I'd like to be clear, a range gun and a competition gun are really two different things.
Range guns, you don't care if holsters are available for it. You don't care how big it is. You don't care about capacity. You want something that is fun to shoot, inexpensive and comfortable.
For competition, you COULD have a range gun act as a competition gun, but you'd be hurting yourself, points wise.
Let's discuss competition (I'm mainly talking IDPA here). There are two main reasons why people shoot IDPA. First, they have a concealed pistol license, and want to practice the mechanics of the draw, aiming, shooting, in a someone stressed situation that simulates, to some extent, a real life scenario. You want to get used to moving, shooting, finding cover, reloading, situational awareness, etc. You are doing it, to help save your life, if it ever came to that. Scoring well is secondary. Improving your times isn't for bragging rights, but to recognize your personal improvement. In short, you are doing IDPA for what it was originally intended.
If that is the case, the weapon you are using is the one you use to carry every day, in the holster designed for maximum concealment and comfort. You may make some concessions for dress while shooting competitively, but not much. The gun is more than likely an unmodified compact, such as a Glock 19, or Khar Arms CM9, or other off the shelf pistols best suited for daily carry. Your holster is a kydex IWB style rig.
The second reason is to game. You choose your shooting platform for speed over concealment. You modify your trigger springs, install high speed low drag sights, extended mag well, high capacity mags, lightweight recoil springs and reload your own ammo where you're .01 over power factor. Your holster is a kydex OWB serpa holster and magazine pouches are for quick indexing and changes. Your only consideration for concealment is a photograher's vest that you can quickly sweep aside during your draw. To you, speed is paramount, and getting master rank your goal. You take every competitive advantage the rules allow you, in order to get that bragging right.
Now, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, yes, there are other reasons, but face it, those are the two big ones.
Now, you may decide to get started in IDPA for the first reason, and morph over time into the second. Or, you may dabble a bit in your rig to make things faster without going all in whole hog competitive mode. Maybe buy a second holster that is easier to draw from, or stick on grip tape, or stipple your gun with a soldering iron. Maybe junk the stock glock sights and put on a set of Sevigny competition sights. Whatever.
But, as you can see, using a range gun in competition isn't really the way to go.
The best thing to do, is to buy a pistol that can be used in competition, and consider it a range gun, until you decide to dabble in IDPA. Perhaps go to an IDPA match to watch, and see what firearms the folks are using in stock service pistol, and go with one of those that you like. One question to ask the guys shooting is "if you could shoot any gun in stock service pistol, what would it be?". Go from there.
Range guns, you don't care if holsters are available for it. You don't care how big it is. You don't care about capacity. You want something that is fun to shoot, inexpensive and comfortable.
For competition, you COULD have a range gun act as a competition gun, but you'd be hurting yourself, points wise.
Let's discuss competition (I'm mainly talking IDPA here). There are two main reasons why people shoot IDPA. First, they have a concealed pistol license, and want to practice the mechanics of the draw, aiming, shooting, in a someone stressed situation that simulates, to some extent, a real life scenario. You want to get used to moving, shooting, finding cover, reloading, situational awareness, etc. You are doing it, to help save your life, if it ever came to that. Scoring well is secondary. Improving your times isn't for bragging rights, but to recognize your personal improvement. In short, you are doing IDPA for what it was originally intended.
If that is the case, the weapon you are using is the one you use to carry every day, in the holster designed for maximum concealment and comfort. You may make some concessions for dress while shooting competitively, but not much. The gun is more than likely an unmodified compact, such as a Glock 19, or Khar Arms CM9, or other off the shelf pistols best suited for daily carry. Your holster is a kydex IWB style rig.
The second reason is to game. You choose your shooting platform for speed over concealment. You modify your trigger springs, install high speed low drag sights, extended mag well, high capacity mags, lightweight recoil springs and reload your own ammo where you're .01 over power factor. Your holster is a kydex OWB serpa holster and magazine pouches are for quick indexing and changes. Your only consideration for concealment is a photograher's vest that you can quickly sweep aside during your draw. To you, speed is paramount, and getting master rank your goal. You take every competitive advantage the rules allow you, in order to get that bragging right.
Now, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, yes, there are other reasons, but face it, those are the two big ones.
Now, you may decide to get started in IDPA for the first reason, and morph over time into the second. Or, you may dabble a bit in your rig to make things faster without going all in whole hog competitive mode. Maybe buy a second holster that is easier to draw from, or stick on grip tape, or stipple your gun with a soldering iron. Maybe junk the stock glock sights and put on a set of Sevigny competition sights. Whatever.
But, as you can see, using a range gun in competition isn't really the way to go.
The best thing to do, is to buy a pistol that can be used in competition, and consider it a range gun, until you decide to dabble in IDPA. Perhaps go to an IDPA match to watch, and see what firearms the folks are using in stock service pistol, and go with one of those that you like. One question to ask the guys shooting is "if you could shoot any gun in stock service pistol, what would it be?". Go from there.
