My 1st IPSC match

[TonyB]

Shot my 1 st one on saturday..I'm an IDPA guy,so it wasn't that different..I did ok..used my Glock 17..there were 5 stages with the last one being steel(which I love)...the 1st stage I screwed up not realizing that I don't get a "pass through" when I hit 2 good guys.....I think I was just jittery.there wasn't as much running and gunning as I thought..it's good to have 2 sports to choose from....all in all a good time.I rhink at this point I still like idpa better,just because I know the rules and have shot it for 2 couple of years now...but I could learn to love ipsc too...

 

[Krag]

Tony - welcome to the REAL shooting game. Stick with it, you'll have a lot of fun (we don't take ourselves too seriously because we admit it's a game), meet the best kind of people and shoot lots of ammo in the process. What more could you ask for?

"Run & Gun & have FUN!"

 

[Owen]

Club matches don't generally have a lot of running around. Once you start moving up to state and area matches, there will be a lot more running, and a lot more LOOONG shots.

 

[gigmike]

I also shot my first IPSC match this past weekend. Shooting 230 rounds in a 4 hour match is definitely fun. The main difference I found between this and IDPA is that IPSC is more of a problem solving exercise than IDPA.

It seems that in IDPA the scenario is so heavily scripted by the designer and the rule requirements that you can kind of "auto-pilot" your way through. But in IPSC they give you a string of targets and you have to figure out how to best engage them in the fastest time while not breaking the 180 and reloading at the best times. Definitely more variables to consider than in IDPA, kind of a problem solving exercise with guns. This isn't a criticism of IDPA but just my impression. I don't know if I consider one to be better than the other.

 

[sturmruger]

I have shot IPSC now for about 15 months. I tried IDPA a few week ago and to my suprise it was just as much fun as the IPSC. Both are fun shooting games with scoring that make you do your best to shoot accurately as well as fast. I still prefer IPSC because I really like running and shooting. I do need to work on my long game for IPSC. Shots over 20 yards can be challenging. I am glad you like both I shoot in production so switching over to IDPA isn't that big of a deal.

 

[Hoser]

Welcome to the dark side. I shoot both and enjoy both. IPSC is the best practice for IDPA you can get. It teaches to just focus on shooting fast and moving efficiently.

Club matches don't generally have a lot of running around.

Glad I dont shoot IPSC near you. Thats a bummer. Tell the MD and club staff near you to get off their butts.

 

[OF]

Shoot both. All the time.

Where in NY did you shoot/do you shoot, Tony? Assuming it was in NY...

- Gabe

 

[TonyB]

The Watervleit R&G club

I belong to this range and they have IPSC once a month...I shoot IDPA at Woodlawn and Iroquois ranges(the Capital Region Defensive Pistol League)..the only other relatively big match I shot was at Cortland last year..We have IDPA matches 2 times a year for our club(actually every week is kind of like a match)I may go to SaraSpa(Saratoga NY)this summer for their match....I tend to not do alot of big matches because phyically I can't do certain things(like kneel or go prone)so sometimes it's a hastle.At Cortland last year they were very understanding and just gave me a procedural(which I was fine with).....
anyway back to to the ipsc match question.....I'm not sure how many of these matches at Watervleit I'll make this year, I usually work a part time job on saturdays....

 

[OF]

I'm around that area from time to time, if I can hit a match I'll PM you when and where and maybe we can put some holes in some things.

- Gabe

 

[TonyB]

Are you an IDPA member?if so we have practice every week(tuesday nights)also IPSC is every thursday night(although I don't go regularly to ipsc.)yeah,let me know when you're around.....I'll pm you with my email...Tonyb

 

[TonyB]

Just got the scores

I came in 3rd in my division(production) and 12th over all(right in the middle)Not as bad as I thought for my 1st time....

 

[WESHOOT2]

Gabe's in Maine

But we got clubs in mid-Vermont www.gmps.ws

Now one in northern Vt.

Gotta lotta shootin' in Chateaugay, NY.

Clubs all over Mass. NY.

