CZ52GUY
Member
I thought I'd share the perspective from someone in their first season...those interested but on the fence might enjoy...those who've been at it for some time may have some memories come back...
Started in April, I've shot 3 club matches, plus 3 Classifier events...took a class and became a "certified" SO...worked my first "SO in training" match last month.
In no particular order:
1) IDPA has pushed some boundaries...made me step out of my comfort zone...some things I had never done because I had pretty much shot public access indoor range from the bench or equivalent "informal" shoots with similar expectations from the host. New to me were:
- loaded gun in holster (dryfire simulation helped)
- drawing the loaded gun (dryfire simulation helped)
- showing clear a loaded gun (administrative clearing had only been a requirement to address a jam)
- shooting on the move (dryfire simulation helped)
- shooting with non-dominant hand was only attempted a few weeks before match 1 when I realized it would be an IDPA requirement (dryfire simulation helped)
- shooting strong hand only was only attempted a few weeks before match 1 when I realized it would be an IDPA requirement (dryfire simulation helped)
- shooting from behind cover (dryfire simulation helped)
- moving between shooting positions with loaded gun (4 rules discipline, especially position of trigger finger on side of slide helped tremendously)
- shooting at moving targets (e.g. swingers...still working this one)
- rapid reloads (Reload w/retention, tactical reload, slide-lock reloads...hadn't done them, again - dryfire practice helped)
- there were others and I'm sure more to come (e.g. low-light stage I know is coming in August).
2) Good equipment helps
- I joined the club that hosts the matches...facilities that allow self-supervised practice are a tremendous advantage.
- holster that secures but allows ready access...open top without retention strap is pretty much essential
- similarly with magazine pouches
- Cover garment comfort, length, and utility is important...there's a reason the 5.11 vests are so popular in IDPA, I bought one.
- Similarly with pants, I now have 3 pairs of 5.11 pants so I can practice with them...position of holster and mag' pouch on belt, as well as fit and pocket opening angle to allow you to get that mag' in there during rapid reloads...not essential by brand name, but you need to be comfortable and as a rookie, anything to make life a little easier.
- A shot timer has been a terrific training aid.
- Use of actual IDPA carboard targets and taping them vs. hanging paper versions and replacing them has been VERY helpful.
3) Choice of division/competition firearm
- I went with my Glock 22 to keep it pretty simple. No external controls to manipulate as part of draw...no DA/SA trigger transition...SSP has been a good division to start out...lots of company there though...
- I practice regularly with CZ-75B, 1911, and Sig P220ST...I have aspirations to compete in ESP and CDP eventually...the manipulation of controls and DA/SA transition has been very interesting to experience in the context of IDPA style practice...gives me a different perspective in selection of self-defense HG features in general.
- My G22 busted a pin two days before my class...shot the class w/G23, and Classifier match two days later w/G35...having a similar piece as your primary to backup can be very handy...
- I'm using WWB or Blazer Brass in it to keep costs down
4) "Skill development"
- The "new stuff" hasn't been difficult to get a "basic competency"
- I am more likely to have a flub I need to recover from than the more experienced shooters...I've made peace that I may run into something like that...seems to keep a mole-hill issue from becoming a mountain size delay.
- I find that the "bench shooting" made me more accurate than some of my more experienced counterparts...last match I had the 3rd best points down total in SSP.
- It takes me longer to achieve that accuracy...I don't think it's them "missing fast enough" to beat me...I see it as me being too precise sometimes...I can hit slow enough to lose...
- Incremental improvements in speed have allowed me to maintain my accuracy for the most part...improve speed 10-15%, give up a few points...consolidate speed at new level...get back accuracy, go after another 10-15% speed, consolidate, get back accuracy, etc.
5) "Zen stuff"
- I can actually see the front sight during accelerated pairs...that has helped me become more confident that I can still get my hits...confidence=accuracy=speed.
- I find that I need to "shoot like I mean it"...not visualizing BG's...but having a mental focus equivalent to when I participated in organized sports at a much younger age.
- I don't look for the hits while on the course...I wait until we're scoring them after...If I happen to pick up a flyer during a string...I try not to think about it...always believe the next shot is going to be ZERO down.
- I compete against myself...my counterparts are there for me to learn from...to emulate, or avoid their mistakes...I'm not trying to beat anybody but the man in the mirror.
- Practice has been critical...I don't try to focus on more than one thing during any session (sometimes speed, sometimes accuracy, sometimes reload splits, sometimes draws)...to be sure, I mix up the drills to get work in a variety of exercises, but my mind focuses on one core skill to emphasize to limit distractions.
- I practice alone...I go with a plan...I always mix it up some based on what I'm doing wrong or right as the case may be (practical issues like the availability of a bay at my club also come into play).
6) Other
- The class as well as some pre-match seminars for new shooters were a tremendous help...my fundamental skills were improved...the instructor has talked me into a base ISO stance which is much more flexible when dealing with shooting from cover in scenarios...I think I can reach the grip more easily in draws...I'm less intimidated by movement strings because ISO makes me focus on the upper half of my torso...squaring up to the target helps me stay behind cover.
- SO work has been enjoyable so far...a way to give back...lessons the pre-match anxiety...I get in my strings when I can, no time to get nervous.
- Building up some good skills that I believe would be transferable to real world...not a guarantee of success, but a sense that useful techniques are being learned.
I'm not Master, but I made Sharp Shooter...much progress I think for a rookie who had been "bench shooting constrained"...much, much more to learn.
