IDPA - any shooters?

[David Sinko]

How in the world is a match director supposed to have a gun with the maximum allowable barrel length for every possible cartridge in all the divisions? That is absurd. Think about the logistics of this. Has this ever been done? What about the Nationals in PA? The chrono was thrown out instead of the shooters who went sub-Minor! And this is at a National Championship! You should have to shoot over the chrono with what you brought to the match, and if you don't make Power Factor, you get DQed from the match or at the very least your results don't count. IDPA mandates the Power Factor to the division with no room for error, so if you don't make it, then too bad. End of discussion. At least in USPSA you can load for Major (except for Production) and if you go Minor on the chrono, then you get scored Minor. No big deal. IDPA really needs to take a good long look at its rules and the overall fairness of the game. I am astounded that so many people are willing to spend $160 on an entry fee to a National Championship match where something as important as a chronograph can be disregarded on a whim.

Dave Sinko

 

[38-44HD45]

I occasionally shoot IDPA, although issues of time and health keep me from competing much in anything anymore. I shoot Expert in CDP and ESP, but have not bothered to qualify in any other classes. I was a Class A IPSC shooter, knocking hard at the door of Master class, back in the early 90s, when I was shooting lots of 3-gun. In my view, IDPA and USPSA could both use some rule changes, but both can be lots of fun and valuable practice. (IDPA needs to modify its magazine retention rules so good tactics are rewarded and not punished, and stop limiting the number of rounds one can load in a mag in a given class. USPSA needs to bring Major power factor back up, among other things. Just my opinions...

)

 

[OKFC05]

How in the world is a match director supposed to have a gun with the maximum allowable barrel length for every possible cartridge in all the divisions? That is absurd. Think about the logistics of this. Has this ever been done?

Yeah, don't get me started. As a match director and holding one of the "low number" memberships, I've been on "the list" with HQ for a long time.

However, I have always been able to find a competitor in a major match with a max length barrel who would loan it for chrono tests if needed. I've never DQ'd anybody because of a short barrel.
One of the PIA divisions for power factor is Stock Service Revolver (SSR) because standard velocity .38 Special usually does not make the 125 power factor. People who do not reload .38 have to buy +P or risk DQ. The only shooters I saw DQ because of power factor last year in major matches were shooting factory .38.

I load minor to 135 and major to 175 (still) so I don't have any problems at chrono.

I claim they made the rule about not dropping an empty mag with one still in the chamber just to annoy me in CDP. I can count to 8 just fine.

But I feel a heck of a lot better about the rules than I did 3 years ago, and I think the influence of Robert Ray in supporting competitors and match directors is noteworthy. I am lobbying to get his "rules clarifications" put on line, like NROI in USPSA. Stay tuned.....

One of my pet peeves is clubs that do not chrono or follow IDPA rules, so their members come to a major match and get DQ'd because of ignorance or bad habits. Also don't like rules that require SO to count rounds or otherwise be distracted from safety rule enforcement. My priority is
1. BE SAFE
2. Have fun

To be fair, I am also a USPSA CRO, and have more USPSA rule dislikes than with IDPA, particularly with major match prizes and differences with IPSC rules.

But whether you prefer the "run and gun in the open" of USPSA or "shoot 'em from cover" of IDPA, if you carry a gun and aren't shooting an action game---you should be. It's a whale of a lot of fun. And even casual competitors markedly improve their gun handling.

 

[zercool]

Originally posted by OKFC05:
But whether you prefer the "run and gun in the open" of USPSA or "shoot 'em from cover" of IDPA, if you carry a gun and aren't shooting an action game---you should be. It's a whale of a lot of fun. And even casual competitors markedly improve their gun handling.

I hadn't caught/seen the rule about max barrel for power factor - interesting.

But the bit above that I just quoted is really what it's all about to me - I shoot the club matches because it's FUN. People are happy to give me tips when I ask, and I get to ogle and sometimes fondle some very nice guns... without feeling like my stock GI 1911 is something to be ashamed of.

I expect I'll check out IPSC/USPSA later this year; one step at a time though.

 

[18DAI]

I shoot SSR with model 19-4, 681, and 66-2.

SSP with a 4516, 915, and HK USP45

 

[haggis]

Originally posted by OKFC05:
I shoot SSR, and you need to check on the rules "clarifications" made in IDPA by Robert Ray in the last couple of years.
You can put speedloaders on the left side just like magazines if you wish.

The "clarification" I got after several years of e-mails and letters was a single e-mail that told me that I could put my speedloaders on my left side, behind my body centerline. Whoop-de-do! In what real-life scenario does anyone carry a speedloader in the back where it will print like crazy? These people are either stupid or stubborn - I suspect the latter. When IDPA finally ceases to be Bill Wilson's personal fiefdom, I'll probably shoot there again. Until then, I'm happy where I am.

Buck

 

[Hot Toddy]

Hey folks!
Hey OKFC05! Where do you shoot in OK? I would like to get involved in IDPA.
Thanks and God Bless...HT

 

[OKFC05]

Originally posted by Hot Toddy:
Hey folks!
Hey OKFC05! Where do you shoot in OK? I would like to get involved in IDPA.
Thanks and God Bless...HT

Click on your state for club info:
http://www.idpa.com/clubs.asp

 

[don95sml]

The Roanoke Rifle and Revolver Club (actually located south of Roanoke in Franklin County) holds regular USPSA matches. We also have scheduled "defensive pistol" matches year round on the second Saturday of each month. We are not IDPA members (so don't have to pay their dues), but matches are conducted in substantial conformance to IDPA rules. These usually attract around 50-60 shooters who participate in six stages. Lots of fun, even for an old guy like me who is slow on the time clock but not too shabby in the accuracy department.

 

[HeadHunter]

I've been shooting IDPA since 1998; Master in all divisions except ESR, which I have never shot.

Mostly I like to shoot K-frames, but sometimes I shoot my Pizza Gun (Beretta VerTec).

 

[GaryM&P]

I've shot IDPA since the beginning, and USPSA ten years before that. I've shot five Nationals and started the IDPA program at our local club.

I shoot a M&P9 in SSP and ESP. I shoot a M&P45 in CDP.

 

[palmetto99]

I shot my fourth club level match today. I'm shooting a Glock G17 (sorry folks) in SSP. Still haven't shot a classifier. Getting better, but has a real "aw @#$%" moment today. I missed a target. It's not that I didn't hit the target, I forgot about it and moved through the stage. Oh well, it got better later and turned out to be a good day.