The husband and I shoot an indoor USPSA match weekly. We also shoot at least one outdoor match (usually 5 stages or more) monthly. I usually compete against Grand Masters, Masters, and A & B shooters.

I am a lowly D class shooter.
So it is understandable that sometimes I get discouraged by how I did compared to everyone else. But the husband really put it in perspective for me last night. He reminded me that we are shooting around 32 rounds per stage, drawing from a holster and doing mag changes, all in less than a minute.

So next time you shoot a match and get discouraged by your score when compared to the other shooters, remember, you shot a safe (hopefully) match and you completed each stage in under a minute (some might take longer, but not much). Be proud of yourself! You did great!

Yeah, and you did better than all the shooters that never shoot a stage, and remain "legends in their own mind."

Everybody is great until the buzzer goes off.......ask me how I know.

IDPA Match Director
USPSA CRO

I recently worked all day Friday setting up an IDPA match for Sat. Shot it also, and had a great day: about 122 seconds for 5 stages. Worked all day for a little over 2 minutes of shooting.......,,,,,,and trying hard to take LESS time....

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Science plus Art

OKFC,
I totally hear ya. We did that on Sunday. Got to the range at 7:30 to set up 5 stages. Set them up, shot them and then tore them down. I was pooped at the end of the day!

Last Sunday I went to a match, they were very short of RO's so I got pressed into service. (I normally don't as I don't move very well anymore, but I guess they were really hard up ) I also shot the match and did better than normal........ Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that all the Grandmasters and Masters were at the USPSA Nationals.

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Minimize the variables

Not all of them.. Tim Herron (a GM) and Julie Golob were both at our Sunday match along with a bunch of like shooters.

Someday I'd like to get into some USPSA or IDPA.
On myast trip to an outdoor private range I tried doing a quick may change from a Velcro pouch on he OWB holster and I think it took me at least a minute from the empty mag drop to the next round chambered.
Totaly stock SR40c with nylon holster with short mag in first and extended mag in the pouch.

I realize in the competition you are measured against other competitors but what i try to do is compare myself to my past performance and if your are improving that is what counts.

I was an IDPAish match director for a dozen years. It is always funny to watch when a gun shop ninja actually did try to shoot a match. You can learn a lot in a defensive training class but the day to day, under time constraint, management of a firearm is greatly enhanced by regular competition. You WILL be corrected if you do something unsafe and the actual scoring of your hits on the clock are very good for you. You don't have to be a world beater, but you will improve a lot at your talent level thru competition.

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JOSHUA 1:9

I always like to say that I thought I was pretty good until I shot competition with folks who really were.

I should have said all the GM and M that normally shoot around here. But now they're all back so I'll resume my normal place in the roster. Kinda surprising that Julie didn't go to the Nationals, maybe she had other obligations.

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Minimize the variables

I've only shot in a couple USPSA matches. Time and money prevent me. Alas, I'm not very good at it. Even so, I don't care. I don't go to be better than top shooters in that discipline. I go to compete against myself, to improve my own gun handling.

Well said AGoyette. Absolutely correct and I'll bet you're a much better shot than most gun owners.

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Freedom isn't free.

Bkreutz,
Julie was at nationals. I heard she flew back Sat. night. I was surprised to see her Sun. morning because I thought she was still in Utah. She is a real down to earth, nice woman.

I probably missed seeing her name because normally I concentrate on the Open class because I know more of the names in that class because that's what I shoot. Maybe they let her shoot through a few stages because there were still scheduled stages on Sunday. I agree, she is very good representative of our sport. Too bad her NRA ad isn't broadcast somewhere other than the Sportsman channels. It's kinda like preaching to the choir.

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Minimize the variables

My back ordered Blade Tec holster and mag pouches finally came in so I will be shooting my first USPSA match the 2nd Saturday in November.

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State of Jefferson
Jim

Never shot USPA or IDPA....but back in the 70's and 80's I shot a lot of IPSC, PPC, Bullseye and pin matches, competed in second chance, Bianchi Cup and the SOF matches....the value to me was performing under pressure ( the clock, the competition and myself )....it was fun, educational and I met a lot of good folks and learned humility & good sportsmanship, I also learned that no matter how good you are....there are other folk's out there that are better...that's what keeps you humble and motivated. Enjoy your shooting.

I believe shooting with better shooters or better players helps up or improve a person's game.

You might be the last one in the pack ,, but you're running with the big dogs..
The next time you run with C's & D's you may be surprised that you're leading the pack.

Used to shoot a lot of IPSC & PPC back in the day, and one of the reasons was Jim Cirillo (look him up). One of his criteria for picking people for the NYPD stakeout squad was if they were competetive shooters. Like Manyguns said, getting used to doing it under pressure makes all the difference, whether you are GM, or a high C/low B like I was!

Shot a fair amount of club level USPSA (once or twice a week) and IDPA from the mid-90 into the mid-00s.......it's great practice shooting against others and the clock.... shooting under pressure never hurts.

There were 4-5 of us that would shoot USPSA with our carry guns from concealed carry..... this was pre IDPA.........no sprinting box to box.....no walk through to plot strategy........ we were by no means the fastest times but lots of A hits...... and low score bought the first round.

Use to shoot qualification courses with the 30 man Hospital Security Dept. that reported to me.......generally came down to a competition between me and the Asst Director for top score.... in the 98-100% range.... for bragging rights until next time. Now that was pressure .....LOL

If I'm not mistaken, Jim Cirillo was classified as a "lowly" SharpShooter in IDPA. Never judge a book by its cover.

Dave Sinko

While I liked IDPA.... it quickly turned into a "Game" ........ 6-8-12 bad guys ; the courses were ....like a scene from "Walking Dead"........

... and I always liked the swinging targets; if they had been real people they would not have been threats...... as they would have been dizzy and throwing up......LOL


Another one was the "Mover" at Bianchi Cup...... kind of a running man..... one day it hit me the man/target is running sideways ....... showing his full front


Sorry thread drift..........

With way to many rules,