Looking for some advice.

What magazine capacity is competitive in most 3 Gun competition pistols? I don't own a hi cap pistol and am looking at some 9mms. I can't afford a $2k STI. I want a nice light trigger. So far the Glock 34 and the Beretta 92FS fit the bill. I like single action triggers so those are the closest affordable options I've found. Any other suggestions that might work for me?

The Glock 34 is a great choice. Tons of aftermarket parts and it's lack of a manual safety is actually beneficial.

You don't need an expensive STI. In fact a lot of people prefer the Glocks and other safe action pistols in 3-Gun due to the rules. When you abandon your pistol (set it down on a table) to go to your next gun your safety has to be on or you are disqualified from the entire match. That means if you are shooting a Glock or M&P you just have to lay your gun down. If you are shooting a 1911 or Beretta you have to manually put the safety back on. I have seen several people with fancy STI 2011's that have put their gun on safe and when they set it down on the table bumped the safety off. That's a disqualification from the match under the rules and you're done shooting.

Most 3-gun matches in tactical/limited division allow magazines that are 140mm long. That means you can have the standard 17 round Glock magazine and even add an extension if you want. Dawson and Arredondo make magazine extensions that will allow 6 more rounds for a total of 23 and still keep the total length under 140mm.
www.cpwsa.com/Glock%20Parts.htm

I still use my Beretta 92FS Vertec in 3-Gun matches with only 15 round magazines and do just fine. It isn't ideal but if you practice with most any gun enough you can be competitive with it. I've won 3 pistols in the last 3 weeks at 2 different matches.

As long as you have 15-16 round mags you wont be at much disadvantage at all.

Most 3 Gun matches now, except the few that run USPSA rules, allow 9mm without any scoring penalty. Most popular are the Glocks and the S&W's.

The extra sight radius length on the G34/35 is a real, measurable, advantage...so if you like Glocks that would be a good choice. Also because of the rule issue Lex referenced.

I dont get along well with Glocks (they dont point well for me...wish they did) but they are a great choice. I shoot an Edge, but I also have been shooting an HK P30S lately due to the fact that I carry it a lot and it has a short single action trigger.

As much of an HK/1911 fan as I am I cant recommend the rest of the HK line since the mag releases are just to slow (this was changed on the P30 line). I have also heard that Springfield may introduce a 5 inch+ XD this year (maybe they have?) and that would be a good choice as well.

The 92 series is a good choice too. Big gun helps it there managing recoil and mag capacity is plenty.

Do they make a G34 with a comp? Are comps allowed on the pistols?

Only in Open class.

I don't care for Glocks, and love Beretta 92s (I have several). But admittedly - in a competition situation... using a DA/SA gun puts you at a slight disadvantage compared to a Glock or XD with every shot being the same...

Visit: Houston Gun Forum!!!! http://houstongunforum.com/

What about a CZ75 B SA? Anybody shoot one before?

Talked to dad on Saturday and he just happens to have a Glock 35 in his shop. Do you have any power factor requirements or could I load very tame loads with a reduced recoil spring in that 40 cal? Some light 135gr loads would be *****cats.

I was at a class this weekend (KRTraining in Lee County, btw - great classes) and Karl Rehn let me shoot his M&P 9mm. He's got nothing but the Apex sear in it and said it registers 4.5 lbs on his scale... trigger had a lot of take-up/slack but almost no resistance to take it up, and a very clean break.

I was reading today that a lot of pro shooters are using M&P 9mm's. They have a pro series with a 5" slide that would offer you the extended sight radius.

Shooting that M&P makes me seriously consider trading in my sr9c or adding another pistol one day. It was a smooth shooting gun.

I shoot 1 or 2 matches per year and use my Glock 22 which works fine for me.

Lex - scores are basically in for last Monday's API match but it might be awhile before they're posted online. You won the PM flight same as last year. My team won the AM flight but I was barely in the top 10 shooters. Your score blew everyone elses away in either flight.

tx4guns: Most 3-gun matches just require that your pistol shoot 9x19 or larger so you could load up some light .40 loads and the 35 would be a great choice. You just have to be able to knock down the steel targets but they are set so that a normal 9mm round will take them out. The only 3-gun matches I know of that will test your loads are the USPSA matches, but there are only a few of those.

FHKPLEX03: Cool, I've been checking the API website daily looking for the results. Was curious how everyone finished up.

96AustinAg: A few of the guys that shoot around here are sponsored by S&W and shoot M&P's in competitions. The Pro series has the longer slide/barrel, fiber optic front sight, and improved trigger. Bad thing is the fiber optic front sight and trigger still aren't up to competition standards as they come from the factory. There is an M&P9L long slide version that is cheaper than the Pro because you aren't paying extra for the sights and trigger you're going to have to get redone anyway. The M&P is a good alternative for those that don't like the feel of Glocks.

OK thanks. Any holster recs under $100 that are approved for limited class?

I use a BladeTech DOH for 3-gun. You'll need a good stiff belt for that one as it's lowered setup will bounce around if you don't. Also the regular BladeTech and Comp-Tac belt holsters are good. I use the Comp-Tac paddle holster for IDPA.

Lex, thanks for the info. The one I shot with the Apex sear felt pretty nice and was easy to shoot one-handed (low light drills with a flashlight). I have no idea what the stock trigger feels like.

What are the restrictions for optics on the rifles in Tactical Limited class? Will a reflex type red dot cut it?

http://www.stiguns.com/guns/Spartan/Spartan.php

... in 9mm. Would be a heck of a way to have a SA trigger, and extremely accurate gun, and still have decent mag capacity.

Just know, that if you get serious about 3-gun, you WILL eventually spend the money on a really nice 1911, probably one of those 2K STI's you said you couldn't afford.

[This message has been edited by phideaux_2003 (edited 3/14/2011 4:11p).]

Some matches have started allowing 1x red dots in limited class. Not all though so if you're running that you'll have to check the rules of the match you plan on attending. It seems like most of the major matches are now allowing them.