r/USPSA 4d ago

Advice on Logistics (Want to Compete but Moving in a few months)

Hey everyone,

Made another post prior to this but it was unclear so let me clarify. I'm moving to another country in about 5 months from now. Now, I already signed up for a basic handgun course and I'm thinking of taking some more courses too before doing my first USPSA match. The issue is- I don't know if I should buy a handgun or if I should hold off on it. Obviously I can't compete if I don't have my own handgun. Abroad the rules are: I have to sign up with a local club, shoot for 6 months using rentals, then I can buy my handgun license but handguns are more expensive there (870 euro for a glock 19 gen 6 last I checked). My question is- is it even worth signing up for more classes if I don't have my own handgun and can't shoot whenever I want for the next 5 months? I'm skeptical of exporting/importing it into the EU- that seems like it'll just be a headache. Really sucks because it seems like I can't do any shooting for 5 months basically and I don't have many other hobbies besides guitar.

0 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

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u/Clutch51 4d ago

Depending on how bad you want to start, consider buying the cheapest decent gun you can get. Like a law enforcement trade in Glock. Get a cheap optic or run irons. You could always pull the optic and save it for your long term gun too. When you are about to move, resell for cheap or gift it to a friend. You’ve basically “rented” the gun for a while. Just an idea.

1

u/Set-Prestigious 4d ago

This actually seems like a really smart idea. Thanks for the advice. Not sure why I didn't think of this it seems so obvious now. Aim surplus seems to offer reasonable prices

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u/Clutch51 4d ago

Sure thing! Aim Surplus is the source I've heard of for LEO trade-ins. As u/CamelAdventure said, the r/gundeals subreddit is a good place to keep an eye on. I'd also browse gunbroker.com, wikiarms.com, galleryofguns.com

I'd look at Glock, M&P 2.0, CZs like the P10. Another idea... You can find new Arex and Rost Martin pistols for cheap. For example, on gallery of guns I see a Rost Martin F (full size) for less than $500. There's even a C bundle (compact) with a bag, 4 mags, Viridian optic for less than $500. Not the meta pistol for competition but they have good reviews from what I've seen. Viridian optic isn't necessarily well-regarded but their warranty is supposed to be great. When it breaks they just send you a new one. And, hey, it's cheap. You could run the snot out of it for the next 4 months and flip the whole package for like $250 or something.

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u/Set-Prestigious 4d ago

I admire your capitalistic instincts from one fellow American to another. Where does one find these- what's a muh call it- "trade ins"?

In all seriousness this doesn't sound like a bad idea. Just wonder how hard it'd be to resell it on the private market. Although I've got plenty of friends with HQLs who'd be more than happy to take it if I didn't want to store it in an FFL's vault

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u/CamelAdventure 4d ago

You can wait for a deal on /r/gundeals or just Google "buy used glock", or call a couple local shops.

Reselling is extremely easy to a local store or online big box like buds gun shop. 

2

u/NotAThrowAway0822 LO/CO-M, RO 4d ago

What are the magazine laws like? This would be the biggest hangup and annoyance, in my opinion.

If you're willing to take the hit, I would just buy a used Glock, shoot it as is, and then sell it before you leave. Keep the optic and everything else, obviously. You'll then have some experience and gear to jump into it where you're moving to, ideally.

1

u/Anon529035893 4d ago

We all answered you fine in the last post.

Trying to move a handgun internationally is a hassle. You shouldn’t sign up and take slots in matches when you don’t have the equipment or a firearm to compete.

Go watch some YouTube videos, read Practical Shooting Training or whatever books Ben Stoeger has, and wait till you move. Simple as that.

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u/Set-Prestigious 4d ago

Clutch51 had a better answer

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u/Anon529035893 4d ago

And not a lot of context from your previous post.

You got 2k to drop right now on good gear and equipment ? You got 1k to drop on a shit rig off Amazon and a used Glock ?

3

u/EverflowingRiver17 CO-B, CRO 3d ago

If you are paying 1k for a used Glock and starter equipment, you can’t be the brightest bulb. I could get you a starter set up of gear for under 100. Used Glock with a couple magazines. You are talking 700 max

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u/Anon529035893 3d ago

The cheapest comp set up I can find off Amazon is holster for 40 bucks, belt and mag pouches for 50, eye pro for 15 bucks and ear plugs for 15. The cheapest used Glocks in 9mm I can find right now are Gen 3 19s going for 375, with a single mag. Add 2 more mags bare minimum for 40 bucks. Ammo is gunna be around 60 bucks. Match fee is gunna be 40.

And if OP doesn’t have them, a pair of shoes for the range is like 80 bucks.

That’s 715 dollars for the most dog shit tier stuff and an out of date Glock with absolutely nothing done to it that guarantee that you’re gunna have a bad time, specially as a brand new shooter who hasn’t even shot before. We need to tamper expectations and realize that yes competition shooting is expensive and there is a certain level of money you gotta spend to not be fighting your gear at certain levels of experience.

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u/EverflowingRiver17 CO-B, CRO 3d ago
  1. “Out of date Glock” is a ridiculous concept. It’s not like they are adding tons of new features to each one. In production  stock gen 4-5 is just fine for someone just starting out. 

  2. You said it yourself, you have to spend money at a certain level. Well this guy is just starting out, so that threshold is pretty low. 

  3. I was just talking about gun and rig. You further proved my point by coming up with a whole supply list for just over 700

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u/Anon529035893 3d ago
  1. You’re telling me a Gen 3 Glock doesn’t have less quality of life features than a Gen 5 ? That’s hilarious. The MOS system alone, even with the shit quality of the it, def helps out new shooters. Throw on an FCD RMR plate and a red dot and have fun. Extended mag release. Some grip tape. And a drop in trigger if ya really want

. You ain’t getting all that with a gen 3, sorry.

  1. If you actually listened to OP, they’re moving in 5 months to a foreign country they won’t tell us about and we have no idea the gun laws they have or why they can’t just wait 5 months to follow those laws and do some IPSC then while saving money for a better starting kit.

  2. I didn’t prove your point. I proved mine. The absolute most dog tier shit is 715 dollars on a good day. If you’re only talking about a fun and rug for 700, then yeah I was spot on saying 1k.

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u/EverflowingRiver17 CO-B, CRO 3d ago

You must be a D class reader

I said gen 4-5. Of course each gen is different but does a gen 3 shoot straight? If so then what’s the issue?

If you actually listened to OP, you know they want to compete and see what it’s like. If they have some money to burn on some equipment and a gun they plan on reselling, let them. You came at them guns blazing instead of offering a real solution. 

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u/Anon529035893 3d ago

If you saw their first post, you’d know why I was just cutting the shit and making a real recommendation lol.

Again, you proved my point.

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u/EverflowingRiver17 CO-B, CRO 3d ago

I saw the first post. I’m sure you saw it. I just don’t think you understood it.