IDPA legal revolver speedloaders

[Rockchucker]

I just noticed a post that mentioned that the safariland CD-2 spring steel speedloader holder is NOT legal for IDPA. I looked it up in the IDPA handbook, and they are right, it is listed as not approved! I've only been to a few local matches, but all I saw used were CD-2's and the stainless moonclip holders used for 45 moonclips. Sorry,.... one guy had a leather speed loader pouch with the snap closure cut off.... So what is legal? I would ask IDPA, but it took me two weeks to get a responce from them as to wether or not a Pearce plus one magazine extension (Dru said that she had never heard of them!) was legal for a Glock 27 used in SSP class. Even after I got the email from them, I didn't understand it and never did get a responce to my follow-up questions. I sure understand about gamesmanship "advantages", but what is legal?

As I said, the local matches seem to let some "things" go, That doesn't bother me, but if I continue to shoot these events, I don't want to show up at a state match, only to find out that my gear is not legal.....What do the legal shooters use???

Thanks, Rockchucker

 

[Jim Watson]

Curiously enough, while the CD2 speedloader carrier is not allowed by IDPA, the similar moonclip carriers ARE! Don't ask me for the logic. Whilst your holster must be on the List, it appears that any speedloader carrier not banned by name is OK.

I have used holders made by the late "Bear" which mount two cups like the banned Safariland 333 on leather loops. Hackathorn liked them when introduced at KY2K so they must be OK. More recently I have been wearing a holder made by my local Kydex bender that looks and works like a CD2 with three key differences. It wraps around the loader more and is not likely to drop it. It has a paddle with hooks that is not coming off the belt. And it is not banned by name.
Ready Tactical Products: Chris Stewart's Custom Kydex Holsters and Accessories. (256) 350-4247

Blade Tech makes a Kydex holder but I like Chris' better.

I have seen homemade carriers cut from gray PVC conduit that is just the right size to hold a speedloader. Slotted to go on a belt, scalloped to let you grasp the loader. Ted Blocker makes a spring wire holder that is apparently enough more secure than the CDs to go with.

You are not supposed to modify a holster. Don't know if they have thought about applying that to a speedloader pouch.

 

[faustulus]

Don't ask me for the logic.

Logic doesn't apply to IDPA.

I don't think you are supposed to modify holsters or mag pouches, I would assume this goes for speed loaders, but I used logic to get there (see above statement). Also there are several companies which manufacture kydex speed loaders -- although I am biased to the blade-techs -- which should work. I try to stay away from leather for competition because it tends to wear faster and in Tennessee the sweat after a match will sometimes soak into the holster/mag pouch further shortening its life. Leather I carry, Kydex I game with, as always it is what you prefer.

 

[Poohgyrr]

My understanding is that you cannot modify the holster/pouch/etc... This rule seemed to be written in stone when I last checked.

But the yahoo groups IDPA list is where I'd ask for quick response. Several really active and in the know IDPA folks were on that list when I had more time. There is a LOT of good IDPA info in there.

 

[Rockchucker]

Poogyrr...thanks for the suggestion. I wasn't aware of the Yahoo list. But, I have it bookmarked now!

At the three local matches, that I have shot this year, there seems to be plenty of rule bending. Being a new shooter, I researched as much as I could find about IDPA...video's, web site, gun magazines etc. I joined IDPA before I ever attended a match. I have always been obsessed with "fairness" and playing by the rules. As a longtime coach of several sports, I drove this point hard with my players....when other players/teams sought competitive edges, I DID NOT allow it! So the move away from gamesmanship that IDPA professed, appealed to me. I also loved the mandatory safety meetings...something that was sourly lacking in IPSIC.

Anyway, at my first matches, I saw basic field type holsters that had the thumbsnaps cut off, BUG guns that had full size S&W target grips that were bigger than the pistol itself, magazines and speedloaders that were just stuck in belts, SVI race guns etc. When I asked about this, I was told that they were loosening the rules to allow new shooters to get a taste of the sport without having to purchase a lot of extra equipmwnt. I was there to listen and learn, not compete, so I was OK with that.

At my third match, I had a round that halved the painted "hard cover line" and the target. My SO called it a miss. I politely mentioned that I thought that it was scored as a hit, since it was not a full caliber hole in the hard cover. One shooter agreed with me on it, but the SO was not pleased with my questioning it. The match director had been introduced as one of the most knowledgeable IDPA guys in the state, so after the stage, I asked him about the scoring. He agreed with me. I later politely told the SO what the director had said. I didn't ask him to change the score or anything, I just clarified the point. His responce was that "Iwould never enjoy the sport if I was spending all my efforts questioning the rules" oh well! I was only trying to "learn" I'm not really interested in IDPA for the competition, but I would like to have an understanding of what is/ is not legal.

 

[Jim Watson]

You have apparently bumped up against a strange outfit, slack on gear, a range Nazi on the timer. My apologies. Most of us try to do better. I lost a lot of brownie points by running the rather complex and very difficult Polite Society Marksmanship Evaluation at our last shoot. Oh, well, I'll give them a fun stage or two next time.

 

[Poohgyrr]

Nationwide, I've heard a lot of good things about a lot of the clubs, but then I've heard other things about a few clubs too. By and large, the R/O's & S/O's I've seen in the three local clubs I know of around here have been pretty good. It is difficult to keep up on the latest "rulebook interpretation" sometimes, but we seem to deal with it at the moment and discuss it afterwards. The efforts I've seen have been pretty honest.

Some rules seem more bendable than others on the local level, like using a "streetable" pistol that strictly doesn't make the official rules (say, a Grandpa's 5" N frame .357, or a Coonan .357 Magnum Automatic).

Other rules, like where you point your pistol, aren't very bendable.

Overall, IDPA has a lot going for it and to me, seems a pretty good way to test and improve myself.