Looking in to IDPA….

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  • ProofMark

    Member
    Aug 5, 2021
    42
    Been thinking hard lately about getting in to IDPA Match shooting. What are some suggestions you all might have other than lord of practice/range time? Equipment and such, skill sets to work on, things of that nature.
     

    Xshot

    Ultimate Member
    BANNED!!!
    Aug 14, 2013
    1,645
    Pasadena, MD
    Be prepared to have any other kind of shooting you do completely ruined!
    IDPA is awesome, been shooting for about 7 years now. I can't stand shooting at a static target now, let alone standing still while I do it!

    Get a gun, 3 mags, 2 mag pouches for your belt, and a holster. That's all you need. Don't get wrapped up in the gear side of things until you shoot a while.

    Anne Arundel Fish & Game has a really good IDPA orientation session they do about once a month. Go to that. You'll watch part of an IDPA match and get to do a small amount of shooting, drawing, reloading yourself. You can find it on Practiscore.com. (Search 'aafg IDPA').


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Been thinking hard lately about getting in to IDPA Match shooting. What are some suggestions you all might have other than lord of practice/range time? Equipment and such, skill sets to work on, things of that nature.

    I suggest you go to a range that is having an IDPA shoot and watch what happens, talk to people and get some first hand knowledge. That will give you some reference when you start researching stuff.

    I shot IDPA from when it started until 2014. I don't know what the rules are now but we used to let new people shoot a couple of times before they had to join IDPA. The basic stuff you need is 1 pistol or revolver of caliber 38/9mm or above with a five inch or less barrel, an external belt holster, a cover garment like a jacket or vest, a two mag or speedloader belt holder and five magazines or speedloaders. I know some magazines are expense but you need them to be able to shoot different scenarios. You also have to allow for a shoot over.

    I always suggest a Fobus paddle holster for first timers as they are inexpensive and meet IDPA requirements.
     

    ProofMark

    Member
    Aug 5, 2021
    42
    The basic stuff you need is 1 pistol or revolver of caliber 38/9mm or above with a five inch or less barrel, an external belt holster, a cover garment like a jacket or vest, a two mag or speedloader belt holder and five magazines or speedloaders.

    Bare with me as I’ve been reading thru the IDPA regulations and stuff as I have the chance to. But are Glocks okay? If so, what about trigger enhancements? I have a G19 with an upgraded trigger. I have various other handguns but ideally that would be the one I have the most time with and what I feel I would perform best with.
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    Where do you live? A lot of IDPA programs around.

    IDPA is good. It takes a lot of flak from the USPSA crowd, sometimes justifiably so, but compared to NOT shooting competition, it's infinitely better. The barrier to entry is pretty low (belt, double mag pouch, decent kydex holster), and the only real gotcha is understanding target priority rules and equipment division rules.

    You want to get into shape before your first match, do regular dry-fire of concealed draws and target transitions on a par timer.
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    Bare with me as I’ve been reading thru the IDPA regulations and stuff as I have the chance to. But are Glocks okay? If so, what about trigger enhancements? I have a G19 with an upgraded trigger. I have various other handguns but ideally that would be the one I have the most time with and what I feel I would perform best with.
    SSP prohibits most externally-visible modifications to your stock gun. You'd be in ESP.
     

    davsco

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 21, 2010
    8,607
    Loudoun, VA
    I always suggest a Fobus paddle holster for first timers as they are inexpensive and meet IDPA requirements.

    i'd just get a basic bladetech or comptac holster. iirc bladetech sells an idpa kit. some of the fobus have way too much retention and yanking on your gun to get it out isn't the best thing.

    op, just bring what you got (gun, holster, 2+ mag pouches, a vest or coat that hides your gun and mags) and let them know when you register what you got. they'll put you in an appropriate division. let them know at each stage you're brand new and you'll get all the help you need and can go last. read thru the idpa rules especially the safety and disqualification (dq) rules.
     

    camo556

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 29, 2021
    2,634
    >practicescore.com. find an unsanctioned match. they don't care about your equipment or division.

    >get a good retention 3 o'clock holster or 6 if you're a lefty.

    >practice drawing until you're sure you won't shoot your leg

    >often you have the "draw from the bucket" option in an unsanctioned match for newbs. use this if you are still uncomfortable with drawing.

    >don't get caught up in IDPA vs USPSA vs ASI. different rules which don't matter much until you're more experienced. just go to some unsanctioned matches and get a feel for rules/scoring.

    >don't get hung up on shooting targets out of priority or whatever. even experts **** this up. as a newbie your job is to not shoot yourself or others the first time you draw under stress. everything else us downhill.

