IPSC First Timer with Video

[556mp]

This Sunday I will be participating in my first IPSC match. I have never been to a competition before, not even to spectate. I will be participating in Production Class.

While gathering as much information as I could on the USPSA website, I read that they recommend 3 - 4 magazine carriers and a quality holster. I was wondering if some experienced shooters could give me some input/tips in regards to equipment or techniques. I am shooting on a budget so High dollar equipment is not really an option.

So, here is a list of the equipment that I will be using:
-M&P 45 Full Size
-200gr SWC Lead w/ 4.2gr Bullseye
-Galco concealable belt holster @3 o'clock

-Condor 3mag pistol pouch @ 9 o'clock
-BlackHawk Carbon/Plastic Single Mag Carrier @ 10:30
-And an Inexpensive "rigging" belt

[Bryan W]

556

Your list looks good to go from my view. For sure you will need 4 mag carriers... I use 5 but I can count on one hand the times I've needed the 5th and usually use it as a loader magazine. For starting out, I am sure the club will have a safety brief for all new shooters. There they should cover the basics, rules, stuff like that... The common theme on advice is almost always going to be to just go slow...very slow...maintain safety as the num 1 priority and just have fun... Don't worry about the results...you will probably come in near the bottom. Almost ALL of us did when we started. I'm a GM ranked shooter in production and Limited, so I've seen lots of new shooters come through the door. It's a great sport and if you keep coming back you will learn a ton about shooting performance and yourself. Welcome to the game and good luck. Please come back and post up how it went and give us an after action report!! Bryan W

[uscbigdawg]

All that is perfectly fine in Production Division. Biggest things you need to do BEFORE the match are:

- If you can contact someone at the club, meet with them to go over the basics
- Practice drawing and reloading safely (i.e. don't sweep yourself, anyone behind you or around you and do all the above with your finger out of the trigger guard)
- Check the zero of your pistol

On match day, get there a little early, offer to help setup and let them know you're a total newbie. I'm sure they'll assign you to one of their seasoned members that will escort you through the what, where's and how's. The shooting in any competition sport is not very difficult. It's usually 'all the other stuff' that complicates matters. So, focus on safety, having fun and not being intimidated by those that are going faster. Your job is to just be safe and have fun. The speed will come.

Have fun and let us know how it goes.

Rich

[Bryan W]

usc made some excellent additional points - most clubs do and will assign you to a more experienced shooter or squad of shooters to help you. Don't be afraid to ask questions about rules, or even how you should approach shooting a stage... but starting out you will just want to walk and not run.

usc's other point about not being intimidated by faster shooters is spot on too... so so many guys that come out and try these matches don't come back because of this... and yes it can be intimidating, so having some realistic expectations out of the gate will help with this.... that goal simply needs to be...have a safe match, and have fun.

[556mp]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen! I neglected to mention that I will be attending with a team of local shooters from the pistol range where I practice. They invited me to come out after watching me shoot and talking to me. They all seem like a great group of people.

I'm not looking to win any matches (Just yet ). I'm just wanting to have a good time and as always, improve my skills.
I will defiantly let all know the results. I am also hoping to have my buddy, who will be shooting for his first time as well, record some digital footage of me.



Again, thank you for the positive remarks!

[Bryan W]

video is good stuff.... a great way to learn and get better. Have fun and post up those videos down the road...

[igoswoop]

You might be surprised how well you place if you:

-Go slow enough to get your hits.
-Finish the match without a safety violation
-Have fun
-Try not to change some large fundamental in your shooting at sometime in the day because you observe a new technique.

The video is a great idea! Take video yourself if you can of other shooters in your squad. It is very easy to get excited and really try to burn a stage down after you see someone shoot it well. If you're capable of A zone hits all day, you will place better than a faster shooter who throws charlies and deltas left and right. It's also easy to see something someone else is doing that makes so much sense you're tempted to try it. Don't kid yourself; think back to last time you made even a minor change to your grip or reload and how much practice it took to even become familiar with the new technique. You won't shoot enough rounds in the match to even know if it works for you. Go slow enough to make sure you have the grip you need and see what you need to see from your sights. Drive your sights on even the close targets to make sure you get A's. I have seen many very competent shooters go out and solidly beat B class shooters in their very first match but I've also seen some good shooters get stomped when they get a little "Don Johnson/Miami Vice" on a stage after watching a GM burn it down with an open gun.

IPSC will permit you to walk the stage and air gun it. Plan your movement in as much straight line as possible. Count your shots and plan your reloads. A slide lock reload will be slower than a reload without retention. Try not to leave a position on a piece of steel if possible. You're shooting a .45 so poppers should fall if hit solidly but can sometimes give you a little trouble if only hit 'well' with 115 9mm. Better to take the steel first and then poke holes in paper. Watch for stages with lots of lateral movement or straight line movement with targets on your flanks. These are the 180 rule traps that can get you busted for a 180 violation. Going slow enough to make sure you know where your muzzle is pointed at all times will earn you a reputation as a safe shooter - which is the most important thing in your first match. Impress your peers with your awareness, not your marksmanship - that will come & with speed.

