IDPA Basics

[mpthole]

This topic came up in a thread over in GD, but I thought it would be better over here. For a new person wanting to get started in IDPA, what in your opinion should they know in advance and have for gear?

First, for the new person you really, really need to read this.
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IMO, IDPA is fun. So be prepared to have some! You meet some great people who are interested in the same things you are: guns & self-defense. Its also a great place to try out that holster you bought 6 months ago and haven't really 'used' yet. Or maybe that magazine carrier you thought you might want to buy... well, now you really do need it afterall. Just about any "serviceable" pistol will do the job, (See rules & regs for specifics) as long as you have a strong-side holster for it. No cross-draws, thigh-rigs or shoulder-rigs allowed. The more a holster is geared towards daily, concealed carry wear the better.

The group that I shoot with has matches every month of the year except January and maybe December next year. Rain or snow, hot or cold doesn't matter. But be prepared because there's no whining allowed!

Of course, in the end its a game. Some rules may be frustrating. I know there is another thread here talking about changes people would like to see. So be it. Through the open discussion, maybe they'll be improved upon...? Never-the-less, its a game that can help you practice your skills and identify areas where you need more work. It can also give you ideas of where to take your own personal training.

Any other thoughts?

 

[faustulus]

One of the good things about IDPA is the relativly low start up costs. Basiclly your gun two to three mags and a holster and you are set. A mag holder would be helpful, but not absolutly needed. I tend to like Kydex holsters for IDPA (and for CCW for that matter). It is addictive and fun, and there are some silly rules but it is a good way to get some quality shooting in. Heck anything beats standing 15 yards away and shooting at a paper plate.

 

[Navy joe]

2nd the Kydex or GOOD leather. The most common newbie stunt is to show up with a nyon holster that moves around, closes up and is just a general safety hazard. I did use a nylon for a little while when I got started, but it was one that would stay open and in place. On a good belt. None of those braided leather preppie belts, actually seen some of those come to the matches.

For IDPA or IPSC, a few general highnotes.

-The RO/SO is there to help you, don't spoil it by pointing a gun at him or anyone else.

-If you are loading you're gun and someone did not tell you it was ok, you are wrong.

-Walk before you run, literally. The first few matches should be for you to get experience with a SO behind you, learn how the courses work and how to move with a gun. No sense trying for the land speed record first time out, ain't gonna happen.

-Have Fun!

 

[Diesle]

Can someone explain the 1's and 2's of the tactical mag change. I dont have training in that.

Is there a website that demonstrates the propper method?

Diesle

 

[10-Ring]

Oh yeah, IDPA is loads o' fun! Only downside is your wait between stages can get quite long. Also wanna add my thumbs up to the kydex holster. Easy draw & reholstering.

 

[Captal_de_Buch]

And.. Remember to bring some kind of jacket or vest that will be long enough to cover the gun, holster and mags. I prefer something with a right hand pocket, the reason for that will become obvious the more you shoot IDPA.

IDPA is a blast, I look at it as a chess game with handguns.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Can someone explain the 1's and 2's of the tactical mag change. I dont have training in that.

There are two MAJOR types of reloads in IDPA, and one of them has a variant.

1) A slide lock reload, when the empty mag is allowed to fall to the ground, and

2) An administrative reload (when rounds are still in the mag), and you're reloading during a pause in the action so that you'll move on with a full magazine. In this type of reload, the mag must stay in your control (in pocket or mag carrier) after the exchange. If a mag with rounds in it hits the ground, and you leave it there, you're penalized.

This "administrative" reload has two forms:

a) a reload with retention, in which you take the partially-filled magazine from the gun, pocket it, and then insert a full mag.

b) Or a tactical reload, in which you pull the replacment (full mag) from the mag carrier, hold it in your off hand, drop the mag in the gun from the gun into that same hand, control it, and then insert the replacement mag in its place.

Its not as hard as it sounds, and it can be done quickly. But you may fumble a bit until you get it down pat.

The "tac" reload, in theory, leaves you with an unloaded gun a bit less long. The reload with retention is probably faster, overall.

In any "administrative" reload, you can't just stuff the retained mag into a shirt pocket, and you can't continue the course of fire with it in your hand. It must be put away securely (and not in a pocket especially designed for that purpose.)

The sneaky courses of fire are the ones that call for you to do a ractical reload, cause you to shoot out that mag, and then have to pull the first mag back (from where it was stowed) to continue firing...

 

[ryucasta]

Walt,

I beg to differ with your post

"The reload with retention is probably faster, overall."

Experience has shown me that the fastest reload scenario for IDPA is from the slide lock since you don’t have to pocket any magazine. All you have to do is just drop the empty magazine load the new one and go.

 

[faustulus]

Experience has shown me that the fastest reload scenario for IDPA is from the slide lock

True, but you don't ever want to shoot a gun dry.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Walt,

I beg to differ with your post

"The reload with retention is probably faster, overall."

Experience has shown me that the fastest reload scenario for IDPA is from the slide lock since you don’t have to pocket any magazine. All you have to do is just drop the empty magazine load the new one and go.

Read what I wrote, again, in context.

I was explaining the two "administrative" reloads. When I was writing about "overall," I was writing about all the motions you have to go through when doing the tac reload or reload with retention. (That's why I wrote "faster" rather than "fastest.")

I don't think there's any question that the slide-lock reload is the fastest of the three.

A fourth reload, probably faster than the slide lock reload, is the "speed reload." In this, you leave one round in the gun and drop the mag. Its faster because you don't have to let the slide go forward. Its not allowed in IDPA.

(I saw it done once in an IDPA match. We didn't catch it the first time the shooter did it, until we thought about what we saw and talked it over. We warned him that it would be penalized the next time. The guy who did it was an IPSC shooter, and probably did it innocently, as its allowed there.)

True, but you don't ever want to shoot a gun dry.

Some courses of fire require you to shoot until slide-lock. I could see that happening in the real world, too.

Or were you referring to a lack of lubrication? If so, the gun or yours? <grin>

 

[M1911]

True, but you don't ever want to shoot a gun dry.

That's one school of thought. There is another school of thought. Someone (Clint Smith?) once posed the following supposition -- if Mongo is 25 feet away, charging towards you with a knife in his hand and you've only got one round in the gun, are you going to do a speed reload? Or are you going to run the gun dry?

You may be confident that you can count your rounds in a gunfight. If so, you're a better man than I.

 

[ryucasta]

Walt,

Thanks for clearing it up, since I had originally interpreted your recommendation as being the fastest way to reload a firearm in the sport of IDPA.