Introduction to IPSC/ Practical Shooting
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Table of Contents Introduction to IPSC/ Practical Shooting ...... 1 1. What's Practical Shooting? ...... 4 1.1 Overview ...... 4 1.2 The principles of the sport ...... 4 1.3 Background ...... 5 1.4 The Equipment Race ...... 6 2. Start Practical Shooting Safely ...... 6 2.1 The Four Laws of Gun Control ...... 6 THE 1st LAW - THE GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED! ...... 7 THE 2nd LAW - NEVER POINT THE GUN AT SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY! 7 THE 3rd LAW - ALWAYS BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEHIND IT! ...... 7 THE 4th LAW - KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET! ...... 7 GUN CONTROL = SELF CONTROL ...... 7 2.2 Equipment ...... 7 2.3 Basic Skills ...... 9 2.3.1 Fundamentals...... 10 2.3.2 Safe Dry Fire Practice At Home ...... 10 2.3.3 The Draw and Fire Sequence ...... 11 2.3.4 Reloading, Movement, and other Skills ...... 12 2.4 Practicing ...... 13 3. The Rules of the Game ...... 14 3.1 Safety and Disqualification ...... 14 3.1.1 The Safe Area ...... 14 3.1.2 Range Commands ...... 15 3.2Classic, Open, Standard, Production and Revolver...... 16 3.3 Power Factor, Targets & Scoring ...... 17 3.3.1 Power Factor ...... 17 3.3.2 Targets...... 20 3.3.3 Scoring Method ...... 23 3.5 Your First Match ...... 23
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3.5.1 Registration ...... 24 3.5.2 On the Firing Line ...... 25 4. Where to find more information ...... 27 4.1 Other Internet IPSC resources ...... 27 4.2 Books, videos ...... 27 4.3 Related shooting sports ...... 27 4.3.1 3-gun competition ...... 28 4.3.2 Action Shooting/Bianchi Cup ...... 28 4.3.3 The Steel Challenge ...... 28 5. Training Tips ...... 29 5.1 Identifying What's Wrong ...... 29 5.2 Attitude ...... 30 5.3 Gun Problems ...... 30 5.4 Erratic Performance ...... 31 5.5 Burnout ...... 32 5.6 Final Thoughts ...... 33 6. PISTOL DRY FIRE/LIVE FIRE ...... 33 6.1 Things to remember ...... 33 6.2 Practice Drills ...... 34 6.3 Live Fire Practise Drills...... 35 7. Reference Material ...... 35
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1. What's Practical Shooting? 1.1 Overview
You may have seen it on television, in a gun magazine, or at a local range. A shooter runs and guns through an obstacle course of realistic props. Paper targets and steel plates are engaged, rapid-fire, as moving targets are activated and drop in and out of sight. Blazing man-on-man shoot offs where hundredths of seconds decide the winner. Incredible feats of shooting skill performed at warp speed. What you saw was practical shooting competition, perhaps at the USPSA Nationals, Steel Challenge, Bianchi Cup, or one of the thousands of other matches shot each year by clubs all over the world.
Practical shooting is a sport in which competitors are required to combine accuracy, speed and power to successfully complete many different types of shooting 'problems'. Competitors use centre fire handguns in large calibres (9mm/.38 special is the minimum allowed) and shoot full-power loads. Fewer points are awarded to competitors using 'minor' power loads. These handguns are carried in belt holsters and are accompanied by spare magazines or speed loaders in pouches also attached to the belt. At any given match a shooter may be required to shoot targets 2 meters away in one event, and 50 meters away in the next. Sometimes the targets are paper, sometimes they are steel. Often 'no-shoot' penalty targets are placed near 'shoot' targets. Points are subtracted from a shooter's score for hitting the 'no-shoots'. Realistic props are used to simulate a scenario that the shooter must complete. Shooting may be done from freestyle, strong hand, weak hand, prone, or any other imaginable position, depending on the course of fire. Since scoring uses both total points and elapsed time, the shooters strive to find the best combination of accuracy, speed, and power to win.
Practical Shooting is what you want to make of it. You can gear up and become a Serious Competitor. The choice is yours. The sport recognizes many different aspects of individual excellence. There is a wide diversity of attitudes among the shooters at a match. For some, the match is part monthly practice, part social occasion. They enjoy the challenge, the fun and social aspects of the sport, and don't take things too seriously. At the other end are the athletes - the Serious Competitors. They respond to the challenge by employing modern sports training techniques to condition mind and body to peak performance. In between are all sorts of shooters. 1.2 The principles of the sport
The following principles are established to define the nature of practical shooting. They are accepted by all members of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) as conditions of membership.
