Thinking about trying IDPA

[HoploDad]

You'll enjoy it, this coming from someone who has participated 3 times, a few years back. My third time I was allowed to bring my very safety-minded and careful 16 year old son. The organizers let him to use a Mark III .22 instead of center fire, for the experience and not counted for competition.

Everyone who carries concealed should take this class, at first not with a mind to win, but with a mindset to hit the targets safely IMO. As life allows I hope to return and join in again. IDPA is way better than golf, but it takes about the same amount of time out of your weekend.

Full size 9mm is a good choice.

Edit: P.S. As a little kid on a summer swim team, my son would regularly finish last but win the heat in breast stroke. All the other kids DNF'd due to improper stroke as they hurried to finish. We talked about that for IDPA and the little bugger's score bested mine. When the subject comes up I let him know he was shooting .22 to my 9mm, but that conversation drove the point home, to be slow and smooth, and it worked.

 

[CDP45]

I’ve decided to chime in on the conversation. If you’ve never shot in a competition match IDPA would be a good starting point. A few things folks haven’t mentioned.
1- Show up early. Talk to the Match Director and let him/her know you are a new shooter and would like to participate. They may have a new shooters orientation before the match. Have an idea about the rules.
2- Have your gear ready and plenty of ammo. If there is a Safe Area to holster find it. If not ask where shooters are allowed to holster up.
3- Your 1st match don’t be in a big hurry. There will be a few shooters that will smoke a stage. (Balls out).
4- If you’re not the next shooter to shoot the stage assist taping and resetting targets after they’ve been scored. ALWAYS HAVE TAPE ON YOU.
5- After the match is over do not throw your gear in a bag and leave. Assist helping tear down stages.
Good luck, Be Safe and have fun.
Just a side note I personally refuse to shoot IDPA.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, same things apply to USPSA.

 

[NMexJim]

• 
  You don't need to be a great or even a good marksman to shoot IDPA, but you do need to know and demonstrate excellent safe handgun handling skills. You need to be able to safely holster and draw from concealment and always maintain a safe muzzle direction while moving in various directions and shooting around barricades and obstacles. You also need to keep your finger visibly out of the trigger guard while drawing, holstering, loading, unloading, dealing with malfunctions and moving while not engaging targets. These safety related tasks are what many new shooters have trouble with, especially keeping their finger out of the trigger guard during those actions listed above.
  
  
• Take a look at just the Safety Rules, Shooting Rules and Equipment Rules sections of the IDPA Rule Book (the latter section only as it applies to the gun and gear you intend to use). I recommend you don't try to tackle the whole rule book as it's way more info than a new shooter needs. Being a safe shooter is what you should focus on for your first match. Please pay special attention the rule book section on Safety Rules as they are rigidly enforced.

Trigger discipline, trigger discipline. Practice getting your finger out of the trigger guard in front of a mirror. On target, finger on; off target, finger off. Unless it's muscle memory, you'll get caught up in the moment and forget to "get your finger out of the trigger guard". Tres embarissing.

If you carry one of these pistols, I'd definitely suggest using that to get started. That's what IDPA started out to be - for a defensive pistol. You'll get a lot of really good practice. Much better than stationary targets. If the competitive drive starts to come, shoot anything that fits in the box.

All clubs (most clubs, some clubs?) have a qualifier that you have to shoot. Untitled-1 (defensivepistol.org). It's a decent practice drill on it's on.

 

[waktasz]

Classifier, not qualifier. It's not required to shoot your first match.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have heard of ranges, IDPA and USPSA both, that do require a "qualifier" for you to demonstrate that you can safely draw, fire, and reload a pistol before you shoot a match.

My range has a mandatory half day "Introduction to Competition" for beginners, instituted after it became obvious that ten minutes before a match was not enough to get a new entrant to shoot safely and correctly.

 

[NMexJim]

Classifier, not qualifier. It's not required to shoot your first match.

Ah yes, sorry.

 

[Hoser]

I have heard of ranges, IDPA and USPSA both, that do require a "qualifier" for you to demonstrate that you can safely draw, fire, and reload a pistol before you shoot a match.

My range has a mandatory half day "Introduction to Competition" for beginners, instituted after it became obvious that ten minutes before a match was not enough to get a new entrant to shoot safely and correctly.

My club has been doing that for the past 26 years.

A 45-50 minute class that goes over all the rules, has the new guys do some turn and draws, reloads, ULSC, ect. Then the match. We consider the match the hands on portion of the class. Finish the match safely and you get a card that allows you to shoot at any USPSA club in the state.