Hey bud! Glad to see you over here. Seems you've gotten a wonderful reception with this thread. People seem to take your write up as a complaint thread about not doing well. Those of us who have had conversations with you for awhile now know different.
I think the big problem as I see it, is that IDPA tries to take itself seriously. IDPA tries to come off as the tactical timmy game that is more realistic. And I think everyone will agree on that. USPSA doesn't try to be "realistic" it is purely a performance and ability game. IDPA is too... but like you said it markets itself differently.
You've been doing steel challenge for awhile now, did a practical competition feel different? By that I mean were you worried at all about the additional complexity with reloads and movement? Did it feel like there was more pressure? I'm headed to my 3rd local club steel match this weekend, and am looking forward to trying USPSA sometime this summer. I'm wondering if there is a higher pressure level that I can get used to performing under. I'm also curious if you changed your practice regimen at all in preparation for the match, or if you kept going with normal practice just to see how the match differs.
-Cory
Its just me, but I'd proffer the primary difference between USPSA and IDPA with the new rules changes is that its more focused to moderate budget/competitors. With the addition of reloads generally anywhere and fault lines the differences are substantially with more focus on forced accuracy and slower game.
I think of it as "amble and shoot" vs. "run and gun."
IDPA is not a conscious entity that "tries" anything. Some people try one thing, some try another.
I find the IDPA Tacticians to be a lot more common on the internet than on the range. Most of us shoot the CoF for the best score, just like USPSA but with a few limitations.
I am pretty sure Bill Wilson is not a "tactical timmy" and while I am not always sure what Joyce Wilson is getting at, I don't think she is either.
It is commonly said that "IDPA is "just a game."" Well, it is a game but it is not just a game. It is a business and its management is going to run it so as to improve revenue. They might be wrong on details, but they are working in their own interest.
Code Name: JET STREAM
you can shoot matches and try to be the fastest
you can shoot matches and try to have the best score (speed plus accuracy)
you can shoot matches and try to be the most accurate
you can shoot matches and just have fun
there is never a bad day at the range, shooting your gun with friends.
if you try to get too much out of it, you'll go home mad and frustrated.
It was some additional complexity for sure. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but the stages weren't too awfully complicated either. I liked the increase thinking under stress that was required to run the stages properly.
The previous week I shot my first steel match with movement which was a good primer. While not as complicated as IDPA stages it got me used to the competitive movement. In training/class for example when we're moving we use the sul position, often because we're bounding over our partner to the next piece of cover. In competition you've got the 180* degree, you'll see where it slowed me down in the match as I had to figure out the best way to keep my pistol pointed downrange but run uprange.
My training has stepped up lately as I'm taking a 5-day CSAT instructor course in a few months. So while I didn't change my training per se I did start doing dry-fire 5 days a week, instead of just random times I thought of it. I've found it has really increased my first round speed, hit percentage and confidence.
I'd love to see some match video, do you post those in your journal?
That's exactly what it is. Their consciousness is the board members/leaders who make the decisions on the sport. On their webpage under About IDPA is "IDPA is the use of practical equipment including full charge service ammunition to solve simulated “real world” self-defense scenarios using practical handguns and holsters that are suitable for self-defense use. The main goal is to test the skill and ability of an individual."
Someone had to write that and it gives an obvious direction of what they're trying to be.
That is what I term Pious Platitudes and a lot of it is not reflected in practice. At least not at a level that impresses a number of readers.
You will find similar stuff in the introduction to IPSC and USPSA, which is roundly ignored at their events.
Code Name: JET STREAM
Indeed. The stage where I was shooting from a simulated horse or shooting zombies while holding a fishing rod in one hand (don't lose your catch!) kind of belay that.
Now some are much more focused in that area obviously or are more purely skills focused, but for most people (aka nonPoPo), real defensive scenario options are limited.
Last edited by Sterling Archer; 06-01-2017 at 04:36 PM.