Signed up for a match on Saturday. It serves two purposes.

1. I don’t want to play the pyramid scheme of most shooting classes and go pay money, time off, for beginner classes. So I figure, as many have said, that competition is better than static range shooting.

2. It’s at a nearby invite only range that I’d love to become a member of.

I’m not buying anything extra. Probably gonna be in my normal Carry set up, just OWB instead of IWB.

Though about taking the G19X but I think I’ll still with the DWX compact as it’s what I carry. Believe that will be ESP class.

Being very optimistic about it, hoping to meet some nice folks if anything. If I catch the bug I’ll have a good reason to buy some gear for the Kimber I just got.

Wonder if they’ll be okay with my normal sweats and crocs shooting attire?

I’ve read over the “go shoot a match” thread. Was part of the motivation for signing up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OttoSig,

Will you be wearing a sturdy belt over your sweats? I think they'll want to see more normal pants with a conventional belt for carry. It's been a while since I've shot IDPA, so maybe things have changed. I also suspect regular shoes would be preferred since there can be a lot of movement and changing various positions. Sorry to be a downer. I'd be wearing jeans and my webbed gun belt with sneakers or hiking shoes on my feet. You'll also need a concealment garment. Most wear some kind of vest.

Where and when is the match? I'm in northern Illinois and wouldn't mind attending if it's close.

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
Where and when is the match? I'm in northern Illinois and wouldn't mind attending if it's close.

Racine county line gun club. 2MAY

I think you may get a no-go if you show up in sweats and crocs. You need a functional leather or gunbelt, in the 1.75 to 2 inch width. Add jeans or cargo pants/khaki. See the photos on their website

Sneakers, or preferably trail boots or the equivalent for footwear, that's for your safety and others. IDPA is often relaxed on rules, but I have never seen anyone show up in sweats and crocs, and I have seen many ranges ban crocs for footwear, they can be very slippery.

If you want to have fun, I would 100% do the above, it will help you fit in with the folks there and keep you from getting asked to leave.

I hear ya guys, the sweats and crocs question was just being silly. I added some emojis to it lol.

I’ll be wearing normal clothes, Kore belt, and most likely leather holster and mag carrier.

I’ll see how I like it before buying anything special.

You had me shitting pants.

OttoSig,
I think that you going to find that you love it! It is a game after all but it will improve your shooting skills and provide some trigger time.

Safety is a priority at these matches so introduce yourself as a new IDPA shooter and you'll get a safety briefing (cold range, don't break the 180, etc). Bring a cover garment.

If you were serious about the crocs, I would recommend that you check with the range first. Many ranges prohibit them and especially during a match where you'll probably be moving from array to array in any given stage, maybe even while shooting.

Enjoy yourself, be safe and forget about the clock; you're not going to win the Buick during your first match anyway.

He baited us Mercury.

Otto do expect to walk the match and not run, that is a local rule I have seen in a few places for first time shooters at idpa. Just forget the whole time thing, shoot to get A hits, center of target, that is your speed. You can't miss fast enough to win.

I shot IDPA matches in Southern Wisc.(Racine and Waukegan IL.) for many years. Many of the summer Racine IDPA (now Badger IDPA) are held a County Line in Racine. I loved those matches that were held there.Shooting by Lake Michigan was special.
Even more special were the fellow Southern WI. shooters. I always found them extra friendly and helpful.I expect when they find out its your first match they will hover over you like escorting a blind person across the street.
Multiply that when they discover you are in the service.
Please post after your match.
I hope you find your path to a membership at County Line.

Racine's a bit too far, sorry to say.

Have fun! I haven't shot Practical Pistol since it was called, I think, IPSC and pretty much governed by Jeff Cooper. So, over 40 years. I miss it.

No problems at all.

If you ever want lunch or a beer let me know and I can head your way.

I shot IDPA exclusively until January of this year. Since January, I’ve shot 7 USPSA matches. I’ve joking called IDPA “the WNBA of the shooting sports” since.

Shooting a match is single best training that you can give yourself if you use it to learn at what you suck at. And then improve on that.

In my research I’ve placed the disciplines accordingly.

I do think USPSA is a bit more, involved, and focused.

But that is my opinion based off no experience so whatever that is worth.

With all that said I felt like starting in the slightly simpler shallow end was best for me. And with a the difference between then two, they’ll both help me.

I would like to eventually check out uspsa as well.

I have found USPSA to be more fun.

If you've never shot action pistol then give IDPA a try.

I agree with jljones that USPSA is more fun.

I used to get annoyed with IDPA locally since it was heavily attended back then and I felt like I basically sat around (literally...bring a chair) all day to shoot for a couple minutes.

quote:

Originally posted by KevH:
I used to get annoyed with IDPA locally since it was heavily attended back then and I felt like I basically sat around (literally...bring a chair) all day to shoot for a couple minutes.

A lot depends on which clubs you're shooting at and how well the stages are designed. We're a pretty big club and usually run between 80-90 shooters...a bit down from pre-Covid when we had about 120 and waiting list.

The big (12 stages) West Coast IDPA Regional match, The Western, is this next weekend and we should have something over 200 shooters. The next biggest is in Grand Junction CO at the end of next month, where they are running 18 stages. Either of these matches give the IDPA Nationals, in Ohio this year, a run for the money in fun stages

Another Action Pistol sport that is fun is the Galactic Pistol Alliance...the latest club in NorCal is at Richmond; the rule book is only 12 page long

I agree with what Jerry said about using competition as a way to find flaws and then to train to correct the flaws.

I have never shot IDPA but my impression is that the actual shooting is subject to a lot more rules and is less free-flowing than USPSA or PCSL. I certainly wouldn't discourage anybody from trying it, but I would definitely recommend checking out USPSA and/or PCSL (or any other "hit factor" scored match as well).

I think that what you will find regardless of the discipline(s) you explore is a welcoming bunch of people that will be glad you're there and will want to help you get better. I did not expect to make so many friends shooting matches.

OttoSig,
Don't forget a cover garment. When I was active at IDPA a lot of the guys wore that 'shoot-me-first' vest. Personally, I wore a loose denim shirt unbuttoned and untucked and would simply 'sweep' the shirt tail back as part of the draw stroke.

I usually shot my P229, 3 mags loaded to 13 rounds each and 4th mag with my 'Barney bullet' used during the 'Load and make ready' command.

I think you'll have a lot of fun.

No reason you can't shoot both IDPA and USPSA. Most indoor shooting ranges have IDPA leagues, great for those colder winter months.