IDPA Make ready question

[Archer]

A quick Gedankenexperiment for fellow THRers...

Having been through Gunsite a couple of times now, and having been trained to draw like you mean it, I tend to perform a full-speed presentation to low ready from the holster whenever possible.

In a recent IDPA match when preparing to make ready, after executing a draw I was (jokingly) accused of taking a sight picture, which is of course contrary to the rules. I actually did not bring the pistol up into the look position, and of course I did not touch the trigger (as opposed to USPSA competitors who often perform a complete presentation including a flash sight picture and dry trigger press)

So.... any thoughts on this issue ? Would this earn an FTDR or procedural at a major match, if YOU were the SO ?

 

[lycanthrope]

As an acting SO I wouldn't penalize you as long as you kept it low and no where near like you were coming up to engage. Just don't drop it when you put on the brakes.

Some targets in IDPA are close enough to engage with very little sight picture or with just the angle of the slide visible. Don't let me catch you eyeing up a particular target where that would apply. For myself, I consider that a form of sight picture under the spirit of the game.

I think as far as muscle memory goes you'd be better off only drawing like that when you are going to go through with the entire draw stroke. When you go FAST your body only does one type of motion. When you go SLOW (load and make ready) it is programmed for another motion. No starting out with the same motion and doing 2 differing things.

 

[Brian D.]

Keep in mind, I'm not flaming anybody here. But, if I were to one day wake up and find myself "IDPA Czar", there'd be no practice draws anywhere but the Safe Area. And that would only be before the match began. Seems like this would promote the idea of practicing draws, etc. on one's own time. I might also consider giving everybody--except newbies--about 10-15 seconds max. to load and make ready. The timer would beep at that point, ready or not! Well, I'm a little serious about this, anyway.

 

[OF]

The idea with IDPA is to simulate. So, you are supposed to be coming out of the holster cold, as you would on the 'street'. If you did that once, I'd mention that it is frowned upon, explain why and let you know that it might likely get you a penalty if you kept it up. At our club-level matches, you'd only get a spanking if you kept it up in an obviously defiant manner.

- Gabe

 

[Dr.Who]

The IDPA Clubs I shoot and RO at do not allow any pratice drawing at the event. The Holster goes on, gun to the safe area, checked for clear and holstered. NO PRACTICE DRAWS. as said before, on your own time. Too many people around at each event. The gun only comes out again at the line under suppervission of the RO. The gun can be worked on only in the safe area, without ammo. Working on the gun does not mean practice draws.

Loading and Making Ready does not include bring the gun up for a sight picture. Depending on the infraction and to what level the shooter is, 1 warning, maybe none, prior to a penilty.

Your are suppose to be drawing from concealment. If you were on the street and had to neutralize a situation, would you get a sight picture? Yes, you would of already been loaded if you were a CCW holder.

In IDPA CCW holder must load and make ready like everyone else... (just to clear up that issue). Most IDPA ranges are cold, weapon unloaded.

 

[Tim Burke]

Would this earn an FTDR or procedural at a major match, if YOU were the SO ?

Not from me, but I've been trained the same way. I don't even draw to the low ready... I draw as if to fire, then deliberately drop to the low ready if appropriate.
This is not a practice draw... this is how I draw the gun. They are the ones that require you to draw the gun to load and make ready. If they don't want any extra drawing of the gun, then they could always run a hot range. If I were on the street... well, the street is a hot range.

 

[Hoser]

Is there ever a time when you dont "draw like you mean it?" If there is, do it on the line when loading and making ready.

I have been SO-ing and RO-ing since the mid 90's. The last thing I want is to tell someone to LAMR and have them start moving like a mad man. At the start signal I expect this, not at LAMR. Remember, the guy with the timer might not know you and might be a bit twitchy from the last shooter. The SO is there for your safety, but its a ????ty job. Take it easy on the guy.

There are no style points for loading or unloading fast.

Back to your question, I would not give you a penalty. I might mumble the term Mall Ninja to myself though.