IPSC newbie advice

UncleWalther

UncleWalther

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There's a group that does IPSC style shooting, once a week, at my local gun range. After years of plinking on my own, I decided I'd finally like to get into some sort of action shooting. I took the black badge course about 5 years ago, but never got involved with IPSC after that, until now.

Well, I've been out a few times now, and I suck. I came dead last, by a mile, each night. I am actually a very good shot, on my own, taking my time. But, mixing it up with speed and movement is something I am not used to yet. I am a pretty competitive person. Coming in last is a bit demoralizing.

Anyway, what advice do you vets have for a newbie?

Oh, yeah, I've been shooting with a single stack Wilson Combat 1911.
 
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Try showing up with an ATC Petition in support of them.

Whether or not this petition frees up some of the red tape the Provinces have put on them, at least it is an actual signed petition that Supports Legal Handguns and goes against Toronto/Ontario call for a ban.


If that doesn't help, ask the mouthy-est one this:

"That is an interesting stance, is it because your balls are so small you do it that way?"

Ok, maybe not that extreme....
 
any of the Matt Burkett DVD's will help with movement and other aspects of this shooting sport that help to lower your time on stages,...yet increase your accuracy potential when shooting under pressure in a timed event.
 
UncleWalther said:
There's a group that does IPSC style shooting, once a week, at my local gun range. After years of plinking on my own, I decided I'd finally like to get into some sort of action shooting. I took the black badge course about 5 years ago, but never got involved with IPSC after that, until now.

Well, I've been out a few times now, and I suck. I came dead last, by a mile, each night. I am actually a very good shot, on my own, taking my time. But, mixing it up with speed and movement is something I am not used to yet. I am a pretty competitive person. Coming in last is a bit demoralizing. Another thing I found is that the group is not super-welcoming. I wouldn't go so far as to say they are exclusive, but it's almost like there is a bit of snobbery, and nobody is all that interested in chatting with a newb.

Anyway, what advice do you vets have for a newbie?

Oh, yeah, I've been shooting with a single stack Wilson Combat 1911.
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well, you may not know this,...but some of those guys are probably trying to game a stage,..or concentrating on what plan they have for different stages. Most IPSC folks are very friendly,..and like to joke around and tease each other,..it is a lot of fun,...BUT,..you have to get to know them first,...when you know them well enough you will see that we are a bunch of good folks.
 
UncleWalther said:
There's a group that does IPSC style shooting...snip... I wouldn't go so far as to say they are exclusive, but it's almost like there is a bit of snobbery, and nobody is all that interested in chatting with a newb.

Anyway, what advice do you vets have for a newbie?

Oh, yeah, I've been shooting with a single stack Wilson Combat 1911.
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In the winter, I'm mainly just screwing around on practice nights and find myself naturally wanting to help & coach new shooters. This time of year, with 2 months to go to the nationals, when I hit the range for practice, it's business first. I have a plan and unfortunately, don't have time for some helping and coaching. I'll be back to the helpful advisor in 2 months. It's possible these folks are in the same mode - especially since you're at ground zero for the nationals.

Mo is right about Burkett's vids. - one of the dealers above supporting gunnutz must sell them. They'll give you good places to focus.

We always say - first you get good, then you get fast, so if you're accurate now, it's time to push a bit and go faster until your accuracy falls off, but not to a point that it goes to crap.

A timer is crucial to practice. You won't know if you're getting better if you can't measure it.

Don't practice stages exclusively. Get yourself on a range where you can set up a target or a group of targets and focus on elements. Transitions, Draws, Mag Changes, minor shooting on the move, steel, etc.

Shooting stages at practices is fun, but when mixed in with the other shooters, you won't be able to spend enough time dedicated to any specific element to improve on.

Hope that helps...
Sean.
 
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Have fun its a game. As for coming in dead last well someone has to so thanks for taking one for the team.:)

Just have fun and be safe. Perhaps lower your expectations or enhance your abilities. From your post it is kind of like saying I've been commuting to work everyday for the last 10 years and I am disappointed that I am not so great at Nascar?

