Competition shooting is a fun, engaging sport to get into. It not only lets you spend time with great people, but it also hones your skill with a firearm. Professional shooters already have a wealth of knowledge of what works for them, but where do you even start? Check out these handgun options when you are venturing into the world of competitive handgun shooting.
Smith & Wesson M&P9
The Smith & Wesson M&P first made its debut in 2005 and has been a popular firearm for competition and duty ever since. As a competition gun, the M&P9 is lightweight and features a shorter 4.3-inch barrel. The M&P9 is an affordable and reliable option for competition shooters and features a rail for customized configurations, such as adding a red dot sight or a flashlight.
Sig Sauer P320 XFive Legion
Sig Sauer is a popular manufacturer to find in many shooting competitions. You can find 10-round magazines to ensure your firearm is compliant with state laws. The XFive Legion features a 5-inch barrel and adjustable fiber optic sights. Are you a fan of Daniel Horner or Lena Miculek? This is the Sig they use, so you know it's a good way to go, and it often comes at an attractive price point.
Ruger Mark IV Competition
The Competition features a distinctive slab-sided 6.88″ barrel nicely target-crowned at the muzzle. The barrel/receiver assembly is pre-drilled and tapped to mount a Weaver or Picatinny rail for optics, likely one of the first customizations a competitive shooter would likely undertake. If you are looking for a high-quality .22 pistol for casual matches or to serve as the basic canvas for building a “serious” competition pistol, you can’t go wrong picking up the Ruger Mark IV Competition.
Walther Q5
You might be more familiar with Walther as the gun manufacturer James Bond carries, but the Q5 Match was specifically designed for competition shooting. In addition to its fiber optic sights and 5-inch sight radius, the firearm includes a Picatinny rail for additional customization. There are also three safeties on this gun: a firing pin block and two drop safeties.
S & W Model 41
A Model 41 is remarkably simple, yet extremely well-made. Operation is single-action, straight blowback, but the slide is not the entire top of the gun as with most recoil-operated pistols. Smith & Wesson cleverly scalloped out enough metal to house the firing pin, extractor and ejector assembly. The barrel and sights are mounted upon the remainder of the top-end metal. Since none of this assembly moves during firing, the relationship of these critical parts remains identical from shot to shot. This firearm is largely the same pistol that debuted in 1957. There are a few minor cosmetic differences, of course, but the design, accuracy and polish is still there. A Model 41 is one of the more expensive competition pistols available. The Performance Center line offers an even more lavish version of the firearm with a skeletonized front sight and a Picatinny rail for mounting an optical sight. Stocks are solid walnut, oiled and checkered for a classic look. When expense is no object, this will be your go-to-gun for competition shooting.
Make Your Choice
Ultimately, your choice for competition handguns comes down to personal preference and configuration. Keep in mind that Massachusetts limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds, so your firearm must comply with this. However, the setup that works for one shooter's style won't necessarily work for another shooter. Be sure to explore your options and, when possible, thoroughly test out the gun you are thinking of using before your purchase. Contact Guns Inc. at 413-731-7666 to learn more about our competition firearms and schedule some time at our indoor range to find out what really works best for you.