Missouri Firearms & Guns

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My First IDPA Match

Training

I had the opportunity this past Saturday to attend my first IDPA match at Bear Creek Tactical in Stockton, Missouri.

After reading the IDPA rulebook, the IDPA New Shooters Information Packet, and asking various questions on the Missouri Carry forums, I figured I was well prepared… I couldn’t have been more right!

Using the resources above, along with maybe doing a generic YouTube search on IDPA, you’ll know much more than you need to. I’m the kind of person who fully researches things I’m interested in, so Yes, I did review all the info mentioned above; and it helped greatly.

The only other thing that I would suggest you do before you go to an IDPA shoot, is actually get out and practice against cardboard targets at close range. Most of the targets were within 10 feet and the -0 zone is a 8 inch circle. Don’t practice by just standing still, drawing your firearm and shooting. Instead, pick a point 25 feet away, draw your firearm, move up on a position about 10 feet from your target and then engage. Moving before engaging is more life-like than just shooting a target. And remember; just as in real-life, you’ll want to keep your body behind cover as often as you can while firing; which means watch your feet and make sure you lean out of cover to fire, instead of placing one of your feet in the line-of-fire. Ordinarily this can result in a penalty if you don’t use cover properly, but lucky for us newcomers, Bear Creek Tactical wasn’t too picky in regards to this.

Things Learned:

• People come with all types of firearm brands, Walther, Taurus, Glock, Springfield, and probably several more. I noticed that Springfield and Glock were the most common.
• Practicing magazine changes is essential so that next time I don’t fumble around when my slide locks back!
• Practice shooting while kneeling (stage four made us get down into a kneeling position to identify targets and fire)
• There are all kinds of people at the matches, not just gun-freaks! (information technology guys, tattoo artists, magazine editors, photographers)
• Shooting around cover – don’t lean on your cover, step away from it. Don’t expose your feet; lean instead.
• Eventually you’ll have to learn to shoot with your off-hand only; as well as perform a mag change with your off-hand. Luckily we didn’t have to do this yet.
• If you’re able to in your practice sessions, set up walls and have someone else position targets. Go in blind and get used to slicing the pie. Using a 22 cal can be just as useful in practicing tactical entry methods and it’s cheaper also.

Stage 3 Layout | Stage 4 Layout

YouTube video of participants that were at the shoot