IDPA with my carry rig?

[BullfrogKen]

If you were on my squad I'd make you watch the shooters shoot the stage right before you, and you'd shoot last. I'll bet they'll handle you the same.


So I'd encourage you to go do both.

 

[Skribs]

Thanks for all the support and advice. I think I'll try the Paul Bunyan range next month (busy this weekend). My experience with other shooters as a newbie a few years ago was always positive, so I have no reason to expect anything different going in new sport within the shooting genre.

ETA: What's the difference between a "string" and a "stage"?

 

[Six]

A stage is the entire course of fire and may consist of one or more "strings".

For example:

String 1: Starting at position P1 with gun holstered, at the signal, draw and engage targets T1-T3 strong hand only two shots each to the body.

String 2: Starting at position P1 with gun in weak hand at low ready, at the signal, engage targets T1-T3 weak hand only two shots each to the body.

So you'd shoot the same targets in two separate strings, reloading as needed between them. Once you're ready for string 2, the SO will start you again from "Is the shooter reader ready?"

Most stages are one string only though.

 

[Skribs]

Okay, I think I get it. Gamer terms: stage is the same as a "map" and string is the same as a "round".

Something that just occured to me - how many people use .40 for these games?

 

[Double_J]

IDPA is fun, I have shot "several" matches (unsanctioned). The new guy will almost always end up pasting targets, and doing other "clean up" jobs. The RO in our matches was GREAT to work with as both a new guy, and as a more experienced guy. Thankfully as we were not a sanctioned match we did not have to follow the rules to the T. We generally used them as guidelines, and set it up more as training.

We also had everyone shoot as a mass group, 1911's, glocks, XDs, and revolvers were all in the running together, no separate classes to worry about. The scoring system was both accuracy and time based. The average round count per match was between 60-80 rounds, and took around 3.5 hours to go through the entire match. Bring what you carry, don't worry about looking like a fool, and have fun. Speed and accuracy take time to develop, the fundamentals of cover, movement, and reloading are the keys that most people concentrated on in our matches.

We also would spend some time afterward reviewing any mistakes someone made, and if someone had a new "toy" we almost always got to "test-drive" it. I shot my first and only STI race gun at one of those matches, wow what a thrill is all that can be said. You will learn a lot and have a blast even if you loose every match.

 

[Sam1911]

Lots of people shoot .40. It is a popular carry and duty round, so lots of people use it. It also can be loaded light which makes it soft shooting. (If you get more into the "game" aspect.)

A note on pasting: EVERYBODY pastes targets, except for the guy who's "on deck" to shoot next, the SO, and whoever's running the score sheet. Everyone else is either pasting, or they're slacking. In some matches the MD will even threaten (I've never seen it carried out, but...) match penalties if he catches people hanging back and not helping past and reset the stages.

HOWEVER, as a new guy, be absolutely sure you know what you're doing, when. You can ONLY paste targets AFTER the SO has scored them. If you get ahead of him and paste up targets he's not scored, he will be grumpy and the shooter will have to shoot the stage again. So don't do that.

 

[Sam1911]

Compete or watch?

Here is a major truth about the shooting sports: You will NEVER, no matter how much you think you can prepare, ever be completely "ready" for you first match. And you will NEVER be a rock star the first time you step to the line. That's life, do it anyway.

The corollary to that truth is that you will NEVER learn and improve through your casual practice efforts the way you will learn and improve by shooting matches. Matches ARE where you learn how to shoot matches, and the best practice for shooting matches is shooting matches!

Practice sessions are really terrific for running drills to figure out a technique or process, or to focus on some aspect of your performance like trigger control. But a lot of good shooters do all their "practicing" in competition, because putting it all together is a skill of its own and you only get that in the real setting.

All that to say, grab your gear and GO.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Yeah, Sam and I were talking about that last night at the club over bowls of pipe tobacco.


Too many people say - to themselves or to me - "I need to get better before I go to a match."

To that I reply nonsense.

No matter how much you practice and think you've prepared yourself, you're going to suck in your first match. Who cares. Set your ego aside and just go.

It's not like you're going to a big regional or national championship. It's a local match among friends for Christ's sake. Go show up and have fun.

You should not view matches as "big events" that you have to work yourself up for. Especially these local IDPA matches. People who take that approach never go. Getting better is a process, and going to matches are just another part of that process.

 

[Skribs]

Well, unfortunately I can't "just go" until there is a match, so it's going to be a bit it looks like. Might as well use that time to prepare and chat, no?

Bullfrog, I'm an extreme introvert. Spending time with a whole squad on my day off IS a big event.

You guys are right, though. The only way to learn is to do it, and the best place to learn is with smaller events. I'm a big video gamer, and I know you don't bring someone new to Hard Mode or to ranked matches...you test em, teach em, and get to know them (i.e. how they operate and how to work together without thinking about it) and then you bring them to the important stuff. Same thing I guess here - I should go do these local matches and have fun.

 

[Skribs]

What I learned from reading some of the rules is that RDS isn't allowed. While I don't currently have one on my pistols, down the road (aka "when I can afford it") I'd like to have one. Which means my carry pistol would be more tricked out and customized than my competition pistol. Sounds opposite of what I expected...

