IDPA Procedural Error

[texanron]

I was reading through the rule book and came across something I don't understand. In the example section of Procedural Errors item "J" states "The competitior airguns and/or takes a sight picture". I don't get it.

[OldCannon]

In IDPA, the notion is that you shouldn't know the course of fire before engaging. "Airgunning" is the act of pre-coreographing your motions around a stage, often using your hand in a "finger gun" configuration (saying "pow pow" is optional ). This is one of the things that separates USPSA shooting from IDPA (along with several other annoyances). As an RO, I have to monitor squads when they enter a new stage, because if you let some of them, they'll take 10-15 minutes just to rehearse how they're going to shoot through a stage that they're going to blaze through in 32 seconds.

Did that answer the question?

[texanron]

Yep that answers it.Thanks. However, that brings up another question. If the CoF dictates shooting strong hand, perform a reload, then shoot weak hand, can I practice this while waiting my turn? I would hate to walk up to the start point and be informed that I have incurred a Procedural before I even started.

[OldCannon]

That's not really airgunning or practicing the COF, so if I was an RO, I wouldn't give you a procedural.

Then again, I'm a USPSA RO, and I'm hardly the person to ask when it comes to the details of IDPA. USPSA tends to take a different point of view when it comes to rules, which I think is ensconced in this amusing phrase you'll hear at USPSA matches: "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin to win"

[solaritx]

seems silly but the general answer is this: practice stronghand or weakhand with empty hand pointing downrange = PE Doing the same uprange = no PE

Not all things are logical.

Garry N

[CWOOD]

At and IDPA match, folks on the range are prohibited from handling their firearms except under to two circumstances. One is under the direct supervision of the SO, This would be during and preparing to execute the course of fire or if the SO were unloading a shooter who perhaps has a CHL and has just arrived at the range or reloading at the end of the match for the road home. The only place one can handle the firearm is at the SAFE TABLE. Generally this will be for repairs, adjustments or some other minor function. No ammo is allowed at the SAFE TABLE.

[gringop]

Yep that answers it.Thanks. However, that brings up another question. If the CoF dictates shooting strong hand, perform a reload, then shoot weak hand, can I practice this while waiting my turn? I would hate to walk up to the start point and be informed that I have incurred a Procedural before I even started.

From the Glossary in the IDPA rulebook:
"Airgunning: The act of going through the motions of firing the
CoF with a hand or pointed finger without a firearm in hand."

I would take that to mean that you must be "going through the motions of firing the
CoF" to be guilty of airgunning. If I see someone "going through the motions of firing the
CoF", even if they are doing it behind the line, I will give them a PE.

If they are in the Safe Area practicing general gun handling, no big deal.

If you want to practice airgunning I suggest you go to the Safe Area and safely practice general gun handling with an empty gun.

To be honest, the match is not the place to be practicing anything.

Gringop

[tbrown]

To be honest, the match is not the place to be practicing anything.

Gringop

If the association still cared about defensive pistol use, people wouldn't get lots of time to mentally rehearse either. On the street, you don't get ten minutes to decide when to schedule a reload. I know it's a game, like IPSC, but IDPA had so much promise before they changed tracks.

[OldCannon]

Sorry, I understand why you can't practice COF, that's a central part of the game, but getting a PE for practicing something that's a standard skill drill? Um...no.

This probably explains why I'm a USPSA RO and not an IDPA SO. I'm just not one of these types ->

[solaritx]

"This probably explains why I'm a USPSA RO and not an IDPA SO. I'm just not one of these types"

So let me get this straight.....USPSA does not have rules? USPSA does not have people screaming, pleading and whinning about those rules? USPSA does not whine and cry until they get reshoots because of the rules?

Give me a break. Just because one does things in one sport and can't do it in another sport because it's against the "rules" does not make one sport better or worse than another. Boxing and Full Contact are two sports that are similar. One you can kick and one you can't....it's the rules. USPSA you can airgun, IDPA you can't.

Pretty typical USPSA response to IDPA.

[OldCannon]

"This probably explains why I'm a USPSA RO and not an IDPA SO. I'm just not one of these types"

So let me get this straight.....USPSA does not have rules? USPSA does not have people screaming, pleading and whinning about those rules? USPSA does not whine and cry until they get reshoots because of the rules?

Give me a break. Just because one does things in one sport and can't do it in another sport because it's against the "rules" does not make one sport better or worse than another. Boxing and Full Contact are two sports that are similar. One you can kick and one you can't....it's the rules. USPSA you can airgun, IDPA you can't.

Pretty typical USPSA response to IDPA.

You probably missed my smiley.

Grow thicker skin and get a sense of humor. I said it all in jest.

[solaritx]

I have thick skin and humor but the smiley face is like a sorry after getting shot...don't mean much. A review of your posts (as I did before responding) shows that the post I commented about is typical of your negative anti-IDPA responses. You are entitled to your opinion and will defend your right to say you mind but saying negative things time and time again and putting a little figure behind it doesn't make it "all better".

Ok, let's see if your way works.......I believe you to be cognatively defective All good with you???