Need some IDPA advice please...

[artech]

So what it comes down to is this. I shoot pretty well with a Browning High Power, acceptably well with a Glock, and passably well with revolvers. I want to improve with the revolvers. I'm trying to round out my own shooting skills, and I have never shot IDPA before.

There is a range nearby that hosts IDPA competitions monthly, and I have gone to the IDPA website and done some reading. I like the real world aspects of the course design and want to try shooting that type of match.

I have been practicing at the sandpit with the correct targets and stands, but I use the same revolver carry gear I use on the street, reload from speed strips instead of speedloaders, and it seems to take a LONG time to shoot a stage.

So here's the question. Do I go with the High Power to up my scores or do I stick to my guns(literally, since I don't have a High Power at the moment) and doggedly grind my way through my Model 65 S&W? It seems that staying with the wheelgun would help me more in the long run to improve my competency, but the scores will pretty much stink. Is this an issue?

I guess I'm looking for some moral revolver support here and possibly some IDPA hints from revolver shooters? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
artech

 

[Jim Watson]

You probably know all you can learn without attending and shooting a match. So GO. Just do it, as the shoe commercial says.

Pay attention to the Match Director and Safety Officers, follow instructions, and have a good time. Be safe, execute the CoF correctly, hit the targets, and, while a beginner should not run flat out, don't dawdle, your time is your score.

Speed strips fit the pocket flat but are, as you note, sloooow. Get some speedloaders. Safariland Comp II are ok and pretty concealable for street, Safariland Comp III and Jetloader are bigger but faster and you can still carry one in a jacket pocket for defense.

A friend shot an entire season with his bureau drawer M13, right up to and including the Nationals. He didn't win, but he knew ALL about that revolver by the end of the year.

I have shot SSR with a Python, M686, M19, and M25-2. Revolver shooting is a lot of fun if you go to the trouble to master it.

Remember, you are only competing against other revolver shooters. Doesn't mean you can't gloat when you beat some bottom feeders, though.

 

[DragonFire]

You have to ask youself whether you're competing to improve your shooting or to get a good score. That's not to say that you can't do both, but it's takes some dedication.

I've only been shooting IDPA a short while, but I enjoy it and feel that I'm getting some good experience from it. I've been shooting in the revolver class almost exclusively, and I've started to see my scores improve, and I'm now beating some auto's guys that have been shooting IDPA longer than I have.

Except for some good-natured ribbing from friends, no one has ever commented on my scores (even when I totally blew my first classifier). In fact most auto shooters that I've talked to comment on that fact that they thought they wouldn't do as well as I was doing if they had to shoot DA all the time.

If you enjoy shooting, I say go! No matter how badly you think you're doing, participating in IDPA will be fun, and a good learning and practicing experience. Another reason is to watch the other shooters. You should be able to learn things just from watching some of the better competitors.

The only down side I see about IDPA is that I've seen more than a few people use a "competition" gun with a "competition" holster and think that that somehow directly relates to when they use their "carry" gun in their "carry" holster. Same thing would apply if you use speedloaders for IDPA but use the speed strips on the streets. Yeah, IDPA helps but your IDPA scores don't necessarily translate to real world skill.

 

[ChristopherG]

Get some speedloaders.

Absolutely, compete with your wheel, but forget the speedstrips, which will make your head explode with frustration on the clock. Folks shoot k-frames all the time. They can rarely keep up with the moonclipped guns, to be sure; but neither can the moonclipped guns typically keep up with the Glocks and Sigs and 1911's. Just recognize you're competing against yourself--and as you keep at it for a season, you will see improvement (in reloading, yes, but more importantly, in shooting). Folks love to see a wheel at the line; I never get anything (out loud, at least) but respect for being willing to give it a 'spin'

 

[ted murphy]

If you want to shoot the 65, go for it. I have a 13 that's in the shop but otherise, I'd be shoting it right now. till it comes home, I'm using a model 19 S&W.

Best advice I can give you is to dryfire a lot. Make up or purchase dummy rounds and practice your reloads. The best IDPA speedloaders for your gun are the Safariland comp III's. Done right, you can keep up with the moonclip guns. Get those and some decent holders. I'm really liking the blade tech holder right now (make sure you specify the COMP III if you choose to order them) but I am waiting on some holders from pistolpacking.com to see how they work. Both will work well and the pistolpacking.com ones are only 10 bucks each. Get enough to hold three speedloaders. A double and a single, or three singles.

Good holster is essential too. I just bought a safariland holster, mostly to play with leather again. Blade tech's holsters are good too. I have quite a few of them for a lot of guns. Comp tac doesn't make them for the K frame though. Don't know about the other manufacturers.

Get all that gear and the dummies, and dry fire a lot. Nightly is good, but 3 times a week is a bit more realistic. Practice your reloads with the dummies too. that is most important.

Be sure to shoot as often as you can, and get to the matches and start plugging away. Shoot for accuracy, speed will come. Don't run till you can walk well. With experience comes competence and speed.

Good luck and enjoy!

Ted