I have thought about this for a very long time and have finally decided to speak out about my feelings and issues concerning IPSC as a sport. Several years ago I decided to try and get my IPSC Black Badge. It was something that I just wanted to due because I thought that it would be a terrific experience to add to my shooting resume. However, it wasn't to be. I attended an out of town course of which I had to travel at my own personal expenses including food and lodging while there. I brought with me about 750 rounds of ammo of which I consumed almost 400 rounds. The course was over two days and required that participants meet one week prior to actually taking the course. As you can see, I had to drive to this location twice to take the course. I have to admit that the course was challenging and exciting at the same time. However, at some point, all the participants are required to shoot from either the kneeling, sitting and prone positions. Unfortunately, this is where I ran into a somewhat embarrassing situation. I suffer from arthritis in both of my knees and as a result, It's hard for me to participate in some of these shooting positions. I brought this to the attention of the person conducting the course and I was basically told not to worry about it. If the course instructor had advised me at that point that because of my physical limitations I shouldn’t proceed, I would have accepted his decision and would have withdrawn from the course. Safety was the primary concern which I fully agree with. During the course several people had issues which required that they be taken aside in order to give them personal attention in resolving their problems including safety issues. It was drawn to my attention that I let my finger slip down off the side of the frame of my pistol down towards the trigger area. At no time did my finger actually enter into the trigger guard. By the second day, I felt that I was doing very well with the course. I was waiting to do my turn at a shooting drill when I accidentally dropped my pistol while trying to put it in my Ghost Ultimate holster. God you'd think that I committed the crime of the century when that happened. Anyways, after that, it seemed to me that everything went down hill from there. I felt like a pariah within the group. The climax of the whole weekend reared it's ugly head when, what appeared to those giving the course, that my finger once again dropped down off the slide towards the trigger guard. At this time, I was asked to leave the course. One individual was taken aside for the same thing several times, about six times, for proper instruction. I was instructed twice. Believe me I'm the first person to demand safe procedures at all times when handling any type of firearm. Every time I go through those last few minutes in my head, I'm convinced that it didn't happened and that I was railroaded out of the course do to my health limitations. As I was putting away my stuff in preparation for leaving, one of the other participants, a young fellow, who had watched the whole proceedings, came to me and apologized as he felt I was treated badly and shouldn't have been asked to leave. I thanked him for his kind words. Well there you have my initiation to IPSC. Financially it cost me about $1000 from which my investment resulted in receiving a handshake and a thank you for participating but I wasn't IPSC quality. I asked for and received back my registration form and fee for joining IPSC (membership payment required in order to take the course). However, I never received the money back that we all paid for the instructor. I believe my dismissal from the course was handled in an inappropriate manner. I was embarrassed and humiliated in front of the group. I'm a senior citizen who thought by taking this course that I would learn about the various different aspects of our wonderful hobby and sport, but to no avail.
My IPSC Experience
- Thread starter kidcom
- Start date
Physical limitations are addressed in the rules. In the 3 classes we have held each of the 2 different instructors treated physical impairments respectfully, as have the MDs of every event I have been at. All made allowances for bad knees, etc.
Safety infractions including a Discharge! were dealt with reasonably. DQ's are a regular event at matches, never been to a match without one. Most shooters take their lumps, not all.
IPSC refunded your membership, the instructor shouldn't have to as he did provide the course. IPSC is pretty clear in its rules and pre-course instruction that if you can't follow safety procedures you will fail. If it makes you feel better to say you failed the course because of some bias that's you prerogative. Its possible that you felt like a pariah because you felt embarrassed, or because you took the safety violations both seriously, which of course I'm sure you did, I have been there and just felt horrible. And maybe it was handled poorly, only those in attendance would know. But the intstructor is responsible for you forever once handing you that Badge, and if you can't stay out of the trigger guard and you dropped your gun (a huge infraction, and inexcusable when not even under match pressure or moving) perhaps he didn't feel comfortable setting you loose on every range in North America that recognizes the qualifications.
Consider that he may have saved you much more money and embarrassment had you continued with the sport?
Safety infractions including a Discharge! were dealt with reasonably. DQ's are a regular event at matches, never been to a match without one. Most shooters take their lumps, not all.
IPSC refunded your membership, the instructor shouldn't have to as he did provide the course. IPSC is pretty clear in its rules and pre-course instruction that if you can't follow safety procedures you will fail. If it makes you feel better to say you failed the course because of some bias that's you prerogative. Its possible that you felt like a pariah because you felt embarrassed, or because you took the safety violations both seriously, which of course I'm sure you did, I have been there and just felt horrible. And maybe it was handled poorly, only those in attendance would know. But the intstructor is responsible for you forever once handing you that Badge, and if you can't stay out of the trigger guard and you dropped your gun (a huge infraction, and inexcusable when not even under match pressure or moving) perhaps he didn't feel comfortable setting you loose on every range in North America that recognizes the qualifications.
