IDPA: So cool it's frozen solid!

albertacoyotecaller said:
What costs are you referring to?

IDPA for members is relatively cheap compared to other shooting disciplines. Membership is $55 and will be going up and that is about it for the member.

No need for a fancy handgun. Just need a concealable holster, mag holders and at least 3 magazines would be nice.

The average person could get in for less than $100.
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Thanks! I am an IPSC shooter, and was wondering if I could afford both, at that price, it should be a go! Thanks again! Cheers!
 
IDPA = Inclement Drastic Practice Allout

Like the type of IDPA match here as I see it as being very PRACTICAL and WORTHWHILE based on my own experiences over decades of pistol practice outside in Northwestern Ontario Winters.

My last such practices and competitons were for a Level I IPSC Match in February of 2003 when six of the Thunder Bay IPSC League had a Level I Match outside at -20 Celsius in a 30 mph plus windstorm = windchill of about -40 F or so.

Ever had your Colt 1911A1 work in "slow motion" when lightly lubed with Breakfree where the bottle it comes in says that it works OKEH at -40C? At the Thunder Bay shoot I had to wipe all the lubricant off and substitute graphite which worked fine after I shot the first stage of the IPSC Match. Throughout I was the "only one who kept my parka on" still zipped up together with the fact that I was the only competitor whose gear would fit OVER my parka to be worn on the outside of it so that I never had to take it off to complete any of the IPSC stages.

For this IDPA Alberta Match I am wondering what the "starting postions" were..i.e where the coats all buttoned up to make the draws or did the competitors open up their coats prior to the starting beep to make the draws from protection and/or start with pistols in hand given the cold shown?

It was interesting to look at the Alberta IDPA group pictures here and see the cold weather gear ranging from parkas and snowmobile suits. Which outfits were adaptable IF at all to using pockets in the coats as the holster carry?


That said it is interesting to me that none of the Alberta Competitors are wearing their pistol gear outside their parkas or skidoo suits. I realize that the coats and skidoo suits can provide protective cover from cold and snow conditions and in IDPA the draws are from concealment; however thats why full flap holsters were invented eh!
That said there is the possibility in IDPA or IPSC "Outside in the Wintertime" Match Competition to compete in practical experimentation with pistol equipment and pistols worn outside on the competitors clothing, particularly in what can only be described as "Arctic or Ice Station Zebra" conditions.

Am reminded that few pistols are really designed for -20 or -30 or -40 C conditions as are the lubricants used in most firearms. One 19th Century Colt Revolver was made with an enlarged trigger guard; perhaps the best example would be the Finnish Lahti M-40 with both an enlarged trigger guard and/or a special spring loader accelerator for the slide.

"Funny things" happen at -30 C; pistol ammunition is challenged to maintain velocities and its power; minute amounts of lubricant attached to firing pins or interior parts slow down functioning; graphite may be the only lubricant useful at all. Blowing snow or freezing rain attaches itself instantly to cold metal surfaces. Plastic can get brittle..and like metal "shrink tolerances".

IF your dont believe this, try operating your car in such conditions as millions of Canadians are doing this week.

To conclude, one of my most fun shoot in IPSC Match competion was in February 2003 in the Thunder Bay IPSC League when I was able to shoot all the stages without undoing my parka at --40 F windchill and/or taking my gloves off, ones especially chosen for working my Colt 1911A1 at freezing temperatures. My gear as an issue 1942 era full flap holster on a Canadian web belt with six mag pouches to carry a dozen magazines. I finished the match in the middle of the pack; my "best ever" stage was to draw and fire two shots for an Alpha and Charley on a Classic target at a distance of 10 metres in a time of 1.9 secs; starting position was hands clasped and the flap holster flap was down on the button with the pistol fully enclosed from the blowing snow eh!

I would encourage all CGNers to try some outside practices and/or IPSC/IDPA competitions OUTSIDE in the Canadian Wintertime. Add snowshoes for mobility across the winter landscape; try wearing the pistol gear outside on your parka in something practical to use at -20 C or less.

One thing is for sure; you will probably have the range to yourself most of the time while everyone else is "inside" because it is "Too Cold Outside".
 
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sopf,
It was just a practice, not a match so we weren't overly concerned with rules compliance, especially given the conditions.

That said, most shooters were following the regular IDPA concealment rules. Most started jacket open, just like in the summer. No one used a pocket to "holster" their handgun. No one started from low ready. One had the holster on the outside of the snow suit, but that could easily have been made legal with a jacket over that.

Why would you want to carry in a flap holster for an IDPA event? The concealed handgun is protected from the elements and it's probably going to have less mechanical issues due to being warmer. You could shoot strictly by the rules in the winter and have zero problems complying with them.

The only malfunction issues we had were glove-related. IE: FTE due to glove preventing the slide from moving rearward or "this damn glove is too big to fit in the trigger guard". Obviously, mittens don't work worth a ####.
 
Stevo is right on and good for the guys to get out in the cool weather. Heck it was only -27C. They will shoot when it really gets cold I am sure.

We have four .22LR matches scheduled this winter using IDPA rules etc. We plan on having four stages "froze in" and just move the targets around for different scenarios. Shuld be fun and we won't have to worry about chasing brass.

Keep up the good work Stevo et al. The way Greg shoots he might be better off with mitts.:D

Take Care

Bob
 
Roger that Stevo. My "take" on this is essentially that in IDPA terms how about the concept where you are "skidoo bound" in a stage representative of some Arctic sovereignity patrol and/or vacationing at your winter retreat? I do agree that the gloves and mittens thang is an issue. My solution was to wear both a skidoo gloves and inner gloves. On the beep the mitten is flung off to access the inner glove. Also how many reloads or tactical type reloads where the magazine is retained were attempted here.

Congrats on having some winter practices! How about a 2008 postal series in informal IDPA or IPSC practices or matches from AB to ON? It would be fun to trade some ideas.
 
He didn't have any mitts, but I did see a string from the butt of his pistol go up his sleeve and connect to a magazine on the other side. Is that legal? ;)

sopf,
Those kind of scenarios would work great, and you could still fit them inside the regular rules. There's no reason the CoF couldn't specify "jacket zipped/mitts on.

Reloads were not much more difficult for most of the shooters. I was wearing my summer gloves so it wasn't any harder for me. The heavy jacket was slowing things down, but not that much. Will all the parka pockets, it was easier to retain mags, IMO.

Postal matches sound like a fun time.
 
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We are just in the process of getting some knew scoring software up and running, While we are right in the midst of organizing the summer B.C. IDPA Championships we may be able to free up some time to get a Winter Postal Shoot going. Stevo why don't you mention it to Greg and between the three clubs we should be able to set some time to run it.

Take Care

Bob
 
Please Keep Me in the Winter Postal Scoring Loop

As above, please keep me in the Winter 2008 scoring loop. The two local pistol clubs that I belong to havent started IDPA yet; Winter 2008 might be a good time to do so by "keeping it super simple" and Outdoors!
 
sonofpaleface

Send me a PM with your email address and I will put you on my list. We are going to meet on the 16th for our first winter match and we can discuss a Winter Postal Match amongst the fellow here.

Take Care

Bob
 
Postal shoot

We are in for a postal shoot, however it will be centrefire pistol only for us.

No body parts lost but I am glad I am old enough to know better than not to have a nipple ring on a day like that!:eek:

Greg
 
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