[brighamr]

I have an XD 9 Tactical, and I'm interested in speed shooting (not high-accuracy bullseyes). Anyone have experience with all three orgs? Is there a reason you prefer one over the other? Can you recommend a match range near southwest montana? I'm also interested in 22LR rifle shoots if you have any info...

Thanks!

[Sunray]

All three are fun shooting games with different rules. None of them are in the least bit practical either.
The best thing to do is go try 'em all. Lots of shooters play all three. Mind you, if you're a new shooter, you should shoot bullseye too. You need to be able to shoot your XD reasonably well before you play the games. Bullseye shooting teaches you sight picture, trigger control and breathing without all the running around. While a 9mm isn't a target calibre, I wouldn't let that stop me if that's what I had. Shooting bullseye will get you invited to a lot of places and assorted other matches too.
To find a club that shoots any of 'em, go to the respective organization sites and look for the clubs near you.
The NRA site is good for the .22.
http://www.nrahq.org/clubs/index.asp
http://www.ipsc.org/
http://www.idpa.com/
http://www.uspsa.org/

[skinewmexico]

IPSC and USPSA are essentially the same thing. Some big names broke off from them and founded IDPA because they thought "practical" was no longer part of the concept of USPSA, and they felt it had become an arms race. Or so they say. I like IDPA, because it's what my club has. And it let's me shoot what I carry. If I was near an IPSC club, I'd probably be wanting to dump a bunch of money into a race gun. They're both games, and trigger time is always good for you.

[Darth Muffin]

They're all fun. Any trigger time is good time :)

USPSA is the US chapter of IPSC (International). The US rules are slightly different in some details, but it's more-or-less the same game.

Some very general observations:
USPSA: higher round count stages. more motion and varied props. more problem-solving as stages are freestyle. Wider range of guns allowed.
IDPA: lower rounf count stages, less movement. More "realistic" defense type scenarios. No freestyle, you have to shhot it "just so", reload behind cover, reload with retention, etc. Narrower range of weapons permitted.

IDPA Proponents (maybe rightly) say the lack of freestyle and narrow weapon selection remove some variables and make it more of a shooting skill match.

Personally, I like USPSA. It's just more fun for me. The IDPA guys claim they're more prepared for a parking lot encounter with two bad guys. Maybe so, but next time I'm playing cards and discover the two cheats across from me I'll have no problem taking them out--and the other 6 guys in the room, and everyone in the next room just for good measure :)

[Jim Watson]

The "best" one is the one you can get to. Use the club finding information at the USPSA, IDPA, and NRA sites.

[Chris Rhines]

I'd suggest that you try both IDPA and USPSA, and shoot whichever one you like better. If you can't decide, shoot both.

You can easily set up your equipment to work in both sports. A Springfield XD9 will work well in USPSA Production and IDPA ESP divisions.

Myself, I started out shooting IDPA, then mostly switched to USPSA when I moved back east. This past year I shot some IDPA matches, just as a lark, and quickly found myself frustrated with the rules and one-way-only stage design. I doubt I'll shoot much IDPA anymore, but that's me and my personality. You may see it differently.

- Chris

[jmorris]

I’m not sure how much competitive drive you have, it will be much easier with your equipment to place higher overall in IDPA that the others mentioned.

[brighamr]

This is great information! I've been shooting pistol "matches" with my family for years, and I'm really excited about measuring up with other people. I'm thinking I'll do as suggested and try all of them, but I have one more question: a lot of posts in the comp section talk about a race gun... I'm assuming this is a gun that shoots accurately and really fast? can you give me some examples? (I'd like to get into speed shooting with a good gun, I'll keep the XD for idpa and ccw). Also, what calibers are the most prevalent? I have been thinking of a .45....
Thanks again!

[yar]

I used to live in Montana. There are good matches in Big Fork (http://www.bigforkgunclub.com) and Missoula (http://www.bspsc.org)

I would say try both but I much prefer uspsa. USPSA and IDPA are both games and not "training". Some IDPA guys go way overboard thinking they are so "tactical". I could do without the jaw jacking. That and the round count is way too low and the targets are way to easy. USPSA has a lot higher round count and present much more difficult shooting problems.

