International Defensive Pistol Association - www.idpa.com

Joining IDPA - 1998

I'm not sure where I first learned of IDPA: either the internet or a magazine article probably.  But, the more I read about this activity the more I knew that I wanted to be a part of it.  I sent my money in and got a cap and a membership packet in return.  There I was, a bona fide member of IDPA, with no idea where the nearest range facility was or even how to decipher the Classifier described in the little red rule book.  I read and re-read everything on IDPA's web page.  I began to read other people's ideas and comments on the IDPA mail list.  Gradually, I formed some friendships and began exchanging e-mail with the internet group, slowly but surely gaining some perspective as to what IDPA was really about.  A year passed by and I paid my dues again to IDPA and got a window decal this time.

First Match

I soon discovered that one of the 'guys' I had met on the mail list lived nearby.  Through his encouragement and information, I learned of a range relatively close that held IDPA matches once a month and worked up the nerve to go try my hand at it.  Boy, was I nervous!  I first had to find the range that is located about 140 miles from my home, on the back side of nowhere.  I seriously considered just going and watching, but I'm glad I didn't.  I do not remember how I placed exactly, but I accomplished the two goals that I set for myself beforehand:

1) Don't have any equipment screw-ups or malfunctions,
2) Don't make any stupid mental errors.

Those two goals are still in my mind today when I go to an IDPA match, but they were especially important to me at the time I started.  You see, I didn't really know what to expect, so I couldn't control that aspect of the experience, but I could control myself and my equipment, and I was determined that whatever else happened, no matter how slow I was, I didn't want any problems with me or my gun.  No doubt, I'm sure I had the least expensive pistol that day, and NO prior experience shooting competitively, but I had a BLAST!  Mission accomplished.  A word about Safety Officers - SO's work their tail off making sure someone like me has a safe, enjoyable shoot.  They may be the most under-rated ingredient of a successful match.  Be sure and tell them thanks, because when you are finished they only have about 80 more people to attend to before their day is complete.

I had shot about three matches when the club announced that they were holding a classifier match for new or potential IDPA members.  After finally shooting the classifier I learned a couple of things.  First, my idea of a long shot and IDPA's idea of a long shot were entirely different.  That, and that I didn't have enough magazines.  To this day I still don't like any kind of standards scenario.  Once was enough for me - I prefer fast and close courses of fire (CoF) rather than the rigid structure of standards.  I understand the purpose for the standards, I just don't enjoy them.

As time went by I continued to meet fellow shooters and find other places to shoot.  Each club or group has its own atmosphere and style of running matches, but one common element runs through them all - a sincere effort to maintain a safe environment for the shooters.  The rest is what you make of it.  For some it is a game or sport like golf, to be won with the best score.  For others, it is a place to practice survival tactics in a pretend way to prepare for a real life defensive situation.  Some use the playground of an IDPA match to test new handguns or techniques, a new holster or type of speed loader.  Generally, the rules allow a person to do any of the above, so whatever your angle may be, IDPA has something to offer.

Fast Forward

I continued to gain confidence in myself and my pistol by picking up helpful hints from other shooters and beginning my own practice schedule using scenarios from past matches.  COF listings abound on the internet and I have compiled a short list of some elsewhere on this site.  I discovered a few custom touches that I wanted done to my pistol to make it more user friendly.  I concentrated on drawing from concealment more and worked on those long head shots.  I bought a second pistol in case the first became broken or unusable (supposedly one of the sure signs of a gun nut).  I sent in more dues money.  I became an IDPA Shooter.  Have gun will travel, ha ha.

The Humbling Experience

And then I participated in my state's championship (2000) IDPA match.  I saw my first motorized moving target - for a SPLIT SECOND just before it disappeared FOREVER!  I mingled with shooters several classifications ahead of me and watched what some of them could do.  I saw revolver shooters reloading six-shooters faster than I could swap magazines.  I basically reverted to my original two goals from my first match.  No screw-ups mentally and no equipment malfunctions.  But, hey, the BBQ was excellent!

I would like to clear up a common misconception about these sanctioned Championship matches.  You don't earn your way in.  Even shooters like me can attend.  But, make no mistake, there were some very good shooters at that match and I saw many things that have helped me to improve.  (Note - apparently the Board of Directors of IDPA have come up with some last minute qualification requirements for the next National Match.  If this is your cup of tea, visit IDPA's web site for current information.)

I met some new people, made new friends, and discovered some things that could help me as time went on.  But those movers were a $!)*X*# !!!!!!!  By the time it was all over I knew there were some things I needed to work on.  But, my wife and I had a great weekend away from home and the hotel room had a jacuzzi.  'Nuff said!

Present

Today I shoot in two or three matches a month.  I still try to avoid making mental mistakes and work diligently keeping my handloads and pistol working comfortably with each other.  There are two ways to advance in the classification rankings.  One is to shoot the classifier over and over until the score warrants an upgrade, or to place high enough in a sanctioned match to be automatically booted up a level.  I've done neither and am quite content with the situation.

My confidence level is still higher than my classification.  So be it.  As I stated above, IDPA is a game for some, a pretend life and death situation for others, and/or a technical proving ground for new ideas and equipment for yet others.  For me it is a fun combination of all three.  I enjoy the friendship of the people I've met, I enjoy the instant gratification of all zeroes (sometimes, yeah!), and yes, I anxiously look forward to the posting of scores.

But most importantly, I feel like I've set my mind to the fact that I want NO mental screw-ups and NO equipment malfunctions.  In the chaos of the real world, that may be as much as I'll ever be able to control.  (Of course, now my gun will jam at the NEXT match!)

Future?

As my friend John May has said, IDPA is actually simple.  "You just need to shoot faster and be more accurate".  Simple, he says.
 

Jeff Loveless
A03564 - CDP Marksman