it!

[Pmills]

There?s a guy at my club who shot single stack minor , minor didn?t handicap him, he was a master level shooter shooting minor, just go fast and get the ?a?s?

[1SOW]

That 8.5# hammer spring with FED primers makes for a great DA/SA trigger pull.  It took a little while for me to adjust to that  light trigger,  but now it feels totally natural.  With a good trigger job, the reset provides a good 'feel' even for an old guy. 
I haven't used anything but FED primers for many years.  I see no reason to change.  The only proviso is to make sure you stock up in times of plenty,  so you can ride out times of shortages.  I've never run out through 3 primer shortages.  I did come close "once".

[newageroman]

yeah buddy! I haven't had one light primer in a while now. I have my trigger set like a 2 stage, I like feeling the take up and knowing when I'm on the wall. I might pin the sear as I saw in a recent thread as there is just a hint of safety movement when the hammer drops. A friend of mine who called czs trash was amazed at the trigger this weekend at the range. He couldn't wait to give me grip advise after seeing me draw from the race holster - meanwhile the two rifles he brought lay on the table in-operable condition...

I have a small stockpile of fed primers. They were sparse last fall when I started reloading 9 and now I see them everywhere. I'm gonna miss this months USPSA match but will be shooting the cz and Ruger PCC in a steel match *with the same ammo*! which really makes me smile.

To get the month off to a good start, I'll be running the D day memorial match in 'dega with the m1 carbine. I'm glad to be done with reloading those!

[oldfrank]

I have never shot USPSA. With all the other matches I shot and being match director for an indoor match two nights a month and shooting an indoor carbine match two nights a month, my shooting calendar was full.

The indoor range closed so four nights of matches a month are gone for now. I still shoot two IDPA and one revolver match each month along with my GADPA (IDPA/USPSA Mix) but I am looking for a little more shooting.

Reading the rule book online, I am thinking of shooting Production with my P-09 or 75BD. Both DA pulls are light enough and smooth enough not to hurt on the first shot.
I have been shooting a local outdoor carbine match and they use USPSA rules and targets so I am a little used to working in the boundary lines and such so I may give it a try just using what equipment I have now and see how it goes.

[MoRivera]

I have been shooting a Shadow 1 recently in a few IDPA matches, was planning on maybe shooting it for Production in USPSA.  The last couple of matches I shot it really well (for me, anyway).  The light/smooth DA pull was not a problem as long as it wasn't a quick-draw first shot (which there was on my first IDPA outing with the Shadow 1), but even that can be worked on.

I also recently did some fitting with a new Shadow 2 disconnector from CGW, and I think I have the Shadow 2 down to where I'm good with both the DA/SA pull and length/positioning.  So I might shoot the Shadow 2 as it was intended in DA/SA for production instead of Limited minor.  I was doing okay with it that way, but still those points down in minor were making a dent.  My SAO Shadow long-slide in .40 may be what I shoot exclusively for Limited fro here on in if I like the S2 back in DA/SA.

[muncie21]

OP good to hear that you tried out USPSA matches; better 10 years later than never.  I like others, wish I had started competing in this sport sooner than I did.  Not only is it a fun sport, what you learn about firearms, strategy and reloading are valuable for other more  practical parts of life