Idpa

[troylaplante]

Does anyone do IDPA shooting? I was invited to come to watch a match later this month. Is it fun? Worth it?

[grizzly]

You'll like it a lot. :nod:

[whitley]

Originally Posted by troylaplante

Does anyone do IDPA shooting? I was invited to come to watch a match later this month. Is it fun? Worth it?

TROYLAPLANTE:

I DID SOME IDPA SHOOTING FOR A WHILE AND IT WAS FUN...LOTS OF GREAT PEOPLE AND A GOOD PLACE TO SHOOT....LETS YOU KNOW HOW AND WHAT YOU CAN DO STAGED TACTICAL SITUATION UNDER STRESS. I THINK EVERYONE WHO OWNS A HANDGUN SHOULD SHOOT IDPA. I LATER MOVED ON TO IPSC WHICH IS MORE COMPLICATED WHERE SPEED AND TIME ARE THE NAME OF THE GAME. MANY IDPA SHOOTERS MOVED ON TO IPSC. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WATCH BOTH.

WHITLEY

[Mr.Wolf]

Its fun to watch these competitions, but its also great if some of these targets could move and dodge unpredictably loke some villans would.

[whitley]

Originally Posted by Mr.Wolf

Its fun to watch these competitions, but its also great if some of these targets could move and dodge unpredictably loke some villans would.

--------------------------

Mr. Wolf:

If you go and watch an IPSC Pistol or Multigun match you will see alog of movers like the Texas Star, Drop Turners, Runners on a Track, Swingers, Flying Clay Targets activated by Shooting Steel First and many challenging moving targets to shoot at either in Steel, Clay Targets, and Moving Paper Targets. Alot of this has to do with how big the club is an what they can afford since these items are not cheap. You will see alot of this in a major IPSC tournament like the Nationals or a State Area Match. Once in a while you will see one of these matches on TNN or the Outdoorsman...stay tuned.

WHITLEY

[troylaplante]

I just got back from my first IDPA shoot. I had no idea what to expect, since I have never been to one before. I only had email contact with an IDPA shooter from this one club about an hour away. All I was given was, "hey, would love to have you here" and directions. I was not invited to do any shooting, was given no idea of what to expect or bring.

Not having ever participated or watched something like this before, I didn't know to bring my hip holster instead of a shoulder holster I wear for CCW. I had to borrow a crappy generic, inside the belt, flimsy holster from someone else. Hated it. I was not told to bring a bunch of ammo for a first time visitor. I was not told to bring money to participate. I didn't know that someone just invited to watch was expected to shoot and pay. I only had about sixty rounds and the match was an eighty round minimum.

I learned what sort of clothes to wear and NOT to wear. I learned what sort of holsters and magazine holders work well and what ones DON'T. I learned that some people are anal about how some people charge the magazine (i.e., what angle you are holding your pistol at or what exact direction).

I have NEVER done anything like this before and learned a lot of things I just wrote about the HARD WAY. After being there before the match began, I still didn't know what to expect and suddenly I was put in shooter rotation.

I sure STUNK (was about to use a different word, but didn't know if it would be deleted) big time the first few rounds. I had never shot that bad or had that many problems in all the years I have been shooting. Most of the shooting I have done has been at an indoor range. So I have obviously, I have done little or no tactical shooting or magazine changes. I have never had to do fast draw from a concealed carry start.

I got better the last three or so rounds and was more consistant after better understanding what to expect and feeling more comfortable. I have not had jams in my S&W 4506 in years, but dog gone if I didn't have two today.

I was real disappointed at first and was ready to leave after running out of ammo. Gee, didn't plan on shooting, anyway. However, guys insisted on me finishing out the last few rounds and supplied more ammo.

I had a .380 with me, as well. I was told that IDPA doesn't allow .380. Apparently, only 9mm and larger. Never mind the fact that the .380 is a 9mm Kurtz in reality. Parabellum only for 9mm. Whatever.

I met some great guys who are also great shooters. I did find some of the tactical scenarios unrealistic, but I understand the reasoning. You gotta shoot at something. I may do it again sometime. However, I think that I will certainly be investing in better holsters for the pistol and magazines. Maybe even a Glock instead of the S&W. :target:

[themontashu]

I love shooting IDPA. The club I shoot it at has a realy relaxed dort of feel. All the people there help me alot and are suprised 1st when the se a 15 year old shooting, and second when they see me strap on a wheel gun.

