Just joined IDPA... where do I buy my tutu?

You can? can you direct me to that section of the rulebook? The ROs at the match were adamant that you could not reload while moving EVER.

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Wow, 91 people at a match and none of them know the written rules! Guess the new SO test didn't get everyone to read the new rules.

3.8 is the section you want to look at, that allows reloading on the move if you run dry in the open.

Doesn't 3.8.5 contradict 3.8.2? Can someone clarify?

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My reading of 3.8.5 would be that the phrase:

provided the CoF description either requires or permits it.

Is what makes it non contradictory.

So my understanding of 3.8.5 would be that one can reload "on the move" if and ONLY if the written Course of Fire expressly says it is permitted or required

Edited to Add
And I just can't move on without adding this..

Making sense of IDPA rules is where you are having the problem. Some of them are just stupid, if you were to do them in the real world

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I whole heartedly agree with this, it sums up SO much. and it is one of the reasons I've been reluctant to reapproach IDPA.

Well maybe I should say that every time I have discussed with another shooter, my thoughts of giving IDPA another go. the subject of why I tried it and walked away comes up. And every single time, in the spirit of giving the person all the facts, I make a variation of the above comment. and invariably the current IDPA shooter I'm talking to reacts as if I'm an idiot, or in two cases as if I'd just committed some form of sacrilege.

I know darn well that not all and probably the majority of IDPA guys know and understand "it's just a game" and don't take things that seriously, but it's disconcerting how many times I've personally found that attitude.

IDPA is a great sport, and a lot of fun.

Base the decision to join IDPA on wether or not you can identify with the Fundamental Principles, section 1.1 of the Rule Book :

1.1.1. Promote safe and proficient use of firearms and equipment suitable for concealed carry self-defense.
1.1.2. Offer a practical shooting sport encouraging competitors to develop skills and fellowship with like-minded shooters.
1.1.3. Provide a level playing field for all competitors that solely tests the skill and ability of each individual, not their equipment.
1.1.4. Provide separate divisions for equipment and classifications for shooters, such that firearms with similar characteristics are grouped together and people with similar skills compete against each other.
1.1.5. Provide shooters with practical and realistic courses of fire, and test skills that could be required to survive life-threatening encounters.
1.1.6. Strongly encourage all IDPA members to support our sponsors when making purchases of equipment and accessories. Industry sponsors have been instrumental in IDPA’s success at all levels including Club, State, Regional, National, and International levels.
1.1.7. Develop and maintain an infrastructure that will allow IDPA to be responsive to our shooters. While IDPA can never be all things to all people, respectful constructive suggestions from our members, which follow IDPA Fundamental Principles, will always be welcome.

The rules in the rulebook are put in place to defend the fundamental principles. Every course of fire is created with certain rules in addition to the rules in the rule-book. The course of fire rules may not violate any rule in the rulebook, or any fundamental principle.

If you break a rule of the course of fire, it's a procedural error, same way if you break a rule in the rule-book.

Think of the rule-book as a fixed set of rules, the course of fire rules as additional variable rules, and the sum of which are the stage rules.

It is disappointing to get hit with PEs. But keep in mind the SO is just like you, a fellow shooter that has accepted additional responsibilities in the match, and they are not getting paid to give you PEs, they do it from the goodness of their heart. [ no sarcasm intended ]

As for IDPA being compared to anything real-world : don't. It is not.

IDPA is not any form of combat training. It's a sport. In that sport you get to practice safe gun handling, and you learn to shoot straight.

Taking it seriously means different things. Anyone who shoots IDPA is already taking it very seriously, because they are committing money and time, and that is serious.

IDPA is also open to member feedback. If you can make a valid argument that a rule is contradictory or violates the principles of IDPA [ listed above] , and has to be changed, contact the IDPA HQ and let them know, and they will change it.

I suppose the intent of this rule is that if you run dry you should get to cover as quickly as possible, not stand there and reload.

Doesn't 3.8.5 contradict 3.8.2? Can someone clarify?

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The difference is between the two different types of COF. "standards" many times do not have cover available. Like the first few strings of the classifier.

If you really become a rule book lawyer you will find a section that states "all shots to be fired from cover if available." and another one along the lines of "all targets must be engauged before leaving cover." and thoes pretty much eliminate any shooting on the move, unless you start in the open. Then you MUST engage the targets while moving to cover. To add more confusion to the subject, I was told from the SOI that wrote that section of the rule book that that was not his intent and that it needed to be rewritten.

I have played IDPA for over a decade and gone to matches all over the place but I am one of the guys they ran off with the new rules. However they also state in the rule book that they cater to new and average shooters so they won't miss an old 5 gun master anyway.

If you keep finishing in the top 10% of Division, you will be at the top of SS and will soon get bumped... if you go to sanctioned matches.

1KPerDay said:

Well if they're after average shooters I'll fit right in. I did wait a few years before joining. I had a bad experience or two my first couple times out shooting IDPA... seems the SOs were there expressly to enforce rules and not allow anyone to have a good time shooting.

I have since learned that the SO can have a large impact on whether the shooters in his squad have fun or not, even being equally safe as a poor SO. But IDPA by its nature does seem to attract the "rule nazis" as it were. Which is understandable since the rules are what differentiate it from other shooting disciplines.

I think I classified SS BTW (if I did the math right). Which I'm good with. I'll have to cut 20 seconds off my time to move up a level and I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

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There are always a few 'rule nazis', but don't let that influence your experience of the sport.

In my experience, they have been new members, who themselves have come up short against some or other rules [ usually after suffering a DQ at a sanctioned match ] and so they have the sub-concious need to impress on others how harsh IDPA can be.

Ignore them. After a few years they have the edges forcibly beaten off them and they fit in with the spirit of the sport.

IDPA shooters are generally friendly and accomodating, especially towards new shooters. If you're not sure of anything, ask, you cannot ask a dumb question, it's only dumb not to ask. The older shooters [ generally with white in hair or beard ] are very happy to share what they know.

Something for a race gun? Hmmmm...

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Then you will have to ditch IDPA just after you started.