Thinking about starting in IPSC ...

[goon]

I wasn't really sure which section to put this in. Sorry if this is the wrong forum.

Anyhow, I was talking with a few other shooters the other day and we started talking handguns. One of them mentioned how steady his nerves are now that he has stopped drinking caffeine (he is a bull's eye shooter). The other mentioned that he was shakey but that he could still shoot both of us before we could do anything about it (I have never seen him shoot but I have it on good authority that he is very fast). I replied that I would have to bring a rifle to that fight and just shoot him before he could see me.

Getting to the point, he was explaining to me that he got that good from shooting IPSC. Got me interested. I have done quite a bit of handgun shooting but none of it is was really geared toward anything in particular. I would like to become more proficient with my defensive gun and this sport seems like a pretty good way to move toward that. The guy is an experienced shooter and his "sales pitch" got my attention. He was explaining to me that there is a class that I can shoot with my "street gun" but that it will have to be:
1. Double action first shot
2. 10 round magazine limit

I have a SIG P-225 that I am thinking I would like to use for this but I don't know if I could because of the mag capacity thing. Has SIG ever made factory 10 round mags? I found Pro-mag 10 rounders but from what I have read they may not be trustworthy. Could I just use it with the 8 round mags and just carry an extra mag? I realize that I would need to reload one more time but I don't really have the $$$ for another gun and even if I did I don't think I could come up with another one that I like as much as my P-225.

I could probably be coerced into getting a P-228 or P-226 but as I said I don't really have the $$$. It would take some pretty good luck in getting a better job or maybe a winning lottery ticket for me to be able to afford another gun right now.

Can anyone advise me on this?

 

[photo_guy]

goon - this probably would get more attention in the competition shooting section but here is my input.

I'd suggest going with what you have before thinking about getting something new. You should be able to get 10 round mags if you need them but there is not reason you cant use 8 round mags. Many shooters use standard 1911's in limited class with 7 or 8 round mags. FOr IPSC you will need several spare mags as the round counts per stage tend to be large (25+).

Also, IPSC is a good way to learn many pistol shooting skills but you might also consider IDPA which is a little more defensively oriented and not as 'race gun' and gear oriented. In either case you don't need to get caught up in an equipment race to get a lot out of IPSC/IDPA competion.

Hope this helps.

 

[goon]

You know, you are probably right.
Mods - Can you please move this for me?
Thanks.

 

[Gillster]

Nice thing about IPSC/USPSA is that if you have a gun, they probably have a class for you to shoot in. The 10 round mag limit is a maximum limit, you can use 8 rounders if you like. I've shot USPSA with a 6 shot revolver, an 8 shot revolver in Production, a 1911 in Limited 10 and a hi-cap limited pistol as well. It's lots of fun and a good way to get practice with your chosen firearm. Shooting 8 round mags I would have 5 or so of them on hand for higher round count stages and work on reloads especially while moving. USPSA is kind of the home of the exotic race gun but there are plenty of guys at each match shooting what they carry and having a lot of fun, hope you do to.


Chris

 

[Morgan]

I've improved my gun-handling skills, speed and accuracy more by training for and shooting IPSC (and formerly IDPA) than any training class I've ever taken. My friends and co-workers know I've always been "gunny", but have more respect for my skills now than ever. So do I - I'm not cocky, but I'm confident in my ability to hit, quickly.

IPSC, especially, is a fantastic challenge. No, it isn't realistic training for lethal encounters. It won't, however, make me forget to sidestep and head for cover immediately in a lethal force encounter. Some people seem to think it will make you stupid outside of the game .

Fast, accurate hits are a good thing - in games and in self defense encounters.

Most of all, games are FUN!

 

[eerw]

Your SIG 225 will be just fine..what you will need will be a good belt holster, belt, mag pouches and some magazines..

you may want to have 4-6 magazines..more if you can get a hold of them.
seems like most COF are 12 to 28 rounds..

Shooting IPSC will really improve your gun handling under the stress of the clock..it is artificial , but it still gets your heart thumping and causes you some stress that you don't get just plinking at the range..you will get proficient at drawing and engaging multiple targets quickly and with great accuracy..you will shoot weak-handed, strong handed, from kneeling, prone, while holding things, from around corners..etc..your basic skills will improve greatly..this is what IPSC will do for you...

you can find a local club and contact at www.uspsa.org and click on the where to find a match..or post in the competition forum..

 

[Moondoggie]

brianenos.com.forums is a site that IPSC devotees frequent.

I've just started IPSC in the last few months and really enjoy it. In spite of my 26 yrs in the Marines, 2 yrs as a reserve cop, and a lifetime of gun enthusiasm (bought my first pistol when I was 16) I find myself starting out on the bottom rung of the ladder. My learning curve has been pretty steep, but I have a long way to go and lots to learn. I bought a Para P-16 specifically to start out with, and assembled 6 18-rd mags for it.

As stated above, all you will need is a belt, holster, mag pouches, and 5 or 6 8-rd mags to get started. (I shot a 40 rd stage a couple of weeks ago, but most are 26 - 32 rds.) Any pistol 9mm or larger will suffice for starters. DON'T spend a bunch of money first, just go to the USPSA site and find a club and show up for their next match with whatever equipment you have. Don't forget eye and ear protection.

Some folks shoot the courses in a tactical manner, and nobody faults them for it. Some folks shoot revolvers. One open gun shooter was sprinting from position to position, stepped on his discarded mag and ended up skidding on his face and crashing into a barricade (fortunately keeping his muzzle pointed downrange) which resulted in a disqualification. The East German judge deducted points cuz his feet weren't together when he hit the deck, but other than that nobody gave him any grief.

