Looking at shooting IDPA

[copeje]

I have just really started getting into shooting. Always loved guns but more heavy now than ever. I am not a beginner, but don't know everything either.

What classes should I take now if I want to start shooting IDPA in a few months?

What classes should I continue to take to help improve my skills?

Where is the best place to take these classes?

Are they very helpful at the shooting matches with people who are just getting started?

[mons meg]

15 minute bump. Other inquiring minds want to know... ;)

[38Super]

don't wait a couple of months to start shooting IDPA, just get your gear and show up at the next match ready to shoot. Most everyone there will help you out along the way. Really no special course to take as long as you are SAFE with the gun. Just go out and to it wether it is IDPA or IPSC. The best way is to jump right in.

[IDtheTarget]

My wife and I want to start competing also. We're going to try and show up at H&H on the 10th for whichever it is (IDPA? IPSC?), but it depends on how quickly I can finish up at the nation guard drill, change out of uniform and get down there. Sounds like it should be fun!

[Cowman]

Take Will Andrews's Pistol Skills 2,3,4, and 5. I think you will learn more there, than just showing up for a shoot. He teaches at H and H. On Sunday evenings. His website is linked to H and H. Look under the learning tab.

[Buzzdraw]

Any IDPA or IPSC club in the state welcomes new shooters. You may not take a gun and gear to your first match, if you just want to observe, but you'll likely want to shoot, so bring the gun, ammo, and gear.

Safety is paramount among pistol shooters. It is very easy to accidentlly swing a pistol muzzle where it does not belong. The occurance must be avoided.

Every few months, I offer a 6 hour "IDPA/IPSC Clinic" at Oil Capital Rod & Gun (Tulsa). It takes those with some pistol shooting skills to the point they are ready to safely compete in either/both disciplines.

Eventually those competing in either discipline will benefit from formal training. In the Tulsa area, Mike Brown, Marshall Luton, and others offer excellent classes in certain disciplines. Others teach the others here in Tulsa.

[copeje]

What all gear would I need besides gun and ammo?

What is the cost of shooting in these compititions?

[Buzzdraw]

Ammo would be 100-150 rounds to make sure you can make the 75-85 required hits a typical match contains.

You need at least 2 magazines; 3 is better.

You need a strongside hip holster for your gun. Kydex or leather are the prefered materials. First match shooters without considerable "drawing from leather" experience are encouraged to start each stage with gun in hand, so maybe you don't need holster.

Cover garment to cover gun and gear. A jacket or vest will work. Most use a canvas photographer's vest. Garment use requirement is suspended during hot weather.

Not all Clubs provide ample seating and water on stages, so bring your own. Don't forget eye and ear protection; they are required even for spectators closer than 50 yds to ranges.

Don't go buying a bunch of new equipment until after at least your first match. You'll have a better idea of what you want at that point.

Locally IDPA match fees vary in cost from $8 to $15.

[J.P.]

Yep.
Just come out and do it.
You'll do better than you think.
you need eye/ear protection,holster,2-3 mags w/ pouches and concealment garment.
Rules:
1) Be safe
2) Have fun!

[copeje]

You mentioned concealed garment is suspended in hot weather. SO if its hot we do not have to conceal?

What holsters do you recommend using? Do you recommend using the gun I carry for CCL or use a gun for compitition?

Can I use a G34 or what guns are legal for use.

Why three mags instead of two?

Do you have the link to the website or the web address?

[Buzzdraw]

If it is predicted to be 100 or above, heat index temp, then cover usually becomes optional at local matches.

Comp-Tac’s belt and locking paddle models are popular. http://www.comp-tac.com/index.html There are other ones out there, such as certain Blade-Tech models that work fine too. http://www.blade-tech.com/home.php Any strong-side CCW holster should fit the bill too, see IDPA official web for rules. http://www.idpa.com/

A Glock 34 will work fine for a couple divisions. Do not make modifications from factory until you read and understand division rules for SSP and ESP guns.

Come to a match with a 30-something rounds standards sometimes and you’ll know why you want at least 3 mags. BTW, these extensive standards stages are rare locally. For Glock mags, try CDNN. http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ They really have what they say they have and ship promptly. Good prices too! I’d suggest spending the extra buck for hi-caps (either LE marked or conventional). They are easier to load and you never know when you might want a high cap for non-competition purposes.