    >just do it and have fun.
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    i'd just get a basic bladetech or comptac holster. iirc bladetech sells an idpa kit. some of the fobus have way too much retention and yanking on your gun to get it out isn't the best thing.
    The Fobus holsters are known garbage. Blade Tech is cheap and quality. I still trot out my old Bladetech Signature holster from time to time. Also big shout out for the Safariland GLS holsters, which give you some active retention without slowing you down much.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Bare with me as I’ve been reading thru the IDPA regulations and stuff as I have the chance to. But are Glocks okay? If so, what about trigger enhancements? I have a G19 with an upgraded trigger. I have various other handguns but ideally that would be the one I have the most time with and what I feel I would perform best with.

    Glock with mods I think you can shoot in Stock or Enhanced categories.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    The Fobus holsters are known garbage. Blade Tech is cheap and quality. I still trot out my old Bladetech Signature holster from time to time. Also big shout out for the Safariland GLS holsters, which give you some active retention without slowing you down much.

    Fobus is fine for the GAME that IDPA is. I did not recommend them for professional use.
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    Fobus is fine for the GAME that IDPA is. I did not recommend them for professional use.
    Don't buy bad holsters. Full stop. A holster failure can ruin your match.

    I'd also recommend NOT buying paddle holsters. One of the most common holster failures in action shooting, classes, pretty much any serious use, is pulling your paddle holster out with your gun. Holsters that use a proper belt interface like Tek-Lok or UBL are the way to fly.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    Don't buy bad holsters. Full stop. A holster failure can ruin your match.

    I'd also recommend NOT buying paddle holsters. One of the most common holster failures in action shooting, classes, pretty much any serious use, is pulling your paddle holster out with your gun. Holsters that use a proper belt interface like Tek-Lok or UBL are the way to fly.

    He's a new guy who may not like it.
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    He's a new guy who may not like it.
    What? The genius work of threading your belt through a holster belt mount or opening and closing a TekLok? Give me a break. The dude can handle it, and telling him to buy shitty gear is not going to help him. Just for reference the cost of a B-T Signature holster for a G17 is a whopping $35 shipped. It's just not a big cost driver for the sport.
     

    davsco

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 21, 2010
    8,607
    Loudoun, VA
    I live in the Northern Neck of Va. No IDPA programs near me, not that I mind driving a bit though.

    https://www.idpa.com/clubs/?type=cl...adius=&search-word=&search-id=&filter_submit=

    also go to www.practiscore.com

    if you don't have idpa near you, try uspsa. basically the same thing, run around and shoot targets. uspsa generally has larger stages and a higher round count.

    either way, let them know at each stage you're the new guy and folks will give you all the help you need.
     

    camo556

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 29, 2021
    2,634
    ^this

    also some ranges run action shooting under other names.

    I would ignore almost all holster advice you get on discord or forums. go to a match and shoot from a bucket low ready. see what other people are running and what you like/dislike. then spend money. or, end up with a bucket full of holsters.

    as long as it's comfortable, has good retention, is secure (does not come off your belt when you draw), and is not your Dad's Uncle Mike's boomer special you are probably gtg.
     

    ProofMark

    Member
    Aug 5, 2021
    42
    I’m certainly eager to get in to the competitive side of things. I see a few steel matches coming up near me so I may just start there as a spectator and see what happens.
     

    Bikebreath

    R.I.P.
    MDS Supporter
    Jun 30, 2009
    14,836
    in the bowels of Baltimore
    I’m certainly eager to get in to the competitive side of things. I see a few steel matches coming up near me so I may just start there as a spectator and see what happens.

    Steel matches don't have movement. By all means take your gear, because they have an option to start with gun in hand held at a 45° to the targets. Being a friendly sport they will ask you if you'd like to try it, so be prepared. As was mentioned, you only concentrate on safety first time out. Once you taste action shooting you'll be hooked, so enter if your bank acct. allows.
     

    parttimer

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 10, 2013
    1,321
    Calvert
    Sanners lake in St Mary’s county Md has USPCA and IDPA matches. If it works for your schedule the “old geezers” matches are unsanctioned matches so there is nothing to join. If you keep safety as a priority and are not a jerk they are really great about helping new guys out.

    My first “old geezer” ( no age restriction just called that because of the 08:00 on a Wednesday match time) match was shot purely on coincidence. I dropped the kids off at daycare and swung by the range to sight in a new scope on a .22 rifle and the range was closed for maintenance. As I was walking back to my truck one of the guys that was going to shoot the match asked if I wanted to try a Usps match. He said any gear I didn’t have someone there would that I could borrow if I had an hour to try a match. I had a great time and did 5-6 more matches with them when I had time before I moved. You do not have to be a member of sanners lake to do any of the matches that are on the calendar.
    https://sannerslake.org/
     

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