My first "real" IPSC match!

[igor]

I just got home from my first IPSC match away from the home club... a Level II event, 59 participants from all around the country in the Standard Pistol Div., I finished up mid-field around 54% and I have to say, I'm pretty happy about that.

After some 13 years of informal practice I got into IPSC last year. The peer and timer pressure were what I was looking for and it's giving high returns... Today gave me a dozen good range days' worth to ponder on and refine. Being anal-retentive about safety, I even wound up bordering on a sector fault while moving laterally & reloading (indoor range, real tight 45 degs handling sectors)... oh, the shame.

The RO obviously didn't want to give me a hard time or didn't see properly (I was expecting match DQ, the angle sure was very close if not over the 45 sideways) but did make very sure that I comprehended that my movement was far less than perfect. All in the most polite and respectful manner.

Unfortunately, that couldn't be said of exactly all of the competitors. It truly surprised me how ofter I was arrogantly cut off, bumped and shoved and more or less run over several times when walking the stages after briefing, always by the same few cocky Alpha Tarzans. Their shooting didn't quite mandate the demand for everybody's space and time... you know, endless briefing questions for loopholes in stage planning, making ready with umphteen slo-mo repetitions of their ultra-low-drag-high-speed moves etc. Where do these breed?

I'll get my revenge later in the season, as there's no doubt that I can show much better form once we no longer need skis on our range. Without trampling on anybody's toes.

Tomorrow it's relax with the rifle day. With them the trodding in the snow feels just as it should be...

 

[Navy joe]

Sounds like fun. Having done only two major matches it certainly is fun. Become a certified RO so you can exact all of your revenge on the prima donnas. What impresses me about the really good shooters I see is that they can get up there and shoot without being rude to others, taking 35 dry grips, or stepping on your mags while they walk through. Some second tier ones just become legends in their own minds and act like it sometimes.

What gun are you shooting in standard, and at what club? Maybe one day my military travels will allow me to shoot some Euro-IPSC.

 

[igor]

Yes, the lasting overall feeling about the experience was indeed fun. The less fun parts only served to motivate...

RO qualification is a plan for this year. Not because of the posers... I think but maybe to see if I can maintain such utter politeness and respect I experienced from the match personnel yesterday. Another exercise in functioning under pressure.

I shoot a Taurus 99 out of quite simple Fobus kydex gear in IPSC. Standard seems to suit me best... the day might come to go for a ported pistol for Modified, but not soon.

In practicing for our military reserves' 3-gun I use a Vega thigh rig and Uncle Mike's mag pouches. The pistol is getting a bit worn at the 25.000 rounds mark, yesterday's five FTE's clarified a distinct need for a new extractor... graduating to a .40S&W Taurus 100 (for Major as well) is coming once budget allows.

I'm with Turku IPSC at the south-west coast in Finland. During the not-snow-covered-and-perma-frosted period of the year we have our weekly practice "matches" (usually two stages and a good rotation of standard-type exercises on a third) every Monday.

 

[Jerry the Geek]

Igor, it sounds as if you're bubbling over with enthusiasm after your first major match. That's as it should be, when you've had a good time. None of us would be competiting in IPSC (or any other shooting sport) if we didn't enjoy it. I'm glad you had a good experience, it should encourage you to continue shooting Big Matches.

Navy Joe, whom I probably have met since he apparently lives within 100 miles of me and I haven't missed an IPSC match in NW Oregon for years, has given you some good advice when he suggests that you sit for Range Officer Certification. He was, of course, pulling your leg a little when he suggests that it would allow you to clamp down on (not his words) the few rude competitors which you encountered. Yes, you will occasionally meet people in this sport who have no concept of etiquette. But this isn't something that is commonly handled by the RO unless the situation is extreme. Generally, squad members work out these little differences among themselves.

The primary reason why you should become a certified Range Officer is so that you can give something back to the sport by assuming some of the administrative duties. Most matches/clubs/ranges are delighted to find they have another qualified, willing RO. Match Directors especially are always looking for someone who will help out.

The secondary, and more personal reason to become an RO is that you get SO MUCH more understanding of the way things work. You develop a keen understanding of the rules, and may be quick to spot potential scoring problems (for only one example) ... which is important to you when you are the shooter and the RO has made an error. This happens, RO's are all too human and are usually under some pressure to keep the match moving. It does help to know the rules when you suspect that you have been the recipient of a faulty decision.

On other points, I have to say that if you suspect you have a bad extractor, replace it NOW! It's bad enough that you have been dinged with FTE penalties because of gun problems. Much worse is when you pay a lot of money to attend an out-of-town match (travel, boarding, match fees, etc.) and your gun breaks so badly that you can't continue. It's no fun at all to be reduced to spectator status.

Usually you will find that the person who wins is the person who makes the least mistakes. There is a LOT more to this sport than Speed, Power and Accuracy. Equipment reliability is one of the 'unvoiced' principles of IPSC competition.

IPSC can quickly become rather expensive, and match fees & ammunition costs are not the entire menu. Maintenance, and being ready to handle some Level One (on-site) gunsmithing are often just as important. It helps to understand the malfunctions which you may encounter, know how to deal with them, and be prepared with the tools and parts to resolve them before you move to the next stage.

For example, Extractors are the part which is most likely to give out on you. When you get a replacement extractor, buy an EXTRA extractor, so you will have it available to slip in the next time it fails. If the extractor is the type which needs 'tuning', learn how to tune it. Then tune not only your current extractor, but also your replacement extractor so it is ready to go when you need it.

Other parts which you might consider stocking up on are firing pins, firing pin springs, slide locks. Your budget will tell you how much you can afford to invest in spare parts, but whatever breaks on your gun ... buy a replacement and then buy a spare.

Also, you should consider magazine springs to be 'consumables'. This is like pencils and pens in the office; you're going to use them for a while, they will be used up sooner or later, and it's a good idea to have replacements immediately at hand.

There are a lot of lessons to learn about maintenance of a reliable firearm, and ... as did the rest of us ... you will learn those lessons the hard way. However, I think that you will find that it is an enjoyable experience, and worth every step on the long uphill road.

One of the finest moments you will find in this high-pressure, high-emotional-return sport is the day when you beat someone who is nominally a 'better shooter' because his pistol didn't work reliably, and yours did.

And by the way, thank you very much for providing me with this opportunity to post my very first message on this list.

Jerry the (USPSA TY18486) Geek

 

[igor]

Thank you for the encouragement!

Regarding RO: ing, I'll go for the full monty this year: in April I'll do the RO course in the domestic military 3-gun sport. Then, come summer I'll find a course in IPSC.

You're right about the giving back to the sport part... and no doubt about the sheer ability bonus when more comfortable with the rules. I think, for a little while back the FSPSA still required all partakers in the Finnish Championships to have RO cards.

In mil. 3-gun the giving part will be even bigger. The sport is still developing and our area lacks all basic infrastructure. I hope to be able to contribute to that: get some mil. reserve sports local chapter to endorse this among their UIT sports, get regular, organized range time, get a safety course going and so on...

Now it's time to stock up on essential spare parts. And that's not the only thing I noticed missing once at the competition: decent towels, one for the face and goggles and one for the dirty equipment (patches won't do everything) plus a nice, compact notepad to maintain order among the score sheets are a must. And a 512Mb memory card for the camera... me and my two club buddies got all our performances on video, I'm just burning CDs for them to analyze with score sheets in hand. A great tool.