While I've done a few IDPA matches I'm a dyed in the wool IPSC shooter. I know IPSC doesn't require tactics but I want to shoot more than 40 rds per match. Heck, I've shot some 40 rd stages! Would it hurt the training value of the match to shoot more even though a high round count isn't likely in the real world? I do see the IDPA rational but it really does seem to me that as long as a timer is running it's a game. Tactics take time and usually the most tactically sound solution takes the longest. I'm not knocking IDPA at all, just interested in everyone's opinion.
IPSC or IDPA, What do you shoot? Pros and Cons?
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I agree with you 100%. I only shoot IDPA so I can shoot more. IDPA actually helps me at IPSC with accuracy. I also started shooting IDPA because our local IDPA club lost their range and I offered up mine. No sense on hosting IDPA matches if I can’t shoot in them. And I had an excuse to build more guns.
I have tried to make our IDPA matches five stages, one being a surprise stage, and around 75-85 rounds. After we are done with the match, we usually have a side match using rifle, shotgun or back-up guns.
Next month at our IPSC match, I am having a super classifier. Boring and ho-hum stages. So I am going to throw together a 75-80 round field course jungle run. Gonna break all the stupid IPSC rules too. Gonna mix targets, big and little poppers, more than 8/9 rounds required, ect ect ect... But I guess I shouldn’t say that as a SC.
Both are fun, IPSC is more fun though. Timers are involved, the targets don’t shoot back, so they are both a GAME. I have seen some guys think, "Hey, I did well in an IDPA match. Guess I am ready for a gunfight now." Scary, isn’t it?
Tom
AF Shooting Team
I have tried to make our IDPA matches five stages, one being a surprise stage, and around 75-85 rounds. After we are done with the match, we usually have a side match using rifle, shotgun or back-up guns.
Next month at our IPSC match, I am having a super classifier. Boring and ho-hum stages. So I am going to throw together a 75-80 round field course jungle run. Gonna break all the stupid IPSC rules too. Gonna mix targets, big and little poppers, more than 8/9 rounds required, ect ect ect... But I guess I shouldn’t say that as a SC.
Both are fun, IPSC is more fun though. Timers are involved, the targets don’t shoot back, so they are both a GAME. I have seen some guys think, "Hey, I did well in an IDPA match. Guess I am ready for a gunfight now." Scary, isn’t it?
Tom
AF Shooting Team
I find IDPA more challenging. I have shot IPSC, but slowly moved away from it. IDPA has kept my interest from the beginning.
It may be nothing more than the fact that any gun I own can be (and is!) competetive, without a lot of modifications. I like this "practical" side of IDPA.
It may be nothing more than the fact that any gun I own can be (and is!) competetive, without a lot of modifications. I like this "practical" side of IDPA.
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Only shoot IDPA for now. There are five clubs within an hours drive of here. There are no IPSC clubs close by. If there was an IPSC club close, I would be there. I can not say why I like one over the other, because I have not had the opportunity to try them both and make a comparison.
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Here in El Paso the IDPA match guidlines are 50-75 rounds, at the most 100 rounds. We like to shoot too.
It is my belief the ideal behind IDPA is stages that are likely to happen or real life experinces. A high round count is not required or needed to get a "training effect" out of it.
Yes it is a sport, game if you will, but to play you don't need a high round count.
Here in El Paso, I know many IPSC shooters reload. In the IDPA world here only 3 reload. For many if the round count was mostly like IPSC they would not be able to be active each month. Again it is a different type of mentality behind the stage design/setup.
You can always pratice more to get more trigger time. To each their own. Ford or Chevy?
sb
It is my belief the ideal behind IDPA is stages that are likely to happen or real life experinces. A high round count is not required or needed to get a "training effect" out of it.
Yes it is a sport, game if you will, but to play you don't need a high round count.
Here in El Paso, I know many IPSC shooters reload. In the IDPA world here only 3 reload. For many if the round count was mostly like IPSC they would not be able to be active each month. Again it is a different type of mentality behind the stage design/setup.
You can always pratice more to get more trigger time. To each their own. Ford or Chevy?
sb
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197 Posts
back on topic
I shoot IDPA.
Because I like it (duh)
Because when I tried breaking into the IPSC world it seemed like a closed club and most not all the folks I spoke with in person or internet seemed the same. I don't need to be spoke down to at the range that is why I have a wife. The range is for fun. I would like to shoot IPSC for more experince. I think IPSC has a lot to offer in the form of speed and accuracy and fun trigger time. Seems when I was looking into it there was a lot of bashing of the rules and some people. I just want to shoot. Seemed folks were to serious and hung up on their selfs. That was my experince.
There are IDPA folks who preach tactics or gaming. Man.., all I want to do is have fun and so far here in El Paso with the IDPA club it is fun and it is growing. We try and promote fun. If you can not have fun we don't want you. Period! If you can not take ribbing you beter not bugger up.
sb
I shoot IDPA.
Because I like it (duh)
Because when I tried breaking into the IPSC world it seemed like a closed club and most not all the folks I spoke with in person or internet seemed the same. I don't need to be spoke down to at the range that is why I have a wife. The range is for fun. I would like to shoot IPSC for more experince. I think IPSC has a lot to offer in the form of speed and accuracy and fun trigger time. Seems when I was looking into it there was a lot of bashing of the rules and some people. I just want to shoot. Seemed folks were to serious and hung up on their selfs. That was my experince.