[Jesse]

troylaplante,

Do not sell your 4506 short. They are reliable and usually fairly accurate. The only problems I have seen in the function of the 4506 were due to poor ammo. I don't know what ammo you had with you at the time of the match, but I have seen stovepipes and doublefeeds from Wolf ammo and Master ammo in almost every kind of .45ACP platform... I have even been told that the lacquer coating that covers Wolf ammo will fuse the cases inside the cylinder chambers on a S&W 625-2! Every match, IDPA or otherwise will introduce a variety of shooting scenarios that a shooter may not be used to during the first few outings. So keep your chin up! Everyone had a "first time" in IDPA. Believe me, I have seen worse than the experience you have shared. Let me make some suggestions to you that will allow you to compete with your 4506 for minimal $: If you shoot factory ammo, I suggest Winchester USA 230gr. ball or Federal American Eagle 230 gr. ball .45ACP. Almost every gunshop carries either and so does Wal-mart(I'm holding my nose), as well as Dick's Sporting Goods. For leather, the best I have found for the 4506 considering cost is the Desantis thumb-break belt slide holster. Desantis also makes a fine, low cost 1 1/2" belt perfect for IDPA. Mag pouches, Uncle Mikes or Fobus are fine for IDPA. The 4506 will allow you quick follow- up shots due to its weight. The 230gr. loads I mentioned will feel tame. I personally own a 4506. I had the action cleaned up and a Bar-Sto barrel installed by a gunsmith. I chose to spend the $ for these upgrades to squeeze everything out of an already fine pistol, so neither are necessary for competition, they just help you compete better. Congrats on your first IDPA match!

[Jesse]

Here's a pic of my 4506...

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/att...achmentid=4885

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23044 (S&W 4506 Sokol Package)

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by Jesse

Do not sell your 4506 short. They are reliable and usually fairly accurate. The only problems I have seen in the function of the 4506 were due to poor ammo.

Actually, it was the first and LAST time I used Wolf ammo. I went to Wal-Mart and a few other stores looking for ammo. Either they only had hollow points or nothing at all. I usually do well with UMC ammo carried by Wal-Mart for $9.99 per 50 rounds. Never had a problem feeding it to my 4506. I finally stopped by a bait and tackle shop on my way to the match that I knew sold guns. They had ONE box of .45 ACP and it was the Wolf brand at about $14. Reluctantly, I purchased it.

One draw back of the 4506 that I found is the mag release. Since the 4506 is so large, my thumb can not reach the mag release. That leaves two options. First, releasing the mag with my left hand, which is awkward and something I have never done. Second, rotating the pistol to the left so that I can hit the mag release button and use my left hand exclusively for bringing a new magazine.

Since that is what I have done for years and was comfortable with, I continued with it at the range. Man, I got squawked at hard. One old man sitting in a lawn chair behind the firing line was insistant on a 180 degree line boundary for muzzle points. (The IDPA rule book, however, does indeed state that because of the type of shooting peformed, this is not necessarily practical.) He claims, too, that I was pointing the muzzle at my own face while attempting to mag release. That much wasn't true, but I was rotating the empty, fully open, locked in the breached position pistol while releasing from the firing stance. I rotated the pistol to the left side and the range officer whined about muzzle position, even though I was still within the 180 degree line the old guy was adamant about. I HAD to point sideways in order to reload. There were NO people to my side, as nobody else was supposed to be on the hot range.

I was fully comfortable with the way in which I had to reload, but not these guys, who were Glock and 1911 enthusiasts. For that reason alone, I don't know if I want to go back...just so I don't have to put up with them complaining.

My 4506 has always been accurate and reliable. It also has a little history. I bought the pistol in either late 1990 or early 1991. I had enjoyed using it for several years. I was single at the time and ended up alone in a three bedroom town house. I took in some room mates from the church I was attending or from personal acquaintances/contacts. For several years, I had been doing prison ministry once a week. I would visit one of the local prisons in town and share Jesus with the "residents". From time to time, someone I met would get out of prison and need a hand up. The room mates and I would often help some of these guys out with a place to sleep until they could get one of their own, food, and we could usually find them a job fairly quickly.

