stringcheese Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) I just ordered a couple pistols for myself and my 61yo partially handicapped father and have looked into the local uspsa club here in Michigan. I wonder if uspsa is for us? Concerns I have: 1: What happens to our brass? While shooting SASS cowboy action we had "brass rats" who delivered our spent brass to us. Which of the three pistol organizations IPSC, IDPA, or USPSA has similar policy, where I can, or someone does recover my brass? 2: My father gets around ok, but there is no way he is able to go from prone to or even kneeling position in his current state. He had spinal surgery and has limited head turning ability. He is a bit over weight and has a bum knee too. So where can we go to have fun and where he will feel comfortable shooting? 3: Shooting sports can be extremely expensive, so where will we have good fun with out breaking the bank? Don't get me wrong, we are both capeable and have proven ourselves as expert marksman. I have wanted to shoot a semi-auto in a race format since the first time I saw a match. But realistically I want the old man to have fun and not be overwhelmed. Any input is appreciated. IDPA, IPSC, or USPSA for us? Edited March 24, 2011 by stringcheese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bofe954 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 If you are in the US you are more likely to shoot USPSA or IDPA than IPSC. The rest of your questions, I'd say depend on the club. Some clubs I shoot at people collect brass some don't. As far as your dad's disabilities, the clubs I shoot USPSA at would find a way to let your dad shoot. IDPA has lower round count courses, could have less movement, so could wind up being easier for your dad or a little cheaper for both of you. I'd just try a few different clubs and see what you think. I think the things you are looking for will be influenced more by the specific club than whether you shoot USPSA or IDPA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iggy42 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 I just ordered a couple pistols for myself and my 61yo partially handicapped father and have looked into the local uspsa club here in Michigan. I wonder if uspsa is for us? Concerns I have: 1: What happens to our brass? While shooting SASS cowboy action we had "brass rats" who delivered our spent brass to us. Which of the three pistol organizations IPSC, IDPA, or USPSA has similar policy, where I can, or someone does recover my brass? 2: My father gets around ok, but there is no way he is able to go from prone to or even kneeling position in his current state. He had spinal surgery and has limited head turning ability. He is a bit over weight and has a bum knee too. So where can we go to have fun and where he will feel comfortable shooting? 3: Shooting sports can be extremely expensive, so where will we have good fun with out breaking the bank? Don't get me wrong, we are both capeable and have proven ourselves as expert marksman. I have wanted to shoot a semi-auto in a race format since the first time I saw a match. But realistically I want the old man to have fun and not be overwhelmed. Any input is appreciated. IDPA, IPSC, or USPSA for us? 1. In my personal experience I have not seen anyone dedicated to collecting brass for others, kind of a you want it you get it policy. That being said I do shoot at one location that to keep the cost of the event down they claim all the brass, but each and every club will be different. Best advice I can give would be to contact your local clubs and go from there. 2. I would imagine that any and all of the shooting sports would do what they can to accommodate your fathers physical limitations. That name of the game is enjoying yourself after all so I would be hard pressed to think that clubs would be unwilling to work with you. 3. I would think you could participate in any of the 3 at relatively lower cost. My first thought would be caliber, after all 9mm is pretty cheap so production division USPSA would be my recommendation. Baring that you could always look into Steel Challenge since they do have a .22LR division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFlowers Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 1) Unless you are at a Major match, you usually can pick up your own brass. Depending on what you are shooting, you may recover a lot of others brass as well. Just be polite and ask before you make off with it. The OPEN Division shooters running 38SC tend to be more serious about brass recovery. 2) Both USPSA and IDPA have some movement involved. But usually at the club level, things can be worked around. We have a shooter locally who limps and can not kneel. So he shoots the stage without kneeling and just takes the penalty. 