Hi, I've had rifles all my life and am gett8ng back into shooting and starting collecting. I would really like to start IPSC or similar but not sure how to start. I dont even have a handgun yet as I'm on waiting lists to get into a club first. Where should I start?
How to start competitive shooting?
- Thread starter Jthibaud
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1) Buy a handgun
2) Learn how to shoot it fairly well
3) Take a holster-based course, like the required Black Badge course for IPSC, or equivalent for other forms of competitive shooting
4) Go have fun!
That's basically it. Each step can be a category in itself, but those are the key milestones.
Briefly, say you want to compete in IPSC, then the Shadow is a great gun to start with. Or if you're thinking IDPA, then a lighter gun may be what you want. Or 3-gun, maybe you want something else. Or if your eyes are old like mine, I'm thinking of buying a gun with an optic...... Before all that, it is often recommended to buy a .22LR pistol to learn fundamentals without developing a flinching habit. See? Each step is a discussion.
Once you have bought the gun you want for whatever you want to do, now you need to learn how to shoot it. Think of that buzzer going off to start shooting, as a giant brain-fart signal. lol! Shooting under pressure or from strange positions can make you shoot poorly, or even unsafely. So it's good to have a decent set of skills before you move to holster use and competition. I really like Murray Gardner's guideline of being able to put 9/10 rounds on a piece of 8.5"x11" paper at 20 yards, slow fire. Once you can do that, then you can take his Black Badge course.
Now go buy some gear, (belt, holster, etc) for what you want to do. Or better yet, see if you can find a helpful club and/or friends who can let you borrow the gear to try this all out before spending a bunch of money. I did that for a friend recently. So, go make friends! Once you get some gear and pass whatever holster safety course you need for whatever you want to do, then go have fun.
Be sure to check out a variety of clubs near you to see what they offer. Some may offer shooting events that don't need a holster. Try as many of these out as you can. You never know what you may like.
2) Learn how to shoot it fairly well
3) Take a holster-based course, like the required Black Badge course for IPSC, or equivalent for other forms of competitive shooting
4) Go have fun!
That's basically it. Each step can be a category in itself, but those are the key milestones.
Briefly, say you want to compete in IPSC, then the Shadow is a great gun to start with. Or if you're thinking IDPA, then a lighter gun may be what you want. Or 3-gun, maybe you want something else. Or if your eyes are old like mine, I'm thinking of buying a gun with an optic...... Before all that, it is often recommended to buy a .22LR pistol to learn fundamentals without developing a flinching habit. See? Each step is a discussion.
Once you have bought the gun you want for whatever you want to do, now you need to learn how to shoot it. Think of that buzzer going off to start shooting, as a giant brain-fart signal. lol! Shooting under pressure or from strange positions can make you shoot poorly, or even unsafely. So it's good to have a decent set of skills before you move to holster use and competition. I really like Murray Gardner's guideline of being able to put 9/10 rounds on a piece of 8.5"x11" paper at 20 yards, slow fire. Once you can do that, then you can take his Black Badge course.
Now go buy some gear, (belt, holster, etc) for what you want to do. Or better yet, see if you can find a helpful club and/or friends who can let you borrow the gear to try this all out before spending a bunch of money. I did that for a friend recently. So, go make friends!
Once you get some gear and pass whatever holster safety course you need for whatever you want to do, then go have fun. Be sure to check out a variety of clubs near you to see what they offer. Some may offer shooting events that don't need a holster. Try as many of these out as you can. You never know what you may like.
Research what sport you actually want to get into.
Learn the rules, I'd even suggest going to local matches and observing and speaking with competitors and find out what works and what you think you'd like to try. There no point spending money on guns or equipment until you know what sport you want to get into.
You also may want to go to some rental ranges to try out various handguns before buying. I strongly suggest you do this before buying a gun.
Learn the rules, I'd even suggest going to local matches and observing and speaking with competitors and find out what works and what you think you'd like to try. There no point spending money on guns or equipment until you know what sport you want to get into.
You also may want to go to some rental ranges to try out various handguns before buying. I strongly suggest you do this before buying a gun.
mr.fatstacks
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Don't be telling my girlfriend crap like this...
I definitely agree with your point about trying different types of handguns before buying, or you might just end up buying a whole bunch of them, and that's just terrible...
Thanks for the advice. I have a range near me that will let you shoot their guns if you buy the ammo from them and pay a fee. I think thats where I will start.
The club closest to me doesnt have IPSC anymore but they have some other events I'm not familiar with. I suppose I could get proficient there with stationary target shooting and then figure out where I want to go.
The club closest to me doesnt have IPSC anymore but they have some other events I'm not familiar with. I suppose I could get proficient there with stationary target shooting and then figure out where I want to go.
If you live in Ontario you can buy a handgun before you get your club membership. I did so 2 years ago when I got into shooting, and now I have my black badge course coming up in June so I can start practicing with a holster and eventually compete in IPSC. When they fill out the papers for your registration they simply put the name of the club or range you are planning to join, if your on a waiting list already, then that is enough info. Exactly as I did, I had the gun for about 2 months before the club let me in. In the mean time I would go there and pay for ammo and shoot the club handguns, and practice without life firing at home with my pistol.
Having the gun before you get into a club doesn't help with actual live shooting experience obviously, but like me you can practice dry firing, handling the pistol, holster techniques, and speed reloads at home. It can help you be just that much more ready and confident with your pistol for when you actually start shooting at your club/range
Just like me right now I don't have my black badge or any kind of holster certification right now, but I have the gun and holster/belt rig that I am practicing with at home so I am ready for my black badge course.
