My take on IPSC

Melnibonean said:
You all are fortunate. At my club there is a gaggle of uber secret squirrell shooters who so jealously guard their trade secrets that they won't even tell you what caliber they shoot, lest you somehow use it to have an advantage over them. I've even overheard them try and get a new shooter DQed from a match because his shirt wasn't tucked into his pants. (Is there even such a rule?)

Unfortunately, they sour many members from getting into IPSC with their douchebaggery.
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Definitely not the norm. I would still try and join in. May have the wrong impression.

hawkmp9 said:
With the right group of friends I'm sure it could be a blast.
Unfortunately in my area I got the impression it was elitest gun nerds striving for perfection whilst having bottomless wallets.
These guys were great shooters and put time into the sport but.... As a family man time and money are at a premium.
Couldn't relate to the guys during practise and any local competitions weren't much fun competing agains guys that destroy me with their equipment and skill.
What you put in is what you get out but when you don't enjoy it you won't get much out of it.

Great course for learning holster and shooting skills but I'll stick to my back 40 shooting cans and having a carling black label.
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I've been to more ipsc clubs than I can count and again that's not the norm. There is classic division you can shoot in 40. Many do and you don't need a lot of money. I have never seen any ipsc club that only has the "elite" shooters that love to compete to their maximum potential. It's always a mix of guys. There are many who have been shooting for 20+ years and never tried to be top shooters. Just there to enjoy the shooting and company.
 
Don't forget your home club is a very small portion where IPSC takes place. Most of the good people you will meet are at the matches elsewhere in your province etc. So don't let few sour apples spoil it for you.
 
'Gotta keep in mind...
'No matter where you go if there's a group of people gathered, yoo're bound to find a few eh-holes.

Doesn't matter if it's your company softball team, your bridge club or your bowling league... You're never gonna like "everyone".

If you're the type that lets one or two bad experiences with a few people ruin your overall enjoyment of anything, well...
Sucks to be you.
 
Onagoth said:
Im a little surprised this thread has remained so positive this long....im sure its only a matter of time, so...

IBTL
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I thought about that before posting. Hopefully that doesn't happen. It's not a "this discipline is better than that discipline" type of thread.

I am hoping people get the sincerity of my post.
 
667 said:
'Gotta keep in mind...
'No matter where you go if there's a group of people gathered, yoo're bound to find a few eh-holes.

Doesn't matter if it's your company softball team, your bridge club or your bowling league... You're never gonna like "everyone".
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Sage advice.
 
Great post! I started shooting IPSC last year and I'm absolutely loving it. Figured I could at least shoot monthly but it turns out I'm getting to shoot a lot more than I planned. Be careful, it addictive ;-)
 
Melnibonean said:
You all are fortunate. At my club there is a gaggle of uber secret squirrell shooters who so jealously guard their trade secrets that they won't even tell you what caliber they shoot, lest you somehow use it to have an advantage over them. I've even overheard them try and get a new shooter DQed from a match because his shirt wasn't tucked into his pants. (Is there even such a rule?)

Unfortunately, they sour many members from getting into IPSC with their douchebaggery.
Click to expand...

Your post made me smile Melnibonean. I bet a dram of my best Scotch I know which club... but truly, who cares? Like the tree hiding the forest, don't let these few hide the beauty and fun of our sport.

As other have said already, a-holes/d-bags are found everywhere. Like in any other circles, it is for your to choose who you socialize with. There are also many good folks at your club and I sincerely enjoy meeting them at any matches.

If not already done, get your Black Badge and shoot for fun, for your entertainment. Take that opportunity to greatly enhance your shooting skills and meet other great folks.

Just like OP, I love the sport and truly enjoy the good & passionate folks I meet at every match. That may explain why I'm member at 3 clubs!

CBabes, met you a few weeks back at the Valcartier L3. Wanted to congratulate you for the quality contribution on the GF over 30 thread, but didn't want to burst your bubble just prior to issue a "Are you ready?" command...
:)
Cheers,
 
hawkmp9 said:
With the right group of friends I'm sure it could be a blast.
Unfortunately in my area I got the impression it was elitest gun nerds striving for perfection whilst having bottomless wallets.
These guys were great shooters and put time into the sport but.... As a family man time and money are at a premium.
Couldn't relate to the guys during practise and any local competitions weren't much fun competing agains guys that destroy me with their equipment and skill.
What you put in is what you get out but when you don't enjoy it you won't get much out of it.

