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The_Dunedan · 07-19-2010, 08:01 AM

Well folks, this weekend I had the pleasure of attending an IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) match with my good friend and fellow TFPer, the legendary Sir Walter of Sobchak. The match was held at a gun-club in Walt's university town, about an hour from where I live, and much fun was had by all.

IDPA shooting, for those unfamiliar, involved simulated defensive shooting in scenarios designed to imitate real-world defensive situations. Targets are placed at a variety of ranges and aspects (standing, kneeling, behind cover, partially concealed), and frequently with no-shoot "hostage" targets thrown into the mix. You try to shoot through the scenario as quickly as you can; seconds get added to your time as a penalty for bad shots, misses, shooting hostages, safety or scenario-rules violation (procedural foul) or general ass-hattery (FTDR: Failure To Do Right, IDPA's version of Unsportsmanlike Conduct). Rules for each scenario are different; one scenario might require several reloads, while another needs only four rounds total. Another might require weak-hand-only shooting (simulating an injury to the dominant hand/arm), or shooting from behind cover or concealment.

The match was a lot of fun. Walt and I shot in the Standard Service Pistol class, which is the largest of the IDPA weapons classes. Oddly we were the only two schlubs, even in SSP, shooting stock "carry" guns. Most of the rest seemed to be semi-stock 1911s and other steel-framed long-barreled "duty" weapons, and many if not most of our competitors in all classes were using down-charged handloads which seemed to be best suited to producing time-eating malfunctions at crucial points. Walt and I rolled in with a stock Glock 9mm (can't recall the model, d'oh!) and a stock Springfield XD, our daily-carry holster guns. We were pleased to discover that actual training and practice with equipment which one actually uses (as opposed to plays with) can deliver impressive results even from total newbs. Walt actually -won- our Division (SSP-Master) with a score of 177-odd, while I came in fourth with 204-odd (I lost 20secs for an un-dropped steel target; ran out of ammo). Both made it into the top half, both beating out several alleged professional competitors who kept having malfs in their $2,000 STI race-guns. There's something to be said for reliability. Walt and I were also very pleased to discover that we were the only people to shoot the Kill House stage "clean," that is without misses, bad hits, penalties, -or- killing "Mrs. Thatcher!" I did, however, flub a Mozambique at extreme close range during one stage which required a great deal of movement.

Goal for next month's match is a score of 190 or less. Overall I was pleased with my performance, but that missed steel target and the missed headshot on the Mozambique really cost me.

Now, just gotta get the pics up...

07-19-2010, 08:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Walt And Dune Go To The Shooting Match! Well folks, this weekend I had the pleasure of attending an IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) match with my good friend and fellow TFPer, the legendary Sir Walter of Sobchak. The match was held at a gun-club in Walt's university town, about an hour from where I live, and much fun was had by all. IDPA shooting, for those unfamiliar, involved simulated defensive shooting in scenarios designed to imitate real-world defensive situations. Targets are placed at a variety of ranges and aspects (standing, kneeling, behind cover, partially concealed), and frequently with no-shoot "hostage" targets thrown into the mix. You try to shoot through the scenario as quickly as you can; seconds get added to your time as a penalty for bad shots, misses, shooting hostages, safety or scenario-rules violation (procedural foul) or general ass-hattery (FTDR: Failure To Do Right, IDPA's version of Unsportsmanlike Conduct). Rules for each scenario are different; one scenario might require several reloads, while another needs only four rounds total. Another might require weak-hand-only shooting (simulating an injury to the dominant hand/arm), or shooting from behind cover or concealment. The match was a lot of fun. Walt and I shot in the Standard Service Pistol class, which is the largest of the IDPA weapons classes. Oddly we were the only two schlubs, even in SSP, shooting stock "carry" guns. Most of the rest seemed to be semi-stock 1911s and other steel-framed long-barreled "duty" weapons, and many if not most of our competitors in all classes were using down-charged handloads which seemed to be best suited to producing time-eating malfunctions at crucial points. Walt and I rolled in with a stock Glock 9mm (can't recall the model, d'oh!) and a stock Springfield XD, our daily-carry holster guns. We were pleased to discover that actual training and practice with equipment which one actually uses (as opposed to plays with) can deliver impressive results even from total newbs. Walt actually -won- our Division (SSP-Master) with a score of 177-odd, while I came in fourth with 204-odd (I lost 20secs for an un-dropped steel target; ran out of ammo). Both made it into the top half, both beating out several alleged professional competitors who kept having malfs in their $2,000 STI race-guns. There's something to be said for reliability. Walt and I were also very pleased to discover that we were the only people to shoot the Kill House stage "clean," that is without misses, bad hits, penalties, -or- killing "Mrs. Thatcher!" I did, however, flub a Mozambique at extreme close range during one stage which required a great deal of movement. Goal for next month's match is a score of 190 or less. Overall I was pleased with my performance, but that missed steel target and the missed headshot on the Mozambique really cost me. Now, just gotta get the pics up...