Consider that he may have saved you much more money and embarrassment had you continued with the sport?
Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Most matches I've been to that have kneeling or prone shooting positions have a "senior friendly" alternative with a time penalty so it shouldn't be an issue in BB.
Dropping your gun is kind of a big deal. It's a DQ every time at any match I've been to whether it's IPSC, IDPA or even club level. Not to be harsh but the BB instructor likely had the right to send you home for that alone.
I would suggest becoming more comfortable with your pistol and holster setup and then giving another try. It sounds like you just had a bad day.
Dropping your gun is kind of a big deal. It's a DQ every time at any match I've been to whether it's IPSC, IDPA or even club level. Not to be harsh but the BB instructor likely had the right to send you home for that alone.
I would suggest becoming more comfortable with your pistol and holster setup and then giving another try. It sounds like you just had a bad day.
As I stated , it was several years ago and I have moved on since. I'm not making any excuses for having dropped my pistol. It just happened. I also think that to a certain extent I was nervous that day. I have put behind any thought of ever trying again for an IPSC BB.
Several years ago, I wanted to become a Formula 1 race car driver.
But due to my physical limitations, (I'm over 6' tall and over 200lbs) Ferarri wasn't willing to modify their cars to fit me and basically told me to get lost.
It hurt.
I cried.
It feels good to get that off my chest though.
I can see why you needed to tell your several year old story.
Its cathartic to just let it all loose, and not keep the pain bottled up inside.
I hope you find a shooting sport that makes you happy.
But due to my physical limitations, (I'm over 6' tall and over 200lbs) Ferarri wasn't willing to modify their cars to fit me and basically told me to get lost.
It hurt.
I cried.
It feels good to get that off my chest though.
I can see why you needed to tell your several year old story.
Its cathartic to just let it all loose, and not keep the pain bottled up inside.
I hope you find a shooting sport that makes you happy.
Midnight Rider
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ......the Vanishing Point .
There are lots of different shooting sports for a person to choose from . If the BB course did not work out ; then there is long range , skeet , trap , etc from which to choose . For that matter , yourself and friends can set up and run your own unofficial handgun course if you want to stay with handgun shooting . At the club that I belong to ; the IPSC equipment is there for all the members to use if they so choose as it is only reserved for IPSC on certain evenings .
ipscgraz
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Having RO'd hundreds and hundreds of competitors through various levels of competition I can honestly say that I have never seen any IPSC official on a witch hunt or take issuing a DQ lightly. Even when I saw muzzle and bore on a reload, while I was standing behind the shooter, I didn't enjoy the call. Some people forget that you are playing with real guns and full power live ammo; none of the match officials or shooters want an accident.
Sorry to hear your frustration but the sport is safe only because of the stringent rules and deterrent penalties.
Sorry to hear your frustration but the sport is safe only because of the stringent rules and deterrent penalties.
VanIsleCam
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
As far as threads go, this one is a solid 2 out of ten.
You say you got over it but then waited for a couple of to post your experience? When did you write that solid block of text? So hard to read without paragraphs. Strikes me that you are just begging for someone to ask who put on the course. Won't be me.
OP you should consider a flame suit. I can't see this going well for you.
You say you got over it but then waited for a couple of to post your experience? When did you write that solid block of text? So hard to read without paragraphs. Strikes me that you are just begging for someone to ask who put on the course. Won't be me.
OP you should consider a flame suit. I can't see this going well for you.
Dropping your gun multiple times at a BB course and having your finger in the trigger guard its no surprise that he sent you home. You need to practice drawing at home dry fire with your gun and holster setup. if it does not work due to your physical limitations then it is what it is and you will need to unfortunately look for another sport to compete in.
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i have seen only one RO on a power tripping witch hunt and it was at the nationals in nova scotia last year... people who shot that match know who it is...
The OP felt like he was discriminated against due to age and physical ability, if I read that correctly.
No need to flame the guy. Maybe what hes saying is true. 3 sides to every story.. as the saying goes.
Maybe the instructor was having a bad day too. Maybe the instructor made a mistake. Maybe the OP made worse mistakes than he perceived them to be.
The guy is obviously bothered by it to write something like this.
He could have been discriminated against. Who are we to say without being there.
I will say, I agree with most guys on here though.. dropping the pistol is a huge deal. I understand it was expensive OP but if you felt this way, you should pull up your socks and take it again with a new instructor. Calm down a bit and try a bit more focus. Sounds like your nerves got the best of you. Try it again before you sling too much mud.
No need to flame the guy. Maybe what hes saying is true. 3 sides to every story.. as the saying goes.
Maybe the instructor was having a bad day too. Maybe the instructor made a mistake. Maybe the OP made worse mistakes than he perceived them to be.
