casual competition and learning what's available

[dicion]

I may just do that next week.

...If I can find ammo

[Jeremae]

I shoot as often as I can at both Thunder (tts-idpa) and PSC and both groups always go the extra mile to make sure new shooters have a safe and fun experience.

Thunder has a monthly match this Sat (Jun 13th) and PSC's june match is Sat the 27th.

I have been SO for squads with as many as 5 new shooters and seen SRVA and CompVest have even larger squads of newbies. Everyone sure seems to have a good safe time and most keep coming back.

I have not personally shot the IDPA match at the Impact Zone with West Houston IDPA but have shot with several of their regulars and am confidant that you will find just as warm and helpful a welcome from them.

There are several threads here with descriptions and directions but CWOOD post is accurate as to what you need (after you start shooting you can decide what extra equipment you want) and like CompVest says try and show up early to your first match for a new shooter orientation.

We would love to have you ALL show up at Thunder this Saturday (or any Wen (tonight is carry/BUG match)) or PSC on the 27th.

It's so much fun, it makes Nancy Pelosi cry.

[varko]

Great post Carl! Thanks for sharing with us novices, what to expect on our first day at an IDPA shoot.

You've now put the desire in me to go find one, and participate.

Thanks!

[Papabear37]

Thanks a bunch for all the super responses!! I apologize for not thanking you all sooner, but for some reason, I did not get notification that there were any responses. Probably my fault - I'm not very good at computer/message issues.
I will be working overseas for a few months but will definitely be at some of the matches mentioned here when I get back and try to get started. My pistol of choice is my Colt Gold Cup Trophy, or my Colt Lightweight Commander. My carry piece is an H&K USP Compact 9mm. Any comments on what would be the best for this kind of competition?
Once again, thanks to all of you folks for all the help.

[Jeremae]

All 3 are IDPA legal so the most suitable is the one you are most comfortable/confident in.

[Papabear37]

Thanks for the information. Here's another question. What appears to be the most popular pistol for this type shooting?

[CompVest]

Correcting match dates and weekends.

Thunder IDPA match is NOT this Saturday but a week from this Saturday on July 11th.

[jbirds1210]

Thanks for the information. Here's another question. What appears to be the most popular pistol for this type shooting?

I think it is safe to say that Glock is the most common gun found in these competitions.

That said, just about any handgun can be used (at least 9mm). I have routinely been spanked by people shooting any variety of handgun you can think of. For the most part it really is the Indian and not the bow that make a competitive shooter.

Jason

[CWOOD]

Thanks for the information. Here's another question. What appears to be the most popular pistol for this type shooting?

I think it is safe to say that Glock is the most common gun found in these competitions.

That said, just about any handgun can be used (at least 9mm). I have routinely been spanked by people shooting any variety of handgun you can think of. For the most part it really is the Indian and not the bow that make a competitive shooter.

Jason

Jason is absolutely right. The 9mm Glock is probably the most common followed by a mix of the 1911 variants. You see everything, Sigs, Rugers, CZ's, etc. If you can name it, it shows up somewhere. And don't forget revolvers which come in a wide variety.

Jason's analogy using indians and bows is right on the money. You will often see some revolver shooters out shoot a large percentage of semi-auto shooters. That is with a weapon with a round capacity and using speedloaders rather than magazines. It is really impressive to watch a good revolver shooter in action. I cannot do it...at least not that fast.

[Papabear37]

Thanks for the info. I don't have a Glock but I do have a Heckler&Koch USP Compact 9mm. It might work better than my 1911 because of the recoil. Is the Glock so popular because of the light weight, price or both?
Vern

[jbirds1210]

Thanks for the info. I don't have a Glock but I do have a Heckler&Koch USP Compact 9mm. It might work better than my 1911 because of the recoil. Is the Glock so popular because of the light weight, price or both?
Vern

Glock is likely popular for the reasons you stated along with a reputation for being reliable and available in just about any gun shop.
Competitive shooters share the ability to take any good gun and tinker with it until it is useless! Glocks and 1911's rank very high on that list.

Jason

[CompVest]

I don't know about Glock being the most popular. That was definitely true a year or so ago but I don't see so many any more and certainly not the 50%+ of the match guns it used to be. The XDs, H&Ks, M&Ps have come on strong displacing many Glocks.

[Jeremae]

Up to a year or 2 ago 90 to 95% of guns at any one match where either Glocks or 1911s. Now the non 1911 share seems to be split with Glock and the M&P being most popular and the XDs and H&Ks well represented. I have seen Berreta 92s and PXs (and Taurus imitation 92s), Sigs, CZs, Taurus semis, browning hi powers, baby eagles, Sigmas and a few others.

S&W is the King of the revolver classes but you will see people using Taurus and Ruger (usually only until they can buy a S&W)

The match dates I gave in my post were for the June matches. Thunder's monthly club match is the 2nd saturday (July 11th) and PSC's is the 4th Saturday (July 25th).

[Papabear37]

Very helpful! Maybe my H & K will work okay after all.
Vern

[HighVelocity]

In my area, the Glock in 9mm makes up a large percentage of the guns at an IDPA match. They just run and 9mm ammo is cheaper than 40 or 45 for someone that doesn't reload their own ammo.

I see a mix of Sig, HK, XD or M&P's but nowhere near Glocks numbers.

The 2nd biggest group is made up of various 1911 pattern guns.

Glock 40%
1911 30%
Everything else 15%
Revolver 5%

I like to shoot 1911's, revolvers and Glocks in IDPA and USPSA but will on occasion, show up with a CZ or a Sig, just to mix it up.