Great course for learning holster and shooting skills but I'll stick to my back 40 shooting cans and having a carling black label.
Click to expand...

It really bums me out when new people get discouraged and quit because they didn't do as well as they'd hoped. I don't think newbies realize how hard many more experienced shooters have worked to get better.

We all started at the beginning....
 
I'm 70 years young and started shooting when I was 65. I knew very little about shooting and about the same about firearms when I started. I brought some baggage with me as well all of which was born out of ignorance.

I got started in IPSC immediately at Waterford where I was made to feel welcome by the small IPSC club there. Monday-night practice sessions were a regular night out and I shot a few matches in my first season in Canada and then headed to Texas for the winter. With few exceptions, if it involves a gun, I'm on the line every week.

I've done a lot of things in my time and almost all of it at an obsessive rate. I was into advanced bicycling and weight training at an age where many men retire from that level of physical activity. When I was young, I participated in just about every sport there was even though I had a mild handicap physically and was never an accomplished athlete. I know full well what it is to be picked last for the team and what the bench feels like as I spent a lot of time sitting on it.

I can say unequivocally that the shooting sports and firearms in general have been the best thing I have undertaken bar none. I have never seen the level of fellowship and sharing anywhere else that is even comparable. Shooters by and large are very accepting and generous people. I can say this both about here in Ontario and at my winter home in the Lone Star state. My life would be far less happy and satisfying had I not fallen into the hobby one day in Texas.

The people on the outside that are critical are usually clueless. They may see the sports as threatening whereas they are quite the opposite. Our record for safety is quite amazing and the overall discipline and decency seen at every venue is remarkable. Now I'm not speaking just of IPSC because I dabble in many of the other disciplines but the elements and standards are pretty consistent.

I love the fact that we attract father and daughter shooting couples. I'm sometimes overwhelmed by how welcome I feel in the company of some people that are 50 years my junior. I like the fact that we are generally very well behaved and that the sports don't tolerate acting out and a flood of vulgarity at every turn.

I'm an old duffer compared to many but there's hardly a match when I don't shoot on a squad with one or more A shooters. I've never been made to feel old or slow or less competent and I mean never!

Obviously I'm preaching to the choir but y'all know what I mean eh?
 
cbabes said:
I thought about that before posting. Hopefully that doesn't happen. It's not a "this discipline is better than that discipline" type of thread.

I am hoping people get the sincerity of my post.
Click to expand...

Actually, I found it helpful. I'm a new handgun shooter, and I've been wondering what the 'climate' might be like at this type of event. Your post, and the positive responses it's generated have reassured me that it's definitely worth checking out.
 
dustycanuck said:
Actually, I found it helpful. I'm a new handgun shooter, and I've been wondering what the 'climate' might be like at this type of event. Your post, and the positive responses it's generated have reassured me that it's definitely worth checking out.
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That is great to hear! If you are in the GTA I can definitely show you what it's all about. Otherwise I am sure someone in your area would help.
 
hercster said:
I'm 70 years young and started shooting when I was 65. I knew very little about shooting and about the same about firearms when I started. I brought some baggage with me as well all of which was born out of ignorance.

I got started in IPSC immediately at Waterford where I was made to feel welcome by the small IPSC club there. Monday-night practice sessions were a regular night out and I shot a few matches in my first season in Canada and then headed to Texas for the winter. With few exceptions, if it involves a gun, I'm on the line every week.

I've done a lot of things in my time and almost all of it at an obsessive rate. I was into advanced bicycling and weight training at an age where many men retire from that level of physical activity. When I was young, I participated in just about every sport there was even though I had a mild handicap physically and was never an accomplished athlete. I know full well what it is to be picked last for the team and what the bench feels like as I spent a lot of time sitting on it.

I can say unequivocally that the shooting sports and firearms in general have been the best thing I have undertaken bar none. I have never seen the level of fellowship and sharing anywhere else that is even comparable. Shooters by and large are very accepting and generous people. I can say this both about here in Ontario and at my winter home in the Lone Star state. My life would be far less happy and satisfying had I not fallen into the hobby one day in Texas.

The people on the outside that are critical are usually clueless. They may see the sports as threatening whereas they are quite the opposite. Our record for safety is quite amazing and the overall discipline and decency seen at every venue is remarkable. Now I'm not speaking just of IPSC because I dabble in many of the other disciplines but the elements and standards are pretty consistent.

