I was shooting IPSC back in the late 70's, and was pretty fair on a good day. I quit shooting IPSC in around 1978, and just plinked around for several years. About 10 or 12 years ago I decided we needed to have a pistol match at the Club. A few of the pistol shooters on the Board talked it over, and we started shooting Defensive Pistol. We had an active duty Major shooting with us who had shoot quite a bit of IDPA before being stationed at Ft Leonard Wood. He explained the IDPA Scoring system to us. We started slowly changing to more and more IDPA Rules. We had SSR and ESR at one time. We later decided we did not have enough revolver shooters for both Divisions, and went back to SSR covering all revolvers. Our Defensive Pistol match is still loosely based on IDPA minus most of their Rule Book.
We got a chance to buy some steel from a competition shooters moving to another state. This got us a couple Fantastic Dueling Trees, and a couple Pepper Poppers. Then we had a club member who is a retired pipeline welded build a Plate Rack. Then we built Tomb Stones, and Shoot A Boot reactive targets. Then we had a Texas Star donated, and another Pepper Popper that was reactive with a Silhouette. Then we bought a Turn and Drop, and had another couple targets donated.
Now we shoot Reactive Steel Challenge one month and Defensive pistol the next month.
Then I got to looking into ICORE, and decided we probably had enough local revolver shooters to keep it afloat. We have only had about 4 matches so far. Not a big turnout so far, but we are having fun.
Now for the important part. We have probably 20 or so local shooters. I can tell everyone of them is a way better shot than when they first started. When shooting matches you are handeling your handgun in a safe manner. You are, drawing, reloading, shooting, clearing malfunctions, making safe, and maintaining your firearm.
I went from under 100 round of handgun ammo a year to several thousand rounds a year. I had no idea at all how rusty I had gotten since the 70's untill I started shooting matches again, and started improving in leaps and bounds.
I shoot my:
Model 64 K frame 4" reloading with Jet Loaders, Comp III's and HKS speedloaders.
Model 686 L Frame 4" with Comp III's and HKS speedloaders
Model 610 N Frame 4" with Moon Clips
Model 625 N Frame 4" with Moon Clips
Model 442 Pro J Frame with Moon Clips, Jet Loaders, and HKS speedloaders, and speed strips.
Model 15 K Frame 2" SNUB with Jet Loaders, and HKS speedloaders.
Model 617 K Frame 4" 22LR with HKS speedloaders.
And I even dust off my 1911 Colt now and again.
Shooting all the above I have no issues at all swapping from Speed Strips, to HKS speed loaders, to Safariland Comp I, II, and III speedloaders, to Jet Loaders, or Moon Clips. I have no issues clearing malfunctions. And I have learned how to prevent malfunctions such as getting unburned powder under the ejector star, keeping rims out from under the ejector star, etc.
I am not even close to being up to speed with the big boys, but I am way better than the average plinker using the range.
I conceal carry almost daily, and I have complete confidence that I can employ any of my handguns in a high stress situation if need be. I can reload them under stress, and I can clear about any clearable malfunction almost on Automatic Pilot.
My skill level comes from shooting matches, and getting in lots of trigger time that I would not get without shooting matches.
My observations are that you will almost never get in enough quality trigger time to get completely up to speed without shooting matches. Shooting a match you are required to shoot a course of fire not chosen by yourself. You have to adapt and overcome.
Besides getting a little better all the time, I am having a very good time shooting with my good friends every month.
If you are not shooting matches you are missing out on a great training tool.
Bob