The guy is obviously bothered by it to write something like this.
He could have been discriminated against. Who are we to say without being there.
I will say, I agree with most guys on here though.. dropping the pistol is a huge deal. I understand it was expensive OP but if you felt this way, you should pull up your socks and take it again with a new instructor. Calm down a bit and try a bit more focus. Sounds like your nerves got the best of you. Try it again before you sling too much mud.
Participation in a shooting sport is not to be taken lightly.
Nor is the training.
You are running around with a loaded firearm performing tasks you will never be asked to do outside of a shooting sport or armed forces/Le.
As a strong participant thats heavily involved in volunteering/RO at club level and greater
I will recommend that you may pickup bullseye as a sport.
Soccer is not for everyone, nor is Ipsc.
One of the largest shooting organizations in Canada has a following for a reason and we have ejected many as well for saftey concerns.
Nor is the training.
You are running around with a loaded firearm performing tasks you will never be asked to do outside of a shooting sport or armed forces/Le.
As a strong participant thats heavily involved in volunteering/RO at club level and greater
I will recommend that you may pickup bullseye as a sport.
Soccer is not for everyone, nor is Ipsc.
One of the largest shooting organizations in Canada has a following for a reason and we have ejected many as well for saftey concerns.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Let me summarize that huge block of text: "blah, blah, blah, I DROPPED MY GUN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HOLSTER IT, blah, blah, blah."
If you are unable to holster a firearm without dropping it you have no business participating in any shooting sport that utilizes a holster. The end. All the rest of your complaints are just smoke and mirrors.
Maybe you need a different holster instead of your "ghost ultimate holster"....maybe you need to practice in front of a mirror without live ammo for a few hours before you show up at a course...I don't know and frankly couldn't give a F*#k. You put everyone's safety in jeopardy and instead of owning that you cry, oh I have arthritis....oh I was made to feel bad...oh I'm a senior.
We don't have ipsc at my range but I'm involved in a weekly action handgun sport and coordinate the 3gun program. With our 3gun matches we don't care if you have an ipsc black badge, carried a handgun for 40 years as part of your job, or are Larry frickin' Vickers...you are deemed capable of using a holster until proven otherwise. You proved otherwise.
As was mentioned previously, an experienced IPSC shooter recently lost his life in an accident involving a dropped handgun. For you to have the attitude you have with respect to your dropping a handgun while trying to holster it tells me more than your mega-paragraph ever could; maybe not the crime of the century unless you happen to shoot me or one of my volunteers. Perhaps you'd like to recount all of those times you drove home drunk and never killed anyone?
Do yourself and your fellow shooters a favour and consider your dismissal from the bb course a blessing! $1000???? FFS, you got off easy and you don't even know it.
Full disclosure, I've never got my bb, I've never shot an ipsc match. I'm not exactly a cheerleader for holster courses in general but threads like this might just change my mind.
If you are unable to holster a firearm without dropping it you have no business participating in any shooting sport that utilizes a holster. The end. All the rest of your complaints are just smoke and mirrors.
Maybe you need a different holster instead of your "ghost ultimate holster"....maybe you need to practice in front of a mirror without live ammo for a few hours before you show up at a course...I don't know and frankly couldn't give a F*#k. You put everyone's safety in jeopardy and instead of owning that you cry, oh I have arthritis....oh I was made to feel bad...oh I'm a senior.
We don't have ipsc at my range but I'm involved in a weekly action handgun sport and coordinate the 3gun program. With our 3gun matches we don't care if you have an ipsc black badge, carried a handgun for 40 years as part of your job, or are Larry frickin' Vickers...you are deemed capable of using a holster until proven otherwise. You proved otherwise.
As was mentioned previously, an experienced IPSC shooter recently lost his life in an accident involving a dropped handgun. For you to have the attitude you have with respect to your dropping a handgun while trying to holster it tells me more than your mega-paragraph ever could; maybe not the crime of the century unless you happen to shoot me or one of my volunteers. Perhaps you'd like to recount all of those times you drove home drunk and never killed anyone?
Do yourself and your fellow shooters a favour and consider your dismissal from the bb course a blessing! $1000???? FFS, you got off easy and you don't even know it.
Full disclosure, I've never got my bb, I've never shot an ipsc match. I'm not exactly a cheerleader for holster courses in general but threads like this might just change my mind.
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Some clarity is necessary here. I took a shot at IPSC and obviously it didn't work for me. I sat on my original post for several years as I didn't want reveal where the course was held. I am simply relating my feelings about the course that I took. At least one other individual taking the course with me had the courage to come forward revealing his position on what happened to me. Since then I have moved on sticking with trap & skeet as well as target shooting with my pistols.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
Own your shortcomings. That is the best way to show support for this or any other sport.
