IDPA newbie

[sauer1911]

Well I joined IDPA, have a couple of OWB holsters coming, one for my 1911 and one for the p226.

Slowly getting it together to start this new shooting fun. I reload .45acp so that may be my go to, til I get my 650xl up and running for 9mm.

I live near Prado Olympic shooting park, so I will be heading out there for next bunch of Saturdays.

I competed in an Allstate Safe challenge at my local indoor range, it was pretty cool, kinda crowded, well run and safe. first time I got 3rd out of 35!

Big learning curve coming up, cant wait!

 

[Blue Thunder]

You will love that 650. I have run a couple of friends 1050's and they are all great. I have two SDB's currently set-up for 9MM and 40S&W. If you ordered the 650 with 9MM dies, about all you will have to do is set powder load, bullet seating depth and catch the finished product. Good Luck with your new Goodies and Competetion. The main thing in Competetion is to not rush things. I have been shooting IPSC (USPSA) for 23 years and am still learning.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Well I joined IDPA, have a couple of OWB holsters coming, one for my 1911 and one for the p226.

Slowly getting it together to start this new shooting fun. I reload .45acp so that may be my go to, til I get my 650xl up and running for 9mm.

I live near Prado Olympic shooting park, so I will be heading out there for next bunch of Saturdays.

I competed in an Allstate Safe challenge at my local indoor range, it was pretty cool, kinda crowded, well run and safe. first time I got 3rd out of 35!

Big learning curve coming up, cant wait!

Sure beats standing still punching paper.
You've got a lot of new things going on. New press, competition. Have fun with both.

 

[sauer1911]

Sure beats standing still punching paper.
You've got a lot of new things going on. New press, competition. Have fun with both.

Yeah the plate is full lately, but I think I'm gonna shoot my 1911, and .45's til I get the 650 set up. I ordered the press with the 9mm specs and the electric catridge sorting and loading attachment. $855. I dont think that includes the 9mm dies.

Just taking my time and learning all the way!

 

[sauer1911]

Arrrgghh!

Supposed to shoot Saturday, but got called in to work. Gotta make hay while the sun shines!

Oh well I can wait another few weeks. Gives me time to set up the 650!

Be safe!

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Practice your mag changes until your fingers bleed, then practice them some more. That's the biggest thing I see separating the really good IDPA people from the just good.

 

[sauer1911]

Big ups to all who have responded with great input!! I thank you!

Got my 650 up and running, just need some 9mm brass and boolits!

Nov 2 is the next competition, I expect to show up and absorb all I can and try to be helpful.

I have not decided which to shoot yet, but have practiced mag reloads from the belt with both 9mm and .45. a lot!

Also, with the weapon unloaded, I have practiced drawing from my Serpa 2 holsters. I find no problem with how I draw the weapon, from that holster.

Just need to be patient and deliberate with my actions.

be safe.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Practice both the Loaded Chamber reload and the Empty Chamber one. Remember that you have to be standing still when you reload, unless you run the gun dry while in the open

 

[sauer1911]

So ideally you want to remember where you are in the magazine. 8+1 reload after 8 rounds, simple drop and pop in a new one, or 10+1 reload after 10.

But if you run to an open slide, you need to drop empty mag, pop in a fresh one, and cycle the slide, wasting precious time in the run.:banghead:

Good to know what to practice!

be safe

 

[allaroundhunter]

If you start with 8+1 then after firing 8 rounds you can't just drop the magazine. You would still have to perform a Tac reload (tuck current mag into waistband/pocket while inserting a fresh one) because you didn't go to slide-lock. Just because you know that there aren't any rounds left in the mag doesn't allow you to drop it to the ground... Not my favorite rule, but a rule nonetheless.

I prefer to go to slide-lock because it is faster for me to just drop the empty mag to the ground while inserting a fresh one and getting the gun up and running than it is for me to perform a Tac reload. But practice your Tac reloads, because match directors almost always make you perform at least one during a match.

 

[sauer1911]

Good to know! seems like it would take just about the same time now either way.

practice, practice, practice.

be safe.

 

[9mmepiphany]

So ideally you want to remember where you are in the magazine. 8+1 reload after 8 rounds, simple drop and pop in a new one, or 10+1 reload after 10.

But if you run to an open slide, you need to drop empty mag, pop in a fresh one, and cycle the slide, wasting precious time in the run.:banghead:

Nope, you misunderstand...or you haven't read the rule book.

You can't drop a mag as long as there is a chambered round, you'd need to perform a Loaded Chamber Reload (Used to be called a Tac Reload or a Reload w/Retention). That is one of the differences between IDPA and USPSA.

If you practice the correct techniques, you don't lose any time releasing the slide from slidelock...well, maybe at the very top of the competition

I prefer to go to slide-lock because it is faster for me to just drop the empty mag to the ground while inserting a fresh one and getting the gun up and running than it is for me to perform a Tac reload. But practice your Tac reloads, because match directors almost always make you perform at least one during a match.

Under the rule book, they can't do that...except in the Classifier...but they can lay out a COF where a Tac Reload is more advantageous

If you plan out your shots (if you are gaming the COF), you can avoid going to slide lock in the middle of a string of fire. I find it more disruptive to have to break off, reload and reengage the same target, than to reload earlier and be able to shoot through an array. It depends on the distance to and the size of the available target area. I've noticed that the new rules on moving reloads has some impact on this.

It seems being able to perform a smooth Rw/R will become a more important technique

 

[sauer1911]

Umm, well yeah I haven't seen the inside of the rule book YET!

