IPSC 1st match

Thanks for all the tips! I too, shoot my first match next weekend. Anxious, nervous, terrified to f**k it all up, and excited all at the same time.
 
Haven't shot IPSC but I'm fresh off my first action shoot (carbine event). My #1 goal was just to keep things 100% safe. Finished at the bottom of the pile, with my score WELL below my actual shooting ability, without warnings/infractions, learned a lot from my mistakes and had a big grin regardless of the score. That's about what I expected and am not disappointed one bit. Remember that shooters in general are a friendly community and will go out of their way to ease you into the fold. Just be safe, take your time, you will have fun and you'll be fine. Here are some of the lessons that I picked up (carbine event)..

1) Make sure your equipment is dialed in right when you take it to the tournament and double-check it in the safety area. [remember no handling of ammo, snapcaps or brass] - I lost a lot of easy points because my gas reg was set on 0, meaning I was shooting 3s doubletaps on bolt-action

2) Inspect your targets - Lost a lot more because I didn't pay attention to my targets and was grouping way too far to the left; could have corrected my point of aim and saved more points

3) Dedicate time to "unusual" shooting situations like one hand, weak hand, positions and transitions; dryfiring will help you a lot - Lost some more because I had noone to show me barricade shooting (can't practice with the action crowd without a holster cert and I'm about to go for my BB)

4) Make sure you're aiming at the A before you squeeze that trigger - I was tempted to fire before I had my target properly in sight during the #3 fiasco, didn't do it but the temptation was there - first time out, all awkward, you really wanna make yourself not look bad, but remember that safety's always #1 in all shooting sports except for MLI ;)

5) Watch your 90's and your trigger finger. That's a lot more important than engaging your targets

You'll give the best impression by just making sure you go through the tournament safely. Good scores come from practice and experience (making mistakes and learning from them).
 
Korunos said:
QFT, did that last match. The COF was shoot 3, reload and shoot 3. I shot 2, and the slide locked back. Thought I had a malfunction, so I started racking the slide but it wasn't budging. Tipped the gun to the left to see the chamber and saw an empty mag staring back at me. I cursed at myself many times after that one.
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Ouch..... I guarantee that you will NEVER make that mistake again!
 
Thanks for all the tips everyone. I did my BB course back in November 2012 so everything I learned is a bit blurry. Due to my work schedule I was unable to compete or even make it out to watch an event until now. I've been studying the rule book, trying to refresh my memory. This was sort of a last minute decision to compete.

I just back from the range today and I feel more relaxed. A member who just completed his BB last week came in and we practiced together. He answered a lot of questions and explained a lot. He brought a timer and we set up stages with IPSC targets. I took my time and I was shooting pretty accurately. It was a lot of fun
 
Korunos said:
QFT, did that last match. The COF was shoot 3, reload and shoot 3. I shot 2, and the slide locked back. Thought I had a malfunction, so I started racking the slide but it wasn't budging. Tipped the gun to the left to see the chamber and saw an empty mag staring back at me. I cursed at myself many times after that one.
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Oh the split bill drill... it was the first stage of that side, how did you not have loaded mags?
 
coreyd said:
Oh the split bill drill... it was the first stage of that side, how did you not have loaded mags?
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I was in the setup crew and shot on the Friday. We shot the other course side 1st and I forgot to load 1 mag when we moved to the other side. Wouldn't you know that would be the one I had to pick when it came time to load and make ready. Should have noticed it was significantly lighter but didn't.
 
Korunos said:
I was in the setup crew and shot on the Friday. We shot the other course side 1st and I forgot to load 1 mag when we moved to the other side. Wouldn't you know that would be the one I had to pick when it came time to load and make ready. Should have noticed it was significantly lighter but didn't.
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this is why even in practice I never put anything on my belt other than a full mag. I was lucky and grabbed a mag, noticed it was light and just dropped it to grab the next one but after that I never put anything other than full mags there
 
Good luck. Have fun and remember to be safe (finger on the frame, muzzle in the berm). I took my Black Badge course a few weeks back and I shot my qualifier (L2, Handgun - OSPL 9) this past Sunday. After shooting my first two stages my nerves were gone and I was really enjoying myself. Good luck.

Remember that speed and accuracy (although important) are not the key to a first successful shoot. Take your time and be safe and you'll pass.
 
To the Op, since I started shooting IPSC matches on a regular basis it has become an addiction. I just want to practice what I did wrong and hit the next match as soon as possible. You will love it.
 
* * * * * U P D A T E * * * * *

I successfully completed my first official match without any mistakes. I finished as "Production Division Top Novice" and also "Production Division 5th Overall" Now that I'm done I know all the things I need to work on and hopefully place higher the next time out. Thank you guys for all the advice. It really helped me a lot
 
TOKNE said:
Thanks for all the tips everyone. I did my BB course back in November 2012 so everything I learned is a bit blurry. Due to my work schedule I was unable to compete or even make it out to watch an event until now. I've been studying the rule book, trying to refresh my memory. This was sort of a last minute decision to compete.

I just back from the range today and I feel more relaxed. A member who just completed his BB last week came in and we practiced together. He answered a lot of questions and explained a lot. He brought a timer and we set up stages with IPSC targets. I took my time and I was shooting pretty accurately. It was a lot of fun
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Congrats.. just have fun
 
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