Sunday's fer IPSC, ay?

A33102


(Tried me sumothat IDPA, but the rules confuse me, and are not the 'taktiks' I'd bring to the real world. Not that IPSC is either, but it at least lets me run TOWARDS the targets. Just like in my real life )

 

[OF]

Not that IPSC is either, but it at least lets me run TOWARDS the targets. Just like in my real life

If anyone ever points a gun at me, my plan is to wet myself and then run away from the targets while shooting back over my shoulder and screaming like a little girl.

I just can't seem to find the right sport to practice that move anywhere...

- Gabe

PS: Tony: I'm an IDPA SO Instructor and like to shoot everything under the sun. If I'm around I'll let you know for sure. Blam blam!

 

[TonyB]

I don't run from the bad guys(if they're cardboard that is)..I've always said idpa and ipsc is good solid trainning,if we're attacked by 6 cardboard guys that don't shoot back......and we hear a buzzer..

 

[Krag]

Both IPSC and IDPA are very poor ways to train for "real life" defensive situations. If you want to do that go to GunSite or Thunder Ranch, not a weekend match!

The only difference between the two "sports" is that IPSC/USPSA admits they're a game while the IDPAers are living in a combat/tough guy/street fantasy world.

 

[HKGuns]

Both IPSC and IDPA are very poor ways to train for "real life" defensive situations. If you want to do that go to GunSite or Thunder Ranch, not a weekend match!

The only difference between the two "sports" is that IPSC/USPSA admits they're a game while the IDPAers are living in a combat/tough guy/street fantasy world.

Oh boy, here's a real tough guy! Nice of you to knock both sports in one sweeping generalization. I shoot IDPA and take offense to your obnixious post.
Both IDPA and IPSC are good for gun sports and people who enjoy shooting.

They are both good ways to train...because they teach you to shoot accurately. There's nothing more important than being able to shoot accurately.

 

[HSMITH]

My main beef with IDPA is , at least at the local clubs, that everything is scripted WAY too tightly taking any problem solving issues away from the shooter. It basically amounts to shooting a course of fire the way it is described and within the rules. I would like to see more complex scenarios or at least problems that could be solved multiple ways putting the load of figuring out WHAT to do back on the shooter.

I too think IPSC/USPSA is a game, but I also think it is a valuable tool that will teach you to shoot on the move, reload on the move, get in a position to engage targets quickly, etc.

I much prefer USPSA for my recreational shooting.

 

[DT Guy]

Well, I don't know HOW learning and practicing drawing from concealment, accurate shooting under the pressure of time and forced use of cover could POSSIBLY be any use in the 'real world'...

No, IDPA is not tactical training. Depending on your approach to it, however, it may be effective gunhandling PRACTICE.


Larry

 

[thereisnospoon]

Boys, Boys, Boys

IDPA vs. IPSC

sould have never started this debate, because ike the 9mm vs 45 or .223 vs .308 or the 1911 vs Glock...its all in what you prefer.

Neither IDPA nor IPSC are "training" they are games.

I shoot mostly IDPA, but have shot a few IPSC matches and I rather enjoy BOTH sports for what they are. A day at the range handling the gun, shootng, moving, smoking a goos Cigar, etc.

Why is it that we must bash each others likes to justify our own?

By the way...several posters here have said they dislike IDPA because of course design/scripting. If you think that is really the case, I DOUBLE DOG DARE (...and you know if you've ever seen " Christmas Story" that you don't make or take a "Double Dog Dare" lightly) you to come shoot the Alabama State match, or one of our monthly matches for that matter. While there are a few people who try to force you to follow their thinking, most of the course designers at SCSSA try to allow you to think for yourself, or at least give you a risky option to try and game the match...which is really what this complaint is all about anyway.

Too tightly controlled = "Im not able to game as well and have to rely on my shooting skill to win the match"...If you really honest with yourself

 

[HSMITH]

thereisnospoon, I would love to come down and try one of your matches, but it is about 700 miles give or take each way so that would make for one LONG weekend. I think I'll pass for now.

