Anyone shoot IDPA or USPSA?

Never done it but I wouldn't mind trying.

SSOK wrote: Whats the worst thing that could happen(other than the rifle exploding or something)? I say go for it. It cant hurt.

Hehe. Well... I'd start off with just pistol. I won't get into 3-gun to start.

Worst that could happen? Nothing, really. I'm not worried about doing poorly, as I'd be going into it expecting to do poorly.

ShortyBP wrote: SSOK wrote: Whats the worst thing that could happen(other than the rifle exploding or something)? I say go for it. It cant hurt. Hehe. Well... I'd start off with just pistol. I won't get into 3-gun to start. Worst that could happen? Nothing, really. I'm not worried about doing poorly, as I'd be going into it expecting to do poorly.

This is the reason you would do poorly then.

Skillet42565 wrote: ShortyBP wrote: I'd be going into it expecting to do poorly. This is the reason you would do poorly then.

My point was... my apprehension is NOT due to fear of embarrassment. I have no concern of doing badly in front of strangers.
With no formal training in shooting, and absolutely no experience in drawing a weapon from holster, I do not expect to do "well" (when compared to those there who have experience). That's not to say I wouldn't try.

Evil Elvis wrote: you havent seen Shorty's Modified Weaver Stance have you?

Have you ever considered IDPA or IPSC? They hold IDPA comps three time a month at the S&W range by you. And the IDPA Winter Nationals are being held there next week (18th-23rd)

Well you are right. I do shoot IDPA. Just not with my 1911 any time soon.



The thing about IDPA is it's mostly close range shooting. I can't shoot worth a damn at 25m with my pistol, but at the sub 10m you use in IDPA I can make overlapping holes.

The best thing about IDPA is you get to move and shoot. Something you can't do on most other ranges.

Best thing to do is DL a copy of the rulebook and read it a couple of times. Don't get too hung up on it though, the people will teach you what you need to know as you go along.

My local club runs New Shooter Orientations each time we shoot IDPA. This is where we explain things to them, and get them "in the know".

All you have to do to shoot IDPA is be competent with the handling of your firearm, obey the 4 saftey laws, and listen to the range/saftey officers.

If you can load, unload, holster, draw and manipulate your firearm safely, you can shoot IDPA.

Don't worry too much if you can't do it 100% like the other guys. So long as you are safe, they will teach you. The more you do it, the better it will become.

Even though things are done on the clock, forget about it. Just run through the drills at your own speed. The slower you go the more chance there is of keeping your head if something goes pear shaped.

Keep the gun downrange at all times. Even if you have a malfunction, make the SO or RO aware of it, and if you can't fix it yourself, they will.

Read the rulebook to familiarise yourself with the sport, but don't try memorise it yet.

The important things are to listen to the shoot briefing, and listen to the range commands.

Simply put these are :
"Range is (Hot-Live-Closed)" : This means everyone not shooting must be behind the saftey line, and shooting is about to commence.

"Shooter, Facing downrange load and make ready". This is the command to draw your firearm, slap a mag in it, and chamber a round. Depending on your gun and the size of your mags, you might need to top up the 8 round mags on a 1911 style gun or something. Then either put the saftey on, or decock the gun, again depending on the type and action of the gun. Then holster it.

Once it's in the holster and loaded, don't touch it agian until the buzzer.

Then make sure you have your eye and ear protection on.

The RO should ask "Shooter are you ready". You don't have to acknowledge this if you are. Only mention if you are not.

The next command it "Standby" This means the shoot is about to start, and the go buzzer is the next thing to expect.

The timer will buzz anything from immediately to 5 seconds from the Standby command. On the buzz, draw your firearm and shoot the string as per the briefing.

When you are finished the RO will say something like "Shooter, if you are finished, unload and show clear.". This is your instruction to drop the mag and pull the slide back to eject the chambered round. The RO must be able to visually inspect the chamber to ensure the gun is eampty.

"Slide fowards" Easy, let the slide go fowards.

"Hammer down" This is the command to pull the trigger to drop the hammer. DO NOT USE A HAMMER LOWERING DEVICE OR RIDE THE HAMMER FORWARDS. This is to prove 100% for the final time there are no bullets in the chamber. Even if you and the RO messed up somewhere, this should fire the round safely into the backstop.

"Holster". Easy, put the gun into the holster.

"Range is {cold-open-safe) Go forwards and score" Easy, you can walk around the range. Your job here is to pick up any dropped mags or live rounds and follow the scorer to the targets to see how you did and check their scoring.

And that's about all you'll need for a new shooter. Things like reload-with-retention, emergency reloads, tactical priority and the like will all be explained later, as you get more proficient and by the RO at each stage, if he knows you are new, and he is a decent RO.

KBK

Handload. My own to boot. I can't even blame anyone else.

Was shooting a standards shoot. This one was "on the buzzer retreat and egange targets 1-3 with 2 shots each, while moving".

Beeeeep.
draw, step, bang
step, bang,
step, bang,
step, bang,
step, Click
(CLICK? **edited** ?)
stop stepping, drop mag, rack slide.... well try to. The bushing was jammed on the bulge.

There wasn't any indication of a squib. It recoilded fully, it souded full, and the next round fed 100%. The recovered case was clean as well.

Just one of those things. I've reloaded thousands of rounds, very very carefuly, and I get a bloody squib. Basically all the money I've saved, I'm now spending on gettign a new barrel. Fortunately I also reload to tailor make my loads. (210 grain semi wadcutters at 950fps).

Barrel is getting the once over by the gunsmiths, to see if it can be salaved, but I'm also in the process of getting an STI barrel (and in South Africa it IS a process).

Anyway, back on topic, nothing wrong with being the _NG. Someone has to. I've been shooting IDPA for a 4 years, I'm a qualified Saftey Officer, and I'm STILL a _NG compared to most the other shooters.

Relax, enjoy yourself, learn something (however small it might be so you can build on it next time) and be safe.

Are you taking about a CZ-75 P01? If so that's a double action/single action gun hey? according to IDPA rules, you have to start with it in Double action mode (IIRC). This means your first shot will have to be double action, the rest single action. This could throw your game off. The 1911 is single action all the way. It's holstered cocked and locked. Draw, disengage saftey, squeeze trigger. Each trigger pull will be the same.

However, that's a concern for later down the path. Take the P01, it'll do you fine.

And don't use my reloads :P

KBK

Kayback wrote: Are you taking about a CZ-75 P01? If so that's a double action/single action gun hey? according to IDPA rules, you have to start with it in Double action mode (IIRC). This means your first shot will have to be double action, the rest single action. This could throw your game off. The 1911 is single action all the way. It's holstered cocked and locked. Draw, disengage saftey, squeeze trigger. Each trigger pull will be the same.

Yep. I know I'll have to start from decock, and that will definitely affect where my first round goes.

I won't use reloads.   At least to start... I'm in the process of setting up my bench and my first press. And the round I decided to try first... 45ACP. I'll try not to make a KBK load.

FlimFlam wrote: Evil Elvis wrote: you havent seen Shorty's Modified Weaver Stance have you? At least he doesn't have to chrono...

Don't speak too soon.    I don't think my local match uses 'em... but chronos do play a part in some competition. As if my skill hurdle wasn't high enough... I gotta contend with my nemesis.

I've shot in some cadet rifle matches. Done pretty well too.

L81 .762

I have no idea what you guys are talking about though.

 

Shorty, yeah, that's how I started as well. (Except with my 1911). I've got over 1.5K once fired .45ACP cases from shooting factory ammo.

Just make sure you shoot boxer primed ammo, and pick up your brass (If your range allows it of course).

KBK