I think my shooting skills have improved dramatically from a tactical standpoint. It's a whole different ballgame from bullseye shooting.

 

[sturmruger]

It sounds like you will be shooting in the Production Division like me. I have been using a Springfield XD to shoot IPSC for the last 6 months. IPSC does not really limit how many rounds your magazine can hold, just how many you rounds you can start with. For instance I just ordered some new 15 rounds mags to shoot with in Production. I will load all of my mags but one with 10 rounds. Whatever mag I start with can initially be loaded with 11 rounds. After I have loaded my gun the mag will then have 10 rounds. You have to start the stage with 10 rounds in all of your mags. A sig is a perfect gun to start shooting production with.

Shooting IPSC has helped my handgun shooting skills more then anything else I have ever done. I have learned to shoot while moving, sitting, kneeling, and around corners. I have also learned to clear jams efficiently and it has sped up my reloads considerable. I swear that I can think faster then I used to. I used to get very focused on the target that I was shooting at, but I am now shooting at one target while thinking about how I am going to engage the next target. It is a very fun game that I wish everyone would try it at least once. You will need at least 3 mags and good holster. Try to stay away from leather holsters with too much retention. A Fobus or Uncle Mike plastic holster will be your best bet. If you ever have any questions about IPSC feel free to PM me. I was where you are now just 8 months ago so let me know if you need some help.

 

[ted murphy]

Grab the 225 and get to it. You won't regret it. My only regret with regards to USPSA/IPSC is I dragged my feet on shooting it. I spent too much time thinking about getting into it and should have just went and done it. It's easier now than then too; back then it was just open and limited, now there is a nice division that is perfect for your sig.

I don't shoot as much USPSA as I do other sports these days, but that is more of a function of what is available to me in my area than anything else.

You will find it is time well spent.

Ted

 

[BULM5]

Come to the dark side, you will not regret it. The best shooting sports (USPSA style).

 

[lmccrock]

goon,

Shoot what you got in USPSA (USA branch of IPSC). Typical course of fire is 12-24 rounds, but most matches will have 1 or more with 30+ rounds. If your capacity is 8 rounds, that means 4-5 mags. IDPA limits the number of mags you can carry (I think it is 2), therefore limiting the number you need to bring. My choice is USPSA; more shooting = more fun.

I have no experience with Sigs, but Pro-Mags are not my first choice. However, I had great luck with several 10-round Mec-gars in a Para-Ordnance P14-45.

Lee

 

[theCZ]

Go for it! I got hooked last year. I went to my local club's practice to see what it was about, not wanting to shoot, and ended up trying it. Even though I was using a RH holster (I'm a lefty) and shooting a gun I've never handled before, I was hooked and showed up next week with my own gun. My first match I was a wreck, had all kinds of problems. I'm not a top shooter yet, but my skills improved so fast with USPSA that I'm getting there. I practice each week with my club (besides winter), and I can say that it is very addictive. Just wait until they throw a 3-gun match...

 

[Jerry the Geek]

Just ... do it!

I shot my first IPSC match ( in USPSA ) in 1983. I've competed in every division there is, although my first match occurred when there was only ONE division.

Here are some Good Things To Know about IPSC as it is practiced in the USA. *The rules are different in USPSA, but mostly the differences are administrative. This yeear.

* If you're competing in a division which requires a maximum of 10 rounds in your magazine (Production, Limite-10), your magazines can have as much capacity as will fit in that magazine as long as it doesn't exceed the overall magazine length limit. In other words, you don't have to use 8-round or 10-round magazinee, you can use a 15-round magazine in production as long as you have only 10 rounds in it when you assume the start position for the stage. Single stack guns can use a 170mm magazine, all others (using double-stack magazines) must abide by the rules which state you can only use 140-mm magazines.

* IPSC matches are THE most adrenaline-heavy style of competition you can imagine. This is because they PROMINANTLY feature stages where you move between shooting positions and may shoot while you are moving.

* You will learn more about gun-handling skills in one match than you will in years of non-structured shooting. This is partially because the stage designs are so creative, and partially because the Range Officers are looking over your shoulder every step of the way to be sure that you don't violate safety rules.

* This is one of the safest shooting sports in the world. Safety rules include not moving the muzzle of your gun more than 90 degrees from 'downrange, and not putting your finger on the trigger when you're not actively engaging a target.

* IPSC is to handgun shooting as Rock&Roll is to music You can shoot as fast or as slow as you feel comfortable, but it provides you with the opportunity to go all-out, pedal to the metal, push the envelope and see how well you do. Most of us crash and burn when we really push, but you never know how good you are until you go for it. Eventually you will discover your limitations, and then you will try to go faster, shooting more accurately, and learn how to save time while shooting a stage without having to actually SHOOT faster than you can handle. (Hint: save time moving, don't compromise your shooting SAFELY for accuracy.)

Don't let the nay-sayers dissuade you from trying this exciting, dynamic and FUN sport. You'll find yourself dumping magazines left and right. (it's a good idea, as has been mentioned, not to step on your discarded magazines; but that can happen whether you're using 7-round singlestack magazines or 25-round doublestack magazines. We ALL do reloads, and we ALL need to cultivate our powers of situational awareness.)

There are IPSC matches almost every weekend in every US state. Find one, show up, make sure everyone knows you're new to the sport, and you will have folks hanging around to make sure that your experience is fun, non-threatening, safe and fun.

Oh, and BTW ... everyone is nervous at their first few matches. Don't let that get in the way of your good times, and don't be intimidated by the "race gunners" who move way too fast and shoot way too fast. They all started out exactly where you are, and they know where you're coming from. At most clubs, there is no elitism; they just want more people to learn how much FUN this sport is.