robport

yes, but he could probably use a Raven 25 and beat everyone I know.

I've been shooting an XDM 4.5 9mm for about half a year. I'm much more accurate with my SS 1911 .45, but can't find a doublestack 9mm 1911 to try (without buying one) For people that have used both: Are there any advantages to switching to the 1911 style doublestack 9mm? I don't expect to be carrying it concealed. What are the advantages of the polymer ones? I first thought of a witness match, but since I may have to deal with EAA again (I had a polymer witness), I've ruled that out, which leave the 2011 styles. TIA

I appreciate the help. It's a lot clearer now and I know better what to look for in my next purchase. Thanks

Can someone explain this? I could find no mention of dust covers in SSP rules Then this: 8.2.2.1.7. All firearms legal in SSP are legal for use in ESP. This provision may be used for firearms that violate an ESP rule (for example, a firearm with a steel dust cover or rail over 3.25") to still be used in ESP, provided the firearm meets all SSP requirements. 8.2.2.3 ESP Excluded Features and Modifications (Non-Inclusive list): 8.2.2.3.1. Steel dust covers and rails over 3.25" (as measured from the rear of the slide stop pin to the most forward portion of the dust cover or rail) are not permitted. Is this saying that a dust cover is OK in ESP as long as it's the only thing on the pistol allowed in ESP but not in SSP? Why dust covers in SSP, but not ESP? It might help to understand the logic behind this one. Thanks in advance for your explanation

Interesting update: Almost two months later, I haven't gotten an answer from IDPA headquarters. I asked a few SO's and a match director and they didn't know. If I do get an answer, I still intend to post it.

It definitely wasn't a new one. I usually don't even look, but I went up this time to see where I hit cause I'm trying to improve my shooting on the move. The matches run pretty fast, so by the time I usually get reloaded, we are getting ready to go to the line again. I was thinking...not bad...until I saw that 8 on the scoresheet when they handed it to me after the match. I don't remember anyone calling down 8 on a target. I think that would have caught my attention since I was standing right there that time. It happened to be the first target on a four string course of fire and it was just a club match. It was Vickers, by the way. Since there doesn't appear to be some rule they applied that I don't understand, I'm just going to assume it was a mistake when they wrote it down and forget about it. Thanks for all your replies!

I'm pretty sure, there were six targets and each was scored. There is a separate place on the scoresheet for FTN's, procedurals, no-shoots, etc and they were empty on that stage. I know they were using them too, because I had one no-shoot on another stage (unfortunately, my first grease spot hit). I know I actually hit two -1's in reality. I'm just wondering how they could have come up with -8...lol From the responses, it is starting to look like they couldn't...

I was moving and there was no procedural marked on the form. I'm sorry. This was the wrong place to ask this question. I thought I was in the IDPA forum

Ok, I've been playing around in IDPA for a few months now, mostly trying not to: 1. Shoot myself 2. Shoot anyone else 3. Get disqualified 4. Keep the rounds in the bullet trap or range trap (no floor, ceiling, or wall) I've succeeded pretty well in those limited objectives so far. Today, for the first time, I walked up to see how I did. I'm almost embarrassed to ask this but: On one target, I was supposed to put two rounds on it while moving to it at 15 yards. When I walked up there, I had two rounds in the down one, so I thought it was down 2. I'm not going to question their call. Heck, it's a club match anyway...but I would like to know. It was scored down 8, but with no failure to neutralize penalty, and no procedural? What could I have done wrong? I was hoping to offer to help with scoring, but if I understand that little about it, I'm going to stay on the sidelines for a while longer...

I just left a match about 2 hours ago. We had about 20 new shooters. I don't think anyone was expecting them. Good thing the NC cup is going on a few hours down the road. The regulars weren't here. Otherwise, I don't think they could have fit them in. I don't know what they are going to do next time. I'm not quite ready to count out IDPA yet, at least on the local level. I talked to a USPSA shooter there. They aren't having any matches any time soon...lost their location, so it's not related to the discussion, but I'll try that too when they find a place. They seemed to have fun, like I did...but those poor hostages.... and for those of you that think this isn't real training, I'll show you if I'm somewhere bad things are happening, I'm going to yank back my fishing vest, put on my safety glasses with the bifoculs in the middle of the right lens, pull my full sized pistol and miss anything that looks like cardboard. As long as you paint hands on them, the bad guys don't have a chance! As far as IDPA headquarters goes, you need to leave an email; "Thank you so much for your email to Clarifications@IDPA.com. We value your input. The Rules Clarification team will consider your question/clarification the next time we meet.", hey, they are polite! I'm sure these people have day jobs too, like I do.