 

[mgmorden]

Red Dot Sights would be allowed in USPSA's Open division if you still wanted to practice shooting in a competitive environment.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Too many people say - to themselves or to me - "I need to get better before I go to a match."

To that I reply nonsense.

No matter how much you practice and think you've prepared yourself, you're going to suck in your first match. Who cares. Set your ego aside and just go.

This is one of the ugly truths to competing

I consider myself a fairly competent shooter and match nerves aren't a huge issue anymore, but at my first IDPA match, I had 3 procedurals...that's what happens when you let real life experience take over

I think one of the huge things you learn from shooting matches is that:
1. Accuracy is more important than raw speed, but the accuracy has to be reasonable for the size of the target. You need to learn how much accuracy is acceptable.
2. Seeing your sights is more important than some folks thing...and you can do it at speed and under pressure

I'm an extreme introvert. Spending time with a whole squad on my day off IS a big event

You might be lucky you're not shooting at my local match. I tend to draw out the introverts/newbies by engaging them...no one escapes

While I don't currently have one on my pistols, down the road (aka "when I can afford it") I'd like to have one. Which means my carry pistol would be more tricked out and customized than my competition pistol. Sounds opposite of what I expected...

I'd strongly suggest getting pretty good with iron sights before adding a RD...you may find you really don't need it

 

[Skribs]

I'd strongly suggest getting pretty good with iron sights before adding a RD...you may find you really don't need it

I am of the belief that anything that "you really don't need" or "its not a crutch to compensate for training" is something that, if used in combination with said training, is better. But, I can't financially justify a RDS at the moment, so I'm taking your advice for now whether I want to or not

You might be lucky you're not shooting at my local match. I tend to draw out the introverts/newbies by engaging them...no one escapes

Well, and because you're in CA, and I can't stand the weather there.

 

[Skribs]

Well, the next match isn't for a month, but I got the information I needed to (where to sign up, how much ammo to bring, match fee, whether or not its a hot range) from the POC on the Paul Bunyan website. I'll give it a try in a month and let you know how I like it.

Until then, if anyone else has any thoughts for me, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Thoughts:

Read the introduction I gave in post #2 and the rules.

Watch some videos but realize that while you can't keep up with the Experts you really ought to do better than some of the klutzes that think owning a cheap video camera makes them worth watching.

Practice.
You don't actually have to fire the gun to gain some proficiency.
You can dryfire in the positions required, taking high cover around a doorframe, low cover behind the furniture. Sure, your family will think you are eccentric when you snap in at the villains on tv from behind the recliner, but it is good practice with no range fee.
Especially practice drawing from under a concealment garment dryfire. It is a lot better to get over the coattail tangles with an empty gun before the match starts.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Did they have an orientation class you could attend before the match?

 

[Skribs]

You can dryfire in the positions required, taking high cover around a doorframe, low cover behind the furniture. Sure, your family will think you are eccentric when you snap in at the villains on tv from behind the recliner, but it is good practice with no range fee.

I have an airsoft pistol, I can do better than dryfire in the home I guess that would be dampfire.

Did they have an orientation class you could attend before the match?

Yeah they have one, not sure if it's recommended or required for newbies. Still, any info I have going in isn't bad.

 

[BullfrogKen]

My advice - contact the POC and tell them you're new and want to attend next month. He might bring you out before the day of the match to walk you through some things, or have you attend an orientation.

We use our Thursday night practice sessions to help get the new guys up to speed. They might do some version of the same.

 

[Skribs]

My advice - contact the POC and tell them you're new and want to attend next month. He might bring you out before the day of the match to walk you through some things, or have you attend an orientation.

That's what I did, and he answered all my questions (where to sign up, how much ammo to bring, etc). He also said there will be an orientation for new shooters prior to the match.

 

[Skribs]

I'll be going to my first match this Saturday, which for some people might be "tomorrow" by the time I post this. What should I bring as far as non-gun-related stuff?

i.e. I'm guessing snacks and drinks, and I'll have a camera (my phone) if I decide to take/have someone take pictures, but is there anything else I should bring?

 

[waktasz]

Fluids, sunscreen, something to sit on, a hat...can't think of anything else at the moment but I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting.

 

[Sam1911]

Water, granola bar or some other snack with some protien, chair/stool, and a small dishtowel is a good idea to dry your hands before you shoot.

Also, it isn't a bad idea to have enough extra ammo to re-shoot a stage or two if something odd happens. ("Hey, I forgot to write down his time...!" or the ever-popular "Hey, did you guys already paste the targets? I didn't score those yet!" )

 

[Blackstone]

I'd bring a notebook to record anything of interest. If you have any malfunctions, it's worth noting things like what magazine might have caused it.

 

[BullfrogKen]

If you IDPA club is anything like mine, some tobacco. Post match cigar traditions are common.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'd be leaving there immediately I got done shooting, then. Them ceegars make me queasy. We have a couple of guys who puff on them while shooting and I am careful to stay upwind.