glockgod
Member
Seriously thinking about setting up a BUG side match at my local gun clubs monthly IDPA match. Anyone here ever shot a BUG side match? Suggestions on courses of fire or any other pointers are welcomed.
BUG IDPA side match
- Thread starter glockgod
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fineredmist
Member
The course of fire should be up close (<5yds) and short with only 1 reload. All guns are limited to 5 rounds and reloads are also 5 rounds. The course of fire should be simple with possibly 2 targets with 3 rounds and 2 with 2 each and avoid head shots. For example, two sets of two targets, the first are set at 5-6' and are shot 1-2-1 from retension and then move to position #2 and from cover engage with 3 rds each slicing the pie. Targets 3 & 4 can be set out to 5 or 6 yds. You can shot free style or require strong hand only on targets 3&4.
Most BUG matches I've been in are done sans reload, starting with the handgun at low ready, as often the 'gear' used to secure a bug & reloads isn't IDPA legal.
Which to me defeats the purpose of a bug-match.
Which to me defeats the purpose of a bug-match.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
I would agree that the COF should be based around 5 round shot strings. More than 1 reload is probably unrealistic.
I like mixing in some 15+ yard stuff along with the up-close-down-and-dirty runs. A lot of BUGs, especially snubby revolvers, are a lot more accurate than folks give them credit for ... if the shooter is up to it.
You can do things like having folks start from a kneeling position, & low ready. That kind of emulates drawing from an ankle holster (at least the way most folks do it). Also, retrieving the BUG from a drawer or table on the start signal makes sense.
Reloads can always be carried in pockets -- few folks will have mag carriers for their BUG.
One thing I don't do is make it "easy" just because its a BUG match. If folks can't make hits with their BUG, or switch to spray & pray when they don't have their "game" gun in hand, I want to leave them with the impression that they should practice more with anything they plan to carry!
-Sam
I like mixing in some 15+ yard stuff along with the up-close-down-and-dirty runs. A lot of BUGs, especially snubby revolvers, are a lot more accurate than folks give them credit for ... if the shooter is up to it.
You can do things like having folks start from a kneeling position, & low ready. That kind of emulates drawing from an ankle holster (at least the way most folks do it). Also, retrieving the BUG from a drawer or table on the start signal makes sense.
Reloads can always be carried in pockets -- few folks will have mag carriers for their BUG.
One thing I don't do is make it "easy" just because its a BUG match. If folks can't make hits with their BUG, or switch to spray & pray when they don't have their "game" gun in hand, I want to leave them with the impression that they should practice more with anything they plan to carry!
-Sam
Claude Clay
Member
once a year my club does a match which includes a BUG.
rules are generally engage strong or both hands with primary gun and than draw BUG, weak hand and engage 2 closest BG's again.
part 2 may be BUG only, any style from low ready engage near to far 2 BJ's at 5 & 7 yards and a stop plate at 10 yards.
---a 8" plate at 30 feet tends to separate those who have a BUG from those who can truly shot it. BUG being a 2" revolver or a 3" semi. keep it realistic but there is wiggle room.
rules are generally engage strong or both hands with primary gun and than draw BUG, weak hand and engage 2 closest BG's again.
part 2 may be BUG only, any style from low ready engage near to far 2 BJ's at 5 & 7 yards and a stop plate at 10 yards.
---a 8" plate at 30 feet tends to separate those who have a BUG from those who can truly shot it. BUG being a 2" revolver or a 3" semi. keep it realistic but there is wiggle room.
Rather-B-Huntin
Member
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- Nov 17, 2008
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Several guys at my local range are now shooting BUG exclusivley for IDPA and even ICORE. The gun you carry should be the one you shoot the most!
I went to one BUG match this year it was a lot of fun. IIRC, their only non-IDPA rules were that BUG barrels had to be under 4" and everyone could start from low ready if they didn't have a hip holster (ex. pocket pistols). They only had two BUG divisions, autoloader and revolver. I personally think their should be some sort of differentiation between true pocket pistols and subcompacts. The sights and trigger on an LCP/P3AT are much harder to use than a G26.
The BUG match I attended had one stage with two reloads but the stage was divided into multiple strings so you could stop and reload a single mag if needed. They also had some fairly long, tight shots and even a bowling pin that needed to be knocked off a post at 7-10 yards. I thought the bowling pin was stellar.
The BUG match I attended had one stage with two reloads but the stage was divided into multiple strings so you could stop and reload a single mag if needed. They also had some fairly long, tight shots and even a bowling pin that needed to be knocked off a post at 7-10 yards. I thought the bowling pin was stellar.
The last 'bug match' I shot was indeed limited to 5 shots with everything from J frame 357's to Kel-Tec 32's. It was pretty entertaining in spite of no reloads.
Do you you really want to see Cletus trying to hold his belly up with one hand while drawing his J-Frame from his Thunderwear with the other? I know I don't.
On the same note, I'm pretty sure no one wants a nice picture of my derriere while I try to draw my j-frame from its ankle holster, so there.
But yes, that is a valid point (about drawing from concealment).
Mike
That wasn't my point, though that in and of itself could be entertaining in a 'stupid human tricks' way.
Thunderwear, ankle holsters etc are not IDPA approved, and most BUG's are stashed in a way as to NOT be 'safe' to draw.
I think the BEST 'back up' COF would be run left to right, or vice versa. Start with your standard pistol, do a SINGLE MAG (or 5 shots) while on the move to cover where you retrieve a BUG, (loaded or unloaded) and finish the COF. You can either holster your empty primary or leave it on a barrel, carry your reloads with you for the BUG. This way there is never a loaded gun left 'down range'.
I've seen similar COF's with a 'mystery' gun. (Usually a revolver with an unknown number of live rounds)
Thunderwear, ankle holsters etc are not IDPA approved, and most BUG's are stashed in a way as to NOT be 'safe' to draw.
I think the BEST 'back up' COF would be run left to right, or vice versa. Start with your standard pistol, do a SINGLE MAG (or 5 shots) while on the move to cover where you retrieve a BUG, (loaded or unloaded) and finish the COF. You can either holster your empty primary or leave it on a barrel, carry your reloads with you for the BUG. This way there is never a loaded gun left 'down range'.
I've seen similar COF's with a 'mystery' gun. (Usually a revolver with an unknown number of live rounds)
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
We actually do this. We run "Real BUG" and "Gamer BUG" classes with the line drawn at a certain barrel length. IIRC, it's 2.5" or so. We have some shooters who shoot compact xDs or Glocks often, or even exclusively, and they tend to clean house on the BUG match -- so we gave them a chance to shine, and a chance for the real micros to play, too.
-Sam
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
In the same vein, we always run our BUG matches as a side match after the main match.
Actually, we run a side match every month. Something like, "semi-auto rifle," "combat shotgun," ".22 plate match," "Stake Shoots (FUN!)," "Surplus Bolt Rifle," "BUG," "lever-rifle," "pistol-caliber carbines," etc. Always fun to see what kind of stuff the gang has in the back of their gun safes, and to give them a reason to get it out and shoot it!
I design BUG scenarios this way as well. Usually have the BUG on a table and setup the COF such that the shooter is at slide lock and transitions to the BUG to complete the course of fire. I've also designed a couple scenarios where the BUG is an unknown gun from another shooter. This stage is really fun and makes the shooter utilize cover and become familiar with an unfamiliar BUG.
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