I shoot USPSA fairly regularly. Though I haven't shot in production class for a while, my choice is an M&P Pro in 9mm. I prefer the ergonomics of the M&P over Glock and CZ style gun. Mine is box stock except for the rear sight and I can shoot it almost as fast as my 2011. Glock and CZ are both popular choices, as are 1911s. Currently I'm shooting Limited division with a custom 2011. I'm not familiar with the PPQ. For competition, you don't want double action anything. And, if it has a thumb safety, the safety has to be on while it is in the holster. So, you need to make sure whatever you get has a very easy to access safety.
If you're going to shoot in production class, stick with 9mm. But, keep in mind if you want to shoot Limited class in the future, 9mm is a disadvantage because of the way scoring is done. Also, I would suggest 5 mags for the competition. Production class is limited to 10 rounds in the mag, plus 1 in the chamber. Where I shoot, our stages are usually set up for around 35 rounds. So, four mags will be used plus one for backup.
For sights, it's up to you, but, most folks prefer a fiber sight up front with black rear. Most folks find that having extra dots in the rear sight is a distraction when you're on the clock. I prefer green fiber, red is just too bright and yellow not bright enough.
Whatever you decide on, make sure to do some dry fire practice and practice changing mags and practice your draw.
Ah, so there IS someone out there who's got some experience in this.
Thank you for clarifying the safety issue; I was unsure of how that worked, what with safetyless striker guns being popular. What really confuses me is that, AFAIK, DA/SA guns are required to use a DA first shot, while Glocks and others can have short 4-5lb triggers on every shot. On a striker with a decocker (they exist), would they make you decock? What about your DA's with non-decocking safeties? E.g. most CZ's and nearly all clones? Some of those don't even have safeties that work with the hammer down...which leads one to wonder, 'why is an SAO illegal?'
Yep on the 9mm thing in production. I noticed the lack of 'power factor' requirements in the rules for that class. Limited is mostly .40's and Limited-10 is gonna be .45's, I'm guessing?
The sight thing makes sense. I've never been a fan of three dots...all the dots just get jumbled up. On plain-jane 3-dot sights, I paint the rears red a lot. For factory non-target sights, it seems like Glock or Steyr's designs would be the best (I <3 trapezoid sights). If I have time to mess with a new gun, I'll try and find a fiber front sight. And just black out the stock rears.
I really am leaning towards picking one of these up. I've wanted one, and it is the perfect venue to try it-
That's the STI-branded version, but they're functionally identical. All STI did was change to a fancier-looking hammer...and the only major known flaw with the STI GP6...was broken hammers. Herp derp, good job, STI.
...dat trigger pull.
For anyone wondering exactly what that is- Grand Power is a small Slovakian company that's been making firearms for 10-15 years or so. I think they've got something similar to what some of the Turkish companies do...that is, really good modern machinery coupled with cheap labor. Which equals good cheap guns. These GP's really seem to be in another class compared to the Turk Tanfoglio clones, though.
There's a CNC'd steel receiver inside the poly frame. Durability/reliability is supposed to be excellent. I read some stuff from Canadian IPSC guys (they're more available in Canada) that said earlier models were made super-tight and more prone to malfunction, but they've hit the sweet spot at this point. There's a 'reliability test' on Youtube where they dump eighty-five consecutive mags of +P+. Shit; I'm sold. They usually go for $400-450. Bud's has them for $350...worth a shot, I think.