Shooting My First IDPA

This week I got a chance to finally shoot at an IDPA match and had a blast. IDPA stands for International Defensive Pistol Association.  At matches real world scenarios are set up and you have to use your carry weapon to compete. No fancy tricked out competition guns allowed. Matched are scored based on time with penalties adding to your time. There are matches all over and should be one close to you.

I had been meaning to go to an IDPA shoot for a fairly long time. I wanted the chance to do some shooting besides standing still. I definitely got to move around a lot. This match was hosted at Nashville Armory which I really like.  I made sure I got there early to attend the first time shooter briefing. Like anything involving guns it began with the safety rules. One of the rules stood out to me during the brief. All weapons must be cold until your up and told to make ready. I have a carry permit and so I carried to the shoot.  The safety officer asked if everyone had an unloaded weapon, so I raised my hand to say I didn’t. No harm he said to see him after the brief to unload and that for everyone else to be cold from the car to the range. I would say from what I’ve seen that is standard so make sure when you show up your cold. If you do show up the the range hot before being told to make ready it is an instant disqualification from the match.

I’m still a fairly new shooter. I’ve got pretty damn good at putting shots where I want them but I’ve never done it while moving, trying to keep concealed behind things , or timed. I did not remotely show up to compete anyone besides myself. I saw some amazing shooters out there that have been not just shooting longer than me but shooting IDPA for years. It was awesome watching so many good shooters out there. I got a little carried away  and didn’t make the best shots on all the targets. I tried to go too fast and just point and shoot. Next time I plan on making sure I go much slower, putting my shots exactly where I want them, and not worry about going fast.

I learned a few things about my equipment as well. I didn’t have any issues drawing from my holster, and inside the waist crossbreed, but did have some re holstering it. So I plan to practice some drawing and holstering drills at home. I also plan on getting an outside the waist holster for the range and IDPA. My double mag carrier even performed well so maybe some of my bad words about it can be retracted. Oh speaking of bad words my crappy ass Winchester hearing protection broke on me during the match and I had to borrow some from the range. The guy at the counter was nice and didn’t bother charging me rental fees since mine broke. I will finally be getting a pair of peltors now.

I didn’t win by any means but I also did not do the worst and more importantly I had fun and learned a lot. I even mostly followed the rules. I put my finger in the trigger area once while moving, I realized before I was told but still lost a point. Also on the first stage I wanted to move with my weapon pointed at the ground. To me that’s the safest place but the muzzle must always face down range. Also I somehow overloaded a mag once.

Getting a chance to fire in different situations and move around was great practice. I would so highly suggest IDPA to anyone looking to get some great practice in. For the $25 bucks it costs, which is the price for some ranges anyway, getting to move and practice in different situation is priceless.

Have you shot IDPA? What do you think? Worst mistake you’ve made? Let me know in the comments!