My First Match!

[appaws]

I shot my first match today at South Kent Sportsman's Club in Dorr, MI. Oh my, I am so pumped. After 6 stages, 4 classifiers and 2 bigger 32-shot stages with movement, I was ready to go do them all again!

I shot my XD-45 in production. I was safe and had a lot of fun. My big mess-up came on a stage with some no-shoot "hostages." I ended up with 3 no-shoots. Before the next stage, a veteran "B" classified shooter advised me that perhaps if I slowed down just a bit, I would gain a ton in accuracy. On that stage I had 29 of 32 Alphas! (and no Mikes)

Anyway, I am excited so I could just ramble on! The most fun I have ever had with a gun. If we could all get one non-shooting friend out to participate in the sporting end of things, I think they would understand why we are all so crazy about shooting.

 

[Gunfighter123]

WELCOME to IPSC !!!!!

 

[Sunray]

"...most fun I have ever had with a gun..." That's what it's about. Try a bowling pin shoot, if you can. Lots of fun without all the running around. The best vacations I ever had were at the Second Chance shoots I went to long ago. Pistols and rifles and machineguns. Oh my.
"...the sporting end of things..." There's some kind of sport shooting for everybody. The trick to getting a non-shooter to try it is to take the competition out and get them over their fear of looking silly or bad. Guys mostly. Women don't care. They're far easier to teach too. Usually better natural shots too. Don't take a guy and his wife or girlfriend at the same time. As daft as it sounds. Some guys get extremely annoyed when she out shoots him. Laughing doesn't help either.
Sometimes the cost gets in the way too. You inviting a non-shooter, at your expense, to goes a long way.

 

[Hk Dan]

<chuckles> Let me guess--when you close your eyes all you can see is the front sight bouncing up from a target and recovering?

You're giddy when you think about the next match?

You're already planning out your next gun and holster purchase?

Welcome to USPSA, my friend. It only gets better from here on out!!

Dan

 

[jonc]

i was reading the website and saw that 1911's arent allowed in the production division. Is that correct

 

[Jim Watson]

That is correct. A USPSA Production pistol must be a double action or a gimmick action like Glock. Furthermore, it must have been specifically approved, there is a list on the USPSA.org site.

 

[jonc]

Dang that seems like a wierd rule. I have no experience with matches but was hoping that when I finally get a job I would go shoot at one.

Appaws - what place did you get

 

[Larry Burchfield]

shooting matches

As a rule most shooters are reluctant to enter any kind of competetion. The reason is I don't have a clue. At our club we hold IPSC, SASS, ARA sancationed matches and also informal rifle and plinker matches. ONce a shooter starts shooting competetion they generally have a great time.
At one time we held IPSC novice matches to get people started shooting in the right direction.
So I say if you like it bring a friend the next time and two friends following that.
Larry Burchfield
SEABEES/RVN/67/68/69
DAV

 

[appaws]

I guess it makes sense that a lot of people are scared to enter competitions in anything...I mean we have whole generations now that are being raised up participating in B.S. sports where they do not keep score, and everyone gets a trophy, etc. It's easy to be "good enough" in your mind and never put it to the test.

There is nothing like competition to force you to realize that you are not as good as you thought you were. Of course, the only way to get better is to make that realization, then start learning from people who are better than you.

One of the coolest things about the match I was in was the diversity of the crowd participating. I am a healthy 34yo guy, but in my squad there were older people, ladies, some teens, husbands and wives, a cop, etc. (And they were all kicking my butt! ) Everybody was super friendly and helpful, gave lots of encouragement, and even let me go last on the stages every time so I could watch how everyone else did it.

I cannot wait for the next match.

 

[RH45]

1911s are used in single stack division, but, a lot of guys use them in limited 10 division with ten round magazines.

 

[Wedge]

I also shot my first match yesterday (IDPA).

Have to agree, most fun I have had shooting a gun. I was pretty terrible, shot one CoF almost totally out of order.

I went in not knowing what I didn't know...at least now I have a better idea of what I don't know.

I've been shooting for a while...definitely eye opening at how much difference there is between stationary slow fire and something like IDPA. I will definitely do again.

 

[Larry Burchfield]

Shooting matches

Isn't it funny what happens to a mans thoughts when that buzzer on the timer goes off. "Been there done that". Lots of fun.
Larry Burchfield
SEABEES/RVN/67/68/69
DAV

 

[NGIB]

We have an active IDPA club locally but I haven't tried it yet. I regularly shoot pin matches with the same folks and these are HUGE fun. My only complaint lately is how much ammo I use at the pin matches as I've won 2 of 3 I entered - and it's getting expensive...

 

[mcdonl]

Good for you app!! I did my first IDPA class last week and will have my first comp soon.. finished with a decent time and zero down!

NGIB... it is awesome!!

And our club has changed the strings to use less ammo.

 

[Robert]

It is wicked fun ain't it? I shot my first IPSC match about two weeks ago. Came in 22 out of 23 but what the heck it was awesome. I shoot Single Stack Major and came in 3rd in my class... out of 3. I was going for accuracy over speed. I was very pleased with myself. Had lots, didn't count, of A,A but two jams and too many mikes on the second stage killed me. I got rattled after the first jam, cleared it fine but lost my momentum.

 

[Eyesac]

Good for you! Most fun I've had shooting anything.

 

[Ankeny]

Dang that seems like a wierd rule.

Not really. Divisions are used to group shooters using similar or like gear, divisions are used to group shooters of like ability. Nothing more, nothing less.