Roddy556

I am not sure about steel. In Canada the Chief Firearms Officer dictates what targets can be used on a range (stupid I know but that's life in Snow Mexico) so I would have to check.

Well the door to the range is only 30" wide so I don't think we will squeeze a car in! At the outdoor range when it warms up that would be fun though.

Here is one I thought might be a bit hokey or corny. The idea is you're supposed to be on a train car and need to hold onto the rails (overturned table legs, either the front or the back ones) to lean out to shoot down the length of the "train." This forces the shooter to shoot WHO and SHO without mandating it specifically. It also forces the shooter to either do a tactical reload while transitioning between target banks or shoot to slide lock and then come back behind the wall to do an emergency reload. I understand it's a bit of a stretch to have people imagine the entire scenario so I am not sure anyone will like it. This stage unfortunately repeats the two banks of three targets setup but its different than the other stage and will be shot differently.

Here are some of the Standards stages and a basic Scenario stage. I'm very open to criticism if anyone sees any issues. I'm wondering if a three round stage is too short. How do people feel about that? It's more about picking up and loading your gun so I thought it would work. I may make the first target very close and put another one further back. Edit* Stage 5 should be 3-3-3

Here is one of my stage designs. I know it has some undesirable things like a mandatory reload but I was hoping to break the shooter's concentration momentarily. This stage only need two walls for props so it is simple in the respect but it has two target banks, a no shoot, movement, and a bit of thinking. So it's tricky but simple to set up I though. I am a little leary about putting targets uprange of the backstop. The range measures about 6x20 yards and I am just worried someone will get a weird angle and shoot the wall. It would add a lot flexibility in state design though.

Great ideas guys. I really like the idea of combining multiple stages to make another stage. I am going to try to do a zombie/Walking Dead stage that I saw on another site. It involved a submachine gun but I think dry firing an AR will work too. It had no shoots surrounded by targets with headshots only. Means lots of moving and weird angles. Also thinking I can imitate a car jacking with a table and chair and a box of some sort to simulate shooting from a car then getting out and taking cover. This is all indoor so props and space is limited but we will do the best with what we have!

I found the following part a bit confusing: "5.6.1 Failure to do right penalty. A 20 second failure to do right penalty is assessed for gross unsportsmanlike conduct. Non-inclusive examples of this conduct are: Cussing out a SO, throwing a piece of their equipment on the ground, throwing a tantrum for any reason or violating the shooter’s code of conduct. 5.6.2 Note: The FTDR is intended to be used solely as a penalty for acts on the part of the shooter to circumvent or violate the rules and by doing so gain a competitive advantage." Cussing and throwing equipmen't does not gain a shooter a competitive advantage and according to the second paragraph that is the sole time FTDR is to be used so how can it be applied?

They let my girlfriend shoot with a Walther P22. It was the only gun she was comfortable using so it was nice of them. With the new scoring she would have done really well. She wasn't really fast but was only down a few points! Thanks again everyone for all the input. I have a few stage ideas in mind. The only thing I think I could use now is an idea for a simple mover or even just a reactive target that could be used on an indoor range. I saw a turner made out of PVC pipe but it doesn't look like it would last.

It's not an exact simulation of a real life gunfight but as others have said it really puts your shooting skills to the test. It almost reminds me of a "kata" I think they call it in karate where you go through a routine where you have to use a certain set of skills. It's good practice and great fun. Their mantra is they will never be everything to everyone but nothing is so if you can accept that then go shoot.

Thanks for all the input everyone. I am new to this forum but it seemed to be the best place to ask questions about IDPA . For all the reasons you guys mentioned I think having a legitimate, legal IDPA match is the way to go. I wasn't sure, that's why I asked. There may be experienced shooters hoping to get into a club and if they think it's not being taken too seriously it may just turn them off. There is also I believe, and I could be wrong, the option to use unsanctioned equipment and shoot for no score. A match director allowed my girlfriend to shoot like that and it was the only way she was ever going to try any sort of match. I would hate to turn someone away because they had the wrong holster. If they try it and like it they can get better gear for next time. You guys have given me a lot to think about. Oh and why was 6.9.2 put in? What was wrong with moveable threat indicators? That sounds completely true to IDPA principles.

