I used to ask these kind of questions until I realized buying gear wasn't helping me. I had to train and practice. And when I put in sustained effort following training and a good practice regimen, my performance increased. For MOST competitive shooters (let's define them B-class and below), spend too much time worrying about triggers, sights, grips, etc. Just practice and shoot the sh!t out of what you have.

Many competitive shooters "try" to buy performance. Always buying the next and greatest firearm since slice bread without putting in the work, no dry fire drills, poor fundamentals, lack of proper grip, posture, stage reading and planning, etc. Any firearm can outperform most shooters, regardless of the weight or brand, whats most important is your skill level and the time you put into your craft...

I have minor, periodic muscle spasms from nerve problems. I noticed CZ 75 variant pistols and the M9 are more forgiving in terms of minor imputs to my sight picture

Ben I appreciate more KZfaq videos as opposed to IG posts. There’s a wider audience that enjoys these videos and IGs format kinda sucks at reaching that audience.

I totally agree with your comment that out far you want the gun heavy and in close you want it light, it has been my experience.

Would be interested in learning about what you carry regularly and what your practice philosophy is with what it is that you carry.

We had family range day on Sunday. There were 5 shooters with 2) revolvers (.38/.357), 4) semi-auto 9mm, and 2) semi-auto .45 ACP pistols to choose from. Everyone, from new shooter to experienced shooter shot the tightest groups and enjoyed shooting ONE pistol the most. This gun weighs almost 50 ounces loaded, all steel, full size, with a big, fat grip. Surprise! It was the CZ 97B in .45 ACP. My son's new girlfriend is a brand new shooter with small hands. She was able to overcome flinching and she just couldn't get enough of the big CZ as evidenced by her huge smile.

that video you shot for Surefire was sick! same with Pranka's

I just picked up a CZ TS2 orange (53oz) the other day. It’s my first nice gun after shooting Glocks for forever. I’m 6’6” and 240lb and it have to say it feels perfect. Definitely working transitions with dry fire to get used to the extra weight. But it feels like a sewing machine in my hands.

You explain it well. Honestly my 34 is perfect for what I do with it. Sure I’d like to shoot a bill drill and have it sound like full auto but that’s not the point of my competition gun. I have no doubt I am the limiting factor. I enjoy matches and challenging myself to go fast. You start to develop a style of your own. Sure I could use professional help but time and money limit me. So what you see is what you get. Stay positive and keep firing y’all.

30 to 40 Oz is perfect do it all pistol in my opinion. Thanks for your content, it is always nice to see and hear a professional's advice. ❤

In Germany there is a new category in ipsc called carry optics light. Basically just allowing tactical Tupperware

Based on your opening thoughts on the strengths of light guns vs heavy, my opening hypothesis would be go with light for comps because 90% of the targets are within 10 yards. As I thought about it more, not so sure that is right.

I agree 💯%

Ben, do you have an opinion on the Canik line, particularly the Rival, and Rival steel series?

Thanks for the breakdown! I absolutely love shooting my G34 but noticed how slow it was for at distance because the recoil made the gun leave the A zone. I figured it was just me (still might be) but your explanation made a lot of sense.

I attach a stream light pro tac on my 34 when I bench rest zero my gun. attempting zero it the Jedi way will became a challenging task .

Just ordered g10 palm swells for my shadow… saying bye bye to brass

I just put one brass grip on the S2 , cover it in grip tape and the G10 bogie on the other side. Brass back straps on my Canik and P10F - but the sweet spot for me is the bull barrel P320 with the TXG module - just the right weight IMO .

Great video! I have had a lot of fun balancing my pistol. Do you know if adding mass will also increase velocity (power factor)?

My favorite pistol to shoot right now oddly enough is my P365XL build. I have a pretty ass video going over it after the first 500 through the current slide+barrel. It's quite light as it's set up, but it's a fast shooter and quite soft. I of course do enjoy the PDP, but oddly enough I found myself in a situation where my carey setup is the one I WANT to shoot when I am at the range. I would like to get a comp for the Walther, but my state sucks, and it's hard to find threaded barrels for the Walther.

