What gear for IDPA?

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benzy2

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I'm looking to start shooting GSSF and IDPA matches. The GSSF seems pretty straight forward from an equipment list. Basically a Glock, a few mags, and ammo.

IDPA though has me a little more stumped. I have a Glock 34 which I think is IDPA SSP legal. I'm not real sure as it sounds like a slide with lightening features isn't allowed and the 34 has them stock. So if the 34 is legal, I'm a little unsure what upgrades are ok. It seems a new set of sights would be ok as well as potentially a new trigger.

The real question comes about holsters, belts, and clothes. I haven't been to an IDPA match yet and plan to watch a few before I participate, but what holsters seem to be dominant in IDPA? I'm sure many use their every day carry holster, but outside of them, what seems popular? And with the holster comes the belt. I've never shopped for a belt for a holster and don't know what's good and what isn't. Any advice? And finally, what clothes seem to be popular here as well? With the entire concealment thing I'm not sure if an IWB holster with a shorter shirt or an OWB with a longer shirt, etc, is predominant.
 
The G34 is perfectly legal and very popular in IDPA.
Any type of open sight is legal.
Trigger replacement or rework is legal provided it does not disable a safety feature or have externally visible modification. (For SSP)

The usual IDPA holster is one brand or another of Kydex open top OWB.
I use Ready Tactical, but then I shoot with the maker.
http://www.cpwsa.com/ready_tactical.htm

Any good stiff belt is suitable, many shooters like the Wilderness Instructor's belt; I am currently wearing the Wilderness Frequent Flyer.

A long tailed overshirt, vest, or jacket is good concealment.

Certainly you may use an IWB and a regular shirt but it will add a little time to your draw. I get worried at some of the contortions it takes to holster a gun IWB.
 
Jim's got you covered.

Some Kydex OWB holster is probably most popular, as long as it doesn't have a drop or offset and actually rides tight and close on the belt. Comptac, BladeTech, and others can sell you holsters and mag pouches that will work very well and be IDPA legal.

A good belt is a real neccessity. You can go with a leather belt but make it a GUN belt (like from Beltman or others who know what they're doing). It should be very thick and decently wide. The Wilderness belts are very good if you'd prefer synthetic. I use the "Instructor" model for maximum stiffness but the "5-stitch" is very stiff as well, especially for a lightweight rig like a Glock.

Clothing is pretty simple. Jeans or slacks or "tactical" pants.

Comfortable T-shirt tucked in -- should be fairly slim fitting so it doesn't blouse out a lot and get hung up in your holster when you're re-holstering the gun.

Cover garment -- usually a shooting vest with big front pockets is favored as they cover the gun and also give you easy spots to stow a magazine during a reload. If you're just getting started, any button or zip-up shirt would be fine for a cover garment.

Don't use a sweatshirt or long polo or something that doesn't open at the front. That makes drawing and holstering too fumble-prone and many new shooters end up getting their weak hand involved in fussing with their shirt, which is a safety hazard.

Wear comfortable shoes with good tread. You'll need to be moving fairly quickly on uncertain ground. Hikers are great.
 
Holster:
Blade-Tech Stingray (or Blade-Tech DOH with the drop/offset part removed). It's a bit pricey at around $75 shipped, but worth it. The DOH is especially flexible as you can reattach the drop/offset part for steel challenge, USPSA, and presumably GSSF. For a Glock 34 I bet the draw will be much easier with it.

Belt:
Wide and stiff, it must be 1 3/4" or less wide though. I use a 5.11 Tactical Operator belt, but there are lots of options out there.

Concealment:
Around here EOTac are very popular for concealment. I just use a long open button down shirt.

Other than that, shoot in whatever you have. Find out what works for you and what doesn't.
 
Holsters made by KyTac (www.kytac.com) have been used to win quite a few IDPA National titles, possibly more than any other brand.
 
I've never seen a match that required you to draw from concealment. But I've shot many that required a good heavy coat.

Best to use the sort of clothes you wear regularly, rather than buying a specific outergarment.
 
I've never seen a match that required you to draw from concealment. But I've shot many that required a good heavy coat.
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Really?
In the summer here in the carolinas, most places do not require a cover garment, but this time of year it is required.
 
I'm saying that nasty weather made outer wear necessary, but I can't think of a FULL MATCH that required a draw from concealment. I know I've had stages that required it. and a jacket was provided just in case. I've seen everything from cops with full duty belts to a guy in a sport coat that didn't look much like a 'competitor' more like a high school English teacher.

And that's probably the way to 'stick to the spirit' of defensive handgunning, running what you'd use as your everyday carry rig rather than 'gearing up to win.'
 
The IDPA matches I've attended require a cover garment for the whole match.

The video I've seen of the IDPA Nationals also require a non-gamey cover garment...I can see local matches making allowances for weather
 
but I can't think of a FULL MATCH that required a draw from concealment.
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Really? IDPA rules require cover garments for all stages except "Standards" exercises. Special exceptions are occasionally made for the sake of a certain scenario, but a concealment garment will be required in probably 19 out of 20 stages. (At any Sanctioned match or club match that is being run in accordance with the official rules.)

