IPSC or IDPA or Both

[kdouthit]

Just getting started and trying to get an idea which I like better. Last week I shot IPSC at our local range, tonight I shot IDPA. While I'm forming my own decisions about which to enjoy better I thought I would get ya'lls opinion.

So what is your pleasure.....................

IPSC..............and why?

IDPA..............and why?

or both...........and why?

I know people can be passionate about your individual preference, but share YOUR reasons, not blast your neighbor.

Thanks in advance

[MoNsTeR]

IPSC.
For me, competitive shooting is about having fun and playing with toys. IDPA isn't really - ah - "friendly" to those priorities ;)

Plus, there are 7 IPSC matches a month in eastern Colorado and only 2 IDPA matches...

[kruger]

Both. If people could just get past the hype and acrimony, they could realize that IDPA and USPSA compliment each other very well.

Mark Kruger

[rhino465]

I do both, but if I vastly prefer USPSA/IPSC to IDPA. In no particular order:

The rules allow me to shoot the way I want to shoot. If I want to pretend to be a tactical tommy, that is my choice, but I'm not forced to do it.

The training for certified Level I Range Officers is light years ahead of the IDPA Safety Officer training.

The 180 degree rule is the universal, unlike the "muzzle safe directions," which can vary significantly between any two IDPA clubs and may not agree with what I think is "safe."

More variety in courses of fire. Targets can be at contact distance or 50 yards or more away.

Longer courses of fire with higher round counts.

If I want to wear kneepads (safety equipment), I don't have to "hide" them under my pants.

If I want to squat (instead of kneel) to get low enough for a low port, I may do so.

For a variety of reasons, USPSA shooting is quite simply more fun and more challenging of actual shooting and gun handling skills.

The scoring system inherently recognizes that different shooters can operate at different speeds. With IDPA's Vicker's system, the hit factor is essentially "fixed" with a half second penalty for each point down. That may be realistic for some shooters, but for others 0.5 seconds is either an eternity or being way too generous.

etc. etc. etc.

When I am actually shooting in an IDPA match, it's okay. There are just so many other things that really suck the fun out of it. The way the new rules were "presented" is a big part of that too. Hopefully IDPA will mature some day and the grossly arbitrary and capricious nature of some of the rules will be replaced by logic, with better writing and communication overall.

[mayberrypd]

Shoot as much as you can. I try to hit USPSA,IDPA, and NRA action pistol atleast once a month. That leaves one Saturday open for cleaning guns and loading ammo.......;a

[Mark L Miller]

I agree with Rhino on his post. I will shoot idpa occasionally & it is ok but uspsa seems to offer more for my interest than idpa. My observation(purely mine, means nothing) is that people that shoot idpa love to talk & like to shoot, people that shoot uspsa love to shoot & like to talk. Going to a match & shooting 75 rds just doesn't compare to a 150-200rd match in my opinion. Having someone tell me how a stage should be shot(idpa) & then penalizing me or calling me a "gamer" if I don't do it their way is not the way I want to spend my shooting money or time. Presenting me with a shooting "problem" & then allowing me the opportunity to "solve" it(uspsa) by shooting what I think is the best way is for me lots more fun & more challenging. I guess I'm not a good follower ;P However, try them for yourself, see what you think is best & have fun with it. Remember though, the other game is still a legitimate one & try to respect & honor those who chose their game over yours. I have to remind myself of that sometimes. One is not superior over the other. MLM

[Patrick Graham]

I shoot them both..

I like IPSC best because it can be a ball busting adrenalin rush with a high round count.

But.. I also enjoy a nice, thought provoking IDPA stage where a guy has to think about what his next move will be.

They both have their merits.... And, above all they are both a lot of fun.

;j

[waktasz]

Both. I would like to shoot more of both if possible, but there's only one USPSA match around here a month and I can shoot IDPA every weekend if I want.

[TractorTed]

Hands down, it's IDPA for me. It's more of a thinking game, and for me, it's more challenging. I started shooting IPSC after shooting IDPA for about 2 yr.s, and I thought that I might like the high round count and the fewer rules better, but it seems that for some of the same reasons some people don't like IDPA over IPSC, I do. It's not just a test of ones ability to shoot fast, one must shoot accurately while moving, from any number of different positions behind cover, etc. It's more about being a well rounded shooter than throwing lead downrange. If an IDPA course of fire is designed correctly, the shooter should be able to figure out the best way to shoot the stage without being told how, or breaking rules. Besides, I don't have to haul my oversized carcass as far in IDPA. Some IPSC field courses seem more like track and field courses. IDPA is definitely more fat guy friendly. hehe.

