How does one get into competitive shooting?

[DontBurnMyFlag]

Hey everyone.

Im an amateur shooter and I have been interested in competitive .45 handgun shooting for some time now. I dont have the time or money, or a .45 right now, but I want to get into this later in life. Whether it be IPSC (sp?) or other handgun competitions, I just want to try it out sometime in the future. If anyone can provide me with websites or something along that line, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Bruce333]

http://www.uspsa.com/

http://www.idpa.com/

http://www.1911society.org/

http://www.ipsc.org/

 

[PvtPyle]

Find a club and go. See what they have to offer, expect to do poorly at first, and be prepaired to become an addict. It is a LOT of fun, and can be VERY addictive. And once you get the hang of it and as your skills improve, it becomes even more fun.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Gear up. Show up. Sign up.

 

[HSMITH]

Show up with a smile and your ears open. Watch one first if you want, talk to people, and then show up willing to learn.

It is more fun than you can believe.

 

[DontBurnMyFlag]

excellent advice guys thanks!!!

Yea, just watching the matches on TV is exciting.

Once again thanks

 

[Ares45]

Every local club I've ever shot with has been a bunch of great guys. They'll make you feel right at home. Check out the websites for local club contact info and send them an email. They'll hook you right up. Just show up and shoot.

You need: gun, ammo, holster, couple mags, mag pouches, belt, eye & ear protection. Most clubs shoot rain or shine so be prepared for the weather or take the day off. Kneepads help if you've got them. Hat and sunscreen may be good idea too. Bring something to drink and maybe some snacks. Some matches can last upwards of 6 hours depending on the club and how they go about setting up, scoring, and breaking the course down. Most clubs charge a fee to regular shooters. Mine is $15. Some are more. USPSA lets noobs shoot the first match free. Don't know about IDPA, others.

 

[KeltiKevin]

"How does one get into competitive shooting?"

Practice, practice, practice!

Kevin

 

[bogie]

Buy a good reloader. Buy two of whatever pistol you plan on using, because one may break at a match/be in the shop. Be friendly to your gunsmith. Practice makes perfect.

 

[Igloodude]

And http://www.bullseyepistol.com/ if you're into the slow and steady stuff.

 

[Weimadog]

Go to one of the events, introduce yourself, and state what you posted here.

The first time you compete, explain to the Safety Officer that it is your first time. Go slow. You'll have plenty of opportunity for fast in subsequent matches. I have found shooters at the IDPA events I've attended to be quite helpful and encouraging.

Before you start, it would be good to decide what you want out of the comptition. Do you want a good score and high ranking? Do you want to use the competitions to develop the skills to defend yourself? You can shoot the course of fire in different ways, depending on what you want to learn.

 

[Mizzle187]

Great advice Bogie! Dontburnmyflag I also amd very very interested in shooting in competitions but I know Im not ready to handle it at this time. I dont know your backgorund or abilities but for me Im not yet comfortable with my shooting skills standiing still. That shouldl change this year though as Im shooting alot. I do plan on going to some matchs locally to watch others and get as much info and meet as many people as I can.

 

[nomadboi]

Yeah, it's good fun- I too lack the time and money right now, but I did go to one IDPA match last year, and I had a blast.

Why are you set on .45? If money is an issue, you might want to start with a 9mm... ammo is muuuuuch cheaper, and it can be easier to find reliable cheap guns in 9mm too. 1911s get pricey.

Think about which format you might like (IPSC/IDPA whatever) before you go gear shopping too- I found out when I went to that IDPA match that my holster wasn't IDPA Legal. They let me play anyway, and I wasn't too worried about it right then- wasn't there for the score anyway- but it was a great experience.

Motivated me to spend more time at the range working on the basics, but it was also like "wow, this is what it's really about! This is so much more fun than just standing in a lane poking holes in paper one by one..."

Honestly, it was the first time I'd ever been able to try shooting from a draw, or doing anything resembling rapid fire, given the regulations at most shooting ranges around here... not to mention the fun of moving targets, running around, etc.

Made me realize I need new glasses too, though- lost some time/points when I honestly couldn't tell if there was a hole in the target or not sometimes.

Good, comfortable hearing protection is also worth investing in if you can- I've got the cheapie sportsmansguide.com electronic hearing protection, and I like being able to hear conversation between rounds, but after a couple hours they got a little uncomfortable. Started eyeing the other guys' peltors, radians, etc. a little jealously- they looked nice. Still... don't have the money for those toys right now.

 

[TonyB]

I was talking to a guy who worked at a local gun shop a few years back and he turned me on to IDPA....the next week I was hooked.I've been shooting it almost every week since then.Most likely you can start IDPA with the stuff you already have..my 1st time I shot a 5 shot revolver from an Uncle Mike's nylon holster.Most of all ,don't try to "compete" right off the bat.Alot of people try IDPA and can't keep up right out of the box and get discouraged.Work on accuracy and safety 1st.You'll naturally get faster.You don't "need" fancy equipment to start out.Most of all try a few different sports and see what you like best.Good shooting.