Other then that start shooting as much as you can as soon as you can, as for me there were some requirements that the black badge course I signed up for required before they would even let you sign up. You have to be able to shoot your pistol to a certain lever of accuracy for a certain distance, and they wanted to hear a decent round count for your experience level. Basically they aren't going to allow you to take a black badge course if you only shot 200 rounds through your pistol and cant hit targets accurately
So start as soon as you can and shoot and practice as much as you can
If your range or any local club/ranges offers any handgun courses, do them....I did a basic hand gun course at mine, I didn't learn a ton but it was still worth it and was fun.
Talk to other competitors when you get a chance, just talking with them at my range really gave me the bug to get into the sport. I had a small chat with someone practicing at my range, he ended letting me shoot his $3000 competition pistol. And I was hooked! Now I have my black badge course booked and bought a competition style pistol myself
Next step for me after the BB course will be attending IPSC practice nights at my range, and getting into reloadng my own ammo
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There ya go OP,all real good information here.If you want to shoot IPSC or IDPA get the rule books and read it through.Find out the kind of guns allowed and then go out and shoot them all.With the you tube video and the online buying these days it has never been better.IPSC guy's and gal's for the most part are a friendly bunch and are easy to talk to and have lots of advice for the new.Good luck and welcome.It is a great sport.
Dave G
Dave G
First; find an event that interests you that is close enough to go and watch. Take eye and ear protection. Hang out, ask questions and if you like it show an interest in it. Chances are you will be helping before the day is out.
They will fill you with all you need to know as to what equipment you need and what training or when and where matches are.
Second; shop for equipment.
They will fill you with all you need to know as to what equipment you need and what training or when and where matches are.
Second; shop for equipment.
I recently started shooting IDPA. As has been said, look into what sport you want to get into. And consider your budget and time constraints. 3 Gun, for example, requires espertise on 3 different platforms, which adds up to a lot of training time and ammo. IDPA basically starts with out of the box guns and a basic set up of belt, holster and magazine carrier. I use the ones that came with my range kit. Also, consider calibers. Some sports give extra points for "big" bullets that have a 4 in their size. However, others like 9mm fine and it's a LOT cheaper. Especially when you need to practise a lot.
Finally, consider what will be fun for you. While 3 Gun or Cowboy Action might have the most excitement involved, is something else enough to satisfy? Or enough to start with? You can always expand your horizons as you start to get the hang of it.
Finally, consider what will be fun for you. While 3 Gun or Cowboy Action might have the most excitement involved, is something else enough to satisfy? Or enough to start with? You can always expand your horizons as you start to get the hang of it.
I was in the same boat as you not even 2 years ago. I watched a bunch of 3 gun videos on YouTube and thought "I wanna do that".
Here's what I did.
Bought a 9 mm striker fired pistol, joined a local range and shot in range level IDPA style competitions (very relaxed, not so competitive). Then took the Blackbadge course at a different range in town and shot a bunch of IPSC matches in the area. Then started acquiring gear for 3 Gun.
TL;DR Step 1: buy a striker fired pistol in 9mm
Here's what I did.
Bought a 9 mm striker fired pistol, joined a local range and shot in range level IDPA style competitions (very relaxed, not so competitive). Then took the Blackbadge course at a different range in town and shot a bunch of IPSC matches in the area. Then started acquiring gear for 3 Gun.
TL;DR Step 1: buy a striker fired pistol in 9mm
Still alive
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First step is definitely buy an appropriate gun. Get the gear ( good holster, mag carriers and a proper gun belt) and find a suitable instructor to coach you on the basics. Things like a proper draw, reload, shooting on the move, trigger control, malfunction drills and hitting what you are aiming at.
Gear between IPSC and IDPA can be interchangeable ( especially if you intend to learn vs. win) initially. You will need more mag carriers for IPSC.
I believe you need to ingrain the 4 rules of firearm safety and be comfortable with your gun before you attempt competition. It makes for a more enjoyable and less nerve racking time for you in your first competition.
When you are under the clock and with strangers watching you, your brain can turn to mush when the buzzer goes. The last thing you want is a DQ before your first shot when you fumble, break 90 or have your finger on the trigger due to nerves and inexperience.
Find an experienced coach and get some proper coaching and trigger time before you try your first competition. It won't be the same but it's as close as you'll get to the real thing.
IDPA is a more gentle introduction to Action Shooting. I would still recommend familiarization with your gear even if you are taking BB.
Just my $0.05.
Gear between IPSC and IDPA can be interchangeable ( especially if you intend to learn vs. win) initially. You will need more mag carriers for IPSC.
I believe you need to ingrain the 4 rules of firearm safety and be comfortable with your gun before you attempt competition. It makes for a more enjoyable and less nerve racking time for you in your first competition.
When you are under the clock and with strangers watching you, your brain can turn to mush when the buzzer goes. The last thing you want is a DQ before your first shot when you fumble, break 90 or have your finger on the trigger due to nerves and inexperience.
Find an experienced coach and get some proper coaching and trigger time before you try your first competition. It won't be the same but it's as close as you'll get to the real thing.
IDPA is a more gentle introduction to Action Shooting. I would still recommend familiarization with your gear even if you are taking BB.
Just my $0.05.