I know I've had stages that required it. and a jacket was provided just in case.
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Is this IDPA or USPSA or some other "action" pistol discipline? This is pretty clearly stated in the rule book -- any shooter not wearing cover would be issued penalty points (probably a 20-second FTDR) for not following the rules. Providing one in case a shooter forgets his would be akin to providing a GUN in case he forgot that! :)

I've seen everything from cops with full duty belts to a guy in a sport coat that didn't look much like a 'competitor' more like a high school English teacher.
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Cops and military are offered a special exemption under the IDPA rules: If they wear their FULL duty rig, they do not have to wear concealment or follow some of the other equipment requirements. However, if they just want to wear a pistol and mags, they'll have to conceal just like everyone else.

A sport coat or open button-down shirt would be perfectly acceptable as a cover garment -- and might be the most appropriate thing to wear if that's your normal attire. As long as you follow the equipment rules (including type of holster and location of mags and holster on the belt) and use a sufficient cover garment, shooting the stages with the gear you actually carry in "real life" is probably earning you the greatest possible practical benefit from the "game."
 
From the rule book
Course of Fire Rules
CoF 13. Use concealment for scenario stages when
appropriate. Exception: Police or military officers when using
actual duty gear.
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You often have stages set up such that if the scenario takes place in public like a gas station, 7-11, grocery store etc, concealment is required. If the scenario takes place in the home, a car, or a workplace, it is not.

It's not a rule, but it's common enough.
 
It's not a rule, but it's common enough.
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Ha ha! Actually, it IS a rule (CoF 13) -- YOU quoted it! :)

Yes, as I mentioned, "for the sake of a certain scenario" cover may be dispensed with. In practice, this is pretty rare, around here anyway. You get the occasional "you're in bed" stage, or "you're sitting in your easy chair at home with the gun on the end-table beside you" stage, but most stages are set up to reflect real life for the average (concealed) carrier, most of whom do conceal at work, in the car, out and about, etc.

Then, again, there are "standards" exercises (like the Classifier, itself) which are usually done without a cover garment.

All-in-all I'd say it's still somewhere between 1-out-of-10 and 1-out-of-20 stages where cover isn't a requirement -- in my limited, regional experience.
 
I wonder at the tendency to not require concealment in hot weather. What do they think they will do to actually CCW in public?

Any time the MD announces "concealment optional" I shout "Shoot Naked!"
 
I shout "Shoot Naked!"
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I have the greatest respect and love for my shooters and the hundreds I meet and compete with regularly. Having said that, the list of those whom I could be induced, under pain of torture, to share THAT experience could almost be tallied on the fingers of NO hands! :eek:
 
If concealment was required in the 100F/100% humidity we get here, I expect the MD would be shooting by himself. Though he'd look good doing it!

We usually have a BUG match in July to keep it short and sweet.

Sam :p
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions, well other than maybe the one about shooting naked. I picked up some reloading components today. I thought a few of the local guys had some holsters/belts for IDPA/USPCA but it seems all they carry are junk belts and galco holsters. Oh well, I guess I'll order online.
 
a glock,,, used holster from ebay or gunbroker,,, no strap,,, in idpa there is a lot of holstering a loaded gun,,, a strap might get the trigger,,,, fobus holsters low end,,,, blade tech would be the high end,,, a vest or open shirt for concelment,,, no less than 4 mags,,, one in the gun,,, two on your hip/back pocket,,,, one for top off,,,,, remember just getting there is more important than the gear,,, club level idpa is full of very fun loving people,,,,,, a simple revoler is more than ok
 
Comfortable T-shirt tucked in -- should be fairly slim fitting so it doesn't blouse out a lot and get hung up in your holster when you're re-holstering the gun.
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And it is going to ride up with wear, as we say at Grace Brothers Department Store.
I wonder if I could design a Shooter's Leotard to stay in place.
 
And it is going to ride up with wear, as we say at Grace Brothers Department Store.
I wonder if I could design a Shooter's Leotard to stay in place.
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I know some (...ok, one -- famous for his M&P 'smithing) shooter who wears a skin-tight Under-Armor type shirt with a "wear panel" of canvas or Cordura (I assume) stitched to it to prevent the gun from snagging, the cloth from getting torn, and to help keep it tucked in.

Of course, he tends to take everything a little more seriously than most.

If you design your leotard with a cordura "girdle" around the waist, I think you could make at least one sale. :D
 
I wonder if I could design a Shooter's Leotard to stay in place.
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No need. Just wear a cycling skinsuit under your 5.11s. We could all look like sponsored shooters, too:

ls-skinsuit09.jpg


'Course, if it becomes a popular trend in IDPA, you'll start seeing more of this, too :eek::
cycling-skinsuit-e1261495157140.jpg
 
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