Bottom line, I'm staying safe and having fun.
Safe shooting,
CZ52'
Started in April, I've shot 3 club matches, plus 3 Classifier events...took a class and became a "certified" SO...worked my first "SO in training" match last month.
In no particular order:
1) IDPA has pushed some boundaries...made me step out of my comfort zone...some things I had never done because I had pretty much shot public access indoor range from the bench or equivalent "informal" shoots with similar expectations from the host. New to me were:
- loaded gun in holster (dryfire simulation helped)
- drawing the loaded gun (dryfire simulation helped)
- showing clear a loaded gun (administrative clearing had only been a requirement to address a jam)
- shooting on the move (dryfire simulation helped)
- shooting with non-dominant hand was only attempted a few weeks before match 1 when I realized it would be an IDPA requirement (dryfire simulation helped)
- shooting strong hand only was only attempted a few weeks before match 1 when I realized it would be an IDPA requirement (dryfire simulation helped)
- shooting from behind cover (dryfire simulation helped)
- moving between shooting positions with loaded gun (4 rules discipline, especially position of trigger finger on side of slide helped tremendously)
- shooting at moving targets (e.g. swingers...still working this one)
- rapid reloads (Reload w/retention, tactical reload, slide-lock reloads...hadn't done them, again - dryfire practice helped)
- there were others and I'm sure more to come (e.g. low-light stage I know is coming in August).
2) Good equipment helps
- I joined the club that hosts the matches...facilities that allow self-supervised practice are a tremendous advantage.
- holster that secures but allows ready access...open top without retention strap is pretty much essential
- similarly with magazine pouches
- Cover garment comfort, length, and utility is important...there's a reason the 5.11 vests are so popular in IDPA, I bought one.
- Similarly with pants, I now have 3 pairs of 5.11 pants so I can practice with them...position of holster and mag' pouch on belt, as well as fit and pocket opening angle to allow you to get that mag' in there during rapid reloads...not essential by brand name, but you need to be comfortable and as a rookie, anything to make life a little easier.
- A shot timer has been a terrific training aid.
- Use of actual IDPA carboard targets and taping them vs. hanging paper versions and replacing them has been VERY helpful.
3) Choice of division/competition firearm
- I went with my Glock 22 to keep it pretty simple. No external controls to manipulate as part of draw...no DA/SA trigger transition...SSP has been a good division to start out...lots of company there though...
- I practice regularly with CZ-75B, 1911, and Sig P220ST...I have aspirations to compete in ESP and CDP eventually...the manipulation of controls and DA/SA transition has been very interesting to experience in the context of IDPA style practice...gives me a different perspective in selection of self-defense HG features in general.
- My G22 busted a pin two days before my class...shot the class w/G23, and Classifier match two days later w/G35...having a similar piece as your primary to backup can be very handy...
- I'm using WWB or Blazer Brass in it to keep costs down
4) "Skill development"
- The "new stuff" hasn't been difficult to get a "basic competency"
- I am more likely to have a flub I need to recover from than the more experienced shooters...I've made peace that I may run into something like that...seems to keep a mole-hill issue from becoming a mountain size delay.
- I find that the "bench shooting" made me more accurate than some of my more experienced counterparts...last match I had the 3rd best points down total in SSP.
- It takes me longer to achieve that accuracy...I don't think it's them "missing fast enough" to beat me...I see it as me being too precise sometimes...I can hit slow enough to lose...
- Incremental improvements in speed have allowed me to maintain my accuracy for the most part...improve speed 10-15%, give up a few points...consolidate speed at new level...get back accuracy, go after another 10-15% speed, consolidate, get back accuracy, etc.
5) "Zen stuff"
- I can actually see the front sight during accelerated pairs...that has helped me become more confident that I can still get my hits...confidence=accuracy=speed.
- I find that I need to "shoot like I mean it"...not visualizing BG's...but having a mental focus equivalent to when I participated in organized sports at a much younger age.
- I don't look for the hits while on the course...I wait until we're scoring them after...If I happen to pick up a flyer during a string...I try not to think about it...always believe the next shot is going to be ZERO down.
- I compete against myself...my counterparts are there for me to learn from...to emulate, or avoid their mistakes...I'm not trying to beat anybody but the man in the mirror.
- Practice has been critical...I don't try to focus on more than one thing during any session (sometimes speed, sometimes accuracy, sometimes reload splits, sometimes draws)...to be sure, I mix up the drills to get work in a variety of exercises, but my mind focuses on one core skill to emphasize to limit distractions.
- I practice alone...I go with a plan...I always mix it up some based on what I'm doing wrong or right as the case may be (practical issues like the availability of a bay at my club also come into play).
6) Other
- The class as well as some pre-match seminars for new shooters were a tremendous help...my fundamental skills were improved...the instructor has talked me into a base ISO stance which is much more flexible when dealing with shooting from cover in scenarios...I think I can reach the grip more easily in draws...I'm less intimidated by movement strings because ISO makes me focus on the upper half of my torso...squaring up to the target helps me stay behind cover.
- SO work has been enjoyable so far...a way to give back...lessons the pre-match anxiety...I get in my strings when I can, no time to get nervous.
- Building up some good skills that I believe would be transferable to real world...not a guarantee of success, but a sense that useful techniques are being learned.
I'm not Master, but I made Sharp Shooter...much progress I think for a rookie who had been "bench shooting constrained"...much, much more to learn.
Bottom line, I'm staying safe and having fun.
Safe shooting,
CZ52'