Posted: 5/9/2022 1:15:50 PM EDT
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Shot my first IDPA match. Met my goal of being safe and learning the process. I came in last place, I need to work on slowing down and getting my hits where needed. Everyone at the match was super nice and welcoming.. I had a good time. |
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Excellent. Get the hits, speed will come. It is fun for sure. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Kabic: Shot my first IDPA match. Met my goal of being safe and learning the process. I came in last place, I need to work on slowing down and getting my hits where needed. Everyone at the match was super nice and welcoming.. I had a good time. I find this the norm... At least at most of the matches I have been too. |
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Originally Posted By Boom_Stick:
""AKs are for villagers you have to tell not to shit in their water supply.""
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That's great! I'd love to start up shooting those matches again if I can find a club that isn't a "good 'ole boys club" that cheat scoring or are fudds. |
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For someone who has never done any competitions: What are the differences in IDPA, USPSA, Steel Match, ect. ? Which one would be the best to start with? How does one find local matches? What is the minimum gear requirement? And how much does a match typically cost to enter? Shooting at the static range has lost its appeal. |
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Originally Posted By GriswoldGuns: For someone who has never done any competitions: What are the differences in IDPA, USPSA, Steel Match, ect. ? Which one would be the best to start with? How does one find local matches? What is the minimum gear requirement? And how much does a match typically cost to enter? Shooting at the static range has lost its appeal. Idpa is golf with handguns. Lots of rules. Uspsa is drag racing (open divison) and a lot more freedom. Gssf or steel is a good first match. No movement, gun loaded/unloaded off the clock, decent ROs. Learn the commands and what it is to shoot there with the pressure of a buzzer and people around. Listen to the good guys. You will know them when you see them. Walk up and say hi. Tell everyone you’re new, we love helping new guys. We were all new guys. You need a gun (glock if gssf) and a holster, plus like 3 mags. 5 mags is better. Add a mag holder to the belt. Then shoot a USPSA match. Same idea but includes moving and shooting. Go slow, be safe. You can’t miss fast enough to win so just learn the basics. Then go all in and shoot outlaw 3 gun ;-) You can check your local ranges for a schedule or just google “your town+ Uspsa” or steel or whatever. |
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Originally Posted By GriswoldGuns: For someone who has never done any competitions: What are the differences in IDPA, USPSA, Steel Match, ect. ? IDPA is more defense oriented, typically lower round count, supposed to utilize cover, basic equipment, etc. Your score is your time with less accurate shots adding time to total your score (called time plus scoring) USPSA is a game,.where you try to score points by shooting targets, them the points get divided by the seconds it takes to shoot (called hit factor). More freestyle, and you have more options on guns to use or divisions to shoot (although if you want to shoot a stock handgun and 10round mags there is a division for that too. Steel challenge and GSSF are likey better for 100% newbies because there is no moving around. Any of these matches should have a lot of YouTube videos available to see how the stages are similar or different. Which one would be the best to start with? GSSF or Steel challenge if you're really nervous, but showing up at any match and telling the staff "hey this is my first match can someone walk me through how this works" will probably get you a few new friends. How does one find local matches? Ask in your hometown forum What is the minimum gear requirement? Usually just a holster and a few magazines, for GSSF you don't even need a holster. USPSA matches are usually 120-150 rounds, maybe more maybe less, but always bring more. And how much does a match typically cost to enter? Usually less than your ammo cost for the day... $20 for a local match. Shooting at the static range has lost its appeal. 
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“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a 10mm at your side, kid.”
