I want to start competitive shooting, and was wondering of IDPA or USPSA, which would be the best one for me to start out with.

I've come to a bit of a plateau/boredom in my shooting/training, and have been advised that the next logical step for me is to take up competition shooting. I have no interest in shooting tricked out race guns with optics and all the gizmos. I will be using a M&P9 fs in its stock configuration, because that is what and how I carry.

Any insight as to the pros and cons of each would be greatly appreciated.

This may be a bit of a long answer to a short question. To let you know where I'm coming from, I am both a USPSA CRO and an IDPA match director. The short answer is that either can serve your purpose if you find a club that is legit and follows the actual rules. There are unfortunately some clubs that use the name but not the rules.

With the addition of Production Division to USPSA, some say in response to IDPA;s success, USPSA provides a division for stock handguns to compete against each other in USPSA matches. The approved guns for USPSA Production include your gun, and the rules can be found here:
USPSA Member Discounts and Promotions - United States Practical Shooting Association
In general, you will need a strong-side holster that covers the trigger, 5 magazines, aand holders for 4 magazines. Yes, you go onto a USPSA stage with a box of ammunition on you, and some stages require 32 rounds (more if you miss). You will shoot the same stages as the other Divisions, including the Open race guns, but compete in your Production Division against similar equipment. You may run across the rare individual who belittles Production Division, but in general competitors are supportive of newcomers. USPSA is the classic "run and gun" with emphasis on speed and pure shooting without much regard to tactics.

In IDPA, you fit right into Stock Service Pistol Division, and the equipment is similar except you only need 3 magazines. IDPA stages are max 18 rounds required. IDPA policy states that its target population for recruiting is shooters who have not competed before and wish to shoot essentially stock firearms.
IDPA is more oriented to shooting accurately from cover and employing "defensive" scenarios, and the scoring favors accuracy over raw speed.
The rules can be found here:
http://www.idpa.com/Documents/IDPARuleBook2005.pdf

There are some popular misconceptions about the two that deserve comment.
1. "IDPA has more rules" USPSA has 100 pages of rules, IDPA 82 pages.
2. "Using cover in IDPA slows you down." True. Run & gun in the open is faster.

It really comes down to the availability of a good club in your area.

__________________
Science plus Art

Great Answer in ALL regards OKFCO5! ( I shoot in both)

To the OP...find out what is offered in YOUR area first. If both are available go and watch each. IDPA was originally founded for folks just like you have described yourself as being.

You can usually use your existing gear and have a great time.
Some of the clubs I have been a member of will have a new shooter orientation....which I would certainly take in.

Also, many clubs will sort of assign an experienced shooter to act as a mentor for you.

Read the rule books of each organizations in advance of doing anything so that you have a background on the game and also as to what is legal gear in each as well.... ie. a legal holster in one game is not always legal in another etc....

Most of all.......Have FUN!!

Randy

The two closest clubs to me are an hour away and each in a different direction. Both offer IDPA, one offers both IDPA and USPSA, while the other offers some type of steel plate competition which sounds fun too.

I will have to go be a spectator at each one and get a feel for which one will be the right fit for me. I don't mind the drive once or twice a month or so.

I'm recuperating from an injury right now, so by the time I'm healthy enough and can get myself back into "run n gun" shape, it will be spring or early summer. That will give me plenty of time to feel both clubs out and learn more about rules of each competition.

I still own a Glock so I may look into doing some GSSF competitions as well, although those shoots seem to be at least 2 hours away or more so I probably wouldn't do those more than about once a year or so.

I shoot mostly USPSA and ICORE these days, but I still recommend IDPA as the starter sport for those new to action shooting. The main reason is that the COF are more precisely defined, and thus more likely to be shot safely. I think that's important for shooters not accustomed to movement and multiple target encounters. Secondly, round count, while high for "real" defensive encounters, is still low enough that you don't have high ammunition costs for those not into reloading.

The rules of IDPA, while loosely based on proper defensive principles, are not going to teach you how to survive a gunfight. There are courses taught by professionals that can do that. IDPA will teach you to shoot better, faster, and with more accuracy, but like the other competitive action pistol sports, it's still just a game. But it's a good one to start with.

Buck

I would recommend finding a group of shooters you enjoy being with first and foremost. This club would hopefully follow national club rules, but I have shot with groups that do not and as long as they adhere to safety first rules I'm ok with it. We have successfully transitioned shooters into USPSA clubs from these groups. If you do not enjoy the club you are shooting with you probably will quit shooting. For a Glock shooter the GSSF offers quite a few benefits. As a new to the club shooter, one of the senior members should give you some pointers and get you comfortable with the COF's. I would also watch the other shooters with similar guns before purchasing equipment.

