Is there a reason why there are two different matches?I still dont understand the difference between the two
Do you mean what are the differences between IDPA and USPSA/IPSC?
Basically it breaks down like this:
The International Practical Shooting Confederation (of which the US Practical Shooting Association is a part) is the older of the two and was formed to provide competition that involved more "realistic" shooting scenarios than did the old fashioned "bulls-eye" and PPC style matches. Over the years it has evolved a lot and it is most often viewed as a "pure game" wherein there are few concessions to "real life" situations. You run around a lot, face 15 or 20 "bad guys" at a time, carry often like 100 rounds on your person at the beginning of a stage, and (at least in Open division) use highly specialized (and mighty expensive) equipment like "race" guns that are compensated and feature large optical sighing systems like red-dot scopes. Some folks hold that IPSC has a slightly higher emphasis on speed than on accuracy. (You *can* miss fast enough to win ... sometimes.)
BUT, yes, there are divisions (Production, Limited, etc.) in which you can be plenty competative with off-the-shelf, "normal" guns and gear.
That kind of thing bugs some people who don't care to compete with a bunch of equipment that they would never, ever, have with them in any defensive type situation and who view a sidearm as an entirely defensive tool.
Some of those folks (Bill Wilson, of Wilson Combat, for one) decided to form an alternative shooting sport which aimed to be more "practical" and street-wise. The International Defensive Pistol Association's purpose is to provide competition using guns, holsters, and other gear that more closely fits with what an average guy with his CCW license might really carry with him day-to-day, and to make some attempt to promote some sound habits for staying more, you know,
alive in a gun fight. To that end, there are no optical scopes allowed and no skeletonized rail hosters. Competitors must wear some kind of "cover garment" that does actually obscure the sidearm from view until it is drawn. No single string of fire can be more than 18 rounds and you are limited to carrying two spare magazines into each stage. Shots must be taken from positions of cover whenever possible, and reloads must be done behind cover as well. Etc., etc. Some folks say that IDPA has a higher empahsis on accuracy over speed (as in, you CAN'T miss fast enough to win ... usually).
If you try both you can get a feel for which you enjoy more, or you can just read the rule books of both sports and get an idea of which sport suits your shooting philosophy more closely.
Good luck!
-Sam