Hey rowdyb you are right I am asking for a lot. I am mostly just fishing for ideas. One thing I remember we did when I used to shoot IDPA is have a stage we would shoot freestyle then shoot again strong hand, then weak hand. A shooter would shoot a few stages one after the other. Or we would shoot the same string multiple times on one stage but with different hands. That allowed for more shooting but got a bit repetitive. The range I will have available is a smaller indoor facility. Being able to reuse props helps speed up stage setup and make the most of what we have. As for challenging/not too confusing I was thinking of things of shooting on the move. Hard to do but easy to understand. I really appreciate the feedback. I have some stage designs I am going to review. I would really like someone to say "Oh wow that was neat!" with a few sheets of plywood and other basic items. Tight no shoots, I like that. I was thinking if you to slice the pie or even just move to shoot around them it would force shooters to be careful but the stage could still flow well.

I mentioned it in the rules sub forum that I am trying to restart a local IDPA club. Many of the old stage designs from a few years ago have outdated designs such as tactical sequence. What have been some of your favorite and least favorite stage designs? I am looking for ideas that are quick to set up, not too confusing for new shooters, but still challenging. Not just entire stages but what elements did you like or were done well. No shoots, props (hoping to include a flashlight stage but with the lights on for safety), etc. What makes a stage less fun? Thanks in advance!

I guess I should add too that I was only curious about "bending" the rules for a local match. There are so many great stage designs that are IDPA legal that staying within the rules is easy. I love IDPA. It has a lot going for it especially where I am in Canada. IPSC requires a two day course to be able to compete and has too much "gaming" for a lot of people's liking. There are not a lot of shooting ranges willing to allow action shooting for a variety of reasons but IDPA allows a fun, busy match to be had in a small space. Stages can be shot and reset quickly so people do more shooting and less standing around. People here say why own a handgun, you can't carry it anyways. IDPA gives people a fun reason to keep shooting handguns. The skills are real life based so that adds an attractive element. Other stage ideas I had were a flashlight stage where the beam must be held on the target while it is being shot, mixing no threat targets with shoot targets that will be encountered while slicing the pie, and having bank robbery elements for a series of scenarios from hostages to stopping a get away car by shooting at a "tire." I just want to make sure everyone has fun and IDPA becomes more popular in my area.

Well a game is a competitive activity but I get what you are saying and that is a valid point. I also missed this rule: "6.9.2 Blind stages are not allowed in IDPA, additionally, moveable non-threat indicators are not allowed." Our old local match director used to hold unsanctioned matches with snap cap stoppages and it was fun and, I felt, realistic. He tried to mix in elements like that as well as an all revolver match with PPC and IDPA elements. But I get that is not what IDPA is all about so I will try not to have much or any of it in a match if we hope to move towards being an official club. Thanks for the reply.

That makes sense rowdyb. And you're right it does complicated things and feels artificial The biggest complaint I hear about IDPA is the rules are too complicated and that does keep people away from the sport. If you had to get rid of one thing to make it simpler tactical sequence would be a good choice. Though one thing I did like was it made stages feel "bigger." Three targets become five engagements. Another question I have for you or anyone else: I am going to be helping get a local unsanctioned match started to get local shooters to try IDPA. How do people feel about bending rules at a match like that to allow a little more leeway for interesting stage designs or to make it simpler for newer shooters? A few examples I was thinking of, and this may be allowed I am not sure, are allowing new shooters to begin in low ready instead of in a holster or to shoot .22's. For stages I thought it would be neat to have a random target not visible to the shooter swapped out with a no shoot target. Also having snap caps placed at random in magazines by other competitors to simulate a stoppage. Now I can understand that someone might say the stage won't be consistent with official matches or shooter to shooter and someone will have an advantage but it would be random and it is just a game. Anyone's thoughts on that? Is that being creative and inclusive or going too far? The idea is just to get people to come out and try it