My first IDPA event...

[DNM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__or98V534g

There's the video from my first stage at my first IDPA event last weekend. I got two procedurals (my only 2 for the day) on this opening run. 1 for cover, and 1 for releasing a mag with one round left in it. IDPA is definately addicting and now I have to figure out a way to get the 3rd Saturday off every month, which I think I may have done. By the way my setup is exactly what I carry (as I plan to keep it that way for now), XD40 Bi-Tone with a DGR and 22# spring, shooting WWB, and holstered in a CTAC. Mag pouch is Uncle Mikes dual pouch. My final score for my first time was 187.42 for 6 stages.

[jnclement]

Wow. We cut our first timers a little more slack. It's all about fun.

[Nerves]

yeah, procedurals on first timers...that's wrong. BTW: that's an awesome score!

[The Knight Of Light]

When they say reload as necassary then alway go to slide lock. Also I never reload on the run unless I have a long area of cover like a wall between me and the next target or group of targets. Always count how many rounds you are going to need for a given series of targets and use that to plan your reloads. That way you know you will run out on this target so you can dump the empty mag and you are not "suprised" at slide lock. You need to practice shooting to slide lock and reloading drills from slide lock in order to be competitve in IDPA. Get around that cover fast! The more time you spend not shooting there is more for time the 2nd place guy to take first place. Good shooting and good luck in future matches!

[Steel1212]

Originally Posted by The Knight Of Light

When they say reload as necassary then alway go to slide lock. Also I never reload on the run unless I have a long area of cover like a wall between me and the next target or group of targets. Always count how many rounds you are going to need for a given series of targets and use that to plan your reloads. That way you know you will run out on this target so you can dump the empty mag and you are not "suprised" at slide lock. You need to practice shooting to slide lock and reloading drills from slide lock in order to be competitve in IDPA. Get around that cover fast! The more time you spend not shooting there is more for time the 2nd place guy to take first place. Good shooting and good luck in future matches!

The hard part is going back and forth from IDPA to USPSA lol. Going from "must leave one in the pipe" reloads in USPSA, to "must shoot to slide lock" reloads for IDPA.

Also procedurals for the first timers......where you beating your RO/SO or something?

[The Knight Of Light]

Originally Posted by Steel1212

The hard part is going back and forth from IDPA to USPSA lol. Going from "must leave one in the pipe" reloads in USPSA, to "must shoot to slide lock" reloads for IDPA.

Also procedurals for the first timers......where you beating your RO/SO or something?

It is hard going back and forth. I get matches here where I have IDPA on Sat and USPSA on Sun. It really throws you off especially when you just want to get to the shooting. You get excited and you tend to forget the things you need to be competitive.

[Steel1212]

Originally Posted by The Knight Of Light

It is hard going back and forth. I get matches here where I have IDPA on Sat and USPSA on Sun. It really throws you off especially when you just want to get to the shooting. You get excited and you tend to forget the things you need to be competitive.

I had one of those a few weeks ago. The IDPA match was on sat and the USPSA match was on sunday. On the USPSA match I went to drop the mag, caught it and put in the new one and put the old one in my pocket. One of the masters I was shooting with yelled, politly, drop the damn mag! lol

[The Knight Of Light]

Originally Posted by Steel1212

I had one of those a few weeks ago. The IDPA match was on sat and the USPSA match was on sunday. On the USPSA match I went to drop the mag, caught it and put in the new one and put the old one in my pocket. One of the masters I was shooting with yelled, politly, drop the damn mag! lol

WOW you and I must shoot at a similar place! One of the guys I shoot with is very outspoken and will scream at you if you make a goofball error like that! He is a little strange but very fun to shoot with!

[DNM]

Thanks for all the tips guys!

Knight, it was your videos and seeing down your hands which has seriously contributed to my new found love for IDPA. Seeing another XD (though Tactical) firing almost like I'm doing it and being as fast, efficient, and accurate as you are gives me a goal. That was my very first stage so by stage 5, I was hustling and on the ball. 2 strong (0), turn around to a further target strong 2 shots (0) and then an 8" steel strong hand only, 6 shots/reload and then finally a hit. That was my worst stage because my buddy was borrowing my other XD and hit it first time. Having never held or fired the gun before until that day. (he got lucky) But besides that "delay", I really got a hold of it. Like I believe I said, I have to work on the steels (in the video, I took 3 on the plate and 2 on the popper), moving targets - drop targets, and shooting from cover. It's just a matter of time because I've found out about some competitions that are held during the week also - like a steel plate competition on wednesday and IDPA practice on Thursdays which I may need to start attending.

As for beating the SO... no where close. I think they gave it to me because before we started shooting my buddy didn't have a belt or glasses so we had to find them and held the group up. I hope it wasn't that... but that's fine by me... it taught me a nice lesson. And I don't want to do that again.

[GaryXD]

Originally Posted by jnclement

Wow. We cut our first timers a little more slack. It's all about fun.

The rules need to be the same for everyone. At the IDPA Nationals this year there were over 200 procedural errors awarded. I would just bet most of those that got them probably said " that's the way I do it at my local club ".