[J.P.]

FWIW,we had a match this weekend with a stage that required 3 mags.

[copeje]

Thanks for all the links. There are so damn many holsters to choose from. Is there anyone around OKC or Tulsa that has a good selection in stck where I could try some out?

[copeje]

What do you mean by strong side CCW holster. As of now I carry my G27 and G30 in Bianchi leather holsters.

[J.P.]

Strongside as in no crossdraw,etc...


Ready Tactical makes the best gear,IMO but order at your own risk because a few of us have overdue orders with no recent return correspondance.Highly out of character for the owner but it still remains an issue.

Ky-tac is great gear too but the wait times can be very long,I hear.

So....until I can find a company that makes top notch gear and can deliver as promised,I'm going to be using Comp-Tac gear.
They make decent stuff but I see lots of room for improvement in their detailing/finishing.

[copeje]

I have heard good things about Comp Tac. Could I get away with using the leather holster that I use now or would you recommend using a paddle holster.

[ERIC FUSON]

The Most Common Holster Etc, Are Kydex. Comp-tac, Ready Tactical Products, Blade-tec And Fobus Types Are The Most Common. I Have Used All Of This Gear And Lean Toward Comp-tac Or Ready Tactical. Second, You Dont Need Special Training To Compete, However If You Are Looking For An Advantage Look At Tdsatulsa Ap-1 Course. That Training Took Me From Sharpshooter Class To Master Class In 9 Days!!!

[Buzzdraw]

Strong side refers to your dominant side, i.e. the side that you write, eat, and do most dexterous thing with. If you use your fork at the dinner table with your right hand, then you are right strong-sided (or dominant in other-speak.)

Go to your first match (s) with what you have. Don’t worry about what you don’t have. Shoot, have fun, learn what to go gather and then gather.

I've shot a bunch of matches with leather holsters, including several with the belt-slide minimalist Don Hume-mfg jobs. Kydex is just faster. What you currently have for concealed carry will almost certainly do for a first match.

I too like the quality/fit/finish of Ready-Tac gear, but I really don't like the current situation of poor customer service/relations. Just got a superb revolver holster from them, but the promised two weeks delivery turned into over two months with a couple false ship dates thrown in. Hope it gets fixed quick so I can continue doing business with them.

[copeje]

As of now I have a Uncle Mikes ambidetrex, Bianchi, and a Fobus paddle holster. Which one would you reccommend.

Also, should I get a pistol to compete with or use my G30 or G27 that I carry for everyday use.

My glocks are only 10 round mags. Will this cause a problem.

[copeje]

Also, What is the difference between IDPA and IPSC?

Which one is better?

Do they have a seperate purpose?

[C.H.H.]

Both IDPA and IPSC are fun. I will let someone else describe the difference.
I am still somewhat of a noob and will recommend that you take what you have already to your first match. The first time I went, the only thing I took with me was a 1911 pistol and ammo. I borrowed a holster and a mag pouch, got some instruction and had a blast. You will probably see a lot of different guns, holsters, etc. I know from experience that new shooters are welcome and most people will help you any way they can.

[Glock 'em down]

IDPA is more "realistic" shooting scenarios. IPSC is for the guys who like the real elaborate $3K raceguns. It's funny...IPSC stands for International PRACTICAL Shooting Confederation...there's nothing PRACTICAL about an Aimpoint red dot scope on a $3,000 racegun...IMO.

[SGTLT]

You do not need a $3000. dollar open class gun to shoot IPSC. The largest division is productoin (most of the time) and glock is the pistol shot by more people than any other.

[Buzzdraw]

Some people compete with their real carry pistol (it might be a Glock 26/27.) If you really carry it, you should consider shooting it. Max mag loading capacity is 10 rounds for IDPA. You can use hi-caps, but no division loads more than 10 rounds + 1 in chamber. Others compete with a service or tactical size version of their carry gun; heck, it may be their carry gun in the right conceal carry holster.

IDPA is a lot like what IPSC was 30 years ago. The rules limit it to pistols you’d actually carry for self defense. You can be competitive in it without spending a lot of bucks. Near stock guns, like Glocks regularly take championships.

