Have shot 3 gun, USPSA/IPSC, now want to shoot some IDPA

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So guys, what all do I need to know? I have heard about there being rules that make transitioning from USPSA to take a little extra thought, so I just want to know a couple things before I show up and drop a loaded mag on the ground :eek:

What are some differences that I need to be aware of? Rules, scoring systems? I know and have shot the current IDPA target so I'm good to go there, I think.
 
You need to use cover, if any cover is provided. That means tightly sticking behind corners and visibly leaning to expose as little of your body to the targets as possible.

You need to remember not to do "speed reloads." Practice stowing a magazine in a pocket unless you are actually at slide lock, or you've had some malfunction.

Try to get a handle on "target priority." Targets you can see now have priority (and so must be engaged first) over targets you have to lean around obstacles to see. If you have several targets exposed to you from a position (or there's no cover) targets closest to you have priority over ones farther away. In USPSA, a smart shooter will often engage the farthest targets first and then pick up speed as he transitions through to the closest targets. Accelerating is easier than slowing down. In IDPA that would be exactly backwards. The targets closest to you are those most likely to KILL you -- engage them first.

If you're an accomplished USPSA gamer, listen closely to the stage description and do what you're told. There is much less flexibility in figuring out which targets to shoot from where, and in what order. There's a little, but not much. Do what the stage description says to do, in the order given.

Be very patient with these rules and try to get into the spirit of why they're there. If you (like some USPSA shooters) fixate on how they are in the way and slow you down and frustrate you, you might as well stop. If you start to get into why the rules are there, you'll find there are interesting challenges to IDPA that other sports don't present.
 
I do like "gaming" stages in USPSA but I completely understand that that is not what I will be doing in IDPA. USPSA is my "go fast" sport, I want to use IDPA to be more of a training aide than USPSA is. I am good with following rules, and I'm not one to get confrontational or argumentative over them.... After ROing 3 gun and USPSA, I know how frustrating it is to have competitors argue when stuff can be figured out in much better terms.

I just turned 21 (waiting for my CHL), so I'd like to have something that teaches and practices drawing from concealment on a regular basis. It is also nice that IDPA stresses accuracy more so than USPSA does (and with more anatomically correct targets).
 
Most people don't put the training wheels back on the bike once they've hit the open road ;)
 
Or, maybe people get tired of going round and round on the big oval and want to drive in the real world?

Whatever. We aren't going to do "my sport's bigger than yours" here. (But thanks for the stellar demonstration of what folks mean by an "IPSC guy!" LOL!)
 
Or, maybe people get tired of going round and round on the big oval and want to drive in the real world?

Whatever. We aren't going to do "my sport's bigger than yours" here. (But thanks for the stellar demonstration of what folks mean by an "IPSC guy!" LOL!)
I was an IDPA guy first, but graduated.
 
I was an IDPA guy first, but graduated.

Good to see you are a little full of yourself, but I wouldn't consider IPSC graduate school.... It is a different style of shooting completely (from IDPA). More like getting a double-major.

No, I don't see it is putting the training wheels back on, I see it as diversifying. As I said, it is a different style of shooting and it never hurts to be proficient in more than one shooting game. I also like that I will be competing with my carry gun as opposed to my competition pistol.

I compete in USPSA and 3 gun to win, I plan to shoot IDPA to practice more practical defensive shooting.
 
Except their rules prevent you from doing that quite often.

It is still more applicable than USPSA, and I can afford to shoot an IDPA match more often than I can afford to take classes.

I don't need anyone telling me that there are strict rules here, I know that, and that is why I asked the question (to get clarification on them). When I don't want to be as limited I have other matches that I can (and do) shoot. If for some reason I don't like IDPA then I won't shoot it anymore, but I'll leave that up to me to decide.
 
Sam1911 outlined some of the major differences nicely right up front. I'll just add a few clarifications on the reloads: First, another hard & fast IDPA rule is "Thou shalt not leave a position of cover with an empty gun". Doesn't matter if you engaged the target you're taking cover from or nor. Can't leave a position of cover with an empty gun. I learned that one 3 seconds at a time.

Secondly, nearly all will be from slidelock. Stowing your mag while the gun's not empty is part of a tactical reload, and done relatively infrequently.

The rest of the thread's been surreal.:uhoh: Going out of your way to actively discourage an interested shooter from shooting a match is very Low Road. Shame on you. :mad:
 
It is still more applicable than USPSA,

First off, USPSA doesn't pretend to be applicable regarding tactics, etc. Second of all, you can decide how to approach a USPSA match. You can shoot from concealment, use cover, slice the pie, shoot in Tactical sequence or priority, do tac loads, etc. You won't win the match, if that matters to you, but you can practice those things.

and I can afford to shoot an IDPA match more often than I can afford to take classes.

Folks need to understand: IDPA IS NOT TRAINING! It is another Gun Game with game rules, some of which, if taken literally, can get you killed in real life. If you shoot IDPA matches thinking its "training," you're making s serious mistake.

I don't need anyone telling me that there are strict rules here, I know that, and that is why I asked the question (to get clarification on them).

Their rule book is online. Go to your local IDPA club to see how they apply and enforce it.

If for some reason I don't like IDPA then I won't shoot it anymore, but I'll leave that up to me to decide.

Good for you. Give it a try, get some quality trigger time and have fun! Meanwhile, save up for a real training class.
 
David, I am not saying that IDPA is training, in fact, I stated the exact opposite earlier. I do go to training and I actually take defensive firearm classes every 6 - 8 months (hoping I can keep that up).

And you're right, I could go read the rule book, and I will. However, I started this thread to try to get a feel for the "big" ones.
 
Unfortunately , some of the "big ones" vary by club and/or person.

As an IDPA Charter Life member with multiple State and Regional titles to my credit, etc, I'm qualified to comment on IDPA issues.

After understanding the rulebook and how its applied, a few things will help you in the matches:

1) be able to detect slide lock by feel.

2) master the slide lock reload.

3) master the tac reload.

4) master the reload with retention.

Determine which method works best when.
 
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