IPSC And Better Shooting

[Deer Hunter]

I started IPSC in May of '08. I had no experience with competition shooting like this. I had done smallbore for 4-H when I was little, but I wasn't so invested in guns when I was little (I like swords and video games). When I got to A&M I started shooting with the A&M Pistol Team, which is standard smallbore at 25 yards. I shot horribly at first, but I learned how to really become accurate with pistols because of the team.

So at the end of my freshman year, I figured I'd give IPSC a try.

I went to witness a match a month earlier, and from then I knew I had to try it.

So, the first match was pretty sad as well as eye opening. Standing in one spot and shooting at a small target is not the same as running around like a chicken with its head cut off engaging steel and paper.

Also, I had the opportunity to get to shoot a Texas Star at my FIRST IPSC match.

Thank god I had 6 magazines for my CZ....

In any case, now it's '09 and I just got done with this month's match. I have become a much, much better shooter because of IPSC. I love the speed and accuracy involved in shooting well. I love hearing steel clang and then seeing them fall one after the other. I'm in no way as good as some guys out there, but I am only competing against myself.

Each match I try to beat my previous scores. At my first match, there were some stages where I got maybe 9% on a stage. That was my lowest. My highest, however, was only 38%.

Yesterday I beat out 36 shooters and placed 9th overall. I'm a D class Production shooter, using a CZ75B.

Some people may not agree with IPSC or think there's really nothing "practical" about it, but in my opinion it's a wonderful way to really test your shooting ability.

 

[oldcj5guy]

Glad to see somebody commenting on it. I have recently started to miss the range time I had as a marine, and started looking into different shooting events. The IPSC really looked like a lot of fun. In my experience any type of shooting that teaches you to confidently ID, acquire and hit a target in a short amount of time can only benefit anyone carrying a sidearm.

 

[WarHall]

I hoping to do it more this year myself -

I've only shot a couple, for fun, and some steel plate, pins, and silhouette with the clubs. As my friend likes to say, "when that buzzer goes off, your brain just runs down your leg". It's definitely a 'rush' and a test of your focus...

 

[glockgod]

Is competition shooting equal to defensive training-Hell no!
Will competition shooting help you with gun handling and accurately shooting in a stressful situation- You better believe it!!
Can't wait till USPSA and IDPA get started sround here,the free time on Sundays is driving me crazy!
The Texas star-whoever created that monster should be covered in honey,placed on an anthill,and then burned at the stake if there's anything left!(Just kidding) An eye opening experience the first time isn't it?

 

[Claude Clay]

competing against myself.....

you have the right mind set. each stage usually has a 'trick' to it. perhaps order of engagenent or round count and reloading. if you are able to count your rounds under stress thus never firing your gun dry, you can shave a half second or more off of your time by not having to charge the slide. few can, but good luck to you.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Eye opening indeed. This time around I did better, however I still messed up a little bit on the star. I engaged bottom-to-top instead of vice-versa

Shooting production means more mag changes than I would like, but I do fine. I can reload fairly quickly even on a dry gun. But I'm figuring out things now. Occasionally stage design will trip me up, but I find that not missing is better than speed.

 

[glockgod]

That is exactly the mindset you need to shoot competition. Accuracy comes first-speed comes with experience-then when it all comes together you have speed,accuracy,and confidence in your ability to perform under pressure. Good luck and Godspeed to you!

 

[Mr Kablammo]

Good post, Deer Hunter. IPSC is good for general gun manipulation skills and even better for putting together the plan and the action. If you are going to go with a CHL, it is better to learn to clear a jam at the match than in the parking lot at 1:00 AM.

I have been trying to get some UT students involved with the sport and have had a few sucesses. Time, money, and living in the dorms are obstacles for students. But even using air-guns and 0.22s is good for developing habits of safe shooting. It would be pretty dog-gone neat to have UT-AM rivalry IPSC match!

I guess that you are mainly competing with the BPs. But if you get the chance, come and visit with us, www.alsppc.org

 

[Deer Hunter]

Kablammo,

My club is holding a new-shooter orientation sub-match in a few weeks. I'm taking my girlfriend and, hopefully, a couple of A&M smallbore shooters. If I get some people interedested in the sport I'd love to have an A&M vs UT IPSC match.

Let's hope you fellas put up a better fight in IPSC than smallbore. A&M'll be down in Austin this weekend for a smallbore/free pistol/air match.

 

[Hk Dan]

Outstanding! I've been shooting for 5 years.

You'll shoot in ways that you'd never try on a square range. No, it's not training, but it is practice! Anytime you have to shoot accurately, fast, and under pressure, it's good practice. Congrats! See ya at the Nationals!