As I said, the LOCAL to me IDPA group sets up courses to that you MUST start from point A, engage targets 1-X, you MUST move to position B, engage targets X-X, forced reloads, downloaded mags, limited round counts and so on. Makes for boring shooting to ME. I would like to see target arrays set up so that you must figure out yourself how and when to engage or even when NOT to engage certain targets, put the strategy on the shooter rather than having a marksmanship contest. The local scene just isn't stimulating enough for ME.

Relatively locally there are a couple of USPSA clubs that put on some outstanding matches, and I choose to shoot them instead. You never know what is going to be set up, and on the field courses there are often several ways to shoot the stage in good time. It makes a guy think about his game and how to get the most out of it, and sure enough there are quite a few instances where a guy that knows his game will beat shooters much better than he is. I get more satisfaction for the amount of time spent, and that makes ME happy.

I shoot for enjoyment, gun handling practice, and competition.

I am not bashing anything, was just a point of view, that's all.

 

[Tacblack]

Glad to hear you had a good time. I shoot both. Shooting some idpa seems to help my uspsa and vise versa. The more trigger time of course will help. I shoot with a bounch of guys from each club that are there to have fun I don't hear one bashing the other. We have a pretty good amount of people who will cross over for more trigger time. I shot uspsa first then idpa. It took me about 6 months of matchs to shoot both games clean with out thinking about it.

 

[thereisnospoon]

HSMITH

I am sorry the local guys do it like that...only 700 miles....I would crawl across 700 miles of broken kitkat bars to , oh wait, never mind...

Seriuosly, I agree that IDPA has a lot of problems, the biggest being the guy in Arkansas who holds the reigns. (SIDEBAR: it amazes me that this man claims to have >15,000 members who pay $35.00/year to be members, yet also claims to make ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for his efforts Sounds like new math to me!!! Don't get me wrong the guy deserves to make ALL HE CAN, just don't petend you aren't making anything. )

Anyway, some of the rules really SUCK and are stupid and will probably get you killed in the "real world", but since it is a game, I just play i by King Bill's rules. We have the same problem in Alabama that you have were you shoot...people want to control "gaming" so they superscript everything to avoid the gamers. What this does is actually punish shooters.

Some of us try really hard to overcome this urge and instead try to provide a good course of fire for everyone from Novice to Master to Celebrity Shooters allowing each to shoot the course as they see fit. If you can do it within the rules, go for it! The novice can follow the script, the Celebrity can game all he wants...I am very guilty of gaming to win, which of course is the goal of an IDPA match.
I have been shooting IDPA for 4 years now and have still never seen a dreaded FTDR, which is in and of itself aone of those stupid "get you killed" rules if you ask me.

The way I see it, in a "real"gunfigt, the ONLY rule is to win.

Maybe one day, enough of us will get fed up with King Bill and his cronies and start a sport that uses the best of IDPA, IPSC and Three-Gun to promote real world skills fora gunfight.

Now all we need is someone who's actually been throuh a gunfight to set all the rules....

 

[Krag]

Shoudek - I'm only trying to make the point that both types of competition ("games") do a poor job of really preparing one for a real life defensive situation. I don't mind which game you play, we should all try and shoot as much as possible (I shoot 4 USPSA matches per month) I just feel that if the competitor thinks this is preparing him for "the street" he is living in a fantasy world.

I'm sick and tired of IDPA guys showing up at a USPSA match and b*tching & moaning about our course design. The most common complaints I hear is "On the STREET that would get you killed!" "On the STREET no one carries six spare magazines!" "On the STREET you wouldn't use a holster like that!" "On the STREET you would never fire that many rounds!"

Duh guys - it's not the STREET!!! :banghead:

It's a shooting match where you're supposed to be (a) having fun and (b) trying to shoot fast and accurately while being safe.

I have competed in and observed a number of IDPA matches and I can assure you, what they are doing AIN'T DA STREET either. It's a game where you shoot at paper targets (that aren't shooting back) and you try to shoot fast and accurately while being safe - just like USPSA!