I like them both and also found a 53oz shadow 2 to be too damn heavy to quickly and precisely transition. I've since taken the brass grips off and landed somewhere in the mid 40s which I'm happy with. If you have a good understanding of how to grip and how the gun will behave, it doesn't matter a ton honestly

Ben have you shot the steel canik yet?

I started the year shooting a CZ P-10F polymer then switch to Shadow 2 in April. Now I’m shooting an SP-01 Shadow and I’m finding it is a good compromise.

I started my Military Career with an M9. Worked Military LE, Deployed, Trained, Taught with that platform across 2 Branches (14 Marine Corps and 18 Air Force), 32 TIS. Finished the last couple with the M18. Worked a Commercial Nuke job, USP. All the while, in the Civilian capacity, I am to this day a Glock guy. As far as instruction goes, I'm more of a middle of the road guy. I prefer teaching on a G17 or G19. As far as heavy v light, I look more to Full Size v Compact. Good info either way, shared here👍

I am setting up a 229 legion. It’s about right for me I think

I like how the brass grips affect the balance of the Shadow 2 and think even though they’re heavier, bringing some of that balance back into your hands reduces some of the “whippiness” of transitioning an unbalanced front heavy gun.

Up against this dilemma now.

I am new at ipsc. Currently shooting production with a tanfoglio stock 1 which is about 41 ounces. Its ok with me so far but planning to get a cz75b down the road which is about 35 ounces. Want to try a somewhat middle of the road weight gun. Might be the best compromise.

I like my guns to be light in the trigger, heavy at the tip, and shoot well despite me getting in the way.

I typically gravitate towards guns around 33oz unloaded.

I have a canik rival. I added brass +4 base plate (still legal for CO). I’m waiting on my brass backstrap. Curious how much of a difference 7 oz will make. What do you think Ben?

Im basically a novice shooter. This is good information

EDC I'll Take Poly frame . Comps I'll take Heavier Pistol like CZ SP01 / Shadow or P320 TXG .

Do you conceal carry?

For me lightweight gun = Sig 365, heavy = Sig 365 Macro, medium = Sig 365xl.

I’ve heard that most people shoot a pistol the best when it has a trigger weight close to the guns weight.

Shoot best with my Langdon Tactical 92X Centurión ..My Shadow 2 second.

I tend to like a little more heavy of a gun but not crazy heavy. The feel of the gun matters to me far more than the weight

I do like weight but not nose heavy (as long as not for bullseye shooting with 6'' variants and lots of timee). A mid balance is easier to deal with . The front heavy one may react so differently from full to empty. Will it dip the nose on closing as the mag gets lighter or different ammo is used?

just a noob here but bought my first pistol was bull barrel mark iv and it felt so front heavy after getting a lighter pistol, tx22 compact, i can much more appreciate the heavy barrel its weird

Hey Ben, why don’t we see the CZ TSO used in competition more? Is it because it’s SA only?

Thanks for the video. Do you notice much difference among the G19/17/34 and if so what do you gain with barrel length?

Opinions on the beretta 92?

What light was that?

Was the first Glock a 17?

If only you could use brass plugs in Production

If you are comparing between CZ and Glock, you should also mention the trigger. CZ hammer fired trigger is another element that allows you to shoot better at 25+ yards, not just weight.

I bet my stallard maverick js-9 outweighs just about all, no bs that thing is a boat anchor...and I love that old piece of shit

Light? Heavy? I shoot what I've been training with. Training trumps weight (in my ignorant opinion)

SRO?

soooo what did you shoot when you won worlds? Oh yea a Stock 2. There can be only one!!!!

Nice haircut

dude you stick various on in front of the camera and dont even say what it is except for the G34 and the Shadow