I love the fact that we attract father and daughter shooting couples. I'm sometimes overwhelmed by how welcome I feel in the company of some people that are 50 years my junior. I like the fact that we are generally very well behaved and that the sports don't tolerate acting out and a flood of vulgarity at every turn.

I'm an old duffer compared to many but there's hardly a match when I don't shoot on a squad with one or more A shooters. I've never been made to feel old or slow or less competent and I mean never!

Obviously I'm preaching to the choir but y'all know what I mean eh?
Click to expand...
I am 64 and started shooting with a handgun in IPSC about 10 years ago. It was a S7W 645! I then switched to a Norinco in 45 acp and now I shoot a STI Sparten!

All the shooters here in our club have always been very helpful as well as the shooters who visit for matches! Good fun! Although I cannot right now shoot nearly as much as I would like, working two jobs!
 
cbabes said:
Definitely not the norm. I would still try and join in. May have the wrong impression.
Click to expand...

UR2X3M4ME said:
Your post made me smile Melnibonean. I bet a dram of my best Scotch I know which club... but truly, who cares? Like the tree hiding the forest, don't let these few hide the beauty and fun of our sport.

As other have said already, a-holes/d-bags are found everywhere. Like in any other circles, it is for your to choose who you socialize with. There are also many good folks at your club and I sincerely enjoy meeting them at any matches.

If not already done, get your Black Badge and shoot for fun, for your entertainment. Take that opportunity to greatly enhance your shooting skills and meet other great folks.
Click to expand...

Oh I didn't let them stop me from getting my BB several years ago and from competing in IPSC matches, although I do prefer IDPA and 3 gun more than IPSC. Just shake my head sometimes at people like this. They do realize it's a sport....right? Ironically, one of the best shooters in Canada is a member here and he freely gives advice and pointers to any who ask, and doesn't hesitate to talk reloading recipes with you either. He's a class act and a credit to the sport.

The rest of them are little people who's whole sense of self worth is wrapped up in their rankings. Makes me laugh.
 
hercster said:
I'm 70 years young and started shooting when I was 65. I knew very little about shooting and about the same about firearms when I started. I brought some baggage with me as well all of which was born out of ignorance.

I got started in IPSC immediately at Waterford where I was made to feel welcome by the small IPSC club there. Monday-night practice sessions were a regular night out and I shot a few matches in my first season in Canada and then headed to Texas for the winter. With few exceptions, if it involves a gun, I'm on the line every week.

I've done a lot of things in my time and almost all of it at an obsessive rate. I was into advanced bicycling and weight training at an age where many men retire from that level of physical activity. When I was young, I participated in just about every sport there was even though I had a mild handicap physically and was never an accomplished athlete. I know full well what it is to be picked last for the team and what the bench feels like as I spent a lot of time sitting on it.

I can say unequivocally that the shooting sports and firearms in general have been the best thing I have undertaken bar none. I have never seen the level of fellowship and sharing anywhere else that is even comparable. Shooters by and large are very accepting and generous people. I can say this both about here in Ontario and at my winter home in the Lone Star state. My life would be far less happy and satisfying had I not fallen into the hobby one day in Texas.

The people on the outside that are critical are usually clueless. They may see the sports as threatening whereas they are quite the opposite. Our record for safety is quite amazing and the overall discipline and decency seen at every venue is remarkable. Now I'm not speaking just of IPSC because I dabble in many of the other disciplines but the elements and standards are pretty consistent.

I love the fact that we attract father and daughter shooting couples. I'm sometimes overwhelmed by how welcome I feel in the company of some people that are 50 years my junior. I like the fact that we are generally very well behaved and that the sports don't tolerate acting out and a flood of vulgarity at every turn.

I'm an old duffer compared to many but there's hardly a match when I don't shoot on a squad with one or more A shooters. I've never been made to feel old or slow or less competent and I mean never!

Obviously I'm preaching to the choir but y'all know what I mean eh?
Click to expand...

Just awesome. :cheers: Hope you got in on the 3 gun next month. I'll see you there if you did.
 
I guess id be one of those people who strives for perfection in my shooting and annoys some people :p oh well! trying to optimize and plan every last second of an IPSC stage is one of my favorite parts.

I will happily share any tips and tricks I have found getting to where I am in shooting, because of course very few of those tricks did I make up myself, most were from practicing and chatting with other shooters. My shooting skills definitely took a sharp up swing when I started shooting IPSC and got serious about getting better, which is the biggest benefit from the sport.
 
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