Ever tried Polite Society matches?

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VaughnT

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I really enjoyed my IDPA experience to date and wouldn't mind attending a PS meet when the time allows. From what I understand, it's a bit different than IDPA, but I'm not entirely sure how. Someone mentioned that only LEO and CCW-holders are allowed to participate (not a problem for me) but does this mean that it's more "realistic" or professional? Is this more in tune with current training methodologies/ideas?

In your opinion, would it be worth driving all the way to Atlanta from Greenville to shoot a match?
 
I've never heard of this. What is a PS Meet? Are they only local, or all over the country?

If it is only open to CCW and Police officers it sure sounds to me like a good way to get to meet some local LEO's and make good connections.
 
NC, The Polite Society is sorta like the IDPA except that the COF's are more realistic and the techniques they use/require are equally so. Of course, this is all second-hand info as I've never met anyone that's been to a match run by the PS. I don't know how large the organization is, but the only range I've seen mention them is in Conyers, GA (Gabe Suarez is teaching a class there next month).

If there are more events around the southeast, I haven't heard of them. The LEO/CCW restriction is, however, straight from the horse's mouth.
 
Best I can tell, the Polite Society came out of Tom Givens' Rangemaster in Memphis, Tenn, with input from Jim Higginbotham and other trainers and "operators." I have been to two of the events thus far held there, plus the earlier Rangemaster Tactical Conferences which were run mostly to IDPA rules and procedures but with streetwise CoFs.

Here is a thread at 1911Forum
http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24862&highlight=Polite+Society
including my writeup on the August '02 shoot:

and
http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42746&highlight=Polite+Society
has my description of the February '03 shooting phase.

But you have to bear in mind that the shooting is only half the event. While one participant is shooting and a few more are watching - sometimes they operate semi-surprise, sometimes not - there are seminars being taught by first-class trainers from all over the country. I hope to open up my schedule for more of those this time.

The Rangemaster Tactical Conference and Polite Society Winter Indoor Championship will be at that range in Memphis on Feb 28-29 2004.
There will be Gabe Suarez, John Farnam, Keith Jones, James Yeager, D.K. Pridgen, and Tom Givens. Karl Rehn will run the match stages live with Airsoft guns so you can see if your gamer habits work in a gunfight.

John Leuring is running the show at South River Gun Club, Conyers, Georgia. He does not have the elaborate seminar setup of the Tactical Conferences, but I bet he WILL test your gunfighting skills.

There is an e-mail list at Yahoo,
Politesociety@yahoogroups
Not real active, but you can establish contact with Col Jim Shearin and Jim Higginbotham there to get more information.
 
These are very good matches. More realistic and less gamey. For example, at the one I shot, there is only one division. There were 1911's, Glocks, revolvers all competing against each other.

Tactics(i.e use of cover, etc.) get an emphasis. You can engage a target in the open, but you better be moving towards cover. At ours, if you spent too much time in the open, or emerged from the same point on cover every time you got a penalty.
 
Sounds like something I definitely want to get in on as soon as possible.

First there was IDPA. This sunday will see me shooting my first IPSC match.

October will mean a training day with Ronin International.

Maybe a trip to Conyers is in order for November?
 
I've shot in Polite Society matches at The Firearms Academy of Seattle near the Chehalis area in Washington state. As others have said, these matches have a heavy emphasis on 'tactical' and on 'real life' equipment and solutions.

I really enjoy them a lot and would urge others to try them. The round count may be a bit lower than you are used to, but the brainwork simply can't be beat anywhere. Plus it is an easy sport for a relative beginner to get into, because it involves no major outlays in equipment other than what you would ordinarily carry -- and it is excellent for building the mindset for solving shooting problems.

If I had to guess, I'd say the Practical Society is about where IDPA was when it first started. That is, each of its organizers thinks this sport will never become just a sport, but will always be used as practice for solving real-world problems. And if I had to prognosticate, I'd say that in 10 years, it'll be about where IDPA is now, and another organization will be founded to meet the "really, honestly, truly practical" corner of the shooting game market.

pax
 
BTDT. Good match. Good classes. Only complaint was that there were not enough courses of fire. (Rangemaster in Memphis is not that big) OTOH you get to hang out with some really cool people.
 
Sounds like a really great shoot.

Unfortunatly it sounds like the closest one to me would be in Washington state!
 
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