First IDPA

[jdege]

So, I showed up for my first IDPA match, a week ago, bringing along my CZ85.

Actually, it was my first time shooting any kind of outdoor pistol match.

There was some weather coming in, so the group decided to run a certification course.

I scored 200.69, in SSP/UC.  Which puts me towards the low end of the MM group.

I seriously screwed up the first stage I shot (stage 3 of the course).  But looking at the scores of the other people who shot that day, who scored in the same range as I, it seems most of them scored significantly worse on one stage than the others.

I suppose consistency is something all of us will learn given practice.  In any case, it's clear I have plenty of room for improvement.

[Walt-Sherrill]

The Third Stage kicks almost everybody's butt...  That's one that takes some practice.  

200 the first time out, with no prior experience, is nothing to be ashamed of.  (I've seen 400+ scores...)

One of the fellows we've hired to run classes for club members, an IPSC shooter named Larry Brown, shot his first IDPA match with us, shooting a Glock .45 that he had NEVER SHOT before.  First IDPA match, first time with the gun, and he still shot Master with a lot to spare.  

While he doesn't shoot the smallest groups I've ever seen, he has absolutely no wasted motion, no misses, no mental errors, phenomenal technique, etc., etc.

[jdege]

In stage 3, I had very carefully planned out which magazines I would use in each string, which pockets I would carry them in, when I would move them from pocket to belt magazine pouch, etc.

And when I got to the third string, I found I'd ignored all of that, and had lost track of which magazine was which, so I ended up reloading for the last six shots with a magazine that had only four cartridges in it.

[Walt-Sherrill]

You simply get more mags (cheap 10-rounders) and load'em up.  You don't worry about reloading.  Just have enough loaded mags for each stage.  

Remember, you only shoot 30 rounds per stage, so you don't have to have a LOT of mags.   Five or six, loaded up before each stage should be enough.  Keep them by your gun bag and grab what you need for each string.  

I've got enough that I load them up before the match and don't worry about it until the match is over.  (I got a bunch of the cheap Ramline mags year before last -- at $5.99 each, and they've been pretty good.  A couple are starting to fail now, so I've got to decide whether to upgrade with new springs or trash them.)

Those extra mags will save enough wear and tear on your mind to pay for themselves several times over.

[Ron-Ankeny]

Did you have fun? If so, it only gets better. The IDPA classifier is boring compared to scenario based courses. Good luck and welcome to IDPA. If there is a USPSA club in the area you might want to give that a try.

[jdege]

I had enough mags.  I just need to keep better track of them.

I had a fully-loaded mag in my pocket.

Unfortunately, I also had a partially-expended mag in the same pocket.  I had planned to move the loaded mag to my belt, after the first string, and forgot.  So instead of having a loaded mag on my belt and an expended mag in my pocket, I had both in my pocket, and I grabbed the wrong one.

And yes, I had fun.  Which is a shame.  It was their last shoot for the year.  April is looking a long way off.

(There's a group trying to get an indoor league together - it'd be nice if they could manage it.)