First IDPA coming up, advice?

[Sprout]

I'm thinking of trying out IDPA. I've ordered a Fobus paddle holster for my CZ 75BD, bought a mag pouch, I've got three reliable mags, as well as ees and ears. Is there anything else I need? Is there anything I should know before showing up, bearing in mind that I plan so have fun and get my hienie spanked? BTW, the next match is on the 22nd.

Thanks for the help.

 

[duckfoot]

Nope just grab what you got and go to a match.
Also you need to just go to a match.
Did I mention that you need to go to a match?



The hardest part of getting in to a shooting sport is just going for the first match. After coming back isn't a problem. Either you will or you won't.

I have so many people tell me that they want to come to a high power match with me just to check it out, but I tell them that people go to a high power match to shoot, not watch (the only people that don't shoot most times are the match director and the Range officers). The last time I had a fellow shooter come with me to a high power match, I lined him up with a coach (I didn't even know the coach, I just asked around if some one could coach this guy while I pulled butts) one of my rifles, ammo, and he shot his first match that day. He told me that he was nervous at first but every one was cheering him on and the coach didn't talk down to him was really nice. He said if I hadn't lined everything up for him and shot that day, it would have taken longer to pick it up the sport. Now he is the biggest high power nut I know.

Moral of the story. Shooting sports are better done than watched.

 

[rayjay]

Find out who the range officer is and let him know that you are brand new to the IDPA shoots. He'll walk you thru the course(if he's any good) and give you needed instructions. Also check out www.idpa.com and read the rules, equipment requirements, do's and don't....ect. There is alot of great info there. Good luck! You already have the right additude for starters, have fun and let us know how you did.

 

[HankB]

The main thing is, think SAFETY. Our local IDPA matches will usually cut a newbie some slack when it comes to things like procedural errors, but there's no tolerance at all for SAFETY violations. Be sure you ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS keep the gun pointed downrange . . . which is especially important on stages where you have lateral movement around barricades and such. For example, if you're right handed, and after firing a few shots have to move, say, 30 feet to your left and fire a few more shots, the natural tendency is to carry the pistol in front of you . . . depending on your gait, this may allow the muzzle to point in an unsafe direction, earning you a DQ.

Don't try to go too fast - good hits count more than blazing speed. In the words of Ray Chapman (who was IPSC World Champion back in the 70's) "Take all the time you need, but don't WASTE time."

Example of what not to do: New shooter comes out. Listens to safety introduction at beginning. Follows instructions explicity on when to load. When timer beeps, tries to draw pistol too fast, and puts a round into the ground about six inches in front of his right toe. First match, first stage, first shot . . . and he was disqualified. All because he tried to go too fast.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'll repeat my usual priorities:

1. Be safe. Don't shoot anybody, don't scare anybody, don't get disqualified for a safety rule violation. (The grossest are accidental discharge and sweeping the crowd.)
2. Execute: Every course of fire is different. Pay attention and perform it properly, don't get Procedural Error penalties.
3. Hit the target: Hit the target in the middle, you cannot miss fast enough to win.
4. Move along: Your time is your score. Don't rush, don't run before you walk, LITERALLY, but move along and don't dawdle around.

Don't worry. The S.O. and other shooters will help you out. They want you to have a good time and come back, just so long as you make a serious effort. Pay attention to what the S.O. is telling you and MIND!

Many to most IDPA events are shot from concealment. Pick a jacket or vest suitable to the weather in your area and long enough to cover your holster. Then practice clearing your coat and drawing your gun safely. Dry fire for sure and live fire if you can schedule it before then. Reloads, too.

You can do a lot more in dryfire at home. You will have to shoot from cover, defined as your feet and at least 50% of your head and body behind cover. You will have to shoot from low cover, usually a barrel, with at least one knee on the ground and 50% hidden. Your family might think you are a little strange if you go 'round dryfiring around doorframes and crouch behind the easy chair and snap in at the bad guys on TV, but it is good practice. Be extra careful that your gun is empty for home dryfire and don't even dryfire towards an occupied room. If you worry about dryfiring your actual gun at home, nothing wrong with "airgunning" from the appropriate positions.

 

[Terminus]

Sprout,
I'm fairly new to IDPA and competition shooting as well. Coincidentally, with a CZ 75 BD.

Like Jim Watson said, make sure you dryfire practice at home before you go. Practicing the load and make ready, drawing, clearing the weapon, decocking, and reholstering all before you're in front of a group with live ammo will help alot. Be sure that you practice keeping your trigger off the trigger while moving and keeping the muzzle pointed downrange.

When you get to the club and meet the SO, have him put you at the bottom of the batting order. Spend some time watching the experienced shooters run the course.

Be deliberate. Being safe and accurate is more important than speed right now. Relax and enjoy.

 

[John Forsyth]

You are getting good advice in the above. Not a lot I can add to it. Remember, be safe, and have fun. Those are really the most important, and in that order. Take along something to drink and maybe a folding chair.

 

[braindead0]

Find the sign-in desk, sign in and let them know you are new. We flag all the scoresheets for new shooters so that the S.O.'s know to give you a complete run-down. We'll also have an S.O. check your gear and run you through the 'load and make ready...etc..' sequenc with an empty gun (or a dummy even) so that you know what to expect when you get to the line.

Cut out the coffee, you'll be nervous enough.. relax.. take it slow. The first time you'll feel like you are moving at a snails pace.. this is good! Purposely slow down, do everything very carefully. You'll be surprised at how fast you actually are when the adreneline is pumping ;-)

 

[Navy joe]

First match goal is to finish with no holes in anything that doesn't need them and to have fun. Don't try to imitate the fastest guy there, you'll probably do something like throw your gun at the target on the draw.(been done) See if they will waive the concealment draw for your first match, makes things a lot safer.
A common new guy error with any pistol sport is to turn and listen when the SO gives advice. The natural way is to turn with your upper body which brings your arms around. It is a learned skill to turn your head only while keeping the gun down range.

