61 replies to this topic

[Fisch]

I just started shooting USPSA and IDPA this year, and I'm not sure whether I want to continue shooting IDPA.

I absolutely love shooting USPSA. I enjoy the strategic thinking, the challenging shots, and the skills it forces me to build (i.e. fast reloads, target transitions, and shooting on the move). Even though I have to drive over 2hrs each way to one club and over 1hr to another, the matches get me 100-150 rounds of great trigger time. I've joined USPSA and will be shooting my first major match this month!

IDPA, on the other hand, is much closer to me (~45min each way), much cheaper in both entry fee and ammo expenses, and also promotes valuable skills. My gripe with IDPA is that it's simply less fun. The matches last about 5 hours and only require about 50 rounds. I dislike how the course of fire is prescribed and how shooting and reloading is all stationary. I don't like some of the rules (as discussed here by others ad nauseam), but that will always be the case with any sport. The general atmosphere/attitude though is much less friendly though. Again, IDPA just isn't as much fun for me. If I continue to shoot IDPA, it will likely be with my carry setup (XD9SC with an IWB holster) rather than my 1911.

I guess the bottom line is this: Is it worth a total time investment of ~8hrs plus about $20 to hopefully shoot a couple moving targets (even though all shooting and reloading is stationary) versus doing 30min of dry fire at home, then going to the indoor range and putting that $20 toward an extra 100 rounds of 9mm or 550 rounds of .22?

[NewColonial]

That's a question only you can answer for yourself (and I think you already did.) If it's fun, do it. If it's not, don't. The point of playing a game is to enjoy it. There's something to be said for trigger time, but it's still a game.

Edited by NewColonial, 17 March 2012 - 05:13 AM.

[shuey134]

I had the same gripe with IDPA but for me it came down to the cost and the people.

Most of the people in my area that shoot IDPA are really cool and fun to be around. The game itself isn't as fun but you don't blow through 150 rounds a match, usually 60-80 rounds.

And we just had a baby so competition is less important than have some occasional fun with friends.

But, I like to shoot so any trigger time is fun time.

[hkguy]

its a personal choice honestly. sorry to hear your local IDPA club is rather small. my club has 8 stages, 100-120 shooters and round counts closer to 120-150. It sounds like you prefer USPSA so hone your skills for that sport and shoot IDPA when your interest allows.

[stein]

A few thoughts:
* I agree that IDPA is a less fun than USPSA but the skills learned and practiced at each do translate to the other.
* I'm not a big fan of how most IDPA stages leave the shooter no options on how to shoot it but, when running practice drills alone don't you know what your going to do before you draw? It is about practicing the execution of your movements, gun manipulation and shooting that improve your skills and you can do that at an IDPA match.
*If you're carrying concealed because you think you may need to defend yourself or your family someday then IDPA is a great way to get some time manipulating your carry gear under some competition induced stress and is worth the time even if it's no fun(take some other training on tactics-as you said that has been discussed enough)
* I don't like to do anything with my free time that I don't truly enjoy!

[tackdr1ver]

I just started shooting USPSA and IDPA this year, and I'm not sure whether I want to continue shooting IDPA.

I absolutely love shooting USPSA. I enjoy the strategic thinking, the challenging shots, and the skills it forces me to build (i.e. fast reloads, target transitions, and shooting on the move). Even though I have to drive over 2hrs each way to one club and over 1hr to another, the matches get me 100-150 rounds of great trigger time. I've joined USPSA and will be shooting my first major match this month!

IDPA, on the other hand, is much closer to me (~45min each way), much cheaper in both entry fee and ammo expenses, and also promotes valuable skills. My gripe with IDPA is that it's simply less fun. The matches last about 5 hours and only require about 50 rounds. I dislike how the course of fire is prescribed and how shooting and reloading is all stationary. I don't like some of the rules (as discussed here by others ad nauseam), but that will always be the case with any sport. The general atmosphere/attitude though is much less friendly though. Again, IDPA just isn't as much fun for me. If I continue to shoot IDPA, it will likely be with my carry setup (XD9SC with an IWB holster) rather than my 1911.

I guess the bottom line is this: Is it worth a total time investment of ~8hrs plus about $20 to hopefully shoot a couple moving targets (even though all shooting and reloading is stationary) versus doing 30min of dry fire at home, then going to the indoor range and putting that $20 toward an extra 100 rounds of 9mm or 550 rounds of .22?

In my opinion: If you enjoy it, go shoot the match! If not, don't. That is for you to decide.

I don't think anyone here will argue the fact that spending 8 hours practicing will be far more beneficial than 8 hours at a match. In a match setting at the end of the day: You have on average what, 120 seconds of actual shooting? For that matter: 30 minutes of solid practice will be far more beneficial if your goal is to improve in your sport of choice.

[lugnut]

Different IDPA clubs can have widely varying stages. Locally we have great people for both IDPA and USPA so I try to get to as many as I can. I think the skills needed to be successful in IDPA are helpful for USPA for sure. Practice is great- but there is no substitute for good match pressure. Use it to your advantage when you can. But if the people are asses and you can't get past that don't go.