There are IDPA folks who preach tactics or gaming. Man.., all I want to do is have fun and so far here in El Paso with the IDPA club it is fun and it is growing. We try and promote fun. If you can not have fun we don't want you. Period! If you can not take ribbing you beter not bugger up.
sb
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548 Posts
The best part of both sports is fun. If it’s wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t do it.
The sad thing is that it only takes a few jerks in either (any) sport to turn people away.
All of the IDPA and IPSC pro's and cons are almost interchangeable.
IDPA, Tactical training.
IPSC, Not tactical.
IDPA, Low round count.
IPSC, High round count.
IDPA, carry gun competitive.
IPSC, carry gun competitive in production class. Not competitive in the other classes.
IDPA, Teaches gun handling skills.
IPSC, Teaches gun handling skills.
IDPA, Bad apples turn people away
IPSC, Bad apples turn people away
IDPA, Fun game.
IPSC, Fun game.
Good shooting to you all.
Tom
AF Shooting Team
The sad thing is that it only takes a few jerks in either (any) sport to turn people away.
All of the IDPA and IPSC pro's and cons are almost interchangeable.
IDPA, Tactical training.
IPSC, Not tactical.
IDPA, Low round count.
IPSC, High round count.
IDPA, carry gun competitive.
IPSC, carry gun competitive in production class. Not competitive in the other classes.
IDPA, Teaches gun handling skills.
IPSC, Teaches gun handling skills.
IDPA, Bad apples turn people away
IPSC, Bad apples turn people away
IDPA, Fun game.
IPSC, Fun game.
Good shooting to you all.
Tom
AF Shooting Team
Thanks for the replies so far. As was previously stated both IPSC and IDPA are fun and challenging. I do love the speed and gamesmanship of IPSC. There's nothing quite like a gun and run field course with a 21 shot limited gun! That said I also shoot "tactical" 3 gun matches and have done a couple of defensive pistol training courses to help prepare for real world defensive carry. Shootingbuff, I hate that you got into that snobish crowd. There are some great folks in the IPSC world that are fun to be around. One sure way to get their respect though... kick a little tail at their next match!
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Yes, I hate it also. As stated not all. If I was any good I would not just be joining eh? So the kicking of tail would have to wait and the years have not been good to me or I should say I have not took care of myself and the mind and spirit is willing, however the body just doesn't comply any more .
BTW that is our best recruiting point here.).
sb
.BTW that is our best recruiting point here.
).sb
When I was MD for a local IDPA club, I was certainly aware of shooters' desire to expend as many rounds as possible. What I often did was to make each stage a series of mini-scenarios. Each one was usually 4-8 rounds, but by linking several of these together (also allows for practicing tac reloads off the clock) each stage could have as many as 18-24 rounds. This also preserved the ideals of IDPA.
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jfrancis - Sounds interesting.
sb
sb
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I like them both.After all I get to do my favorite thing.Shoot !!!!
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I am lucky in that the local IDPA club which I am now match director of has a good rapport with the local IPSC club. Myself and the director for the other club shoot at each other's matches as well as quite a few of the regulars. We realize both organizations have their good and bad points but that is just the way things go. Can't have a perfect world but when you're at a match shooting it's pretty close!
I think there are good and bad to both, just don't let a few jerks ruin it for you. Most of the people out there are ready and willing to help new shooters out and feel the more people out there shooting matches, the better.
IDPA: I think low round count stages that are revolver 6-shot neutral has advantages to the new shooters coming out. They don't have to have 4-6 reloads on their belt and have to try and remember what they are doing on a long field course. They also don't feel as intimidated as at an IPSC match when they see people with their "run and gun" limited and open guns that shoot as many rounds with no reload as theirs do with two or three. It's a good place for people starting out...
IPSC: If you want to have a good time shooting with a lot of rounds downrange this is the way to go IMO. And, to learn how to shoot (not stressing tactics and other self-defense type skills, etc.) is where this sport shines the most as far as learning a life saving skill goes. Last but not least it is just downright fun. It doesn't hurt to just go out and have a good time shooting. Especially since a lot of IPSC clubs shoot at steel quite a bit as compared to IDPA. Let me tell you, shooting steel is FUN!
Bottom line, I don't discriminate. I shoot BOTH!!
I think there are good and bad to both, just don't let a few jerks ruin it for you. Most of the people out there are ready and willing to help new shooters out and feel the more people out there shooting matches, the better.
IDPA: I think low round count stages that are revolver 6-shot neutral has advantages to the new shooters coming out. They don't have to have 4-6 reloads on their belt and have to try and remember what they are doing on a long field course. They also don't feel as intimidated as at an IPSC match when they see people with their "run and gun" limited and open guns that shoot as many rounds with no reload as theirs do with two or three. It's a good place for people starting out...
IPSC: If you want to have a good time shooting with a lot of rounds downrange this is the way to go IMO. And, to learn how to shoot (not stressing tactics and other self-defense type skills, etc.) is where this sport shines the most as far as learning a life saving skill goes. Last but not least it is just downright fun. It doesn't hurt to just go out and have a good time shooting. Especially since a lot of IPSC clubs shoot at steel quite a bit as compared to IDPA. Let me tell you, shooting steel is FUN!
Bottom line, I don't discriminate. I shoot BOTH!!
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