Preparation for First IDPA Match

[ezypikns]

Most ranges around here (Dallas area) will not allow individuals to draw and fire from a holster, or allow shooting while moving.
How can a person interested in beginning IDPA shooting come closest to replicating that kind of excersize for practice?
Also, what typical target distances are encountered in a typical IDPA course of fire?

 

[HeedJSU]

First of all, take an Intro class. If I remember correctly, this is required by IDPA. If it's anything like the class I took, There will be a little bit of classroom time with a safety lecture and an equipment lecture, and then they'll take you out on the range and set up a few (they did four for us) COF's complete with scoring and time, to get your feet wet. While you're there, ask the local guys where they go (and what they do) to practice. Mote than likely, there will be one or two willing to meet you somewhere and help you out.

Also, I believe all of our targets were at about 15 to 20 feet away, although my depth perception is not that good.

Most of all, have a good time.

Justin

 

[Joe D]

I would think there must be some outdoor clubs you could join in the Dallas area. Use the club finder function on the IDPA website to see.

 

[aguyindallas]

Honestly....go watch a match so you get the feel of it and then jump in head first.

Thats what I did, and I really enjoyed it (well, I actually shot the first time I watched).

IDPA clubs are VERY happy to see new shooters and do all they can to ensure you have a SAFE, fun time. Its a hell of a lot of fun.

I dont get out to them as much as I would like to, but when I do I have a total blast. Besides, where can you go hang out with 30 folks of all sorts of skill level, doing what we all love?


Be safe!

 

[Gary G23]

Just do it. If you are waiting until you are thoroughly prepared you never will get out there. Shooting the match will teach you things you'll never learn in practice.
Just be safe and go at your own pace. Speed will come later.

 

[Jim Watson]

You don't have to fire the gun to practice some of the requirements of IDPA.
Dryfire is cheap and effective.
You can draw from under a concealment garment and learn how to get the gun clear without hangups that would slow you down and could be unsafe.
You can move across the room tracking targets to learn how to walk with the least disturbance of your aim.
You can dryfire around doorframes and furniture to practice use of cover. Your family will think you are nuts when you kneel behind your easy chair and snap in at the bad guys on TV, but it will let you find your balance and aim for use in a match.

Triple check that the gun is empty and no ammunition is even in the room before dryfire practice.

Go to a match, shoot if you feel comfortable with it, and join the club which will probably get you access to their range for live fire practice.

 

[RM]

Distances are generally 2-20 yards.

 

[HSMITH]

I agree with Jim, dryfire is the way to practice the draw.

Distances will be contact distances to 18 yards.

 

[jmorris]

http://www.ccidpa.org/
http://www.ctidpa.com/
http://www.dallaspistol.com/

The above are DFW area clubs. I would suggest you come out and watch a match and talk to your soon to be fellow shooters first. You will learn a lot for free.

 

[FlaChef]

dry fire is great as Jim said, but if your lucky enough to have a gun someone makes a Gas Blow Back (GBB) airsoft for and a backyard that can contain those little 6mm bb's moving at a few hundred feet per second then all you need is a few bucks worth of pvc to make target stands you can tape paper official idpa practice targets to.
If like me you use a rare gun but have a generic non-fitted holster laying around then get any decent quality GBB, even if it means your not drawing from your usual rig w/ the same grip it still helps.

 

[R. Deckard]

IDPA

Just come out to a match and shoot. We all had to start somewhere. My wife and I have been shooting for about a year now with the Dallas Action Pistol Shooters club. The first night we went just to watch and see how it was done and everyone there told us we should just shoot that match and there were several people that offerred to let us use holsters and mag holders and whatever gear we needed to shoot that night, they wouldn't let us just watch! I mean that in a good way! They are a friendly club and very helpful with first time shooters. Just remember the first time out you want to learn safety first! then accuracy, then speed will eventually come. Safety first and have fun. Come join us this Wednesday night at Elm fork at 6:00 P.M. Feel free to P.M. me if you have any questions.

Ray Schroeder

 

[DragonFire]

One thing you can practice is transitioning through multiple targets. Remember sometimes you're moving in IDPA, and sometimes you're engaging multiple targets from a single spot.

Hang two or more targets, they don't have to be very far apart and can be next to each other or side by side, just put one round in alternating targets. (i.e. left, right, left etc.) This will help you get use to getting your sight picture quickly (and hopefully accurately) while moving from target to target. If you can hang 3 or four targets, have someone else tell you the order to shoot them (1,4,2,3). This keeps it interesting, and makes you practice thinking while you shoot.

This makes a great dry fire drill. Hang multiple targets a foot or more apart, then practice your draw, and then one shot on each. Make sure you're getting a good sight picture on each. If you have a timer, you can set a par time to check your progress.

From the IDPA folks I know, no one will care if you're a lousy shot as long as you're SAFE. We usually ask an experience shooter to show a new shooter around, and answer questions etc.