gringop

Are you guys charging a fee for this match? If it's advertised as an IDPA match and I were to go shoot it and pay a fee and I find out that it's just a bunch of guys that don't know the rules and make up stages on the spot then I would be pissed and complain loud and long. It doesn't matter if it's a sanctioned match or not, if you call it IDPA, then it needs to follow the IDPA rules. It sounds like you are just practicing. If so don't call it IDPA. Call it Slapdash Happy Fun Match. Then you can ignore the rules and Tactical Timmy can't complain. Gringop

Ive been shooting IDPA for 14 years, all with an IWB holster. As long as it's good quality and the holster mouth does not collapse when the gun is withdrawn, IWBs work great. Unfortunatly, it looks like the G36 is a "slimline" model using singlestack mags. I don't think G21 or G30 mags will fit. You are stuck with 19 rounds in IDPA. Gringop

I agree with you completely I do a lot of things on the range that I don't do in town, like run around behind guys shooting guns with my timer held high in the air, for 3 or 4 hours in the heat of the Texas August sun. I find that I last longer, am more alert and make better decisions when I don't have 2 layers of shirt on. That way I shoot better when I do have 2 layers of shirt on. I do the same thing. That why we tell everyone to prep when they are the shooter on deck. Gringop

"not for standards or skill based stages." Can anyone provide anything from the rulebook or from IDPA HQ that supports this statement? It's my understanding that the only time when concealment is NOT required is when the Stage Description indicates that it's NOT. Even when it's 105 degrees outside, why can't the shooter don his concealment garment before LAMR and take it off after UASC. As far as table, or bed starts, you still need to reload from underneath your concealment garment. Gringop

Don't you folks know? "THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!", IL. Gringop

I carry and compete with my G19, Sparks Exec Companion and Bianchi double mag holder. I mainly shoot IDPA with a little Steel Challenge and USPSA thrown in. I have a G17 and a kydex OWB holster and can see a little draw speed improvement with the kydex but I have so many reps with my carry rig that the grip and index change with the 17 means I'm slower with it than I am with the 19. Both guns have Amerliglo Defoor sights and a "-" disconnector. I classified SSP Master with the 19 and carry rig but have failed twice to make ESP master. I may have found my limit on that setup. Gringop

After 13 years I finally made SSP Master with my carry G19 and IWB holster. Might have to try for ESP and move to a G17 and Kydex. Gringop

There is no 24"x24" platform on a Bianchi barricade. From the 2005 rule book. "Bianchi Style Barricade: A barricade wall the dimensions of which are 24” wide by 6' tall. The shooting box is 24” wide and does not necessarily have a back to it." The shooting box can go back to infinity, depending on the size of the bay. That being said, if I see a shooter's foot go outside the line on the SIDES of the shooting box, they get a PE. Get rid of that Platform and build a regular Bianchi barricade. And ask to see your SO's IDPA card and check to see if it has an SO sticker. Gringop

I also vote for Karl at KR Training for good instruction. If your buddy wants a good place to shoot, have him look at the Austin Rifle Club. www.austinrifleclub.org It's not as close to Westlake as Reds but has IDPA and USPSA matches many time a month, multiple ranges from 15 to 200 yards and all applicants must pass a criminal background check and a safe gun handling live fire test. Disclaimer: I teach some of the pistol classes at ARC. Gringop

Thanks for everyone who replied. I have much a better understanding of what to tell my student re. club and sanctioned matches. That being said, I want to mention that ESP and SSP guns do not have to have 10+1 and CDP does not have to have 8+1. I remember those arguments back when I started shooting IDPA with a Kimber Compact and later a full size with crappy old 7 round mags. From the rule book; Should division capacity not be achievable because of lower magazine capacity, load to maximum mechanical capacity of magazine plus one (1) round in the chamber. Competitors must use the same capacity magazines through out the competition (Example: if you start with a 9 round magazine, you must use that capacity magazine throughout the match). Thanks again, Gringop

I had a student ask me about this and I figured I would get some input from others on the forum. Let me say that I think carrying and competing this way is goofy but I hope the student will come to understand this once he starts comparing times. Has anyone see this in matches and is my answer below correct? Thanks, Gringop The student's question. "Someone always carries w/ empty chamber and hence would like to drill the "draw and rack slide" behavior, on each draw, during the match. This seems to run afoul of the rules as I read them, and I'd guess you'd get a procedural on this. Does anyone do this? (i.e. draw w/ an empty chamber consistently and intentionally in matches)" My answer. "I have seen this at club matches and the shooter did not get any penalties. If they were shooting CDP, they would start with 8 rounds in the mag in the gun, and have 7 rounds in their spare mags on their belt. If they were shooting SSP or ESP, they would start with 11 rounds in the mag in the gun and 10 rounds in their spare mags. Since drawing and racking the slide is not giving the shooter a competitive advantage, it would not be cheating as long as they did it the same on every stage. Reminding the SO that you are using 7 round mags (except the first one) should keep him from getting confused and giving you a PE."

At our local IDPA club, I've won the last 3 matches I attended. 6-20-09, won CDP, 3rd overall. 7-18-09, won SSP, 2nd overall 7-26-09, won SSP, 2nd overall. Now I just need to figure out what I'm doing and do it some more. Hmmm, maybe it's time to start shooting sanctioned matches again. Thanks for a the great info and help on this site. Gringop

I'm trying to develop a timeline of practical pistol shooting. I have most of the big dates, Leatherslap, Southwest Pistol League, Columbia Conference, start of USPSA, start of IDPA, etc. I'm trying to find the years when Limited 10, Production and Singlestack begin in USPSA. I am not a USPSA member (yet) and don't have access to the members website. Can anyone give me the info or point me to to it? Thanks, Gringop

I would suggest testing the same ammo combo off a rest at 15 and 20 yards. There are just way to many variables shooting at 100 yards freestyle and watching the bullet impacts in the berm. Get scientific on it! Gringop

A 2000 Honda ST1100. Bungie the shooting bag on the seat and go. Watching for speed traps and the wind in my face wakes me up and keeps me alert. 40 mpg crusing at 80. Gringop