quote:

Originally posted by Mark in Michigan:
When I was active at IDPA a lot of the guys wore that 'shoot-me-first' vest.

I've heard them called that too. The thing is, most of these thugs robbing people have no idea what IDPA is.
I do remember going into a Target store close to where one of the local IDPA matches was being held and saw 3 guys walking around the store wearing those goofy things. I must confess, when I first started shooting IDPA many years back, I bought one of those Royal Robbins vests.

Best of luck. I agree that shooting a match is one of the best forms of training you can get. I shot IDPA (WNBA of practical shooting) pretty extensively in the early 2000s. They had a larger presence where I lived than USPSA. It was the only way to practice from a holster and shooting while moving in my AO. My current club host a USPSA match monthly, but I haven’t chose to participate. Mostly due to the fact it appears that I only see people decked out with competition rigs with replica shooting team jerseys. That said I have a range with multiple rifle and pistol pits that allow me and several other shooters to set up practical stages, with multiple targets, cover, and reactive steel targets. We practice under a timer and strive for accuracy with speed. I try to take a class per year and have gotten past the progression points where the need to start at the beginning of curriculum is waived by the completion of previous course work in most cases. I may do a match at some point but I am getting most of what I want in my training, less the match adrenaline. Even when I competed though I was only competing with myself to get better. I shot what I carried, dressed the way I dressed for CCW, and carried gear I would carry in real life. I didn’t load bunny fart rounds, when I shot 9mm it was almost always NATO spec rounds a little hotter than regular practice rounds and a little closer to the defensive rounds I carried. My advice is to go out with your gear, figure out the things you suck at and try to keep improving your skill. Don’t get hung up on the scoreboard, at least not in the beginning. After you play the game for a little bit, I’d suggest taking a class that focuses on trigger control and accuracy at speed. If shooting a match is the only place you can practice real life practical shooting, then use the match as your own practice session not just a game. Have fun and be safe.

The good: You’ll have fun. You’ll learn to shoot accurately while moving, and the proper way to shoot from behind cover.

The bad: Matches seem to last 3 to 4 hours, for 3 minutes of shooting. Practicing for matches can be better than actually shooting a match.

Enjoy and shoot safe.

quote:

Originally posted by 2Adefender:
The good: You’ll have fun. You’ll learn to shoot accurately while moving, and the proper way to shoot from behind cover.

The bad: Matches seem to last 3 to 4 hours, for 3 minutes of shooting. Practicing for matches can be better than actually shooting a match.

I agree with this. I shot IPSC/USPSA matches for years when I was younger. I got out of it in the late `80's when I got tired of being out there from 9AM to 4PM for a few minutes of actual shooting. I was starting to see some race guns and gaming happening, but it wasn't too bad yet. I don't know what it's like now. I've never shot IDPA so I don't know much about it.

quote:

Originally posted by dking271:
That said I have a range with multiple rifle and pistol pits that allow me and several other shooters to set up practical stages, with multiple targets, cover, and reactive steel targets. We practice under a timer and strive for accuracy with speed.

And also with this. Shooting against a buddy will nearly duplicate the match "stress", as long as you can keep it all just fun and not get too obsessed about beating each other's times.

For my first few matches, I remember being overwhelmed with the rules and the (sometimes non-intuitive) COF. Affected my competency. It helped to watch others shoot the COF first. The initial matches didn’t feel natural to me.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
For my first few matches, I remember being overwhelmed with the rules and the (sometimes non-intuitive) COF. Affected my competency. It helped to watch others shoot the COF first. The initial matches didn’t feel natural to me.

Agree 1000% with Konata’s comments. This is why I left IDPA and went to USPSA. I have learned so much from the kind folks who shoot in the local USPSA matches, who never hesitate to coach and advise me.

I wear a crossbreed IWB and IWB mag. For IDPA I bought a double mag IWB. What is funny is this is my everyday carry, so I would just wear my shirt untucked Like I normally do. If you can extend your arms straight out to the side and the gun stays concealed, you are fine. I would get so much crap from all the 'high speed' guys that also wore the special vests that were stiff so they could easily be flipped out of the way (also they wore all OWB holsters etc.) Anyway, I always did just fine. I liked practicing and using the firearm in the config that I carry daily.

redstones hints for fun at IDPA (not conclusive of course :

• familiarize yourself with the rules
  
• If you have a question, ASK, they will literally tell you where and what to shoot, how many rounds and where and when to change mags and what to do with the mag (tactical reload capture, or drop and move etc.)
  
• Take 100-150 rounds, water, and maybe a collapsible stool ( I love the round ones that accordian shut).
  
• Slow is smooth, Smooth is fast
  
• Have fun. Now I am wanting to go.
  

I had years of great fun shooting IDPA. I do miss it.

The individual club or even regional differences can really affect how the match runs as well. The locals at my home range are six stages and generally you have them shot and torn down in 3.5 hours or so. Another larger club I travel to runs a four stage match that is generally done in two hours.

I am very interested in the stage planning and execution stuff so I generally enjoy watching the other competitors shoot, especially if you have a few guys on the squad that are interested as well. It allows for a lot of stage planning talk and analysis and helps make the match more developmental as well.

quote:

Agree 1000% with Konata’s comments. This is why I left IDPA and went to USPSA. I have learned so much from the kind folks who shoot in the local USPSA matches, who never hesitate to coach and advise me.

Partly because of the IDPA rules, there's now the Galactic Pistol Alliance (GPA) which is described as IDPA-lite; it's less strict.

For example: It doesn't require a cover garment and you can drop a loaded mag anytime without a penalty. There are other softening of the rules and overall it just seems to be more fun.

quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
The individual club or even regional differences can really affect how the match runs as well. The locals at my home range are six stages and generally you have them shot and torn down in 3.5 hours or so. Another larger club I travel to runs a four stage match that is generally done in two hours.

I am very interested in the stage planning and execution stuff so I generally enjoy watching the other competitors shoot, especially if you have a few guys on the squad that are interested as well. It allows for a lot of stage planning talk and analysis and helps make the match more developmental as well.

I was going to chime in and say this same thing. The match speed has a ton to do with the SO's and how efficiently they run it. Get the rest of the group to paste targets, reset moveable targets, police brass. Keep their asses in gear and things move a lot faster.

I think a lot of it has to do with the range/club. Our local range had something going nearly every weekend. IDPA, Steel Challenge, ICORE, USPSA. I’m sure the rules are there, but it always seemed like it was more about getting more people shooting and having fun while maintaining safety. My son and I shot IDPA and Steel Challenge. I used my normal carry setup. More than once folks commented on not seeing my gun. “Where’s your gun?” I had my spare mag in front of the belt loop which I believe is a no-no in IDPA, but that’s how I carry and nobody ever gave a darn. We quit when I built a pistol range here on the ranch. We can go down and do a whole lot more shooting in a lot less time. There’s still a lot of value there though, and if life ever slows down I like to go back, and at least check out ICORE, and make a run at USPSA as well as getting back into IDPA and Steel Challenge. It was a lot of fun, even if it was a time sink.