First formal IDPA match today

MattLarson · February 17th, 2008, 05:44 PM

This morning I was attacked in the barber's shop, beset while parking my truck, nearly overrun by mob of bad guys, and generally accosted by cardboard and steel.

And I enjoyed every minute of it.

I was at my first formal IDPA match, at the Titusville Rifle and Pistol Club match in Mims, FL. There were around 50 shooters there today, running in 4 squads over 6 stages.

Our squad started the day off with a visit to the barber's shop, where multiple cardboard and steel adversaries wanted to cut more than hair. The shooter began seated in the barber chair, with the gun holstered and concealed. The usual barber's apron was draped over the shooter. Two shirt-clad targets were positioned ~10 feet from the chair. On the start signal, the shooter had to remove the apron, draw and engage both targets from the seated position, then stand and head out the doorway behind the chair, turn right and engage three 8" steel plates. Once the plates were down, the shooter moved down a walkway, engaging threats to the right through a window before engaging a final target strong hand only on the other side of the walkway.

Other notable stages included the "transition" stage, where staggered columns of targets lined both sides of the bay, at increasing intervals. Along the far berm was a steel popper in front of a non-threat target. You had to engage the cardboard targets in tactical priority and order (i.e. near to far, with one shot per until all targets had been shot once, then shooting each again in any order), followed by knocking down the popper to end the stage. I ended up being the only shooter in our squad to go zero down on this stage. Sometimes luck is indistinguishable from skill after all.

The non-threat behind the popper got a couple shooters whose first shot on the popper was a touch off....

This was my first exposure to moving targets triggered by falling steel plates. I really enjoyed those, and got some good hits.

Definitely a lot of fun, and something I will certainly be doing again.

Matt

MattLarson · February 17th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Forgot to mention the gear.

I was shooting what is essentially my everyday carry gear, with the exception of adding an extra magazine pouch and mag, and keeping a mag in my vest pocket to start with.

Pistol was my Sig 226 SCT 9mm, and holster was a Comp-Tac MTAC. Many competitors seemed to favor OWB holsters, but I wanted to shoot with what I carry regularly.

The Sig ran like a sewing machine, going "bang", ejecting and feeding 100%. I really like that pistol.

Matt

Agave · February 17th, 2008, 06:01 PM

I skipped my match today to spend time with family. Ironically I couldn't find any of them.

IDPA is a blast. Glad you enjoyed it.

srfl · February 17th, 2008, 06:07 PM

Sounds great there Matt.....it's been awhile since I've competed, but I've done my share of FTF (read: Simunitions and FATS) training, so I should be the last place guy whenever I do some IDPA shooting...but you never know.

Miggy · February 17th, 2008, 08:03 PM

I can see that Matt is officially addicted after one match.

kazzaerexys · February 17th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Way to go, Matt.

target1911 · February 17th, 2008, 08:29 PM

congrats....

I wish that the range where we shoot IDPA was big enough to set up stages that large. However, we still have a BLAST

miklcolt45 · February 17th, 2008, 10:05 PM

Matt,

I am only about 45 minutes away from Mims, but can't do Sundays.
(Sort of a problem for us pastor types.)

Do they do any Saturday IDPA?
The only other thing I can find is Monday nights which almost never works for me.

MattLarson · February 17th, 2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miklcolt45

Matt,

I am only about 45 minutes away from Mims, but can't do Sundays.
(Sort of a problem for us pastor types.)

Do they do any Saturday IDPA?
The only other thing I can find is Monday nights which almost never works for me.

Hernando and Lakeland shoot on the 3rd Saturday.

There is a club listing on www.idpa.com that lists the days for each club.

Matt

edr9x23super · February 17th, 2008, 10:34 PM

Good for you, Matt! Keep it up, you will be amazed at how quickly your skill and confidence grows. I have told everybody that comes along to give it just 6 months, or 6 matches and see where you are at the end; you will definitely see some kind of improvement, as well as what techniques work and what dont.