Dan

 

[Deer Hunter]

I'm far, far away from shooting at nationals, Dan. I said I'm improving, never said I was good.

But the president of the club dotes on me occasionally, telling me how far I've come so quickly.,

 

[Hk Dan]

Outstanding!

You will see a nearly meteoric rise in your skill level (if you practice). I mean, quick, quality improvements--shooting faster and more accurately, draws and reloads in fractions of the time from when you started.

You will plateau. When that happens, progress comes hard--DO NOT get discouraged. There are more meteoric rises to come, it's just that after each one you'll have a hurdle to clear.

Right now, I predict that your skill level will skyrocket--then level off until you discover "Awareness". <g>

Dan

 

[eerw]

if you can shoot it..look at the Double Tap Championship match up in Wichita Falls...
doubletapranch.com
great match..great courses..it is a fun one...its in late March.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Wichita Falls is a good five hours away from me. I'll have to think about it. Putting the money, time, and gas into it may be tricky. But I'll definantly keep it in mind.

 

[eerw]

understand...
its about 10 hours for me...but a great match..lot of good shooters...good prize table, fun fun stages..

 

[Mr Kablammo]

Deer Hunter, I'll come by the match at UT this weekend, what day and time? I usually volunteer as RSO at the range but have been kind of spotty recently. In the spring I usually work a second evening job.

You are right about A & M doing better at the small-bore. The UT team is OK, if the Navy ROTC would let the UTRPT have access to the S & W 41s then I think it would be different thing altogether. The UT team is kind of scooting along on minimal help of volunteers like myself. I would really like the team to be a nexus for other shooting activities such as IPSC, trap, silohuette, etc.

Have you gotten NRA RSO credentials? It is good thing to have as you got a more 'big picture' education in the class. Maybe we can visit the Austin Rifle Club for a 'big bore' side match if time can be found. I can bring some equipment. Don't take anything onto UT campus that is not authorized.

Hope to see you this weekend, K.

 

[VegasOPM]

Find the best shooter at the club (preferably one with an "M" or "GM" classification) and ask them to give you some pointers. I have been spending a fair amount of time training with Grand Masters and it is time (and money) well spent.

Again, it may not truly be "training" for a real world encounter. But the ability to draw and fire quickly and accurately, along with top notch gunhandling skills, doesn't suck. When your draw, sight picture and trigger control are automatic, your brain can devote more time to sorting out the problem.

 

[David E]

If you are counting EACH shot as you shoot a stage, you're cluttering up your mind with needless drivel.

As for the Texas Star, try going down one side of it. Shoot the top/right plate, go down to about 3 o'clock, shoot the one that just moved up to that position, move down to 4 o'clock where the next one will be, etc. It's a little easier than going back and forth.

The Double Tap Championship awards GUN FRAMES for First and Second in CLASS, third gets a slide. "D" class wins the same prize as all the other classes.

www.doubletapranch.com

.

 

[Hk Dan]

Heck, David, I just take the Texas Star from the top down. Top, top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right. If you do it right, it doesn't even move!

 

[David E]

Heck, David, I just take the Texas Star from the top down. Top, top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right. If you do it right, it doesn't even move!

That's true, but my way is easier for the shooter that's never seen one before !

.

 

[Riss]

Slow down to go fast grasshopper. That was my first bit of wisdom passed down from my Master. And the most true of everything I have learned. Speed will come to you as you progress. Watch some Youtube of the big guys, or girls shooting IPSC and try to see what they do different, from grip to stance. You can learn alot in a little time. Speed is good, but hitting in the A's is what you want.

 

[Owen]

Speed is good, but hitting in the A's is what you want

Especially in Production! IN Production you need all A's! The minor scoring will kill you if you don't...

 

[Deer Hunter]

Wait...

In Production class they don't take minor/major power factors into consideration, or so I thought I read in the rulebook.

 

[eerw]

yes..Production is scored minor...

but if you think about the available points..you still can't afford to drop that many..

think about this..on a 30 rnd cours of fire..if you shoot 7 Cs..which isn't that many out of the A..in production..you just gave up 14 points..which is like shooting a miss.

you can't win if you're shooting misses.

 

[rfwobbly]

I took up IPSC with my carry gun to sharpen my skills. Now I've gotten "hooked" and "had" to go buy a more conventional gun. I've found IPSC to be the most fun and frustrating thing I do. But boy have I ever gotten better with a handgun!

I just hope a Texas star doesn't pull a knife on me one evening in an alley.