[jkrispies]

The matches last about 5 hours and only require about 50 rounds... The general atmosphere/attitude though is much less friendly though.

Yes, IDPA is a different world than IPSC, and it sounds like you're an IPSC man. Anybody who faults you for that isn't worth the time to listen to! Not to mention, some of the IDPA rules truly are... well, we don't need to go there. Having acknowledged that, the above quoted issues lend me to think that your IDPA range wouldn't be very fun to shoot at no matter the sport.

I have five ranges within 1.5 hours of where I live, with the closest one being only 20 minutes away from my doorstep to firing line... and I won't shoot the competitions there because they're poorly run, literally do take five hours (well, maybe more like four) to shoot 50 rounds, and there's always either a bunch of unsafe or bitter people ruining the fun. I instead use that range during the week for practice only due to its proximity to my house, but I'll be doggoned if I'll patronize their matches.

On the flip side, my "middle driving distance" range shoots IPSC, IDPA, and Steel Challenge. It's very well run, very safe, I can essentially shoot any of the previously mentioned sports at my own pace, and I've never gone to a match there which wasn't cleverly designed. The folks who run it and frequent it are some of the nicest folks you'll run into; I've often stayed behind for an hour just chatting. It's the most expensive of all the ranges, and I don't care!

On yet another flip side, one of the farther ranges has well-designed and challenging IPSC courses, but I don't generally shoot there because the atmosphere of the clientele is "Let's robot through this thing, and if you're not a master level shooter then you should be seen and not heard while we talk amongst ourselves about 'lower level' shooters but we're really not talking about you." When the folks at this range speak of my favorite range, it's tinged with condescension even though I get the impression that they've never been to it.

So, yeah, the moral of my story is to pick your club wisely before laying too many judgments.

[swatcop]

Based on the way you started the thread, I would say you answered your own question. If you like it do it. If you don't then don't.

[Merlin Orr]

If it feels good, Do it.

Fun is where you find it. I will shoot about any shooting sport as long as it is fun. And safe.

[Round_Gun_Shooter]

If it feels good, Do it.

Fun is where you find it. I will shoot about any shooting sport as long as it is fun. And safe.

Pretty much how I feel. I started in IDPA in 1999. I gave it up 2 years ago because of people NOT the game. I am back to it this year and will pick and choose where I shoot. If the club is a good friendly club that has a decent match with people that don't treat you like your stupid, I will play. If it is a place where they all figure they know more than you and make it a miserable day, I will not go back.

I don't think it has anything to do with the sport. It is all about the people. Go, have a good time, and play. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

[Bill Nesbitt]

I don't think it has anything to do with the sport. It is all about the people. Go, have a good time, and play. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

I couldn't have said it better.

[jkrispies]

If it feels good, Do it.

Fun is where you find it. I will shoot about any shooting sport as long as it is fun. And safe.

Pretty much how I feel. I started in IDPA in 1999. I gave it up 2 years ago because of people NOT the game. I am back to it this year and will pick and choose where I shoot. If the club is a good friendly club that has a decent match with people that don't treat you like your stupid, I will play. If it is a place where they all figure they know more than you and make it a miserable day, I will not go back.

I don't think it has anything to do with the sport. It is all about the people. Go, have a good time, and play. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

Well put!

[Dillon b]

I will shoot IDPA on occasion but as many have said, its not as fun and enjoyable to me personally. This varies greatly from club to club though as it really just depends on what people put into it, and the attitude of people there. I would say that if you are trying to get more triggertime with your match gun and you shoot open or limited it may not be great on the learning aspect, due to the fact that you cant shoot your match gun. But If you shoot production or singlestack then it can be more beneficial.

[CHARLES D]

Ask the Match Director if you can shoot it using your IPSC gear and just shoot it for fun. Me personally, I don't have a problem with it if someone comes to our club's match and wants to shoot it IPSC style. There are some die hards out there that say NO. But hey, if I got your $$$ and you are having fun and safe who cares. There is no Escalade being won at the end of the match.

[dsmw5142]

If it feels good, Do it.

Fun is where you find it. I will shoot about any shooting sport as long as it is fun. And safe.

There you go...

I like both games... to me it's a baseball-football thing. Both fun sports, but baseball will never be football. If you like one better than the other, play there. Use IDPA for practice with your carry rig like you said.

[motosapiens]

The matches last about 5 hours and only require about 50 rounds. I dislike how the course of fire is prescribed and how shooting and reloading is all stationary. I don't like some of the rules (as discussed here by others ad nauseam), but that will always be the case with any sport. The general atmosphere/attitude though is much less friendly though.