IPSC turned into an industry-progressing equipment race starting about 1983, with the first of the compensated bowling pin guns, first in .45 ACP, then in .38 Super. It became necessary to spend big bucks to have the “toys” to be competitive. During the height of the equipment race, your new just-built gun would be obsolete by the time it was delivered to you by your custom pistolsmith. Even the Limited division, that was to encourage more basic guns, quickly became the haunt of high-cap 1911 double column jobs in 40 S&W (cost about $2,000.)

IPSC woke up about 6 years ago and established a Production division. Its rules for that division are similar (but definitely) not the same as IDPA Stock Service. Just this year IPSC has introduced a provisional Single Stack division for conventional 1911’s in a variety of calibers, striking similar to IDPA’s Enhanced Service and Custom Defensive division gun rules.

It is easy to shoot both IDPA and IPSC locally with the same gear, if you put a little thought into meeting the rules for both. Same goes for competing regionally and nationally, if you choose to travel.

IDPA limits stages to no more than 18 rounds; IPSC can have up to 32. IDPA is stringent in use of available cover; IPSC couldn’t care less about cover. IDPA is more restrictive about use of metal knock-down targets and fields of no-shoot targets. IDPA is orientated towards use of good defensive tactics, IPSC is shoot ‘em as quick as possible, with no tactics required. Both have well developed rules and Range Officer training programs. The gear for IPSC only use is sometimes a little (or a lot) more expensive. IPSC match fees are generally higher and you’ll burn more ammo there too to be competitive.

Both are fun and both provide trigger time in a match setting. It’s fun to shoot a $2,000-$3,000 gun in IPSC, blasting beaucoup rounds at the targets per stage; lots of fun! It’s fun to shoot a basic gun in either sport.

[1911user]

Shoot a couple of IPSC and IDPA matches then see what you like. Both are games with timers and scoresheets that provide some fun trigger time and provide practice using a loaded pistol under match pressure. Neither requires expensive custom gear and/or pistols to compete and even win (lots of practice ammo helps). Some people choose to spend lots of money on their hobby and that applies to both sports including having custom pistols built, but it's not required to do well. Shoot both and report back.

[copeje]

Thanks for the information.

When does the next IDPA match take place?

What time do I need to be there to check in?

How is the scoring of a match tabulated?

[J.P.]

Thanks for the information.

When does the next IDPA match take place?

What time do I need to be there to check in?

How is the scoring of a match tabulated?

3rd saturday in September at Red Castle Gun Club

Check in at 9:30

Scoring is based on time.
Every point you drop and/or penalty adds to your raw time

[copeje]

Are they always the third Saturday of every month?

[J.P.]

At RedCastle they are always the 3rd Sat and at oil Capital they are always the 4th sat.
Sometimes exceptions are made and matches re-scheduled around Holidays or Major matches because a lot of locals compete in them as well.
JP

[copeje]

just wondered because I work a rotating schedule

[pat3332]

Sorry if I missed this, but is there a preferred calibre (9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP), or just what you normally carry? I carry a .45, but wondered if the lighter recoil of the 9mm is an advantage.

[copeje]

I would think it would be an advantage to use a lower caliber pistol due to the recoil. Most people that shoot use a 9mm or .40 from what I have noticed.

[J.P.]

The 'spirit of the game' is to shoot what you carry,and a lot of people do.
I mainly carry 9mm although I prefer .40 and I have shot both in IDPA.
I shoot both equally well.
9mm is my predominate choice because I'm a broke-ass and it's significantly cheaper.

[copeje]

The 'spirit of the game' is to shoot what you carry,and a lot of people do.
I mainly carry 9mm although I prefer .40 and I have shot both in IDPA.
I shoot both equally well.
9mm is my predominate choice because I'm a broke-ass and it's significantly cheaper.

Now thats some funny ****!

[Maverick7340]

Do you have to be a member of these organizations in order to shoot in their matches?

[Buzzdraw]

To shoot any number of USPSA Level I (local club) matches, you do not have to be a USPSA member. For the purposes of IDPA, the National organization says you can shoot one local club match as a member, but then are supposed to join the IDPA national.