As some people may know, I have the honor of being part of The Well Armed Woman Competitive Shooting Team. And as part of this team, I get to participate in a variety of shooting matches and, hopefully, inspire others to give competitive shooting a try.
I was recently asked about which guns I currently use for matches. So I figured I’d share those preferences with you, as well. I’m definitely not, nor will I ever be, a Julie Golob or a Janna Reeves (they are my competitive shooting heroes!), but inquiring minds may still be interested! So here you go…
My pistol of choice for competitions is the M&P Pro Series (5-inch barrel). Whether I am shooting Steel Challenge, three gun, or defensive pistol, this 9mm firearm is just remarkable. It fits well in my hand, it shoots very accurately, and it’s quite reliable, even with cheap ammo. I use the factory-installed, green, fiberoptic sights and trigger that it came with (no special work done), and I have the medium-size backstrap on the grip (it comes with three, interchangeable, so you can choose what works best). My husband actually loved my gun so much, he bought an M&P for competition, too. In addition, I also own the M&P Performance Center (with the ported barrel), which I sometimes use, because I love the higher front sight. And while the M&P Pro is marketed as a competition pistol, I often use this gun for instruction, as well, and many new shooters instantly fall in love with it.
For shooting Practical Tactical matches, which often use two or three different guns, I opted for the Devil Dog Arms’ Girl’s Guide to Guns Signature AR-15…in “Fast As Lightning” white (designed and created by my friend Natalie Foster). I call it my Stormtrooper gun. It definitely stands out, and it gets a lot of attention, but this beautiful and durable .223-caliber rifle is also super fun to shoot. Some of the ambidextrous features make this a great choice for me, as well, since I shoot long guns left-handed. The gun is a little heavy and a little bit of a mess to clean up after, but it’s all worth it! And I really love running this gun in competitions. I have most often used this carbine with iron sights, but I have equipped it with EOTech red dot optics for some matches.
Finally, to cover my shotgun choice, I went with the Benelli M2. What a beautiful gun. I was impressed with the M2 the moment I saw it. But shooting this semi-automatic, 12-gauge shotgun made the experience even more incredible. It’s smooth and accurate…while being very powerful. My Benelli is now equipped with an extended tube (for holding more ammo), and while I’m working on my reloading skills, I am thankful for the padded, ComforTech stock, which makes for a more comfortable day of training or competition. And even though I love shooting a pump-action shotgun, the speed and the ease of use of this beauty has definitely spoiled me.
None of this is to say my way is the best way. So, tell me: What are your preferred guns for shooting competitively?
Author’s Note (4.12.16): It pains me to hear about the recent closing of Devil Dog Arms. The team is no doubt shocked and suffering due to the dishonesty of the now former owner and his falsified military record. Like everyone else, I had no idea of the deceit, and I wanted to make that clear, since this post was written well before these events came to light. I stand by the equally shocked and hurt Natalie Foster and all her work in the industry. And my thoughts and sincerest wishes go out to the former employees, to their families, and to all those who have served our country.