Am a former cowboy action shooter and am considering trying one of the other action shooting sports. For someone who has tried neither,which is more fun? I'm interested in hearing from folks that have tried both.....looking for opinions.

Both sports will have you firing while moving which is a NO NO in SASS. You might enjoy that element of the game. Each has its own set of rules that you will need to become familiar with not only in range commands but in what gear is allowable and what is not.

In USPSA you will be firing more rounds on most stages especially in the field events which are the run and gun scenarios.

IDPA has fewer rounds fired on any given stage and has some of its own unique requirements like using a cover garment, the requirement to use cover, the re-load with retention of the magazine etc.

Both are a lot of fun. I usually will suggest using gear that you already have before buying a bunch of stuff. Either game will require a holster that covers the trigger guard. Both will require a mag/speedloader pouch. IDPA restricts how much you can carry, USPSA does not due largely to the longer course of fire on the field courses where you are firing upwards of 30 or more rounds.

If you already have an IWB holster for example you can use it in both games. The IDPA game is centered around using what you already use for a carry gun, USPSA used to be all about the race gun which is still popular, but the Production class using stock guns is far more popular.

At any given match I have been to in USPSA the most active group is Production.

I started both games with my Dad's old K-38 service revolver and a bunch of speedloaders and still use it on occasion. Figure out which category your gear will work in and then go a have a blast!

BTW, What made you quit Cowboy Action Shooting anyway? I am still shooting SASS as well as the other games as well... If it goes bang I like it!

Randy

Thx, Randy. I quit SASS because of time constraints. Things have changed, but I sold all my cowboy guns and gear. Rather than re- acquire thought I might try something different. Would love to be able to use my EDC , a 638. Ever seen anyone compete with a J-Bird?

5 shot revolverrs are legal in IDPA SSR, and sometimes you see one in club matches. The are just right for backup gun matches (BUG) which are usually a side match, not the main event.

6 shot K or L frame revolvers are just right for IDPA SSR, using speedloaders.

In USPSA, revolvers are typically model 625s using clips with .45 ACP loaded to major power.

Sussest you try the IDPA matches at Oil Capital in Tulsa; go early for the excellent newcomers briefing. The also have introductory classes. You do not have to be a member of Oil Capital to shoot the matches.

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Science plus Art

You would not have a very fun day using it in USPSA, however I have shot with folks using a J frame in IDPA. Sometimes in IDPA they will have a BUG match ( Back Up Gun) and the J frames rule the roost there..

Do you have a 9mm that will hold 10 rounds or a full size revolver? either of those would do a great job for you in either USPSA or IDPA.

Do you have a club that offers either or both of these disciplines? If so, go to a local match and see what it is all about. I would attend the new shooters meeting that most clubs will have and get a feel for the game. You will also get to see what a lot of people are using for gear in your area.

Randy

Definitely give both a try. They are similar but also worlds apart in other areas. IDPA is great and all there divisions are very similar to USPSA's Production Division where it's about basic gear and not necessarily about who can buy the best gun that holds the most ammunition.

I'm a regular IDPA shooter that is breaking into USPSA very slowly but only to just give me more trigger time. I like the high round-count and the flat-out speed that USPSA offers but I also like the slightly more structured and 'tactical' or 'self-defense' scenarios that make up IDPA's courses of fire. Both are brilliant sports that don't require near the investment that SASS or NCOWS or 3-Gun would.

Yes!


They're both a blast. Get a gun that's legal and effective for both (S&W M&P or S&W 625, etc.) and you don't have to choose.

I have tried both games. I enjoy the free form style of USPSA more than the rigid structure of IDPA. But if IDPA were the only game available locally, I would certainly play it.

I shot with some folks who who had been shooting the other - and that can lead to some confusion and thus procedural errors.

So I suggest pick just one to start - unless you are very good at keeping the rules straight.

Example - in IDPA you cannot reload while moving - and reaching for the spare mag, or release is starting the reload procedure. In other action shooting sports, if you are not reloading on the move, you will be slower than your competitors.

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-Ric
Keep Calm and Carry

"Example - in IDPA you cannot reload while moving - and reaching for the spare mag, or release is starting the reload procedure. In other action shooting sports, if you are not reloading on the move, you will be slower than your competitors."

Wow, that was quick, already on new threads ric! Just to clarify, you can reload while moving as long as you are behind cover. The rest of the standard IDPA rules apply. If you are behind a wall and are moving to the other point of the wall and your gun is at slide lock, have at it. USPSA is simply more freestyle oriented because there is no differentiation between reloads and they may be done at any point in time without penalty. In my opinion, this places more strategy in the game since it's up to the shooter when to reload, along with emphasizing the technical skill of reloading a little bit more.

I have shot a lot of IDPA and a bit of USPSA. I like both, but I would say that I probably prefer IDPA. IDPA is less about the gear and more about the scenario, but some complain about the 'rules'. I think it is easier for an IDPA shooter to transition to USPSA since it is less restrictive than the other way around. I think the average USPSA shooter probably shoots at a higher level of technical competency than the average IDPA shooter, of course these are broad generalizations.

I was a match director for IDPA for a number of years and I tried to design courses that followed the intent of IDPA while offering an adequate round count and free form solutions. That being said, the typical USPSA match will offer a higher round count per stage and match.

One reason I like to shoot IDPA is because it is scenario driven. A good stage will have a brief setup indicating how you got yourself into this mess. A good USPSA stage defines the fault lines and shots on target without any pretense of 'reality'. This is not to say that you cannot shoot a USPSA match using the same tactics as you do an IDPA match. You won't come in at the top, but who really cares? Coming from CAS, you might like the stage descriptions in a good IDPA match.

The bottom line is they are both fun and you should explore both. Quite often your local club will do a good job in one and not the other. Pick one that is the most fun and run with it.