DA/SA first shot

H

hilblly

New member
Hi All
Another question from a newbie
I will not be shooting any competition for a couple of months.
My question is this: the pistol I will be starting with is a DA/SA with a de-cock and a safety lever.
Can I cock and apply safety then holster so all trigger pulls will be consistent or does my first shot following draw have to be from the de-cock position?
Hopefully the question is clear!!!
I am not sure exactly what Organization of the three I will be shooting in yet.
I will likely be moving before starting in competition.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies
 
It depends specifically on which division in which organization, and which pistol you'll be shooting; clear as mud, huh? For something like IPSC/USPSA, the general rule is that you'll start decocked (as long as the pistol is on the approved list for Production to begin with), but some stages start with an empty pistol, so loading the pistol after the buzzer goes will leave you with a ready-to-go SA trigger in some designs.
 
uspsa rules

I was just on the USPSA website looking at rules.
It appeared that the pistol(which mine has a de-cock/safety lever) could be in either position. Fully cocked and the safety lever on(lever up on my pistol) or
De-cocked in which case I would the heavier 1st shot trigger pull, which I was hoping to avoid.
Yeah, clear as mud!!!!!
 
Another addendum

At least IDPA makes it clear!!
SSP Hammer down on selective da/sa pistols
ESP Either Cocked and locked or hammer down
CDP same as ESP
Whew, plenty of research to do prior to competing!!!
 
Is the make and model of your pistol a secret?

There are several operating systems and lever placements that can affect your starting condition. Along with the rules, of course.

I might guess you have a Taurus or H&K, there aren't many guns with a combination decocking lever for DA start + safety catch for SA start.

If you shoot USPSA Production, you must start decocked and haul through the DA first shot.
 
No Secret

No secret at all on the make and model
FNH FNX-40
I noticed the rule in Production on USPSA
I can't find anything on Limited or Limited 10
Mike
 
Limited and L10 allow cocked and locked start.
And with a .40 you can load and score Major which you may not do in Production.

Unless you can get a 140mm magazine for the FN, I think you would be better off in L10.
 
That's good to know.
I may be working in Hawaii for a bit and they seem to be an IPSC state
Production has to be decocked
Standard and Classic are not really too clear.
The mud puddle is starting to clear!!!!!!
I will be loading down the 40 for Production as there is no benefit to shooting major loads
 
If I enjoy the competition shooting and want to stay with it I will be researching a different gun. I have already been looking at "safe action" guns. Not going to buy anything until I have shot enough matches to know what I want.
 
USPSA and IPSC are not the same thing.
I am not familiar with current IPSC rules because I thought there was very little true IPSC shot in the USA. If they run IPSC in Hawaii, you need to study up. I see that USPSA lists clubs in Hawaii, but some of their own material differs.

A quick scan of IPSC rules shows that Classic is like USPSA Single Stack and is built around the 1911. Your FN would not qualify.

IPSC Standard is similar to USPSA Limited. The main difference I see is that your gun must fit The Box, magazine included, whereas for Limited you can have a somewhat extended 140mm mag.
 
Yes, but my thinking was that a purpose built USPSA Limited gun on a STI frame as many are, will accept a 140mm STI magazine holding 18 rounds. The difference will cost you an occasional extra reload or a reload at a less advantageous point. The difference is small and should probably not affect your choice at the entry level with a stock pistol. And you won't have to buy or carry as many magazines as you would for L10.
 
If you have never competed with a pistol before the main thing to do is take the gun you have & get started. It takes a season to get used to how things are done and to see what pistol you would be better off shooting. VERY FEW shooters with no experience are competitive in the first year anyway. Don't worry about the score just have fun & learn your way around.
 
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