 

[Black Snowman]

For any competition shooting my 2 recommendations are always
#1 be safe.
#2 take it slow.

To build the muscle memory you need to achieve speed you must perform the action flawlessly many times. If you rush you'll never be consistant and never improve. I learned this the hard way shooting bowling pins. I KNEW it but It took me 3 seasons to get consistant.

It's a lot harder to "go slow and careful" than it sounds My absolute best times were ones where I was relaxed and took my time. Taking your time, verifying your sight picture, verifying what's behind the target, it will all become second nature and speed will come automaticly as you go.

My other recommendation is not to compare your times and scores to the others. Don't worry about how the next guy is doing, just work on self-improvement. If they want to pat you on the back for it that's great but that's not why I compete. Winning is nice but seeing an improvment in consistancy or scores usually excited me more.

YMMV, have fun

 

[another okie]

Take water and a sandwich.

 

[Sprout]

Thanks for the advice everybody! I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[Kor]

Concur with the above suggestions to relax and enjoy yourself, staying safe above all.

Strongly suggest you practice drawing your pistol from under your jacket/shirt/vest at home and dry-firing.

Also suggest you practice the "tactical reload" or "reload with retention" - it's a pretty important skill in IDPA. For the match, consider wearing pants/shorts with nice, wide-mouthed front pockets or cargo pockets to throw your retained mags into.

Don't "crowd"(get too close to) your cover, and work on keeping your feet and torso behind cover as you lean out to engage targets - you'll be penalized if more than 50% of your torso is exposed from your cover. Learn to "slice the pie" - only move out from your cover just enough so you can see just the one target you're engaging, and NO OTHERS; if you can see multiple targets, they can "see" you and therefore can "shoot" you.

If you can, try to get in a little live-fire practice a day or two beforehand, just to work the bugs out. If your range allows drawing & firing from the holster, do that and concentrate on a well-aimed first shot from the holster. Also work on "double-taps" and "hammers," not to perfect your technique necessarily, but just to get yourself used to firing those two shots in rapid succession at your target.

If you come across targets farther than 10-15yds away in a stage, SLOW DOWN and SHOOT DELIBERATELY. It's better to take an extra split-second to GET THE HIT than to go fast, assume you hit the target, and eat an extra 2.5 seconds for missing it. Also, don't be afraid to fire an extra shot or two to make sure you DIDN'T MISS, as long as the stage doesn't limit the # of shots fired.

Finally, keep in mind that any schmuck can shoot poorly, fast. You need to concentrate on shooting and moving smoothly and efficiently - if you can do that, you will automatically shoot quickly, accurately and SAFELY. Don't obsess over winning the match, looking good, or even not embarrassing yourself - focus on each stage and the tasks required in each stage, and your efforts will be rewarded accordingly with your score.

 

[faustulus]

A useful thing I picked up hitchhicking around the galaxy -- bring a towel.

 

[WESHOOT2]

FORGET THAT CRAPPY ADVICE, TAKE MINE

Don't do nuthin' until you're told to; don't try to move or shoot fast; ALWAYS point your gun at a target, until you're told not to; forget the 'rules' the first few times out; worry about where your muzzle is pointed ONLY; pee often.
And some other stuff.....

Have fun (and try an IPSC match, too: see above advice).

 

[OF]

Good advice!

I've just put together a new website for our brandy-new IDPA club and there are a couple pages that might be of interest to you: the 'new shooter' page, the 'safety' page,and the FAQ.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Be safe. Accuracy wand speed will come with time.

Be accurate. Use your front sight. it's pretty common to find yourself point shooting at a close target, then forgetting to use the sights at a far target.

Be aware. Listen for the safety officer's commands, keep your eyes peeled for hidden bad guys. (targets)

Take water. drink plenty.

Make some friends.

Bring leather gloves and stick around to tear down if need be.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Well, in addition to the above posts, if you're shooting at Chabot or Richmond, I'd be surprised if they don't have a mandatory safety & ask questions meeting before the match starts. Dittos if you're traveling to Ione or Gridley. I haven't been to the other "area" clubs, but would expect the same from them as well. The folks in charge, and everyone else there, should be friendly and more than willing to help out. After safety, the next important thing is to have fun. Best.

 

[Gary G23]

Ditto what duckfoot said. Just do it.

 

[Jim Watson]

OK, Sprout, we expect a report back after the match.

 

[Manevitch]

I've heard a lot of great responses, but everyone has left out the most basic rule:

Don't forget to breathe.

Seriously - I see new shooters step to the line, draw on the buzzer, shoot everything they're supposed to, unload and show clear, reholster, and then have to be reminded that they haven't taken a breath since the buzzer.

Breathe. It's tough to hit the targets when you black out...

 

[Sprout]

Thanks for the help everybody.

Unfortunately, I got the dates wrong so I'm going to have to wait until the December shoot. Oh well, more time to practice.

I'll be sure to air my shame once I eat my humble pie.

Thanks again.

 

[WESHOOT2]

THERE IS NO SHAME

Only joy (and safety first, of course).

the ONLY shame is NOT competing............

 

[Texas Bob]

Have fun! You are only really competing with yourself. I've never understood the people who ccw but would not show up for even one idpa match. I shoot 45-48 weeks a year every monday night, and have been doing this since '96. There are always seven or eight of my friends that do better than me consistantly, however, I have fun and build muscle motor memory. We always go out of our way to welcome and help any new to the sport. Bring a friend.

 

[Sven]

Sprout - you going to Turlock or somewheres else? Really well planned courses at that Range - I believe it is the third Sunday of the month.