Ipsc/ Idpa

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

Anybody do these?

[Granddragon36]

Anybody do these?
Yes. In eastern Iowa there are at least three groups that shoot USPSA/IPSC. Don't know of any IDPA groups locally.

USPSA=United States Practical Shooting Assn.
IPSC=International Practical Shoting Confederation
IDPA=International Defensive Pistol Assn.

If you are learning to shoot, both groups are fun and a good way to learn shooting. If you are thinking you will learn defensive shooting/self defense, NEITHER is much good. IPSC (pronounced ip-sic) is a race gun game. Yes, they have a revolver class, production class, limited class and unlimited class, but you "shoot and scoot", lots of movement and so on. IDPA is a game too, only you use concealment holsters and hide behind things. The big problem with IDPA is they have a TOTALLY stupid reload. Instead of just dumping the mag and reloading (about one second), you have to take the mag out, put it in a pocket and THEN reload! This takes 5-10 seconds and even I can cover 200 feet in 10 seconds, meaning that if you are screwing around I can run up and pop you, which is exactly what happens in real life! Also try cowboy shooting and playing dress up. Lots of fun and easy to learn.

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

wonderful.

anybody else?

infilting shooting clubs would be a great way to lay a foundation for bigger things if the planets came into alingment, ya know?

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

weather's heating up. time to limber up. get a case of 45 ammo, put your range bag together. shooter ready?

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

there's a shooting event every weekend in the midwest in the not so wide space between chicago and detroit. idpa, ipsc, cowboy, sillouhettes, hipo rifle, trap, 3 gun match, whatever. I'll bet its not that diff in certain other parts of the country.

owning firearms is common. being able to use them effectively is uncommon. WNs must be proficient. Proficiency requires practice. No funner way to practice than organized competition. timing factor simulates stress. courses of fire teach use of cover and other defensive tactics. beats the shit out of "plinking." Also beats the shit out of sitting on a potty down in kentucky hosing down targets and melting barrels all the while rubbing elbows with scads of informants. WTF do you call that? Knob Creek? Pffft.

how could would it be if we could field a "VNN rifle team" to Camp Perry? LOL.

[Granddragon36]

You can do a quick web search of USPSA/IPSC and IDPA to find local chapters in your area. I can go to a shoot every weekend within 100 miles of me if I want, so there should be something near you. Go, watch, try it. Many groups will let you shoot the first time free, so take your gun, holster (needs to cover the trigger), a box of ammo and try it. It's fun, most people there are just like us (they hate scum too), and you might learn something. Lot worse ways to spend an afternoon!

[MadScienceType]

Howdy AE,

I'm actually interested in IDPA, mostly in the "stock" class, if there is one for IDPA. Just don't know much about it. I don't like how sporterized some of the IPSC/USPSA stuff has become. I really don't care about race guns, fancy holsters and holosights and such, since I'm not likely to be carrying any of it when I need to shoot. I've been to the relevant websites of each and they're actually not too helpful. Believe it or not, there's not a whole lot going on in the central Texas region. You'd think there would be a range every quarter-mile here, but it ain't the case; they're few and far between. I'd appreciate any info you can provide. Curious about costs and such. Feel free to PM me or email if you'd rather

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

You can do a quick web search of USPSA/IPSC and IDPA to find local chapters in your area. I can go to a shoot every weekend within 100 miles of me if I want, so there should be something near you. Go, watch, try it. Many groups will let you shoot the first time free, so take your gun, holster (needs to cover the trigger), a box of ammo and try it. It's fun, most people there are just like us (they hate scum too), and you might learn something. Lot worse ways to spend an afternoon!

thanks for your replies. in my experience it helps to have 3 magazines. but 10 rounders are ok, that's all they allow in stock class. you can get a cheap rigid plastic holster for most popular types that works well. first few times I just shoved my mags in my back pocket, but the regulars get these fancy mag holders. also, better to have two or three boxes. seems like usually 100 rounds minimum out here. tack on twenty for misses. plus they are usually in the morning.

