View Full Version : went to IDPA shoot today
started at 0900. there were about 30 shooters. we finally got away at 1400 after telling them we had to leave, long way to travel, can we please shoot the final stage now? total rounds fired.....less than 50. is this normal? i can't justify 5 hours at range plus two hours travel time to shoot 45 rounds.
Why did it take so long. I have shot at USPSA matches that had six stages that took less time then that with 3 times the rounds and 3 time the shooters.
Did they have to rebuild all the stages between shooters or what?
Maybe it was just a fluke.
Taipei Personality
05-18-2002, 09:58
In my experience, yes. I shoot three different clubs. Two usually have about 30 or so shooters, the other 70 and up. It's usually four or five hours to shoot the stages with usually less than one hundred rounds shot. I shoot four matches per month, with three of the matches an hour or so, one way, away.
I've never looked at it as an efficient way to get rounds downrange. I enjoy the time I'm not shooting by talking to my fellow competitors, helping the newbies along, and basically enjoying the fresh air and sunshine (or the rain.) I guess I've always looked at it from a quality, rather than quantity, viewpoint. Maybe IPSC is more your style . . .
no, no rebuilding stages. just not very efficient. very small shooting area; two stages in same area; one shooter on each stage at same time but both could not shoot at same time. Took four hours to get all 30 shooters through just the first two stages.
A match at our local club usually involves 4 or 5 stages with anywhere from 90 to 120 rounds fired. Lately turnout has been 35 to 50 shooters. Firing commences at 900 and we are most always done by 1300 (in time for a hot lunch prepared by the ladies in the club house, included in the entry fee: boy do we have it good!). Hats off to the people who run our matches, they run a tight ship!
I like shooting in quality matches as well. I have shot a ton of USPSA matches and that is exactly what you get QUALITY and QUANTITY.
I love this line of argument between IDPA shooters and USPSA shooters. The "gamers" of USPSA are looked down on by the "real world" CCW holding IPDAer. And the "gamers" have to remind the IDPAer that the game they love so much-is just another form of USPSA (a game).
This is the same old @#$% that shotgunners and rifle shooters at my club are like. Don't we shooters have enough BS thrown our way by non shooters? Why must we feel that our style of shooting is any better than anyother form.
We are an elite few of the American public that practice and keep alive the tradition of firearm ownership and weaponscraft. Pick on a bow shooter or rubberband gun shooter if you feel that you must be "better" than someone.
IDPA and USPSA shooters ROCK!!!!! (Who cares if IDPA shooters are self righteous snobs. );) ;) ;) ;) ;) Just kidding!
Taipei Personality
05-18-2002, 12:01
Sigh . . . the disadvatages of not being able to speak in person . . . I was in no way disparaging IPSC. I merely suggested that IPSC may be more his cup of tea as that sport typically has longer stages and a higher round count.
The quality of which I spoke was alluded to in the sentence prior to the statement. In my dotage, I see the quality of the sport more in the cameraderie with my fellow competitors rather than in a fast pace.
I've never shot IPSC, so I can't address the "line of argument" you say exists. A lot of the folks I shoot with shoot IPSC as well and seem to enjoy it. I'm just a middle-aged fat man and, if I wasn't a shooter, I'd probably prefer golf over tennis. It doesn't mean that one is better than the other; only different.
shootingbuff
05-18-2002, 15:33
I would think for the as you put low round count yes.
I think by the your description of the range that has something to do with the time.
Most clubs don't mind a few good ideas or extra hands.
Sounds like at that clubs current pace a higher round count would only slow them down more.
As long as the stages are well thought out and challanging I don't think a low round count is a bad thing.
I take it you had very good times with no points down? ;D
We have had as low as 28 and as high as just over a hundred. In both cases min requirements.
Easiest way to get a higher round count is to run strings. Does slow you down. Easier on setup and break down though.
IDPA normally does not have a high round count, heck I have seen IPSC matches were a single stage has more rounds then a IDPA match.
I guess it is what you want.
Again most clubs don't mind a little help.
sb
The Pontificator
05-19-2002, 03:03
The IDPA league I compete in (Mid Carolina Rifle Club) typically hosts 50+ shooters shooting five stages in four to five squads of shooters. The trick is to design stages which to don't "bottleneck" the other squads.
We also expect those shooters not on the line to be actively helping out...pasting targets, setting the steel back up, etc.
A well-oiled machine, baby!
Steve Koski
05-20-2002, 03:32
It takes a match director a while to figure out how to run things. Some never do.
Steve,
You are correct, it does take time to get it right and sometimes it just never works out.
Of course, the longer you are a MD, the more likely you are to have someone (perhaps several someones) throw you a big ol' curve! ;g
Our last local, 6 stage match had about 38 shooters. Started 1000 hours and ended about 1430 hours. The round count is usually low. One stage could be shot with only 2 rounds, although it took some shooters nearly 20 rounds to neutralize the threat. There was a weak hand, 6 shot stage and several 12 shot stages. If you want to shoot a high round event, you might have to give IPSC a try.:)
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