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This past weekend, I SO'd the NRA LEO 3-Gun Competition in North Texas (Greenville, Texas). I wasn't able to compete for prizes, but they let the non-LEO SOs shoot the day before the match. Collin County IDPA hosted the match, and it was very well received. I hope any LEOs that competed in the match (that read this forum) had a great time too. From what I understand, the next NRA LEO 3-Gun match is in California.

This is also my first 3-Gun match, and I kept forgetting about the "offset" between the red-dot and barrel (AR-15), so ALOT of my hits were low on the close targets. I need to remember that next time.

AggieMM - Stages 1-6 - without music

Ryan

That looks like a fun match. I did see something that would've really made me angry had I been you. On stage 5, one of the other SO's starts handling your shotgun while you are still downrange.

Good shootin'

HighVelocity wrote:That looks like a fun match. I did see something that would've really made me angry had I been you. On stage 5, one of the other SO's starts handling your shotgun while you are still downrange.

I noticed that too. Okay a couple of IDPA questions. I am watching my first this weekend. What is an SO (Safety Officer?) and what was that SO holding behind the shooter. Advanced apologies for these novice questions. BTW that was great. excellent shooting.

Before I answer your questions, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKING YOUR PISTOL TO THE MATCH AND COMPETING. You will regret "just watching". Just let them know you are new, and they'll take care of you.

Taken from SO Guide

The four main duties of an Safety Officer are:

1. To ensure the safety of the shooter and bystanders
2. To help the shooter to complete the course of fire correctly and enjoy the match
3. To handle the shooter using correct and concise range commands
4. To enforce rules consistently to ensure that the match is conducted in a fair and impartial manner

The Safety officer's primary focus must be the safety of the shooter and the bystanders. From the time the shooter steps up to the line until that shooter finishes the course of fire, the safety officer's focus must be soley on the shooter, and primarily on the gun. This is especially critical from the time the shooter is told to load and make ready until the shooter's gun is re-holstered. At no time during this period should the Safety Officer's attention be distracted from the shooter's gun.

The SO is holding a shot timer. This is the thing that goes "beep" at the beginning, to let you know that it is time for the shooter to start the stage. It records each "concussion" made when firing a shot, and keeps track of when each shot happens since the beep. And the timer will show the time that the shooter fired their last shot. This is the time used in scoring (raw time). These timers are used in many different shooting sports to get the raw time.

BTW - Here is some good information for new shooters:

New Shooter Guide

Some of it is specific to CCIDPA, but most of it applies to all new shooters at IDPA events.

Hope that helps.

Ryan

AggieMM wrote:Before I answer your questions, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKING YOUR PISTOL TO THE MATCH AND COMPETING. You will regret "just watching". Just let them know you are new, and they'll take care of you. .

Ditto

PSC is very good at getting new IDPA shooters through their first match. Just shoot it you have to start sometime!

Watching your video's just made the bug worse for me! Our local range has some kind of competition every Saturday. Every Saturday they've had something I want to do, I've been busy! We're required by the range to watch one match, then assist the SO before we can shoot a match. I'm really anxious to start. It looks like a blast! Maybe things will slow down this summer and I can go play!

See Vic, everyone is telling you to come shoot with us. You will be addicted from the first shot. I am a green horn having only shot about a half dozen matches, but I can't get enough.

Well I will definitely be there, can't wait. Don't want to embarrass myself.

vscott wrote:Well I will definitely be there, can't wait. Don't want to embarrass myself.

Why not we all have! come join the crowd.

Thanks for sharing! Looks like it was a lot of fun.

Always remember to reload from behind cover (I'd have called a procedural).

Lumberjack98 wrote:Always remember to reload from behind cover (I'd have called a procedural).

Wasn't IDPA rules......

Ryan

AggieMM wrote:

Lumberjack98 wrote:Always remember to reload from behind cover (I'd have called a procedural).

Wasn't IDPA rules......

Ryan

Even better.

Ok to get the Greek Chrous on the same page errr Thread...

vscott said:

Oh man all this pressure. I have a gun, 2 mags, eye and ear protection, plenty of ammo but no holster. Still trying to decide which one to get. Do you use the same holster for IDPA as for carrying? Really guys, I haven't handled a pistol for some time and want to make sure I can compete safely. Besides, if I watch enough, I can give you old-tomers arun for you money, my first time out.

Which gun? I'm willing to bet we can find someone to lend you a third magazine and an appropriate holster.

Most any strong side belt holster suitable for cc is legal as long as it covers the trigger. If you are thinking about a specific holster just ask and one of us SOs will tell you if it is IDPA legal. At club level match like the one Saturday, we aren't sticklers for the equipment rules usually. My suggestion if you want to buy a holster to use primarily for IDPA is the Comp-Tac Locking Paddle holster.

I like a guy with some spunk. Maybe we can put together a squad just for you with say SRVA, Jbirds, CompVest, ElGato, maybe GordonC. Just so we aren't to embarassed . In all seriousness, as I said in other thread... Come, Shoot, Concentrate on safety, don't compare your score with anyone else's and I PROMISE you will have GREAT fun.

Vic

Being embarrassed is half the fun!!

Plus if you do well everyone pats you on the back. You will not find a better bunch to be with than the IDPA group.

See you Saturday, and I will bring an extra gun, holster and mags in 9mm just in case you need them.