First IDPA coming up, advice?

[Beorn]

I'd make certain to bring more than enough ammo. Winchester White Box is a nice, inexpensive way to keep pace. Not as cheap as reloading, but better than buying the high-end stuff, and easier to find than Sellier & Bellot and the like.

Most important advice: Be safe and have fun! (in that order...)

 

[Sprout]

Thanks again everybody. I was planning to go to Chabot, just because it seems the closest to the Peninsula. Now if there were only some place to practice holster-related stuff beforehand (besides running arund the house like a ninja and scaring the cat).

 

[10-Ring]

I will repeat what was told to me before my first IDPA match...
"Be safe, be smart & have ALOT of fun. It doesn't matter if you win (because you won't ), it's all about having a good time!"

 

[Prodigalshooter]

Very good advice here, only thing I'd add is to purchase a couple more mags, stuff in your back pockets. Three is just minimum, more keeps you from running back and reloading the same mags over and over. If you have extra mags you can relax a little more and spend more time watching the other shooters, you will learn alot this way. Both what TO do and what NOT to do
I've been in IDPA now for two years and I learn every time I go to a match.
It's good for your brain!

 

[Gary H]

Sprout:

Been thinking of hitting Chabot for my first IDPA.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Sprout,
FWIW, after making sure the pistol really is empty, and the area behind the TV is a safe backstop, those nature shows with animals on them can be good dry fire practice. Decide which animals will be shoot targets, & which are no shoot. Then work on presentation, sights, and trigger. Public TV has good programs sometimes......

 

[Thumper]

faustulus,

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

Haha...also Don't Panic! I love Douglas Adams.

Sprout...dryfire a lot before you leave the house. Concentrate on that front sight once the buzzer sounds.

Most of all...have fun.

 

[The Rabbi]

I've been shooting IDPA for a little over a year and can highly recommend it. The posts here have all been right on target, so to speak. When I first went I had two goals:
1) Not to shoot anyone, including myself.
2) Not to get disqualified.

I did achieve that. The biggest mistakes I see newcomers making is failing to follow sequence: shooting 2-2-2 rather than 1-1-2-1-1 and that sort of thing. Yes, take time. But down the road I have noticed that the high scorers in our club are the fastest, not the most accurate.
Best non-shooting prep I think would be for someone else to call, draw, fire at three objects and reholster, with a stopwatch. Obviously dry-firing all this since it is at home.

 

[MOAMike]

Be Safe.

Remember that your first shoot should be against YOURSELF, not the other shooters......there's plenty of time to get competitive in your subsequent matches. Learn what there is to learn prior to hitting the line, and utilize your skills. Watch other shooters and learn from what they do and don't do. It's a skill that's competitive and it directly applies to you defending yourself in different situations.

Most of all.......have fun! That's what it's all about.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[TonyB]

I've been doing IDPA for just over a year too.....I love it.If they have a safty course before hand ,take it......remember to do what the safety officer tells you not before he tells you.....lots of people unload and show clear too quickly at first.....mostly RELAX.......most IDPA'ers are nice people.....don't be too much of a "competitor" at first......like others have said...anytime you go home with no one shot or getting DQ'ed it was a good night......check to see what ammo they make you use...if indoors some places have restrictions(we must use Winclean)....have fun...it's addicting.. also wear comforable shoes that you don't trip over...as far as cover..I like Smith and Alexander's vest..you see the ad's in the gun mags.......light weight and covers a full size gun for like $35.....looks more like an actual vest as opposed to the "tactical" ones...I wear mine for CCW so much it's time to get a new one......

 

[RangerGrant]

About the "Turlock" club,

The Midvalley Shooters usually shoot at the Turlock Sportsmans Club on the 4th Sunday of the month. However, there is no match in December due to the Holiday season. They conduct clinics on the Saturday before the match for those who have never shot a match before. Check their web site for additional info http://www.midvalleyshooters.com


best, RG

 

[BerettaNut92]

Never forget:
sight alignment
trigger control
followthrough

Just because you have noshoots, doors to manipulate, tactical reloads, the drawstroke, etc. doesn't mean those change

 

[The Rabbi]

I forgot the most important part, imvho, of IDPA:
Do whatever the range officer says to do. If he makes a call, thats the way it is.

I have seen too many matches get spoiled when people get ultra competitive and second guess the RO's call. Even if he's wrong, thats too bad.

 

[repsychler]

I just shot my first IDPA match last Saturday, and will be shooting my second shortly. Definately show up! Be safe, take your time, have fun.

 

[Sprout]

Thanks everybody.

The match was alot of fun, and the people were every nice. I'm looking forward to doing it again next month.

Way too much fun.

 

[WESHOOT2]

"HELLO, MY NAME IS......"

And I'm an addict.

IPSC.
However, I understand the IDPA addiction is very similar (slightly more 'regulated'?).


WELCOME!