I appreciate all the input.

Thank you

be safe

btw, 3.7, 3.7.1,3.7.2 is where the reloading rules can be found.

 

[sauer1911]

First idpa competition

That was AWESOME! What I learned,

In the beginning, take your time and YES when the timer beeps, you do forget just about everything, so slow down. Ah, my biggest problem was making sure I had my mag locked into the gun.

Bring food and drinks, it was a big group, got there 7:30 left just before 3.

Food and water will help you keep focused and not lose interest like I did. I didnt want to lose interest just got hungry and tired.

Of the 8 stages, I was never last, some I was as high as 5th, but over all I was about 53rd out of 68.

A good starting point to move up from.

Oh yeah I'm losing the Serpa holster and getting a Blade-tec. Everytime the beeper went off I was pulling the gun out, not hitting the little lever to release the gun, arrrgh.:banghead:

GREAT GROUP, GREAT TIMERS AND SAFETY OFFICERS, GOOD INSTRUCTION FOR NEWBIES.

HOW GOOD WAS IT?? I'm taking my wife to compete next time!

be safe

 

[allaroundhunter]

Glad you had such a great time! With practice scores will go up, but keep your main focus on safety and fun

 

[Sam1911]

Sounds like you had a fine time! Glad to hear it! After a year of this you won't believe your improvement.

 

[sauer1911]

Yeah, next time I will try to slowdown, TRY is the operative word. Just gotta forget about the starting beep timer!

It is amazing how I just forget almost everything.:banghead:

Next time, my wife shoots her Sig 226 E2 9mm, and I go back to my Sig 1911 .45acp!

Got good stuff to practice now!.

be safe

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Good luck to ya. I'm about a month ahead of you. Been to 2 IDPA matches so far and been reloading 9 on a Lee Pro1000 for about the same amount of time. Its really good practice for ingraining some muscle memory under duress (well a bit of duress anyway) on the things besides pulling the trigger like mag changes and using cover and using tactical order and so on. Dry firing 10 min a day and throwing some mag change and holster drills in help tons. Did I mention how much dry firing helps (remember to use proper technique though otherwise you are reinforcing bad habits)?

I also find it helps to use a corner or a doorframe (obviously not the room your wife or kids are in) to practice bringing your gun in to go from one side of a barrier to the other. I had a problem on my first match in one stage where I swept the sky to get to the other side of a barrel. I'm usually good about muzzle awareness but then again that was stationary on paper mostly with a few times shooting clays scattered on the birm of a tacbay out in the open. I think I'll blame it on Hollywood as that is how they always turn around with a darn gun >< Having the stress there can make you a little less aware of your muzzle so I make sure to practice any situation where I would automatically sweep my muzzle outside of the safe zone so that I have the right procedure in muscle memory.

So do you even remember if you got a sight picture the whole match cuz I sure didn't my first match, and my accuracy was quite good even if I was a bit slow on everything and missed stuff like a tac reload on one stage and running out of cover with an empty gun.

 

[9mmepiphany]

to practice bringing your gun in to go from one side of a barrier to the other.

It is easier, and safer, if you just back off the cover/barrier a bit and just lean from side to side.

It is very common for shooters, new to using cover, to crowd corners...it is horrible, tactically speaking

 

[Sam1911]

Indeed! Don't crowd cover! http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=672216

 

[9mmepiphany]

I didn't realize that thread was that old...it has held up well

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Well you learn something new everyday. Wonder why nobody has mentioned that at the two matches i've been to. Yet another thing I will blame on hollywood, they are usually spooning with their cover on movies and tv.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Maybe they don't know...do they also hug cover?

Maybe they've gotten tired of telling folks and being ignored.

I've know to back off cover for years, but just this last weekend scraped a knuckle on a shot around cover. A lot of it has to do with positioning of the previous shot, movement prior to that shooting position, and the ability to judge "good cover" when you are closer to it

 

[Atom Smasher]

I hope the OP doesn't mind, but I'm shooting my first IDPA match this Saturday and I want to make sure I've got all the stuff I need:

Shooting a CZ-85 Combat in 9mm
200 rounds 9mm ammo
3 mags
strong-side holster + mag pouch
eye pro
ear pro

The only thing (besides making triple sure I know in what order to engage targets/how to use cover/etc.) is a concealment garment. Is this necessary? I've seen some IDPA videos where it doesn't appear, and some where it does. Should I bring one? What is something cheap or easy (or that I already have around) that could suffice?

I'm excited! Any tips from the experienced?

 

[Sam1911]

Yes. If your club is playing by the rules then a cover garment is required for almost all stages. There are a few instances (e.g. -- standard exercise stages, specialized scenarios like starting "in bed" or whatever) where it won't be required, but IDPA's standard orientation is to emulate the average (wo)man on the street carrying a CONCEALED handgun.


...

Tips? No one will ever be impressed by how FAST you are. They will be impressed by how SAFE you are. Wait for the Safety Officer to tell you to do ANYTHING short of sneezing while on the line, and don't touch the gun for any reason at all unless you are on the line and under his/her direction.

Also, "unload and show clear / if clear, hammer down, holster" is not on the clock. Take your time. Do each step slowly and deliberately, making sure the SO can see each step is done properly.

I once had to disqualify someone who shot the entire 90 round Classifier course and was so excited/hyper/shaky when putting the gun away for the last time that he missed his holster THREE TIMES and ended up dropping his gun right on the ground at our feet!

Don't be THAT guy!