[PPGMD]

I agree USPSA freestyle shooting is more fun. Half the fun is figuring out how to do the stage, and how your way compares to the way that others do it.

Last night we had a stage that could be shot 4-5 different ways

[Darth Muffin]

I agree USPSA freestyle shooting is more fun. Half the fun is figuring out how to do the stage, and how your way compares to the way that others do it.


Definitely +1. Half of the fun is shooting "smarter". Dunno about you but my brain is my best weapon.

Some examples of "race guns"
http://www.stiguns.com/guns/USPSADS/USPSADoubleStack.html
http://www.stiguns.com/guns/TruBor/TruBor.html

It depends what division you want to compete in. Production and Single Stack are two divisions that don't allow a lot of mods. You don'y have to, but most serious players will at least have a few tweaks like a trigger job and fiber optic sights.

[hondapro]

I never shot uspsa,but I can tell you idpa is a whole lot of FUN

[yar]

click image for more infohttp://www.madtrigger.net/images/gats/xxLG.jpg (http://www.madtrigger.net/phpwebsite_1_2_0/index.php?module=webpage&id=42)

click image for more infohttp://www.madtrigger.net/images/gats/xxog1.jpg (http://www.madtrigger.net/phpwebsite_1_2_0/index.php?module=webpage&id=41)

Race gun is a blanket term for a gun modified for gun games such as uspsa/ipsc. You can go open or limited class. There is a whole bunch of modifications that would be too extensive to type.

Get out to a USPSA match and see what other people are running. Use what you got and shoot production class. As other people about their equipment. You will find everyone is really friendly and more than willing to talk your ear off about their gear and even let you fire off a few rounds after the match. Shoot a few matches with the equipment you have and then you will have an idea of what you might want to upgrade to.

Most people shoot 9mm in production, 40 in limited, and hand loaded 9mm major in open class. You don't see 45 except in 1911 single stack.

[PPGMD]

Yeah the Race Gun term is over used by IDPA shooters, in production even a Glock 22 can be competitive as long as you do a 3.5# trigger job with the Glock disconnecter.

In limited a Glock 22 with a 3.5# and the +2 extensions can be very competitive. Though a Glock 35 would be a better idea, and extended magazines to 19-20 rounds.

[skinewmexico]

A race gun. Take $1500 STI, then get your check book out and spend some serious money.

[brighamr]

I appreciate the pictures and suggestions. There aren't any matches till next year, but I plan on attending a few and seeing what they're all about.

The race guns look awesome, but I'll probably hold off till tax return :-)

[jmorris]

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=60675&d=1184250405 If you start in production you will also have the equipment to play IDPA as well.

[OH25shooter]

Since you mentioned you have a XD9 Tactical, that is what I purchased for USPSA Production. I sent it away to Springer Precision for a 3.5# trigger, Dawson sights and a mag button extension. This was my first season of USPSA. Besides it being fun, I noticed a couple things immediately. At my age, I cannot come close to competing with the young guns. And many shooters are fast, but not accurate for points. I've watched IDPA matches, but chose USPSA because the rules in IDPA are really different. I hate being told to wear a cover garment. :barf: USPSA involves some thinking regarding how one shoots a particular course. Here's my Tactical:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/OH25shooter/DSCN3134.jpg

[PPGMD]

At my age, I cannot come close to competing with the young guns.

Interestingly enough open is where older shooters have a more even field because one of the biggest problems, eye sight, and muzzle control are handled more easily with the actual race guns (I don't consider most limited guns to be race guns).

[OH25shooter]

Interestingly enough open is where older shooters have a more even field because one of the biggest problems, eye sight...

You know what, the more I think of that division and the shooters, they are older, and have told me their eye sight is s***, like mine. Yup, in my area the Production shooters are in their late 20's and early 30's, fast and accurate. At 59 with poor up close vision, it gets frustrating to try sight focus. I guess it's a cycle, those young shooters will get near 40 and PRESTO, your vision goes downhill.

[atek3]

XD9 tactical is perfect for USPSA production... find a local club and start shooting