tank69 Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 I plan on doing my qualifier in the next few weeks, any advice? When I practice, I usually do the classifier 2-3 times, my times drop significantly as I am more relaxed. Maybe some deep breathes and mental work prior would help? Any pre-shooting rituals you care to share? Tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusher Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Have fun, relax and track that front sight, GL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Tank The only advice I can give for IDPA is points. Shoot points. Knowing you shoot at Rio and also knowing the talent of the shooters that are there recognize the fact that what looks like a great run may not be. It can not impact yours. Shooting Rio is like shooting a State Championship in most States from a talent level standpoint. Maybe better. Shoot your game and drop in a bunch of points - that will best represent your ability. Come to think of it - adopt that philosophy for IPSC there too. You'll go far. I suspect you'll find that TGO focuses on points at the matches there too - he just gets them really, really fast! JB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precision40 Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 The secret to the classifier isn't to go hell-bent on speed, you have to slow down a little and try to drop as few points as possible on the first 2 stages. Doing so gives you alot of extra time for stage 3. Shooting a Master Classifier isn't that hard to do, you just have to get good hits. No mikes and NO -3's on the first 2 stages are critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Buy Matt Burkett's DVD #5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 All sound advise.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2cats Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Do whatever it takes to make the head shots - because whatever it takes won't be more than the 2.5 seconds they are worth. Most beginning IDPA'ers die on Stage 3, putting shots off paper that they just can't believe. Aiming is important here. I personally believe that a reload with retention on the first string is about a second faster than a tac reload, for me. I haven't thought about the second string too much - I usually do a tac reload for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Try to tank it completely! That way you can hang out in MarksMan until you win a major match... Unlike USPSA, there is no 'rolling' classifier, nor a system to track it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRD Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 Shoot for those points! Don't miss those headshots, whatever you do. The key is stage 3 - I made my biggest single improvement by really understanding what kind of sight picture you need to make those 20yd shots. You really have to shift gears. Close one eye, front sight focus, squeeeeze, repeat. Don't underestimate the shot difficulty on that stage. If you can ace stage 3, and get out of stage 1 and 2 without any real mistakes, you'll be in great shape. - Gabe PS: Relaaaaaxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 9x45 Hope you were kidding...I don't know a single sandbagger that did well in big matches..and who wants to be national novice champ...not me.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COF Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 I usually tell new shooters on stage 3 to put their front sight at the neckline of the target since a lot of folks drop their hits into the -1 and -3 below center. I started doing it and it made a big difference. Of course a good sight picture and trigger press will do the same thing.... Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tank69 Posted February 14, 2005 Author Share Posted February 14, 2005 J1b - Yeah, Rio has some talent and I just sit there "jaw-dropped" thinking "damn, I wish I could shoot like that". BTW, have we met? 9x45 - I try not to sandbag, only when i'm trying to get a 9-ball game. Scooter - Got it and it's worth the cash COF - That is going to help me quite a bit, I usually have 2-4 misses on that last stage. Everyong else - Thanks, there is some GREAT advice here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boom-Boom Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 During your regular dry fire practice (everyone dry fire practices, right?) setup the classifier in your house and "shoot" it just like you would on the range. Use 8" paper plates for targets. Make everything identical (magazine swaps, mental prep, ammo management, etc.) Since the classifier is several short strings of fire that require certain mag capacities, plan what mags to use and where you are going to top off mags. Nothing breaks your concentration or rythm worse than wondering if you have the right number of rounds in your mag. The classifier is also a group of specific shooting techniques. Dry fire practice each technique until it's smooth (not fast, just smooth). If you have a timer and can time your techniques, you can add up all your splits and estimate what your classifier score will be (minus points of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 snip --- Use 8" paper plates for targets. --- snip . Boom Boom has some great ideas but I would suggest that instead of the plates, you dry fire with IDPA targets at the actual distances if you have the room or with miniature targets if you don't. Also, Matt Burkett has some nifty little on line dry fire drills if you want to risk shooting your computer monitor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD45 Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Try to tank it completely! That way you can hang out in MarksMan until you win a major match... Unlike USPSA, there is no 'rolling' classifier, nor a system to track it. There is a tiny bit of truth in the above statement. Some expert class shooters I know can't post a score in a state match that would win sharpshooter class. The same goes for a few master class guys that I know. Their scores usually make 4th in expert class. Take the advice given here. Shoot to your honest ability and then shoot big matches until you get moved up. I believe that grandbagging the classifier will eventually cause you to loath seeing your score in big matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayonaise Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Don't miss the head shots in stage one. Don't spray 'n pray on the El Prez and Vice Prez. Get your hits on stage 3. Points down kill your score. And don't listen to 9x45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runin Ronin Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 I just shot my first qualifier two weekends ago. Stages 1 & 2 were a breeze but, man did I screw up on the 3rd stage. My 3rd stage points were more than my 1st and 2nd combined! Take it slow on the 3rd stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Di Vita Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Points are where it's at. Shoot with the goal of only having 10 points down total (which is lenient, I'm more inclined to say 5 or 6). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted February 15, 2005 Share Posted February 15, 2005 Jake, It is like USPSA in that regard...you can afford a few more points down if you are fast enough...I think I was 18 down and made it with time to spare....10 down on the last three strings.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b Posted February 16, 2005 Share Posted February 16, 2005 I doubt we've ever met. I used to shoot Rio quite a bit - but I live in AR now and don't get out there much. I am a 9 ball freak though (play about 4 times a week) and I love to shoot IPSC so if we do ever meet we'll have some things to do! JB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Mayo, everyone say's that about me! But what I said is still true... However, in all fairness, do your level best at the classifier. You really want to know how you are doing against yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scandog Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Points are where it's at. Shoot with the goal of only having 10 points down total (which is lenient, I'm more inclined to say 5 or 6). Jake, you suck. 5-6 Wish I could do that on stage 1. Although I don't agree with tanking the classifier just to be classed lower at a match, don't practice the classifier just to move up. We have far too many shooters that have practiced and moved up just to find out they can't compete at teh higher level. If you are consistantly winning or placing near the top in your current classification, then it might be time to think about moving up. I would not shoot it more than once or twice a year. If you are parcticing just to move up, you probably are not ready. Practice for the matches and the classifier will come on its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Scan Dog I disagree..I used to shoot parts of the classifier at each practice....especially the barricade stages...good practice...the rest of it is too easy...just shoot it cold a time or two during the yr to be certain you have it down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AT Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 Here's some helpful info as well (scroll dowm about 1/3 of the way): www.ccidpa.org/clastips.html Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronin45230 Posted February 18, 2005 Share Posted February 18, 2005 practice stage 3. 1 and 2 are a cake walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now