Good Luck

February 17th, 2008, 05:44 PM	#1
MattLarson Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,455	First formal IDPA match today This morning I was attacked in the barber's shop, beset while parking my truck, nearly overrun by mob of bad guys, and generally accosted by cardboard and steel. And I enjoyed every minute of it. I was at my first formal IDPA match, at the Titusville Rifle and Pistol Club match in Mims, FL. There were around 50 shooters there today, running in 4 squads over 6 stages. Our squad started the day off with a visit to the barber's shop, where multiple cardboard and steel adversaries wanted to cut more than hair. The shooter began seated in the barber chair, with the gun holstered and concealed. The usual barber's apron was draped over the shooter. Two shirt-clad targets were positioned ~10 feet from the chair. On the start signal, the shooter had to remove the apron, draw and engage both targets from the seated position, then stand and head out the doorway behind the chair, turn right and engage three 8" steel plates. Once the plates were down, the shooter moved down a walkway, engaging threats to the right through a window before engaging a final target strong hand only on the other side of the walkway. Other notable stages included the "transition" stage, where staggered columns of targets lined both sides of the bay, at increasing intervals. Along the far berm was a steel popper in front of a non-threat target. You had to engage the cardboard targets in tactical priority and order (i.e. near to far, with one shot per until all targets had been shot once, then shooting each again in any order), followed by knocking down the popper to end the stage. I ended up being the only shooter in our squad to go zero down on this stage. Sometimes luck is indistinguishable from skill after all. The non-threat behind the popper got a couple shooters whose first shot on the popper was a touch off.... This was my first exposure to moving targets triggered by falling steel plates. I really enjoyed those, and got some good hits. Definitely a lot of fun, and something I will certainly be doing again. Matt __________________ Hope is not a plan.

February 17th, 2008, 05:55 PM	#2
MattLarson Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,455	Forgot to mention the gear. I was shooting what is essentially my everyday carry gear, with the exception of adding an extra magazine pouch and mag, and keeping a mag in my vest pocket to start with. Pistol was my Sig 226 SCT 9mm, and holster was a Comp-Tac MTAC. Many competitors seemed to favor OWB holsters, but I wanted to shoot with what I carry regularly. The Sig ran like a sewing machine, going "bang", ejecting and feeding 100%. I really like that pistol. Matt __________________ Hope is not a plan.

February 17th, 2008, 06:01 PM	#3
Agave Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 642	I skipped my match today to spend time with family. Ironically I couldn't find any of them. IDPA is a blast. Glad you enjoyed it. __________________ The preceding post may contain sarcasm; it's just better that way. However, it is still intended with construction and with the Love of my L-rd Y'shua. "Wherever I go, everyone is a little safer because I am there; anyone in need has a friend." -Capt. Jack Hoban, USMC

February 17th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#4
srfl Senior Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: FL Posts: 6,270	Sounds great there Matt.....it's been awhile since I've competed, but I've done my share of FTF (read: Simunitions and FATS) training, so I should be the last place guy whenever I do some IDPA shooting...but you never know. __________________ USAF: Loving Our Obscene Amenities Since 1947

February 17th, 2008, 08:03 PM	#5
Miggy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami-Dade, FL Posts: 4,380	I can see that Matt is officially addicted after one match. __________________ You have to make the shot when fire is smoking, people are screaming, dogs are barking, kids are crying and sirens are coming. Randy Cain. GunFreeZone.net

February 17th, 2008, 08:19 PM	#6
kazzaerexys Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 919	Way to go, Matt. __________________ “What is a moderate interpretation of [the Constitution]? Halfway between what it says and [...] what you want it to say?” —Justice Antonin Scalia

February 17th, 2008, 08:29 PM	#7
target1911 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ft Worth TX Posts: 185	congrats.... I wish that the range where we shoot IDPA was big enough to set up stages that large. However, we still have a BLAST __________________ David Ride hard and Shoot safe The first rule of gunfighting should be to know when the gunfight starts - being the last one to get the news certainly won't put the odds in your favor.

February 17th, 2008, 10:05 PM	#8
miklcolt45 Distinguished Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida's Space Coast Posts: 1,202	Matt, I am only about 45 minutes away from Mims, but can't do Sundays. (Sort of a problem for us pastor types.) Do they do any Saturday IDPA? The only other thing I can find is Monday nights which almost never works for me. __________________ Mike In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.

February 17th, 2008, 10:34 PM	#10
edr9x23super Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 961	Good for you, Matt! Keep it up, you will be amazed at how quickly your skill and confidence grows. I have told everybody that comes along to give it just 6 months, or 6 matches and see where you are at the end; you will definitely see some kind of improvement, as well as what techniques work and what dont. Good Luck __________________ "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined". - Patrick Henry

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