I have 20/20 vision during the day, but cataracts and shoot inside. I get visual "artifacts" as the light dims. I'm trying to see what works too. I tried different sights (ATS), but now am trying fiber front and back. I bought some double bifocal (bifocal top and bottom) safety glasses and if I wear them just right, it works great. I think the winner might be clear safety glasses with a stick-on 1.5 reading lens right in the middle of the dominant eye vision. I'm putting it in the middle, so I don't have to remember to raise of lower my head to see the sights. So far, I can see the sights great. We'll see, though how competition goes. At least I can't get much worse.

Crap, now I'm hooked into this discussion too.. So, if they fix the rulebook and make it specific/black and white (which seems to be at the root of the discussion), all will be right with the world?...or is there something deeper? By the way, I'm a little uncomfortable with the word "etc" too.

I'm no expert, from my reading of the rules, that would be fine during the group walkthrough, but not outside that. "Other than the group walkthrough, no individual walkthroughs are permitted. Individual walkthroughs include walking the path of fire or assuming the shooting positions to check cover positions or target engagement, order, etc." ...and there's that wonderful "etc" again in the rules.

Thanks for your response! With the flood of information I could find on the internet about this subject, I took your advice. I asked. The response was; "We value your input. The rules clarification committee will consider your question/clarification the next time we meet." I wonder how often they meet... Anyway, I'll post their answer when I get it. I can't be the only one wondering about such a thing. I'm glad I wasn't the only one confused by that rule.

I can't seem to find anywhere, how IDPA views the Advantage tactical sights. Advantage Tactical appears to think they're legal, especially since several high profile shooters have used them in competition when they came out. I'm trying them out now, due to some low light eye problems I seem to have. They definitely look like they are designed for self defense, so they appear to match the spirit of the rules. I'm having second thoughts about long term use though, after hearing some other recent rulings of different items up to interpretation and the fact that the rules here require a little interpretation. I'm no expert shooter (quite the opposite), but I may want to even graduate up to a sanctioned event some day and would hate to be DQ'ed, especially after slapping down that much cash (entry fees). This is what I found in the rule book: under non-allowed stuff; 8.1.7.4. Sights of non-standard configuration (ghost rings, Bo-Mar ribs, etc.). 8.2.1.3.1. Sights may be changed to another notch and post type but slides may not be machined to accept different style sights in SSP. They appear to be "notch and post", but are they considered a non-standard configuration (like ghost rings and Mo-Mar ribs)?. Is it an "etc"? I could definitely see where they could be, but then there are the speed sights and XS sights, which are also rather non-conventional but also reportedly allowed (at least on their web sights.. Thanks, in advance for your analysis.

I just use one of the standard vests from Bass Pro shop. Around 27-30 bucks or so. It was a lot more comfortable than the 90 buck 5.11.

Maybe it's just location. From what I can tell, I have to drive 3 hours to get to any USPSA match and 10 minutes for local IDPA.

I had/have the same problem. Anyway, I videotaped myself last weekend and sure enough, it was me. it took 10 tries (single round in each magazine) for it to not lock back, but the time it did, when the slide was back (during recoil) it looked like the slide stop contacted the inside of my strong hand thumb. I hadn't felt it, but the time it didn't lock back was the only time that thumb got close. I needed to run the video almost frame by frame to find it. I'm now trying to get used to that thumb being further out on the weak hand. Funny, but it started after I got a 1911 and I had to get used to clicking the safety off.

I'm trying some ATS sights (for IDPA shot indoors). Bought them the day after my eye doctor said I had 20/20 vision, but cataracts. Bright light is fine. As the light level drops, it gets fuzzy and starry. Already had to change the rear color due to it being too bright (artifacts obscuring the front sight). I haven't shot a match with them yet and I'm not quite sure they will work, but we'll see..... I figured it was worth a try anyways.

I'm a new but older IDPA shooter without the 30 years of experience, military or police credentials of those I'm shooting with. I have a lot of fun with it though. Since we shoot IDPA indoors I've had three simple goals so far: 1. Don't shoot myself 2. Don't get DQ'd 3. Put all the bullets in the bullet trap (wall, ceiling and floor shots are seriously frowned upon). I'm at the point where I want to improve past those three goals, so I thought I should say hi before I start with the questions. Hi.