IPSC Advice Needed

[jdavionic]

I just started shooting IPSC matches and am trying to learn the ropes. For accuracy, I think I'm doing okay. We shot 12 targets in 2 different stages. First stage I got 109 pts (out 120) and the second stage was 103 pts. But my times really sucked...upper 20s (seconds, that is).

I'm taking some steps to improve the times...e.g., I've got an extended mag release button on order (stock mag release is cumbersome on my Beretta). I know that I'm fairly quick on my feet and I expect my times to improve as I get more comfortable with the whole matches scenario (focused the first one on not getting DQ'd).

But my overall placement (based on hit factor, which is what counts in this sport) is just not there. Okay, I admit it's only my second match. But I'm also the type that thinks I can walk on a golf course, pick up clubs for the first time, and play a pretty decent game. But shooting is even more frustrating since I've been doing it for a long time.

For IPSC, should I be worried about time? Is that something you guys that are experienced just see your times get better & better on their own? Or is there any practice advice that you can offer? I can kick out double taps at very good rate...but that second shot is almost a crap shoot where it will hit. I hate to just throw accuracy out the window and focus purely on time. So I don't try the double taps in competition due to the accuracy concerns.

Oh well, you can tell I'm a little frustrated. Any advice would certainly be welcome.

Thanks.

[oden131]

start working on your trigger squeeze so you get the max points possible and the draw so you can shave some time there other than that try some different sights and see if they help you acquire the target faster

[ichy_trigger]

Welcome to the sport...

Accuracy should always be #1 but yes, speed plays an important part as well.
"Double taps" dont exist, you need to qucikly aimed shots, not just an aimed shot and a quick jerk of the trigger.

Speed comes with time. Practice shooting by practicing your transitions. Put up 2 paper plates spaced say 2 feet apart and practice shooting each plate but only as fast as you can shoot them accurately. I used to put up small paper plates, say 6 of them and in random form. I would shoot one round at each and i would increase my speed until I started to miss. then i KNEW my speed. Rememeber, smooth is fast.

Speaking of speed...
On low round count stages, your hits are worth more than your time. On long field courses, your speed tends to play a bigger part. You cannot however miss all the targets quickly and win the stage. When I shoot a long course, I dont mind giving up an A zone for a C zone in order to cut time off the stage. I really hate a "Mike" though and you should never accept them.
Alot of times, a new shooter can cut his or her times by just doing little things. Keep the gun up when making trasitions. Dont lower or swing the gun in an arc while transitioning. If you have to go to a port, go ahead and shoot the targets closest to each port. Dont take the long shots if your forced to get closer to them somewhere in the stage.

Find a GOOD shooter, B class or above and watch how they shoot. Ask questions, get resoning for why they shoot a stage a particular way.
Get a book and read about the different drills you can do, watch videos of the pros. You will soon feel that the gun is an extension of you and the nerves will settle down and your times will go up. Master class shooters were not born in a day. They through hundreds of thousands of rounds downrange and they practiced alot. Most folks start in D class but will make C class within their first year. Some will make B class in that same time. No one was a one match wonder

[jdavionic]

The Beretta is a 92F with a 2-dot sight configuration. The front sight is not removable. The rear sight is a half-dot type. I could try replacing the rear sight with a 2-dot adjustable rear sight to get me to a 3-dot sight configuration. But to be honest, when I compete, I don't recall focusing at all on the rear sight??? I pretty much focus exclusively on putting the front sight on target. And while 109 out of 120 isn't great, it was one of the highest points scored in the stage (out of all divisions). And given that it's a 9mm, I'm taking a bit of hit in pts compared to others with higher calibers.

[ichy_trigger]

Originally Posted by jdavionic

The sights on my Beretta 92F are the 2-dot factory sights. The front sight is part of the frame. But I guess I could replace the half-dot rear sight with a 2-dot adjustable sight to get me to a 3-dot sight configuration???

Some people like the dots, my wife being one of them. I think rear dots confuse your brain and tend to force you to try and focus on 3 plains, the target, front sight, rear site.

I took away her rear dots and her times went up pretty fast. the front dot is great to referance the front site by. I really never see my rear site in anything but a blur.

People use all black Bomars for a reason.

[ichy_trigger]

Originally Posted by oden131

start working on your trigger squeeze so you get the max points possible and the draw so you can shave some time there other than that try some different sights and see if they help you acquire the target faster

Your draw will be under 2 seconds, I dont care who you are. Shaving time on the draw will not help you win at the beginning levels. Taking the time to make your first shot count will help. To many shooters whip their gun out in a blurry draw and throw the first shot off target.
Just my opinion.

[jdavionic]

Originally Posted by ichy_trigger

Your draw will be under 2 seconds, I dont care who you are. Shaving time on the draw will not help you win at the beginning levels. Taking the time to make your first shot count will help. To many shooters whip their gun out in a blurry draw and throw the first shot off target.
Just my opinion.

I'm at a bit of a disadvantage on my first shot...or at least I think I am. The ROs were a little confused on how to handle production with a 92F, which has a safety/decocker. The confusion was whether I started with the safety/decocker disengaged or not, and whether I could pull the hammer back for my first shot or whether I had to start with the full DA pull on the first shot. I didn't want to make a big deal of it; so I just agreed to start with the gun safety on, hammer down, and then draw, disengage safety, and do the full DA trigger pull for the first shot.

I've done some trigger work on the gun and the DA is not as bad as factory...but it's certainly not as nice as the following SA trigger pulls. I guess that's something I'll have to overcome until I get another gun or get more comfortable shooting my XDSC in competition.

[leeindy]

if your getting all alphas your not pushing yourself to go faster

[ZXD9]

One thing I found helped on field courses where there is a good distance between targets is to get up and run to the next location. If you have to do this 2-3 times you'll shave some good time off. The good shooters do this and the rest just walk fast. However, don't do this at the risk of poor muzzle control.

The match that I really noticed this at I was running between 4 and 11 seconds behind the leader. On one stage where I made a conscious effort to run, not just walk quickly, I was 1.5 seconds behind the leader. It can made a huge difference.

Safety first.

[ichy_trigger]

You would decock and start with the hammer down. There are no rules that say you cant pull the hammer back for the first shot. Its just not an advantage to draw, cock the hammer and then take a sight picture.
I pretty much made B class in L-10 with a Sig 229. DA is something that can be overcome with practice. My step-son has been shooting that Sig now. I took him to the range, gave him 100 rounds, put a IPSC target at 10 yards and tols him that every shot must be made DA only. I said, "when you can make DA head shots, your ready. By the end of the 100 rounds, he was making thos head shots.