Mark L. Miller,
A couple of thoughts about your reply:
I love to shoot AND love to talk. Where do I fit in? hehe.

I recently learned the difference between a defensive shooter, a gamer, and a cheater. (Some of this was learned the hard way.) A defensive shooter will take a cautious path, keeping as far from a BG target as possible, stay well behind cover, etc., a gamer will get as close as possible, as quickly as possible (while remaining behind just enough cover per IDPA rules if necessary), to make all the shots count, and a cheater, well, lets just say that I know what and who they are. I am a gamer and make no excuses for it. If someone calls me a gamer, I take it as a compliment, whether they meant it that way or not, because it is. They are only upset because you figured it out and they didn't.

Just my opinion, no offense to anyone or anything intended.

Ted

[MarkP]

I fell into IDPA by default.
The home club (IDPA heavy) is closer to my home and about 10 minutes away from work.

If I wanted to shoot IPSC at rio salado , it's a looonnngg drive on the other side of the valley - like to shoot, hate to burn more gas than I can afford :(

MP

[Clyde]

Both

Trigger Time - Prefer IPSC gives me a bigger rush.

But I also like IDPA becaue it requires a different skill set - or at least requires me to be more technical in my shooting style.

Both good trigger time


Just started shooting some local steel challenge - Now that is a Hoot

Take a friend to the range

[Wulfenite]

Both are good and to a certian extent complimentary, but if I had to choose it would be IPSC all the way.

Its just flat out more fun, challenging, interesting, and a lot more trigger time. Plus there's more and more 3-gun in IPSC which is where the real hoot's are.

[another okie]

Both. Trigger time = happy time.
The differences are actually pretty small.
The differences are just enough to keep you thinking rather than getting into an unthinking pattern.

[rhino465]

Oh! I thought of another reason why I like USPSA better. When you shoot a USPSA long course that adheres to stage design guidelines, everything is "freestyle." That means the shooter has to do their own thinking and make their own decisions about how to complete the course of fire.

In IDPA, there may be thinking going on, but it's all done beforehand by the course designer who dictates how the course of fire is shot with the tactical order, tactical priority, blah blah blah.

[Custom Glock Racing]

Both are unrealistic games. Pick the one you have more fun with. If you have fun with both then shoot both.

[Andrew Colglazier]

Both.... more shooting is better!

Andy C.

Originally posted by kdouthit
Just getting started and trying to get an idea which I like better. Last week I shot IPSC at our local range, tonight I shot IDPA. While I'm forming my own decisions about which to enjoy better I thought I would get ya'lls opinion.

So what is your pleasure.....................

IPSC..............and why?

IDPA..............and why?

or both...........and why?

I know people can be passionate about your individual preference, but share YOUR reasons, not blast your neighbor.

Thanks in advance

[waktasz]

Originally posted by Custom Glock Racing
Both are unrealistic games. Pick the one you have more fun with. If you have fun with both then shoot both.

What he said! Good answer.

[Jeeper]

Both are fine and very similar.

I like USPSA since there is usually a higher level of competition at the matches. I also dont like stading around for 5 hours to only shoot 60 rounds. Both are very fun though

[Bren]

I shoot both, but I prefer IDPA for pistol competition and I recommend IDPA for beginners.

Why:

1 - IDPA is much more friendly to stock guns and ordinary holsters, factory ammo and such. IPSC has moved that way, but you still aren't really going to be competetive with a concealed carry holster and full power ammo.

2 - The attitudes of the core of shooters in each sport is very different - the feel at an IPSC match, in my experience - is more competetive, while IDPA is more friendly and oriented toward fun and individual skill improvement. I think you are a lot less likely to see IPSC shooters finish a stage and then tell the next guy what they think they did wrong so he can avoid it; that's pretty common in IDPA.

3 - If your reason for competing is to build and maintain your defensive shooting skills, IDPA is the obvious choice - under pressure, you play how you practice and if your habit is to use cover and reload behind cover - as opposed to trying to get into the most open position possible for better speed - that's what you will do without thinking in an emergency. (Somebody is going to say "it's a sport, not training" but that will probably come from somebody who has never been involved in law enforcement firearms training)

On the plus side for IPSC, however, it is fun and they have rules for rifle and shotgun - 3 gun matches are the only reason I shoot IPSC.

[MoNsTeR]

2 - The attitudes of the core of shooters in each sport is very different - the feel at an IPSC match, in my experience - is more competetive, while IDPA is more friendly and oriented toward fun and individual skill improvement. I think you are a lot less likely to see IPSC shooters finish a stage and then tell the next guy what they think they did wrong so he can avoid it; that's pretty common in IDPA.
This must be a regional thing. I keep hearing about a competitive attitude among IPSC shooters, but I have yet to encounter it. Almost every shooter in my section, D or GM, will tell anyone who'll listen exactly what they did wrong when they screw up.