The game is time and accuracy, if you want to get better than you need to practice both. Also you are not competing with anyone but yourself. Its your accuracy divided by your time to determine your score. Nobody else's score needs to fit into that equation.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. Looking back on my original post, I see I am coming across as a little bit whiney :rolleyes:. I am going to practice. There were 4 stages, and I actually didn't come dead last in all of them. Just two of them, and then last overall :D. One thing I am actually quite good at is shooting with the weak hand. I am a lefty, but started my shooting career shooting right handed. I switched over to the left, after about a year. Am still pretty good though with the right.
 
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+1 on the "I don't mean to be snotty, but sometimes I'm focused on what I need to do rather than coach new people through the whole process".

I also don't get out to meet new people as much since I started working stats, but at least I stay warmer, drier and get to listen to music while I work. :)
 
IPSC is a game, and games have rules and ways to do things for certain advantages. Understanding the game, where to race, and where to get your hits is fairly important. Also, your Wilson, while a fine firearm in it's own right, is really outclassed in Standard Division where you are competing.
There is a fine group of shooters out of Lethbridge fish and game, you may want to listen to some of their advice.
 
I respectfully disagree with the previous post on your wilson being outclassed. At the highest levels of the sport a tenth of a second may mean losing sponsorship, but where the rest of us play it does not make much of a difference.

In example I watched Cliff Meeks shoot with a stock CZ-75. You would think it was an uzi the way he shoots with it. Out of 100 or so competitors some shooting completely open guns with optical sights and compensators and ,what have you, nobody was matching his time. Its the nut behind the gun that really makes the gun shoot or not.

Here is a video of Todd Jarret with advice on retention holster. The difference for him between a decent competition holster and the cheap retention holster is about a tenth of a second. You need to scroll down a bit to get the right video.

http://myoutdoortv.com/pdk/web/shooting.html?feedPID=roI_0LRpH7qQmkKcVa8X0Vt80ahwO0rX

We all like the best equipment. Myself included. But none of that made much of a difference in my game. What did make a difference was practicing with a timer the different elements of the game. This lifted my game from the bottom to mediocrity.

Your milage may vary

Have fun be safe. Good luck its just a game.
 
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jasonburnsdundee said:
I respectfully disagree with the previous post on your wilson being outclassed. At the highest levels of the sport a tenth of a second may mean losing sponsorship, but where the rest of us play it does not make much of a difference.

In example I watched Cliff Meeks shoot with a stock CZ-75. You would think it was an uzi the way he shoots with it. Out of 100 or so competitors some shooting completely open guns with optical sights and compensators and ,what have you, nobody was matching his time. Its the nut behind the gun that really makes the gun shoot or not.

Have fun be safe.
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I think is a shooter 75% and equipment 25%
Best example is Rob Letham wining with everything
he touches. Now he wins production with XD :)
 
Everyone is telling you to practice.
Why not just shoot I Don`t Practice Anymore if you want some trophies without working for it.

But if you are looking to get better no matter what league you join for pistol the Burkett Series DVD 1-3 (same DVD) and the Steve Anderson Refinement and Repetition book is the best for a beginner from what I have seen. Other than that the other vids and books are kind of a waste. People will be coming to you to shoot this not that or buy this from me or that

Nothing is wrong with what you have to shoot with. Ivan smoked everyone at the beginning of the year in IPSC AB with a single stack 45. Get good with what you got because thats what you wanted to buy. For some reason down the line you bought what you have because thats what you wanted to buy. Keep it. I bought my first pistol because I thought it looked cool. I got into IPSC and shot PD with it because that was the division it fit into.

Get your hits to come first and be smooth with all of your movements. The speed really does come after you gained confidence with your shooting. Not a good thing to push it.

Sounds like your in Alberta, ask some questions with the people you shoot with and ask for advice. Of course if you are at a match you can ask the shooters that are there for advice. Some are excellent resources. You can come and ask me if you want. I'll be the fat guy with a video camera on his head.
 
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