One time, we had three convicts at the apartment. One of them violated the house rules about curfew and staying out all night. So he was told to move out. In removing himself, he also removed two pistols. I had no idea that he knew where they were, since I put them way out of sight. Criminals do what criminals do, however.

I eventually discovered that they were missing and filed a police report. Months later, I got a phone call from the local police department saying that they found my pistol. Cool. I went down to police HQ to recover my stolen piece. I cried when I saw it. My 4506 looked like it had been thrown out a car window. The slide was scuffed, the sights broken, and the grips broken off. I took it home and put it in a box and shoved it in a closet.

Over a year went by before I took it out, brought it to a gun smith, and had it fixed. Oddly enough, the gun smith was the very man who sold it to me several years earlier. He worked at a sporting goods mega store before and was now at a small gun shop as a smith. He did a great job on it. I didn't have to adjust the sights at all when I got it back. I got some nice Hogue grips installed. It was smoother firing than it was before. I was happy. However, I still have to turn the pistol almost sideways to release the magazine. I am used to it and 100% comfortable with it.

I also learned not to wear a flannel shirt as a light jacket for something like IDPA. That shirt got caught while drawing. Hey, I didn't know what to expect, nor did I even think I would do any shooting except maybe one scenario. Everyone else had either a short jacket or shooting/hunting vest. Just quick observation of these guys told me what I was lacking as far as holsters, mag pouches, ammo, and general preparedness. However, that is one reason I went, to learn. I certainly didn't go to shoot a match, but I got talked into it, anyway.

I do wish that either IDPA would put a web page specifically to new shooters as what to expect or that people who invite newbies would actually communicate more than just driving directions. If I get involved, I certainly know what NOT to do to someone else.

[G Hollingsworth]

Its a great place to shoot with better shooters than you. and its the best way to improve you own shooting. You will never get better being the top dog.

[smoker]

Troy, did you go to the club in Clinton? I went and shot IDPA there once. I haven't been back since I don't have a good gun for it yet. I had a good time and I didn't have too much trouble.

Kind of a funny story, that. I was using a gun Jesse lent me, a Ruger P85 I think. I had never even held a Ruger auto in my hand, much less shot one, and I didn't have a chance to try it out before I was up on the firing line. I still shot better than my buddy who brought me to the shoot, even though he had shot IDPA before, and was using his own gun. I won't mention any names, but Jesse knows who I'm talking about (it wasn't him). Everybody else there really made me feel like a noob though, except for one guy who had a Glock in .45 GAP and spent the whole match fixing feed problems and hunting for his overpriced empties. Silly GAP.

My advice on gun selection is this: if you want to win matches, buy a gun to win matches. The popular selection seems to be a Glock 34. But if you want to do IDPA for practice for real-life scenarios, shoot what you carry. Nobody carries a Glock 34 CCW.

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by smoker

Troy, did you go to the club in Clinton? I went and shot IDPA there once. I haven't been back since I don't have a good gun for it yet.

Yeah, it was in Clinton. I have been looking at the Glock 34 at Shooter's Pawn on Bragg Blvd. in Fayetteville. I would love to have one if I am going to get in to competetive shooting. It would make as much sense to carry the Glock CCW as it would my big old 4506, in reality, probably more sense. However, for CCW, I usually carry a Bersa .380, which is not allowed in IDPA. Actually, there is a "back up pistol" class in IDPA, although the guys in Clinton would not let me use it. I read the rule book after going and found a few things done a bit differently.

I travel to Fayetteville frequently on business. I am an engineer for Time Warner and work on the Fayetteville cable system a lot. If you have cable and see the local ads inserted into cable networks like ESPN, CNN, TNT, Nickelodeon, Fox News, etc., I am the guy who makes that happen.

[backstay]

At our club you come to watch the first time. If you come back it is a $20.00 fee for you and your family for a year. Then $5.00 for a night of shooting. I have found that if you are willing to take the time to ask questions and admit you don't know it all. That most of the shooters will open up to you. The best thing to bring is a women. There are so few interested in the sport of shooting that they will be treated very well. We need them as the antigun nuts try to turn them against us. I have gotten my son and daughter both interested. The older shooters treat her like a granddaughter.