[Bren]

Originally posted by MoNsTeR
This must be a regional thing. I keep hearing about a competitive attitude among IPSC shooters, but I have yet to encounter it. Almost every shooter in my section, D or GM, will tell anyone who'll listen exactly what they did wrong when they screw up.
Yeah, I guess that's true - it's not easy to define, like the way people would act at a ball game or something, but there is just a different feeling to it. If I only shot IPSC, I probably wouldn't notice it, but there is just a different atmosphere at the IDPA match when you go from one to the other.

[Clay1]

Shoot both, and I love it. You can't duplicate the same stresses that you face in competition while at the range with your buddy. Trigger time is trigger time. In my area of Wisconsin and northern IL. the two groups were smart enough to shoot IDPA on Saturdays and USPSA on Sundays - I don't have to choose - I shoot both.

If I had to shoot one I would pick USPSA. I remember driving to one small local club for an IDPA shoot. It was fun, but we fired 28 rounds in all. The first USPSA match that I shot at was about 125 rounds. More rounds per mile driven in my case.

Last weekend after shooting some USPSA matches I shot an IDPA stage and even though one target was closer I did not slice the pie and got a deserved penalty. I earned the penalty and am not complaining about it, but IDPA does have you thinking of different things than USPSA. They both make you think in different ways.

Shoot IDPA, USPSA and if they had GSSF in my area I would shoot that too. Any place that I can pull a trigger, I like it.

[waktasz]

haha 28 rounds total, I'd want a refund :(

The good IDPA clubs mix scenario stages with stationary 'standards' stages and can have some pretty decent round counts even if the limit is 18 per stage.

[Clay1]

It was indoors in the winter at a small range. I still had a blast but would rather shoot more.

[waktasz]

Originally posted by Clay1
It was indoors in the winter at a small range. I still had a blast but would rather shoot more.

I shoot indoors here and if you are creative enough you can make 70-100 round matches in a pretty small space (I think only 10 or so bays)

[Bren]

Originally posted by Clay1

If I had to shoot one I would pick USPSA. I remember driving to one small local club for an IDPA shoot. It was fun, but we fired 28 rounds in all. The first USPSA match that I shot at was about 125 rounds. More rounds per mile driven in my case.



I guess it depends on the club, where I shoot we have around 75-100+ rounds in 5 or 6 stages per IDPA match, which is about the same as or more than the pistol portion of the USPSA 3-gun matches at the same club. The IDPA stages also usually involve more varied skills (weak-hand, shooting on the move, etc.), as well as using turning, running, pop-up and swinging targets and varied cover (usually 1 car stage) to a greater extent then the USPSA matches here.

[Clay1]

LIke you said, some of it is where you are located and WHO is running the matching. Typically USPSA has more rounds in a match than IDPA. If you are comparing an IDPA match to just the pistol portion of a 3 gun match that's not apples and apples. 3 gun seems like a riot, but I don't have all of the equipment to shoot it. Compare with just a USPSA pistol match and I think 9 out of 10 times more rounds are fired at the USPSA matches.

Like I said though. I shoot both and both use a seperate set of skills to make it happen. I do enjoy solving the riddle by myself in USPSA vs. the "shoot it like this" of IDPA.

I would shoot PPC, GSSF or Bianchi Cup if it was available locally, but it's not.

[kdouthit]

Wow, a lot of feedback..............but not surprising.

Tonight will be the fourth Monday night "match" I have shot. This is an indoor COF usually 36 rounds IPSC or 2 strings of 18 IDPA. Shoot as many times as you like, which ever format you like.

Week one................Shot IPSC. What a rush. Lost time, due to naturally staying behind cover, reloads with retention, and too may years bullseye shooting. Accuracy was dead on. Just slow as S#%t!

Week two................Shot IPDA. Felt more comfortable. Times increased dramatically, accuracy dead on.

Week three.............Feeling good about my IDPA so I ran it again. Times... major improvement in time, accuracy suffered. Seems to be a fine balance.

Tonight..............I plan on shooting both. Still feel more comfortable shooting IDPA but like the rush of IPSC. Can't wait till 1800 gets here.

Wife is LEO, and she has been going. Tried shooting IPSC, but really felt more natural to shoot IDPA. She's wanting to send in memberships, and see about finding a classification match nearby.

So I'm in the same boat a a lot of you. I like both. Given the Mrs. is really getting into IDPA, we'll probably concentrate on it, but rest assured, I'll shoot an IPSC COF every Monday night.

I appreciate everybody's feedback.