I thinking getting into a IDPA match would be awesome, I've been doing it on and off since 2007. Don't spend any money. Use the gun you have with the holster you have, you can store extra magazines in your back pocket and use a button up shirt for a cover garment to get started. Add equipment if you feed the need as your skill level increases and HAVE FUN.

As almost everyone else has said, just go and have fun.

The club I used to shoot at always welcomed new shooters. Nothing matters other than being safe. Other rules are easily bent to accommodate what gear you have and to make it fun for you.

And you are correct, regularly shooting matches takes your shooting skills to a new level.

I agree with all the “just do it” comments also. When I started ( and when I drag newcomers to matches) it is pretty simple. A suitable holster ( any holster safe and appropriate for ccw will work for a start in uspsa) enough mags to get through a stage, ammo eyes ears and your carry gun. From there you can decide what direction you wish to go. I like to just use basic equipment and don’t care about the standings.
Over the years I have shot several bullseye disciplines, uspsa, Idpa icore steel challenge rifle silhouette and nrl22. Lots of dir3ctions you can go. Just be safe and have fun

Steel Challenge match may be the easiest first experience, just because the overall premise is very simple; shoot five Steel plates. No movement or magazine changes, etc.
You will also become very familiar with range commands.
SC folks love helping new shooters.

However for SC you need mags. This is unrelated to all of this but made me smile in the context. Last week at our weekly match a young kid showed up to watch. He had no intention to shoot but had an 'off brand' gun in a decent IWB holster so had a gun (we would have loaned on if not but OK), and when asked if he wanted to actually shoot only had a mag with self defense ammo he didn't want to use and politely declined. And we laughed and said let's see if we can make it work. So one of our race gun guys says OK he probably has a few of those mags that would fit that odd gun in his truck (why I have NO idea). goes and gets them perfect. The rest of us chip in some range ammo so he doesn't use his sd ammo and off he goes to shoot. mags in his pockets and whatever, his smile was just unbelievable.

All of the advice given is spot on

I started out in IDPA but have shot Steel Challenge, USPSA and 3 Gun

I primarily shoot IDPA competitively these days as we have 6 clubs with in 1-1.5 hour drive in the area to shoot at

And we have a group who shoot IDPA together bouncing between the different clubs every weekend

I do practice with a group of USPSA guys but the round counts per stage are higher and the movement is more extreme than IDPA, so I don’t shoot many of those matches.

If you go to a match, feel free to ask questions, heck at the matches we run ,if we see a new shooter observing
We offer to put them with a squad on the range so they can observe close up, help paste targets and get to see how it flows plus get some interaction with the other shooters.

If you
Stay to the end of the match and offer to help the staff with putting stuff away you will make some new friends right away.

Like everyone says
You just have to go to the first one.

The clubs we shoot at are along the Indiana / Michigan border
If anyone reading this is interested in finding a match or getting started in that area
my email is in my profile, just ask and I’ll see about pointing you in the right direction.

You say you have guns for most types of events. Does your competitive shooting desire include rifles or shotguns? The CMP has many different types of events for military service rifles from the 03 Springfield, to Garands, M14's and AR's

Then there's F-class and tactical sniper matches too.

There's sporting clays, and also 3-gun.

Tony.

Start reloading if you don’t already. You’re going to want to do well, and can only do so with practice, which brings muscle memory. Also remember, the best laid plans often go out the window when the timer beeps! Keep your cool and get your hits. You can’t miss fast enough to win. Have fun.

I would suggest that you start reloading. Not to save money on ammo because you won't. The reason for reloading is to insure you always have ammo available. In addition there is probably a lot of "gaming" going on with the top tier shooters loading to meet the minimum power factor requirements with just a tiny reserve of perhaps 3 or 5 percent.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
I would suggest that you start reloading. Not to save money on ammo because you won't. The reason for reloading is to insure you always have ammo available. In addition there is probably a lot of "gaming" going on with the top tier shooters loading to meet the minimum power factor requirements with just a tiny reserve of perhaps 3 or 5 percent.

Recently got a 550B set-up, just been processing brass so far.

There is a clay shoot and IDPA set-up tomorrow with a match on Saturday.

Gonna go up to the club and ask some questions, see what it’s all about.

I appreciate everyone’s responses. Gonna give it a go.