Wanting To Get Into IDPA

If you are a type-A and shoot IDPA as a competitive gamer then the rules are a significant part of playing that game. If you shoot IDPA to improve your own shooting, then you can enjoy watching the gamers stress out and focus on the reason you're there.

The game vs tactics debate in IDPA is one of the few debates I enjoy on gun forums. It is a game, but you can learn some good tactics from it.

I want to get involved as well. I am very competitive and honing your shooting skills at the same time is never a bad thing. My club does it, so I've just got to go do it.

Definitely just need to go do it. Its intimidating when you see the good guys run through a stage making good hits. But they had a "first match" too.

I'm not even sure the benefits have to be debated at the level of "tactics," even.

When you're used to shooting almost entirely with people who's routine shooting practices involve working from a holster, shooting while moving, observing 180deg. and muzzle-safe rules on a dynamic range, engaging multiple targets, reloading on the clock, and all that other stuff -- even the lesser accomplished "practical" pistol competitors are in a totally different class from those who are used to "square-range" shooting and bullseye type targets.

You can instantly tell the difference just by watching how they handle a gun.

Can you shoot reloads at these matches or do they require factory ammo??

You'll see 80%+ reloaded ammo. Few folks can afford this quantity of shooting on a factory ammo budget!

Do you have to have to use a specific bullet type? I have mostly lead that I cast. Is that acceptable?

There are (very occasionally) specific ranges with rules which prohibit this or that kind of bullet, so you'd have to check to be 100% sure, but cast lead is perfectly acceptable in 99% of matches. (It's all I use.)

Approximately how many rounds would a beginner look at shooting at his/her first match?

Well that's a "loaded" question!

Most IDPA club matches run right around 100 rds or a bit less. Bring 150 in case you have to re-run a stage or two.

Give it a try, just steer clear of the whiners and don't become one either!

Sounds good. I'm planning to go watch a match at the Prado range in Chino, CA on 5/18, after which I will give an event a try. I've always been one of those people that just enjoys the shooting so I don't foresee any issues with rules.

Well, you could watch it on youtube.
Or watch several shooters take a turn before yours.

Hope you don't regret not going prepared to shoot!

It is also amazing how bad some of the people are.

Which should be a lesson.
All that is really required besides the equipment is the ability to follow instructions as to safety and Course of Fire execution.

To the OP, go give it a try. Its a lot of fun.

Don't worry so much about speed and scoring at your first few matches. Focus on technique and safety. Get good gear (both IWB and OWB holsters), plenty of mags, and ammo.

Another advice: practice your reloads, malfunction drills, and shooting with both left/right hand. This will help you a lot during the actual matches.

Good luck!

Another advice: practice... malfunction drills.... This will help you a lot during the actual matches.

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If you don't shoot a 1911, malfunction drills won't help all that much. (serioulsy!)

If you don't shoot a 1911, malfunction drills won't help all that much. (serioulsy!)

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LOL!

Or an M&P. Or a Glock.

But those "roundy-round" guns don't really malfunction in competition ... much!

Besides, I've known the co-heads of the "Tiger Team" working on the revisions (Bubba and Kitty) for years

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Can you ask them what the point was in requiring all reloads behind cover be made flat footed? Seems to me that you could have accomplished the same goad without a new rule, just use a 2' wide barricade and make it so any movement exposed the shooter to a new target.

With the rules as they are written now, a section of wall is useless for anything except aesthetics, as even though you are behind cover you have to stand still to reload.

I think they made some good changes but the one above is not one of them.

Honestly, I've not had a moment to read the new proposed rules yet, and I've tried to be respectful and not buttonhole friends about what the various committees are doing or changes I don't like (yet), but I imagine some things (like that, hopefully) will be adjusted before the final version goes to press.

As it is, make your comments through the appropriate channels and let's see if we can't help weed out errors.

As a new Match Director, I guess I'll chime in. IDPA is dying? Hardly, the number of attendees in this area is actually higher than last year, and that's with the ammo shortage and new laws in our state. I'm with Sam as far as not having had time to go through the new proposed rules yet. I will likely do a first read this weekend, then read them again next week and make my comments through the appropriate channels. For the record, I also shoot USPSA and 3-gun matches on a regular basis. They all have their own rules and I do my best to follow them. Do I still screw up occasionally? You bet, but that's on me. The rules are there to learn and everyone has to follow the same ones.

For the new shooters, watching sucks. Read the basic rules, get your gear together and show up to shoot. If your area is anything like mine, you will be welcomed with open arms and all the friendly advice you could want. As long as your safe, that's the only thing that matters. I have only been shooting for a couple of years, so I remember my first time very well. I went with a friend, using his revolver, a couple of speed loaders and a bunch of spare rounds in my pocket. I was horrible, and I don't mean kinda bad. I took forever on the courses of fire and may have set records for worst score ever. So many people stepped up to help me out, people I had never met before, with not a discouraging word from anywhere. I had a blast and kept going, last year I think I shot around 40 matches and can honestly say I enjoyed all but one, and that was due to a single PITA individual. If you can't have fun shooting guns with a bunch of like minded people, you may be the problem. Now I have made the step to MD, so I guess the fun is all over for me.

I'm interested is seeing if there is a shift of power from moving the Springfield XD/XDm to SSP. Also what effect the classifier time changes will be.

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THAT MADE IT IN? Oh, I'm going to owe someone BIG TIME for the deal I made at the crossroads at midnight to get that through!

(Hope that thing I had to trade for it isn't worth more than my 3rd grade teacher used to tell me it was!)