3) IDPA is likely to be less expensive. The matches tend to be shorter with fewer rounds, so less ammo, fewer magazines, etc. Local matches in USPSA are usually 5 to 7 stages, 125-175 rounds. But I think you will find USPSA to be more fun. Matches shot under IPSC rules are not often held in the US. While USPSA is the governing body for IPSC in the US, the rules have diverged somewhat. Same basic format, just a few differences. The best advice is shoot one or two of each with your local clubs and make your own determination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wideload Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Both USPSA and IDPA will require movement and engagement of targets from different position. At couple of the local USPSA clubs, there are some shooters with significant disabilities that limit their ability to run, kneel or go prone. The club makes accomodations for these shooters to allow them to successfully complete the courses of fire. The rules in the USPSA rulebook also outlines how to manage these circumstances. Best thing to do is go visit some local clubs on match days and see for yourself, what kind of courses they set up and how much movement is involved as well as see what kind of shooters attend the matches. Regarding recovery of brass, at local matches close to me, the culture is that if you want your brass, you need to pick them up but don't slow down the movement of the squad. There is usually time before the match and after the match to pick up brass at the last bay you finish on. The net result is that over time you will come out even or slightly ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JorDanO Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Movement wise in my experience, USPSA will have more distance to cover, but less kneeling and prone (or laying on a bed etc..) than IDPA. Most USPSA and IDPA clubs will work with you if there are any physical handicaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay870 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Definitely attend both an IDPA & USPSA match with your father as spectators.Check out the gear people are running, observe a few stages and ask questions. Another sport you didn't mention that might work well for you and esp. your father is Steel Challenge. I know one of the downstate clubs runs a Steel Challenge match regularly. Very little movement involved, no awkward positions, and required gear is minimal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too_Slow Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 What part of Michigan? If we know thast we can direct you to a club or two (or maybe three) where you can checkout both USPSA and/or IDPA. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avezorak Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 All your questions have pretty much been answered, but I will agree that Steel Challenge, while not quite as exciting, will be a place where your father can compete on a more equal footing. Speed is the name of the game, and you can gain or lose a lot of time moving between positions. Please dont take this as me discouraging you from trying USPSA or IDPA. Give them all a shot. In the end, it all boils down to having fun. So go be safe and have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redneck1861 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Steel Challange is a good way to go, that is cheap and way less physical. But as the previous person said most places will work with you if you have a disability Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9Tp5_FQYA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringcheese Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 What part of Michigan? If we know thast we can direct you to a club or two (or maybe three) where you can checkout both USPSA and/or IDPA. Brian I am in Waterford and my Father is in Plymouth. I have made contact with John Meior(?) and he got me to the site here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringcheese Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thanks for the quick and informative replies! I will heed your advice and do some club hopping. I purchased 2 CZ85 Combats with trigger jobs from CZ Customs in 9mm. I am not new to shooting sports and have reloaded most of my life. I did my homework on equipment, rules, and stuff. I chose 9mm because it is cheap. And even though a "race" holster may put me into a tougher limited class, I have always wanted one Anyway. The old man has expressed some apprehension when I told him I bought him a new pistol and this is what we are doing... I hope it works out, if not I'll be the only guy on the block with 2 CZ85's that are consecutively numbered i chose the CZ because i wanted a full steel frame pistol that was reliable, fairly accurate, and didn't break the bank I will be attending the class on April 23rd at the Livingston County Club for the 'intro to uspsa' class. And now will be looking into steel challenge shoots, which until now I had never heard of. Can anyone point me in the correct direction for steel challenge matches in south east Michigan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adively Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 According to the Steel Challenge Club Lookup the following clubs are Steel Challenge clubs: Clubs in MI COLOMA ROD & GUN CLUB – SCSA088 Contact Info St Joseph, MI 49085 Home: (269) 408-8331 Email: herbertlyn@comcast.net MICHIGAN STEEL – SCSA061 Contact Info Deearborn, MI 48124 Home: (313) 562-8106 Email: sarah37741@aol.com SOUTH KENT SPORTSMANS CLUB – SCSA082 Contact Info Dorr, MI 49323 Home: (616) 896-0349 Email: dvzdvc@yahoo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too_Slow Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 As for both USPSA and IDPA try the 'Wayne County Raccoon Hunters Club' down in Romulus just north west of the airport. Matches are IDPA third Saturday and USPSA on the fourth Sunday starting in April (April match will be held on Saturday the 23rd due to Easter). And practices are USPSA on Tuesdays and IDPA on Wednesdays. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stringcheese Posted March 25, 2011 Author Share Posted March 25, 2011 Thank you for the help gentlemen! I will see ya'all there! click, click, bang bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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