What type competition are you considering.

There are different competative systems in use around the country that typicaly have class structures which provide for different hardware to be used.

Our local club holds IPSC/USPSA shoots which allow the XDM. Magazine capacity and sighting system can dictate which "Class" you would compete in but you would certainly be welcome to compete.

We have one participant that has been competing since 9 or 10 years old. He's damn good also and kicks this old guy's backside regularly.

Use your computer search and review USPSA and or IDPA responses.

There is a lot out there for those interested.

Have fun while you are at it.

PS: I use the M&P40 but 2 years back used an XD40. Either is a good machine.

Thanks for your reply TOF. That's nice to know. I'm just want to shoot in the competition that doesn't require optics and you can use your stock handgun. My goal is really to get my daughters interested, which won't be too hard.

The other question I have is what shooting method does a left eye dominant right handed shooter typically use with a handgun? Right now I close my left eye. I can shoot a rifle with either hand, but I don't think I could ever become proficiant shooting a handgun left handed.

I'm afraid the answer is going to be "find a new sport"!

Thanks again

I would be interested in this answer as well. My wife is left handed right eye dominant and my daughter is left eye dominant and right handed.

Both my son and I are right and right.

I don't have an answer to the left eye right hand problem but thought I would add a comment regarding guns for the girls.

They should be quite capable of handling a 9MM. Hand size will have a lot to do with which gun is comfortable and works well for them.

What caliber will your XDM be? They can probably handle it with it's small grip.

The M&P will probably fit them quite well also as it is adjustable for grip size also.

You need to let them try (rent) some to zero in on what is best suited.

A key element is what Type of Competition is available in your area. Idealy something that uses a .22 rimfire for their introduction to shooting.

You might start with a formal lesson or 2 possibly where the teacher provides the gun.

I am not familiar with your Beretta 9000S .40 but it is possibly usable in competition which could relieve the need for the XDM. I would want a new gun myself so don't take that comment wrong.

Good luck and keep us up to date on what you decide.

Originally Posted by Xcane

...

The other question I have is what shooting method does a left eye dominant right handed shooter typically use with a handgun? Right now I close my left eye. I can shoot a rifle with either hand, but I don't think I could ever become proficiant shooting a handgun left handed.

I'm afraid the answer is going to be "find a new sport"!

Thanks again

I shoot handguns right-handed with a strong left-eye dominance, and usually just tilt my head slightly to align the left eye with the sights; it works very well for me. I also practice shooting with the other eye, for the same reason I practice shooting with the weak hand; you never know what Life might decide to throw at you.

Here are a few other threads on the subject:

stance

Eye Dominance???


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I shoot an XDM9 right out of the box in USPSA Limited division simply because you can use a full mag. Production division limits you to 10 rounds in the mag.

as far as left eye dominant righty... i was always trained to shoot with either your dominant eye open, or both eyes open... I have seen some people at the range where it really helps them, and i've seen some where it didnt make a difference

Bunch of different questions here...

1) for cross dominant eye. No need to get all contortionist or bend parts of your body at weird angles. The answer is just move the gun over a bit so it lines up with the dominant eye. This becomes easy if you are in a neutral stance such as a modified isocoles or similar. You only have to get funky if shooting in a weird stance, even in a modern weaver (aka chapman) this is pretty simple.
2) for the young ones. Standard advise of what feels good to them. First take them shooting a few times, got to know how to shoot and safety rules first. Maybe let them watch an idpa/ipsc match and ask if they'd like to try before going out and outfitting them. For adolescents i will add that anything with an interchangeable grip or backstrap is a big plus!
3)xd(m) can fit into production in IPSC or limited to use the full 19 round mag (and being in limited allows more modifications to the gun), or if you want to use it as a base to build an open gun with optics and compensator then it will work too.
For IDPA the whole XD family falls into Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) because it is a single action gun. You will compete against other ESP (50% wil be xd's anyway) guns like 9mm 19911's and Hi-Powers. SSP (Stock Service Pistol) would be for Double Action guns like glocks, rugers, M&P's, Steyrs, etc.
If you like the baretta and shoot it well then by all means take it to a couple of matches and see if you like it!!
4)IDPA requires shooter be 12 years old and they must be accompanied by an adult/guardian (who doesn't have to be shooting) until 18.

And i will add...
The biggest thing to getting started is getting started. The people there will be able to answer all questions and SHOW you better than we can type it to you. Heck my first match i bought a cheap $20 nylon holster and took the gun i had and went out to shoot idpa (i emailed the club to ask if i could watch and they responded it would be better if i just brought a gun and participated). I didn't know what a cover garment was, and someone loaned me a vest. I had never even drawn from a holster!

The difference between idpa and ipsc to me is locally ipsc shoots on saturdays and idpa shoots on sundays!
I did however use this analogy to a fellow martial artist once..."shooting on a static range at 1 target is like punching the bag, good repetitive practice at the fundamentals. IPSC is like point sparring, you can do things you wouldn't in real life to get points and win. IDPA is like full contact sparring, you learn to do a few things better but there are still plenty of rules (mostly for safety or to keep the playing field evenish); but none of them is "for real" and they are both competition. They will all make you better though"