Idpa

[duffdiving]

Do any of you shoot IDPA? I am wanting to give it a try. I have a CW9 I was planning to use. If its my thing, mybe I'll step up to a larger compition gun. Any thoughts?

[jreXD9]

hmmm, I've never seen a compition gun before. Who makes it?

[jmstallard]

What do you mean by "it?" There are all kinds of competition guns.

I *LOVE* the concept of IDPA, but I *HATE* the competition. I went to one competition years ago, but now that I'm in a CC frame of mind, do you think they would have a problem if I competed in the same manner in which I carry?

For example, the typical shooter might have a high-cap "race" gun, OWB holster, fancy mag holders, and tons of doodads, but I'd have my low-cap carry gun (CW9), concealed, zero doodads, and magazines in pockets.

This approach would pretty much guarantee a last place finish for me, and while that wouldn't bother me in the slightest, do you think it would bother the others? Would it come across as a sign of disrespect for their hobby, and a waste of their time to have to sit while I ran the courses?

[Bawanna]

What do you mean by "it?" There are all kinds of competition guns.

I *LOVE* the concept of IDPA, but I *HATE* the competition. I went to one competition years ago, but now that I'm in a CC frame of mind, do you think they would have a problem if I competed in the same manner in which I carry?

For example, the typical shooter might have a high-cap "race" gun, OWB holster, fancy mag holders, and tons of doodads, but I'd have my low-cap carry gun (CW9), concealed, zero doodads, and magazines in pockets.

This approach would pretty much guarantee a last place finish for me, and while that wouldn't bother me in the slightest, do you think it would bother the others? Would it come across as a sign of disrespect for their hobby, and a waste of their time to have to sit while I ran the courses?

Ironically what you want to do is exactly what IDPA originally intended. Real world scenarios, using everyday carry stuff, just like another day at the office. Jeff Cooper tried to keep it pure and that way with mixed success. Compitition I believe got the better of it and the guns and equipment evolved into a much wider spectrum many of which you would never see anywhere in everyday carry. In your shoes I'd sure go and give it a whirl. I think if I'm not mistaken they have different classes now days, for the full race gadget guys and guys more like you and me, blow the pocket lint off your gun before you aim kind of guy. Long as its fun I'd go for it.

[skychief12]

You can shoot IDPA with your "CC" gun. Just be prepared to have lower scores. Most get the competition bug and switch to full size to keep up with the Jones. I'm thinking of doing the same with my CW40. It will be a big temptation to drag out my full size 1911's but I'm going to try to keep my ego in check.

[OldLincoln]

I understood IDPA was a split off another group that went heavy to competition pistols pushing out the DC folks. They specifically do not allow the competition race guns. I attended (guest-didn't shoot) a shoot and that was told to me in an intro. All the folks there used carry type guns and the majority were LEO's (some retired). They have different groups by skill down to guys like me who never will compete but want to learn the moves.

[at_liberty]

I belong to IDPA and shoot with a 1911 Government and also a 9mm, both full sized guns, i.e. 5 inch barrel.

There are classes of hardware with the primary one being .45 ACP only. There is a class for higher capacity double actions and variants (SSP), 9mm minimum, and a class for those not exclusively double action (ESP), 9mm minimum.

The double actions are eligible, if a qualifying caliber, to enter any class, or to compete in their own class. They must meet caliber and ammo power floor requirements for the class. It is basically the 1911s and then the guns popular with police departments...Glocks, Glocks, Glocks...some Springfield XDs..and more recently some S&W M&P are commonly seen in my world.

There are separate revolver classes.

There is obvious effort to include everyone, while trying to suppress the hardware race these things can easily become. In IDPA, what one calls a "race gun" is not included, seen more in IPSC matches. The IPSC rules provide classes, and Kahr would fit in Standard or Production class. The "race" guns are in their own Open class, typically 38 super or 9mm. Refer to IPSC on Wikipedia.

At least in IDPA, because of the escalated cost of ammo and reloading supplies, especially .45 ACP, more shooters are going SSP and ESP with their 9mm pistols. You also see a lot of interest in picking up brass and keeping it instead of offering it to the former owner, who just finished his or her turn. It seems a little edgy in that regard. Who owns what lies on the ground, especially that which is still warm?

Ammo expense is becoming alarming in a real shoot-em-up sport, maybe 4-5 boxes of ammo in a match. It seems virtually everyone reloads or is getting really interested. It only saves money if you have used brass and load enough to pay for the equipment...thousands of rounds over a number of years.