android wrote:IDPA looked interesting to me too. I've been reading the website and the competition rules.
Maybe somebody that is a member can explain something to me. It could just be I'm not understanding what I'm reading.
So, the general charter seems to be to compete in situations that are similar to potential real self defense situations. Good so far...
Then I get into the rules and there seem to be all kinds of rules about when to drop a magazine, how many rounds can be left in it, and that it has to be retained and put away. I am reading this right??
If I am in a SD situation, why would I have wanted to train to worry about where I left my empty magazine? As far as I'm concerned, if I'm getting shot at, an empty magazine is about as useful as yesterday's socks.
I'd be thankful to any IDPA members that would care to enlighten me.
What you are describing is called a "tactical reload" and the thinking behind it is this. You get in a shot out with the bg and there is a lull in the fighting for whatever reason. You have already fired half a magazine of rounds, so you quickly reload. You now have a full mag to finish the fight. You would not want to drop the half full mag so you retain it.
During a standard reload (you are empty and the slide locks back), you would drop the empty mag and insert a new mag. During this reload you would not need to keep the empty mag.
Hope this helps and I am also new at this, so I am sure someone else can help enplane it better than me.
What I do know for fact is that shooting IDPA WILL make you a much better shot and a faster shot as well. Not to mention being a whole lot of fun!!
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. Samuel Adams