I hope people will get involved. a good way if youre shy is to join a local gun club first.

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

Howdy AE,

I'm actually interested in IDPA, mostly in the "stock" class, if there is one for IDPA. Just don't know much about it. I don't like how sporterized some of the IPSC/USPSA stuff has become. I really don't care about race guns, fancy holsters and holosights and such, since I'm not likely to be carrying any of it when I need to shoot. I've been to the relevant websites of each and they're actually not too helpful. Believe it or not, there's not a whole lot going on in the central Texas region. You'd think there would be a range every quarter-mile here, but it ain't the case; they're few and far between. I'd appreciate any info you can provide. Curious about costs and such. Feel free to PM me or email if you'd rather

I'm in the midwest so I dont know about central texas. I have friends and family in East texas but they arent competitive shooters just fishin-shootin in the woods types.

up here, matches are usually not more than 15 bucks. usually 25-50 dudes unless you're talking statewide matches which is totally different. takes about three or four hours in the mornings on sundays. IDPA is more practically oriented than IPSC which is now criticized by Cooper for being too remote from the real world. At the local level, people usually do both. My experience is limited to stock as I am into this as a martial art of sorts and gamesmanship in this area would be self-defeating. My understanding of the basic rules for stock is ten rounds per mag loading limit and no optics. Usually there are say, five to ten courses of fire consisting of multiple targets at different distances. You have to double tap each target. There may be "hostage" barriers which overlap targets which must not be shot or else a penalty. There may be physical barriers which are required to be shot around and also used for cover during reloads or you will penalized. You have to move quickly to the next position while firing at times and if you go slow it's a penalty. You may in some circumstances use a barrier as a rest or stabilizing factor for your aim. Get the idea? Its pretty fun.

So IDPA would be the first thing to try out. If youve got a 1911 that's prefered obviously but plenty folks shoot glocks and many geezers shoot wheelguns. I wouldnt call those guys geezers though because they usually dont miss and most of them have "seen the elephant" whereas I have always been a civilian.

[MadScienceType]

Thanks! I'll see what I can come up with in this area. Got a 1911, but it's an aluminum frame. Don't think it'll stand up for very long. The USP could be dusted off for this very reason, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

Thanks! I'll see what I can come up with in this area. Got a 1911, but it's an aluminum frame. Don't think it'll stand up for very long. The USP could be dusted off for this very reason, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

USP is a da/sa setup isnt it? some people shoot those but most not, which is why glock is usually the alternative to 1911. the problem is you need that 14 lb trigger pull the first shot and then 6 lbs or whatever subsequent. but your body when trained to react reflexively, wants the same trigger pull every time. better a heavier trigger pull the same each time than different. or am I wrong about the USP?

[MadScienceType]

USP is a da/sa setup isnt it?

The USP has a bunch of ways it can be set up, but yeah, mine is DA/SA. However, it can be carried "cocked and locked" just like a 1911, so that you don't have the long, heavy and gritty first DA pull and the light subsequent SA pulls. I think it would be ok for competition, unless there are rules stating that you have to decock if your gun can do so (this was a requirement when shooting qualifying test for CHL). A lot of the PDs that use USPs do have them set up for DA-only from what I hear.

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

well folks spring is here and out in flyover the shooting events are in full swing. yours truly just put in an appearance at one recently, my first of the year, at a range which I had never been to. boy, was it neat, with a couple of moving targets on this big electric contraption... apparently this club has received a ton of money from local security infrastructure in the past few years to upgrade facilities.. LOL I think of my enjoyment there as a sort of rebate on my taxes....

[Antiochus Epiphanes]

well I have done another couple matches and I finally beat my longtime shooting buddy.

However I must admit it was a qualified success. It may have helped he was using a wheelgun to practice for an upcoming revolver match. lol