What pistols do the "Winners" use in competitions?

they not only use their sponsor's guns, they don't resemble anything you can buy. They are all extensivily customized. Go to a big match and check them out. Most will let you look and sometimes even shoot the gun if they are on a practice range. To buy a gun of this caliber (no pun intended) expect to pay between two and three grand for an unlimited gun. Extra mags just add to the price.
 
NoSecondBest's answer applies to USPSA/IPSC competition where $$$ make the difference in the Open Division where the guns appear to look like space guns. In IDPA, modifications to the pistols are severely limited in all divisions. You can go to the IDPA website which will list the modifications which can be made.
 
Most shoot highly customized 1911 format pistols.

In limited class guns you will see quite a few CZ SP01s and some Smith M&P pistols (because they are a big sponsor). A couple of shooters do well with Glock pistols, mostly shooting Glock 34s.
 
I believe it is Rob Leatham who has several guns pictured on his web site. They are highly customized versions and no doubt cost a lot of cash to build.
 
A lot of middling shooters are using the same guns as the winners. Anyone can have Springfield's Custom Shop build them a gun just like Robbie's. There should be no illusion that the top shooters wouldn't win if they didn't have the guns that they're using. They are quite literally hired guns.
 
There should be no illusion that the top shooters wouldn't win if they didn't have the guns that they're using.
Click to expand...

I felt that REALLY needed to be repeated! Some don't realize the amount of skill and work that go into being a top shooter!
 
true story

I just sold a basically stock SA 40 S&W-chambered 1911 to one world champ (sponsored by a DIFFERENT factory) so he can beat RL at the SS Nationals.



1911s, EAA Witnesses, Glocks of every flavor, S&W M&Ps, Springfield XDs, Berettas, CZs, HKs, SIGs, you'll find them all.
Even Taurus :confused:


It really AIN'T the gun (although every top competitor's will have decent sights and a trigger job).
 
IDPA publishes the equipment list each year of the nationals. IIRC, For the semis, it's about 40 ish % Glocks, 40 % 1911s with others. However, XDs and MPs are making a showing.

Revolvers - 625s are popular.
 
"What do the pros" shoot depends entirely on what division/sport you're talking about. For USPSA it breakdowns roughly like this:

Open Division: Everyone is shooting some wild race gun built on the 1911 platform, except for 2 guys with Tanfoglios. You're also starting to see more and more "Open" Glock 35s, and with S&W releasing a .40 S&W M&P pistol with a 5 inch slide, that should start showing up as well.

Limited Division/Limited-10: Again, a lot of super trick 1911 style guns with double stack magazine wells will be the most common guns in this division; but Dave Sevigny and others have been making inroads with Glocks and other polymer guns.

Production: At the top levels, this division is dominated by Glocks and M&Ps, although Ben Stoger shoots a Beretta Elite IIA; the Glock 34 and M&P Pro 9mm are very popular here.

Revolver division: 99.9% of shooters at the top level are shooting S&W 625s in .45 ACP, although you'll see one or two guys running a 686 cut for moonclips.

Single Stack: 5 inch and shorter 1911s only are the only guns allowed in Single Stack division. Originally this was a league of its own, but it was acquired a few years ago by USPSA.

Mind you, this is not at all a representative sample. At the club level you're going to see every type of "division legal" firearm under the sun.
 
Pros don't use off the shelf hardware; rules are made to be gotten around. Remember, NASCAR stands for National Association of STOCK CAR Automobile Racing, so you can buy those cars at any dealer. Sure.

Jim
 
The only difference between Dave Sevigny's Glock 34 and the one you buy off the shelf are the sights and the trigger springs; he uses Warren Tactical Sights and a Wolff spring kit, both of which are available off the shelf.
 
I see a lot of CZ's and STI/Para doublestack 1911's in the open and limited divisions. I also see a lot of XD's, XDm's, Glocks and a few other doublestack modern designs to lesser degrees (Sigs, HK's, Berettas, Taurii) in the limited and production divisions.

Single stack is dominated by the 1911 platform.

Revolver has mostly 625's with a few moonclip-cut L-frames. I have a .44 Redhawk that is moonclipped that I will be running once I get a few more moonclips and another fresh batch of .44 special brass. I also see a few K-frame .38's where guys use speedloaders.
 
But I repeat myself

I sold a 'basic' 1911 (okay, I'd added a $50 Kensight adjustable rear sight, $10 Hogue pebbled-rubber stocks, a Wilson sear spring, Ed Brown 19lb mainspring in a S&A 20 LPI MSH, and paint on the front sight) to a 'World Champ' for the Single Stack Nationals.

It really ain't the gun........
 
"It really ain't the gun.." Words to live by. I have seen Jerry Miculek shoot box stock S&W revolvers and it didn't seem to make any difference whatsoever.
 
In USPSA Limited division, the dominant platform is a SV/STI "2011" in .40SW with some customization, usually with a long/wide dustcover and a 5" barrel.

In USPSA Open division, it's the same platform but a different configuration: usually barrels shorter than 5", compensated, and with a red-dot site on top, in .38 Super, 9x23, 9SC, 9 Major, or a similar cartridge.


Here's my "Limited" gun:


............... Larger version of above photo.
 
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