IDPA, like USPSA, is a volunteer sport. I'm a relative newbie (competing about a year), but I can already see how the individuals that are putting on the local events can influence them. Here in god's most favored state of Idaho, match directors are asking for local shooters to submit stage designs. I don't know if that opportunity exists where you are, but if so, maybe there's a chance to think about designing some stages that bump up the round count slightly, and also allow for different options. Because of the cover rules, it's never going to be quite as free as IDPA, and that's ok, but there is still room to build stages that allow for some shooter choice. We had some stages at last week's IDPA match that were a hoot, because the designers wanted to add a little more choice and a few more rounds.

I have to say tho, if I was only shooting 50 rounds, I would probably skip it. I think our idpa matches are usually 100-ish rounds, and while they last 5-6 hours, that includes showing up early to set up, bs a little, shoot, tear down, and then bs a little more. If ranges allowed beer, they would probably be 8 hours once you added in the bench racing after all the guns were put away.

So bottom line, if your local idpa matches aren't as fun as you would like, but you're still on-board with the whole idpa concept of pretending to be a little more 'practical', then you should see if you can get involved and help make your local scene more fun.

[Not-So-Mad Matt]

It sounds like you've made your decision, and there's nothing wrong with preferring your not-so-local USPSA club to your local IDPA club, but some of your reasons confuse me:

The matches last about 5 hours and only require about 50 rounds. I dislike how the course of fire is prescribed and how shooting and reloading is all stationary.

Shooting and reloading is all stationary? Shooting on the move is often required in IDPA, and reloading on the move is perfectly legal, as long as you're behind cover.

If I continue to shoot IDPA, it will likely be with my carry setup (XD9SC with an IWB holster) rather than my 1911.

If your goal is to get better at handling your carry setup under pressure, then competing with it in IDPA makes sense.

Is it worth a total time investment of ~8hrs plus about $20 to hopefully shoot a couple moving targets (even though all shooting and reloading is stationary) versus doing 30min of dry fire at home, then going to the indoor range and putting that $20 toward an extra 100 rounds of 9mm or 550 rounds of .22?

If you're training at all seriously, the amount of shooting you do in competition is dwarfed by the amount of dry-firing you do at home and live-firing you do at the range. The competition lets you know how you're doing and what you need to work on. Then you go practice, fired up to do better on those things next time.

[Merlin Orr]

Shooting and reloading is all stationary? Shooting on the move is often required in IDPA, and reloading on the move is perfectly legal, as long as you're behind cover.

?

[tbarker13]

Why shoot anywhere if you aren't enjoying yourself?
I started in action pistol through IDPA. I've become a safety officer. I've started to design stages. And we have a great, friendly core of shooters in our club. Monthly matches are very well attended.
I've started to become more involved in USPSA.
I like them both - but only because I have fun doing both. If it's not fun, don't do it.

[Seeker]

Why shoot anywhere if you aren't enjoying yourself?
I started in action pistol through IDPA. I've become a safety officer. I've started to design stages. And we have a great, friendly core of shooters in our club. Monthly matches are very well attended.
I've started to become more involved in USPSA.
I like them both - but only because I have fun doing both. If it's not fun, don't do it.

Exactly!

[KentG]

IDPA is what I started in and respect those who like it. I have moved on but if I had the free time I would still shoot it for fun. Like all of us and till I win the powerball you have to decide what your pecking order is for matches. For myself it's 3 gun followed by USPSA and then IDPA.
And IBTL if this threads goes down the tube as it seems to happen mostly. Shooting sports are like ice cream, everyone likes different flavors

[Not-So-Mad Matt]

?

What's your question, Merlin?

[RWF]

we shoot both, and enjoy both. we both love shooting limited minor. but because we do not reload and only shoot 9mm and some 45 we are not competive in uspsa(also we are as young as we use to be), but in idpa we can be competive in major matches.
with that said we still shoot major matches in both and of course have friends in both.

one other thing we do like about IDPA at major matches is if even only 1 person shows up to shoot in that class and division they will be recognized, in uspsa first there has be enough shooters in a division, 10 i think. then you have x number in that skill level. to have shooters recoginzed.

[Rob Tompkins]

All IDPA and USPSA matches reflect the personality of those who design the COFs. I'm the IDPA MD at the local range and design 90%+ of the stages. I also shoot and enjoy USPSA matches in the area. The IDPA matches I put on are 6 stages and have round counts 90+. We normally get 15-20 sometimes 22/23 shooters that we run in two squads in about 2 1/2 to 3 hrs. I build in as many choices as possible within the limits of the rules, try to make shooters trade off between speed and accuracy, long shots or movement, plan reloads to their advantage, etc. Many of our shooters shoot both USPSA and IDPA give me positive feedback on the COF's, as do the new IDPA shooters because they have "conservative, less risky" ways to shoot the stage. The MA and EX have opportunities to puts the limits.

In short, I like the USPSA run and gun flavor and try to bring that to my IDPA matches.

In contrast, I used to shoot an IDPA match where they only set up 4 stages with round counts under 50 with very proscribed COF's. Not a lot fun.

If you don't like the IDPA match, its not because of IDPA but how its executed.

Shoot whichever you enjoy, but please don't condom a whole sport because its not executed well. You may come across a different club that runs a different match.