IDPA matches are held all over the country. Entry fees are usually around $20. Equipment is your carry gun, a holster and 3 magazine along with about 150 rounds and a cover garment. It is a fantastic and fun way to find the holes in your technique, shooting and equipment before it is for real.
Read about it, much is available for study online but you cannot beat it for a fun way to spend a Saturday that can net you some great and useful trigger time that translates to the real world….something that standing on a square range shooting paper can’t really do. I only wish I had began to do it sooner. It is loads of fun and everyone is incredibly nice and helpful. I guarantee you will not be the only new shooter, in fact there will be many, and you will find an accepting and super helpful crowd. But this is not the reason to try this.
If you are the carrier of a pistol, you are doing yourself a grave disservice to not participate in something like IDPA. It is an entertaining and informative way to test your skill and equipment in a lifelike scenario so you can see the holes in your system. While not a substitute for training with JC, Maxx, NC Scout or John, it is a great introduction into thinking and moving while engaging targets.
Many of us prep for every type disaster under the sun except the one we are most likely to face, a violent confrontation. Carrying a gun does not make you a gunfighter any more than carrying a hoe makes you a farmer.
Moving, shooting and thinking about the environment you are in and learning to do it faster and better can only be accomplished by actually doing. Reading and watching videos will not cut it.
I encourage you to seek out some matches, and then take part.
Preaching over.
Tick. Tock.
[…] On the merits of IDPA. […]
It’s good PRACTICE….but it’s NOT training.
Maybe not in the strictest of senses, but what it does is allow you to practice in a real-world scenario things like changing magazines while under the “stress” of the timer. It forces you to think about multiple threats, which is most important and how to shoot on the move. For folks who have no experience in these things it is a great gateway to being better prepared. Besides, how else does the average person in the FUSA spend a Saturday? Shooting zombies and engaging carjackers under a timer is way more useful than reading commentary on the SOTU address…
You hear the ‘good practice, but not training’ every time someone mentions IDPA or USPSA. But, the moment you walk out of your ‘super ninja training school’ your skills start to deteriorate. Participation in scenario based competition allows you to continually assess your skills and identify shortcomings, which you can then address during your practice. I, who generally finish in the bottom third of the match, frequently find myself squadded with state and national champion shooters, who are generally very glad to offer advice and tips to help me improve my skills.
Hear hear!
Hard to improve at all while polishing your guns and yelling at the news.
Get out there people, get busy and do it now.
I posted this at Pete’s too
Also an idea and one that some of my cohorts are doing this spring is set up our own IDPAish matches. One of our cadre is an IDPA director and we plan to get a little more …. edgy in our matches. Allow Tac mag changes and other things not allowed in the actual sanctioned matches.
Look I know it isn’t the same as going to visit John, but any almost free activities that teach fast practical accuracy and effective efficient mag changes while moving is NOT a waste of time.
If you are 10% better than you were, you are 90% better than the average ANTIFA goon or guy who is trying to take your wallet.
This isn’t as much about freefor as much as every day protection. But…those trying to protect and serve the $&#@ out of you aren’t gonna flank and spank themselves now are they?
Tick Tock
Thats really cool. Good thinking!
You say, “not a substitute for training with JC, Maxx, NC Scout or John”, yeah, sums it up pretty well, though after getting that combat pistol training, your idea it is a great, essential yes, and fun, a hoot, excellent, very modest cost, method of improving what I learned already.
Could you recommend where or how you find is the best way to get started with the IDPA shoots?
Look on your favorite local gun board or search engine. They are everywhere.
There are rules, they can be found here.
https://www.idpa.com/idpa-matches/idpa-match-rules/
Excellent. Appreciate you.
Been concentrating on things to the exclusion of many things beyond the remote rural area of operations of my local community tribe and closest friends, it is refreshing to learn about something like this. Good fun and practical activity.
Thanks.
as a 35 year law enforcer gun toter, and a 30 year uspsa/ipsc shooter, I can say simply that any top end law enforcement shooter will get his butt kicked by a normal c/d class uspsa/ipsc shooter. when your weapons handling, firearms safety, and accuracy skills are above 98% of law enforcement shooters, you can concentrate on tactics, situational awareness, not making mistakes, and your exponentially greater force continuum. I would pick a b class ipsc/uspsa/idpa shooter to lead the entry team over a 99% LE shooter any day.
Spot on, and thanks!
Exactly. I compare it to driving a car. At first, your brain is occupied learning how to operate the machine, how to use the controls to make it do what you want it to do. Later, when those mechanical functions become more automatic, you have more brain space available to negotiate traffic, navigate to your destination, etc.
Same with the gun. In competition, you learn to run the machine quickly and without conscious thought, leaving your brain free to solve the problem in front of you…all under the pressure of the timer and “everybody’s looking at me!” You can’t tell me that’s not useful.
Lizard brain training is real. Thanks for reading and for the comment. Share us with your friends, time is short.
I never entered a tournament but my wife and I went to practice with both uspsa and ipsc almost weekly for a year until I moved away from a convenient range location. I miss it!!!
Set something up yourself! It isn’t hard if you have the space or friends with some land.