Why do you shoot IDPA?

[Michael Brown]

Let's get this started:

Do you shoot IDPA for:

1) Recreation

2) Training

3) Competition

Any other reason?

A little of all three?

Discuss amongst yourselves. :popcorn:

Michael Brown

[J.P.]

Recreation.
I am not good enough to shoot for competition and besides...you have no competition,Mike.
:respect:

Seriously,maybe a little of all three.
I don't really consider IDPA competition suitable as training since it probably does not represent the real dynamics of a gunfight.
However,it does make you think about how you might react and it also magnifies any shooting errors.
You don't realize just how bad you suck at this stuff until you hear that buzzer. ;)

Mostly I do it to have a good time though.
We've had some really fun matches lately! Hilarity always insues.
It's a time for me to focus on exactly what *I'm* doing which is something I don't get enough of these days.
It's just a lot of fun to be out there Saturday morning shooting with some of the best in the world.
To shoot along side people like Marshal Luton,Curt Nichols,Jerry Biggs,Eric Fuson,and last but certainly not least....Michael Brown...I mean,how does it get any better than that?

What better way to spend a Saturday than half asleep,jacked up on caffine,and handling firearms? ;)

[Michael Brown]

Good response.

I was hoping someone would raise the issue of IDPA as training or practice for self-defense.

I won't wade in just yet. I am interested in getting some responses though as I think there are a lot of folks who see it as just that.

Michael Brown

[kjones99]

What better way to spend a Saturday than half asleep,jacked up on caffine,and handling firearms? ;)

i couldn't agree more, except for the coffee. i just enjoy shooting, however, it has been a great learning experience for me as well.

[Kelly Drown]

I've never done IDPA before, but it sounds like fun. I'll have to get out there one of these times and experience it. :)

[J.P.]

It would be great to have you out there Kelly.
It really is a lot of fun.
The downside is,you'll probably get hooked! :)

[kjones99]

hooked is an easy way to put it. i wish i could find the free time to get out there more often.

[ERIC FUSON]

Competing Will Make You Familar With Your Equipment. That Is Where The Practical Application Ends. That Being Said, Being Familiar With Your Equipment Is Crutial To Surving A Lethal Encounter.

[J.P.]

However,being too familiar with a keyboard will cause you to capitalize every single word.
;)
Love ya',man!

[XRF]

Yes.

[F16mickey]

Competing Will Make You Familar With Your Equipment. That Is Where The Practical Application Ends.

I would agree with this if more people shot what they actualy carried. How many people that compete in IDPA actualy carry the GLOCK 34 that they use in competition? I bet not many! Drawing a Glock 26 from your everyday carry gear is alot different than drawing that 34 from competition gear. That being said IDPA is more usefull than say, just doing Bullseye shooting. But I must say that the times (twice) I did shoot a match it did raise my confidence level. I was just happy that I managed to draw my weapon without throwing it downrange :)

P.S. I do plan on going back and shooting more matches it is alot of fun.

[J.P.]

I'm now shooting a G23 from a CTAC IWB holster which is exactly what I carry.
It's definitely slower but hey....so is real life.

[JuniorDVC]

I know of quite a few people that Carry what they compete with. For instance, the law inforcement...

-jay

[SoonerGlockGirl]

What do most people compete with? Would my G26 work???

[SoonerGlockGirl]

Also, what kind of holster would I need? I just have a Fobus paddle right now.

[Glockender]

Also, what kind of holster would I need? I just have a Fobus paddle right now.

we also need at least a single mag pouch or a double mag pouch from what J.P. told me

[J.P.]

Most use a Glock 17 but a 26 will work just fine.
Fobus paddle holster is a good holster to start with as are their mag pouches.
You should go to the store and try them on to make sure they are legal.
A link to the IDPA rules is at the top of the IDPA section here.

Most stages shoot 18rd or less,so you have 10+1 in your gun,1-10rd mag in a pouch,and another (strongly recommended) 10rd in a pouch.

[tams72]

I shoot IDPA for the fun I have and the experience I can get with my gun. When I first started shooting I was so uncomfortable it wasn't even funny...I became more and more confident with each match...now I don't really even get nervous anymore...I look at them all as learning experiences...I am learning my gun, how to handle it, how it can be handled, how much I can rely on it and IF I ever have a malfunction, I now know how to handle it...before I would look at whomever I was shooting with and say "Fix it..." I know IDPA is semi-sorta reality based scenerios; however, can you ever truely be 100% ready for these situations? The scenerio IDPA puts out helps you to learn how to use cover, how to do the different reloads, how to shoot on the move, how to shoot from kneeling around cover, etc...these stages, in my opinion, help you to give you a better base knowledge of your gun, gear, and muscle memory. Before, it use to take me forever to do a reload and I would have to concentrate on it, now, I can do a reload without having to think about it and can keep my target in my line of sight. TDSA and Eric and all the others help teach me these things, IDPA helps to reiterate the fact. I love to shoot, I shoot for fun, I shoot for training (me and my gun), and I shoot competition. It is a great stress relief being around these guys and gals, they are really good people.

[tams72]

What do most people compete with? Would my G26 work???
Your G26 would work...You can shoot most any gun you want...check with some of the guys that shoot around you that shoot IDPA and make sure it is within the rules...I shoot a G34...I use a Safariland paddle holster on duty (when I am not wearing my rig), I use to shoot with it now I shoot out of a female holster made by pistolpacking.com (I have an hourglass figure and had to shift to draw, my gun sat basically in my armpit). Come to a local match and check out what everyone uses, you can shoot out of your holster you have now. Grab a couple of mag pouches and lets have fun... :gun1:

[J.P.]

"I have an hourglass figure"

Yes you do!
:naughty:

[J.P.]

As Tams mentioned, www.pistolpacking.com is the source for Ready Tactical gear.
This is really good stuff (my favorite) and they do make female specific holsters.

[tams72]

Yes you do!
:naughty:
They (the curves) are a blessing and a curse...depends on the time...yet again at times they do give me an advantage...I told Eric, when you have a watermelon come out of a place made for something no bigger than a pea, we will talk about fair holster rules...

[J.P.]

Doh!

[Snyperc]

Massad Ayoob states in several of his books and articles that competition shooting is a great way to "simulate", or better put to introduce into the equation, stress in the shooters mind. For this reason I think shooting in any type of competition is helpful. IDPA in my opinion is best at this since it hasn't been corrupted (if that's the way to put it) into a game like many of the other types (Bianci Cup comes to mind). I hope to start participating after the first of the year and am looking at which range to join right now.
By the way, just joined the forum and really like the looks of it so far, very informative.

[Michael Brown]

IDPA is as "corrupted" as any of the shooting sports despite its owners and board attempting to say its not.

Game holsters, game tactics, and game attitudes pervade IDPA. I will readily admit to being one of those that uses a holster in IDPA that isn't what I carry.

But that shoud not be suprising since it is a game.

Michael Brown

[TwoBravo]

+1 :thumb: