For some people it is. Other people compete because they enjoy the sport and/or enjoy competition for its own sake. Watch a marathon or even a fun run and you won't see them wearing the same clothes and shoes they would be normally wearing, if they need to run for their life.drjoker wrote:I compete with a Glock 19. It is my carry gun. Granted I don't always carry, but when I do in the winter, it's the Glock. I also use full power ammo. I also show up with all my other normal carry gear; leather belt, leather holster with safety retention clip, etc. I don't understand all these guys who use special non-carry guns and gear because isn't the purpose of competing and practicing to become a more effective shot if you should ever need to draw and shoot?
ISPC started as a competition for practical defensive shooting. It has become dominated by gamesmen.
IDPA started as a competition for practical defensive shooting, partially in response to IPSC becoming dominated by gamesmen. However, it has strayed from its roots. Some of the IDPA rules have practical origins but have been codified so much that they have lost sight of the original intent. Other premises run counter to reality, such as having five divisions, when there's no such thing on the street in a real defensive shooting. The bad guys aren't going to give you a break because you're carrying a less capable gun.
Also, good arguments have been made that a defensive shooting competition should be pass fail. You either survive the encounter or you don't.