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by backstay

The best thing to bring is a women. There are so few interested in the sport of shooting that they will be treated very well. We need them as the antigun nuts try to turn them against us. I have gotten my son and daughter both interested. The older shooters treat her like a granddaughter.

I have been getting my wife interested in shooting for a while. For the last six months, I have been taking her to a local indoor range. She never shot before and has been learning and improving. She started out on a .22 and now shoots both my .380 pistols fairly proficiently. She even took the CCW class at the range last month.

I was going to take her to the IDPA match, since neither of us had been to any competition before. We expected to watch and learn. However, the wife ended up having to do some work and she couldn't go that day. According to IDPA rules, I would have to join IDPA in order to shoot again, which is $35 per year. Until I feel adequately outfitted, I dunno if I am going to do that.

Either way, I will take the knowledge I gained at that match and apply it to future shooting practice. I gleaned a lot about equipment, technique, and target layout.

[macarthurite]

Troy it was nice to meet you at the Clinton match I hate to hear you had a bad time. The "old man" as you called him does come across a little rough sometimes and my first impression was the same as yours. But as the months went by I saw he didn’t mean things the way he makes it sound and is really a nice man so don’t let that bother you. We must be very safety conscious sometimes I think we get a little too easy going and forget what we are holding in our hands. But again don’t take things the wrong way I get yelled at just like everyone else if not this week it might be the next. Also they do have a BUG gun match every couple of months or so there at Clinton following the regular match where you could use your .380. Again I’m sorry you had a bad time and wasn’t given all the information you needed prior to the match, but there are some nice guys you handle the Clinton match and I hope you will decide to come back again. If I can help you in any way please feel free to contact me and hope to see you soon at either Clinton or Carthage.
Grace, Chris M

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by macarthurite

Troy it was nice to meet you at the Clinton match I hate to hear you had a bad time.

Chris,
I didn't have a "bad time" so much as a somewhat frustrating one. First, I STUNK. But, I could deal with that part if I wasn't so utterly unprepared. I did learn a lot. I certainly know more about what to expect, what equipment works well, what clothes DON'T work well, etc. It was certainly a learning experience. I know more what to practice, what to purchase, and how things are done. I did have fun shooting. I have never done anything like the combat style shooting...only non competitive/leisure target shooting before. I didn't expect to compete nor did I expect to be good. I got better as the shoot went on, and can see myself enjoying it more in the future.

[Rugged]

I asked a question and Jesse redirected me here to ressurecct this topic

I am invited to two different shoots, one on may 7th I may not be able to attend at SGV gun club, and one on the third saturday at west end gun club. (both in so Kal)

I had some questions.....

this topic here brings me to a new question. Must I wear a jacket to compete?

I was going to use my full-size HK .40, I have 5 mags but only a mag holder for 2.
I would probably have to get another one eh?

they say to bring 90 rounds of ammo, and 5 magazines to be loaded with no more than 6 rounds each, ears and eyes.

That sound right?

will I be running around? or is that ipsc?

[Rugged]

oh, and what's the farthest shot i'll be taking?

[troylaplante]

Originally Posted by Rugged

I had some questions.....

this topic here brings me to a new question. Must I wear a jacket to compete?

The only IDPA match I attended required a jacket, vest, or other concealment. My understanding of the rules are that you start from the "concealed" position. Make sure it is HIP, not shoulder concealment. Try reading the rulebook pdf file on www.idpa.com. It won't answer all of your questions up front, but reading them after your first match will make a lot more sense. You may also find some rules a bit different than what you witness at the shoot.

Originally Posted by Rugged

I was going to use my full-size HK .40, I have 5 mags but only a mag holder for 2.
I would probably have to get another one eh?

I wouldn't think so. Most everyone only had a mag holder for two mags. I found out that the horizontal holders stink for that. Also, the snap over style is horrendous for competition.

Originally Posted by Rugged

they say to bring 90 rounds of ammo, and 5 magazines to be loaded with no more than 6 rounds each, ears and eyes.

The only six round thing sounds odd, since everyone else I saw carried eight to ten rounds, which is within IDPA rules. I guess that the idea of carrying six rounds is to equalize with revolver capacity.

Originally Posted by Rugged

will I be running around? or is that ipsc?

Probably.