For me IDPA was a great intro to comp shooting. Relatively low round count, shorter stages.

I prefer USPSA because it is more "freestyle" and I don't have to remember rules such as reload behind cover, don't drop loaded mags, slice the pie, etc.

I shoot Production and SSTK and CDP and ESP. I am not into the arms race found in Limited and Open, or whatever they're called. Reloading quickly and planning the reload is half of my fun!

Both great fun.

I would say that access and good company are more important than the parent organization and detailed rules. Check them both out.
Take your gun. There is nothing more boring than watching somebody else shoot. You will be encouraged and made welcome. They will coach you through the requirements.

Won't be a problem, it goes everywhere I do.

I say pick the one that has less people. I went to a few match, and man they last a long time. I get there at 8 and don't leave until 1 o'clock. I was pretty tired and hungry afterwards. Our club is so huge and so many members, and both IDPA and USPCS are wildly popular in this part. We only shoot 6 courses. You don't do that much shooting actually considering how much time you spend there. A lot of time is spent standing around and taping targets up and waiting. I have friends who do this almost every weekend--dedication.

My experience was that IDPA was more structured and there was usually only one way to do it right. They discourage "gaming," require the use of cover, slicing the pie, retaining of magazines, etc..

USPSA is pretty much free form. Reload anywhere you want, shoot anywhere you want, drop partial mags or moons if / as desired and the general philosophy is that "gaming" is the whole reason for having a game.

I decided I preferred free form. Lots of others like structured. It's pretty much the same reason ice cream comes in both chocolate and vanilla.

Just go out and shoot. Both games teach gun handling not tactics. Have fun and don't worry about your score. Your first match is like sex the first time your not going to be good at it but it will still be great for you.

I shot my first ICORE match today, been shooting USPSA and SASS for years. The ICORE match fun, but still a first match. I had ammo problems and reload fumbles but still had fun.

Good replies.

I recently retired from thirty two years as a cop and wanted a game to occupy some time, exercise a few of my handguns, offer an excuse to reload MORE, and to BS with other shooters.

Fell into a Club that shoots IDPA type courses but isn't really affiliated with IDPA. SAFETY is #1 and Fun is #2. I have to say I enjoy their shoots the most. One is required to think tactically, use cover etc...but still lots of fun.

Also shot a USPSA course and have to say...I didn't care for the "gamers". Several of the shooters were FAR more concerned about ways to bend the courses to their advantage as well as a few other things I observed that I didn't care for. Then again..I tend to hate gamers in any of the shooting sports so they easily annoy me.

Have shot a few real IDPA courses and other than the silly "magazine retention" rule...find them enjoyable, and challenging. So I'd say IDPA is MY game.

Take your gun with You...tough to imagine shooting spports that doesn't welcome a new shooter...never seen it before.

FN in MT

Where were you shooting IDPA and USPSA? Sounds like you were in Helena and the Three Forks range. The Three Forks range used to be an actual IDPA affiliated club and then dropped it. I shot a few USPSA and SASS matches at Hi Ore near Boulder and had a good time.
Maybe you can come over to Billings and join us for a USPSA shoot!
Randy

LOL...Your exactly right..throw in Hi Ore too.

By three Forks you mean the Belgrade range??


FN in MT

I have to agree with several of the previous posters who state that good company and having fun should be your priorities. My local club runs IDPA shoots monthly and non-affiliated IDPA type shoots weekly. Although I enjoy them both I prefer the company of the weekly shooters over the IDPA guys. Maybe it is the culture of the scoring or the competitiveness of the event, but the IDPA guys tend to be a bit stand offish and "cliquey". Very few, if any, of them will engage me in conversation and for the most part ignore me during the match. The opposite is true of the weekly non-formal shoots. I have met many nice people, who introduce themselves, talk about shooting, fishing, family,etc. Then again the scoring is simpler, there are fewer rules of engagement, shoot any handgun you wish including .22lr, and hi-cap magazines are permitted. It is just as challenging as IDPA with safety and a good time the main emphasis.
It all comes down on what you want to get out of action shooting and how you want to go about it. Either way it will improve your skill as a shooter. My experience has been to have fun with good people as opposed to dealing with "gamers".

Yes, but the range is actually much closer to Three Forks than Belgrade. The Helena club uses the Hi Ore range....had a lot of fun on some three gun shoots they held there.
Is there any action pistol shooting in Great Falls anymore? There used to be some when the range was out by the dam. Think it is all gone now however. The SASS crown in GTF has a range over by Simms that is fabulous.

Randy