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Originally Posted By GriswoldGuns: For someone who has never done any competitions: What are the differences in IDPA, USPSA, Steel Match, ect. ? Which one would be the best to start with? How does one find local matches? AJE description is good. I'd start with whichever is closest / easiest for you to go to. I'm not sure how it is in your area, but around here every club uses practiscore. Go to https://practiscore.com/search/matches Create an account (it's free) and search based on your state (or states in my case since I'm right on the border) I've shot all 3, but mostly IDPA, but that's because there's a match twice a month 7 miles from my home Some USPSA shooters that come up from Ft Benning to the IDPA match tend to be very fast, but inaccurate and lots of hits on non-threats, but as mentioned it's a drag race. One of the guys mentioned at the last match that he'd gotten much more accurate after coming to IDPA matches regularly. Steel challenge is definitely the simplest. There's no real "strategy" for deciding the order of targets vs doing reloads, since you don't reload and you don't move I've only been to 4 or 5 steel challenge matches. It's a long drive for me to Talladega CMP and you shoot so much, I'm actually tired of shooting by the time the last stage rolls around. So it takes lots of ammo. The local group does an IDPA'ish match once a month at an indoor range. It toggles between lowlight pistol and lowlight carbine. It's been an amazing learning experience. I've learned what works and doesn't work from an equipment stand point and learning to work with light, which is probably the most likely defense situation (especially where I live). I put lights on everything now :-) it's been a lot of fun, and I'm so much better of a shooter because of it. What is the minimum gear requirement? 9mm pistol, holster and 3 mags And how much does a match typically cost to enter? $10 - $20 here Shooting at the static range has lost its appeal. |
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Originally Posted By Kabic: Shot my first IDPA match. Met my goal of being safe and learning the process. I came in last place, I need to work on slowing down and getting my hits where needed. Everyone at the match was super nice and welcoming.. I had a good time. Pretty much the same story for me. Lots of fun! If I focus solely on trying to avoid points down with very deliberate trigger and speed control, I can get off the bottom of the scoreboard, but even with low points down I am still slow. I think the way to play it is to only speed up your shooting when you are convinced you are accurate and can take some calculated risks by shooting fast at the closer targets. |
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Originally Posted By CreativeBall: Newbie question here... Do you need to register anywhere else than Practiscore and then show up for a match? Or is there somewhere I need to register with IDPA, etc first? Kind of depends on the match. For USPSA, if it's a level 1 match, you don't need to be a USPSA member. You can sign up via practiscore and show up. I can say for my club, if you've never shot a match, they want you to advise the match director(usually there's an email contact on the practiscore match page) and let him know. You may be asked to show up a little early to get the extended safety brief. For level 2 or higher matches you need to be a USPSA member and generally online signup is required. Can't say how IDPA works but I am guessing it's fairly similar. |
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IDPA will let you shoot a few matches before becoming a member. It used to be two matches but now I think you can shoot 4 matches before being required to pay dues and join. USPSA make their money off classifiers so they do not require you to join if you just want to shoot local matches. Definitely contact the match director before you just show up. This will let you get an idea for what you might want to bring (Like there will be no water, bring yourself a drink.) and let him know a new guy is coming. We have a requirement that anyone who has never shot a match at our club or anyone who is not at least an IDPA marksman have to go through new shooter orientation an hour before the match begins. |
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Originally Posted By Kabic: Shot my first IDPA match. Met my goal of being safe and learning the process. I came in last place, I need to work on slowing down and getting my hits where needed. Everyone at the match was super nice and welcoming.. I had a good time. You can't miss fast enough! |
If you don't have a plan, you can't change it.
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Originally Posted By Kabic: Shot my first IDPA match. Met my goal of being safe and learning the process. I came in last place, I need to work on slowing down and getting my hits where needed. Everyone at the match was super nice and welcoming.. I had a good time. That was 3 years ago. Did you stick with it? There are much worse things to do on Saturday. I’m getting motivated for our March match, haven’t gone in 3 months. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By Kabic: Shot my first IDPA match. Met my goal of being safe and learning the process. I came in last place, I need to work on slowing down and getting my hits where needed. Everyone at the match was super nice and welcoming.. I had a good time. ETA: LOL! I just realized I replied to a three year old post! Oh well, the sentiment is the same. |
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I shoot a couple uspsa matches then started shooting idap... first match i was got a procedural every stage.. not slicing the pie, moving from cover with unload gun. Drop loaded mag. Not shooting near to far. Over load a mag and dropped it with rounds in if I like idpa better then uspsa but I shoot every 3 gun match. I think they are the most fun.
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Originally Posted By Kabic: Shooting these matches has improved my shooting. Im much more smooth and accurate. There is something different shooting in competition vs just going to the range. My shooting buddy shoots a lot, more than anyone else I know, but he can't shoot well in a match to save his life. Regularly finishes last. He can stand and hit a target all day, but add multiple targets, some movement, mag changes, and he can't perform at all. He jerks the trigger badly, and is sooooo slow and clunky with any sort of gun manipulation. |
If you don't have a plan, you can't change it.
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Originally Posted By Colt653: I like USPSA/IPSC better than IDPA Wildcat matches are the best of all worlds. Have general safety rules, and then pick which rules from various formal rule sets make sense for the match. |
If you don't have a plan, you can't change it.
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Originally Posted By Ironmaker: Wildcat matches are the best of all worlds. Have general safety rules, and then pick which rules from various formal rule sets make sense for the match. |
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Originally Posted By ManiacRat: GPA is the newest one, Galactic Pistol Alliance. It's as if IDPA and USPSA had a baby. I enjoy it a lot. Not as fudd as IDPA(yes I shoot IDPA) and not as wide open gamey as USPSA(also enjoy that too). Originally Posted By ManiacRat: Originally Posted By Ironmaker: Wildcat matches are the best of all worlds. Have general safety rules, and then pick which rules from various formal rule sets make sense for the match. That sounds like the sweet spot. |
If you don't have a plan, you can't change it.