When asked to unload and show clear, allow your chambered round to fall into the RO/SO's hand or on the ground. Don't try to catch it or retain it. Consider it a discharged cartridge. If you really want it back, go pick it up (if the range rules allow) after your squad is finished and all of you move to the next stage.

Have fun & good luck; it's an addicting discipline.

[rob_s]

I've been shooting USPSA more and more lately. I enjoy the opportunity to put rounds down range, and now most of the other shooters are learning that I'm not interested in advice on how to "win".

I'm a long-time IDPA shooter so there are some rule differences that I don't understand just yet, but I shoot it my way, on my time, and have a good time with it. I think that's the best way to go starting out, and once you get the feel for the range etiquette and the way things work then you can see if you're concerned with winning or not.

I'm shooting again tonight and looking forward to it.

[ShootinRN]

I myself just started shooting USPSA and have shot IDPA in the past. It is a great time but I do suffer from those that argue the "gamer" mentality is detrimental. it is mostly from those who have not tried it and are to narrow minded to think that skills cannot cross over.

When it comes to shooting it is what it is to the person pulling the trigger. If I can get a few hundred rounds downrange in a safe and accurate manner why wouldn't I do it? I see it as a good time to meet others shooters and absorb technique etc. You also have the opportunity to shoot at some interesting targets and COF's that you may never have a chance to shoot at. I shot my first Texas star at my last match and it directly contribute to the poorest placing I have ever had in any match discipline I have shot. So I learned a weakness and grew from it.

I would def echo all of the previous posters advice especially about going slow and the safety aspect as your brain can get overrun at first (it did for me anyway). USPSA is definitely a thinking game as far as when to plan reloads and target engagement etc. Many times I have hit stages where poppers were activators and a lack of reloading at a particular point caused the reload to happen while the prop was in motion losing the chance to engage it etc.

As far as equipment I run my carry guns Glock 19 and 26 to a 34 I run in IDPA.

Again it is what you make of it and what your goals are, as mentioned previously it is a lot of fun and addictive.

The people are great and are open books with advice etc. On your first stage go slow and concentrate on good hits. Also help paste targets and when you are ready help score. At the end of the day help tear down. Those things go a long way towards creating positive impressions and relationships with other like minded people.

Good luck and don't give up on a hard stage, slow down and stick with it, you finishing it will only help you. Enos' book is pretty cool on the mental aspect of it all.

[Bryan W]

You might be surprised how well you place if you:

-Go slow enough to get your hits.
-Finish the match without a safety violation
-Have fun
-Try not to change some large fundamental in your shooting at sometime in the day because you observe a new technique.

The video is a great idea! Take video yourself if you can of other shooters in your squad. It is very easy to get excited and really try to burn a stage down after you see someone shoot it well. If you're capable of A zone hits all day, you will place better than a faster shooter who throws charlies and deltas left and right. It's also easy to see something someone else is doing that makes so much sense you're tempted to try it. Don't kid yourself; think back to last time you made even a minor change to your grip or reload and how much practice it took to even become familiar with the new technique. You won't shoot enough rounds in the match to even know if it works for you. Go slow enough to make sure you have the grip you need and see what you need to see from your sights. Drive your sights on even the close targets to make sure you get A's. I have seen many very competent shooters go out and solidly beat B class shooters in their very first match but I've also seen some good shooters get stomped when they get a little "Don Johnson/Miami Vice" on a stage after watching a GM burn it down with an open gun.

IPSC will permit you to walk the stage and air gun it. Plan your movement in as much straight line as possible. Count your shots and plan your reloads. A slide lock reload will be slower than a reload without retention. Try not to leave a position on a piece of steel if possible. You're shooting a .45 so poppers should fall if hit solidly but can sometimes give you a little trouble if only hit 'well' with 115 9mm. Better to take the steel first and then poke holes in paper. Watch for stages with lots of lateral movement or straight line movement with targets on your flanks. These are the 180 rule traps that can get you busted for a 180 violation. Going slow enough to make sure you know where your muzzle is pointed at all times will earn you a reputation as a safe shooter - which is the most important thing in your first match. Impress your peers with your awareness, not your marksmanship - that will come & with speed.

When asked to unload and show clear, allow your chambered round to fall into the RO/SO's hand or on the ground. Don't try to catch it or retain it. Consider it a discharged cartridge. If you really want it back, go pick it up (if the range rules allow) after your squad is finished and all of you move to the next stage.

Have fun & good luck; it's an addicting discipline.

Nice post igoswoop - great info.