• 1. Practical competition is open to all reputable persons without regard to occupation; it may specifically not be limited to public servants. • 2. Accuracy, power and speed are the equivalent elements of practical shooting and practical competition must be conducted in such a way as to evaluate these elements equally.
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• 3. Firearm types are not separated, all compete together without handicap. This does not apply to the power of the firearms, as power is an element to be recognized and rewarded. • 4. Practical competition is a test of expertise in the use of practical firearms and equipment. Any item of equipment, or modification to equipment, which sacrifices practical functionality for a competitive advantage contravenes the principles of the sport. • 5. Practical competition is conducted using practical targets, which reflect the general size and shape of such objects as the firearms may reasonably be called upon to hit in their primary intended use. • 6. The challenge presented in practical competition must be realistic. Courses of fire must follow a practical rationale and simulate sensible hypothetical situations in which firearms might reasonably be used. • 7. Practical competition is diverse. Within the limits of realism, problems are constantly changed, never permitting unrealistic specialization of either technique or equipment. Courses of fire may be repeated, but no course may be repeated enough to allow its use as a definitive measure of practical shooting skill. • 8. Practical competition is freestyle. In essence, the competitive problem is posed in general and the participant is permitted the freedom to solve it in the manner he or she considers best within the limitations of the competitive situation as provided. 1.3 Background
'Action Shooting - Practical Shooting - IPSC - USPSA'. These terms and acronyms have been seen a lot in recent years. The big money matches, and indeed the many club matches from whom they sprang, all have one thing in common. They all have a common root. All developed from Practical Shooting, and the organization that developed that sport: The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC).
The basic game originated in Southern California in the 1950's and was known as 'Leather slap' matches. Very little was standardized. As the game evolved it became an amalgam of many elements. Some old-west fast draw, sometimes an obstacle course to run around and through, some 'street-smarts' challenges to decide what to shoot and what not to shoot, and more points were given to heavier calibres.
IPSC (pronounced 'ip-sick') was created as an organization in 1976 at Columbia, Missouri, by representatives from nine nations where the sport of 'combat' shooting was becoming popular. This became known as the Columbia Conference. The term 'practical' went into the name instead of 'combat' in deference to public image and Jeff Cooper who was elected the first President. Jeff's writings and philosophy of 'practical pistol craft' were highly regarded and earned him the title of father of the sport.
As the organization grew, member nations developed their own national sanctioning bodies to administer matches in their own countries, and to hold their own national championships. For South Africa, the South African Practical Shooting Association (SAPSA) is the sanctioning body. Within the international administrative structure South Africa is designated as an administrative 'Region'. The member elected Chairperson of SAPSA also serves as 'Regional Director' (RD) for the IPSC program.
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An important part of SAPSA is the National Range Officers Institute (NROI), which sends instructors around the country to conduct training and certification courses for volunteer SAPSA/IPSC range officers. Thus insuring that the highest standards of safety and scoring integrity are maintained at official matches, right down to the local club level. 1.4 The Equipment Race
Some people have criticized practical shooting for 'forgetting its roots'. The proliferation of 'race guns', with compensated barrels, electronic sights, and quick-release holsters, has discouraged many competitors who cannot or do not want to get into the 'equipment race'. Many serious shooters choose to take advantage of the freedom IPSC allows to experiment with new technologies that can reduce muzzle flip, increase accuracy, and speed up target acquisition. An expensive gun is not required to shoot an IPSC match. A reliable, accurate gun, a safe holster, and spare magazines or speed loaders are all you should need to get started. In response to the desires of the membership, IPSC formally recognized competition for guns that are stock or with limited modifications. In recent years there has been considerable growth in the Limited category which prohibits some of the 'less practical' technology. Most of the increase in this area is a result of many competitors choosing to compete with the firearm that they own for self-defence reasons or general target practice. Others simply like the money saved by competing with stock guns.
Practical Shooting is a sport with roots in a martial art. It won't teach you tactics or sort out the moral and legal questions of deadly force. But it will help you develop basic shooting skills and that's a good start. Multiple targets, moving targets, partial targets, knock-down targets, No-shoot penalty targets that cover or obscure 'shoot' targets, barricades high and low, doors, windows, walls, tables and other props are blended together by our ingenious Course Designers to create constantly changing situations that challenge the shooter to think and shoot. Keep in mind that it is a game and that many of the techniques that are 'practical' on match day may not always apply to a real-life situation. Many of the courses we shoot would likely not be survivable under real-life conditions. These courses are, however, intended to improve your practical shooting skills under conditions in which firearms might reasonably be used. 2. Start Practical Shooting Safely
This section covers the safety rules, skills, equipment, and techniques you must know to become a safe Practical Shooter. 2.1 The Four Laws of Gun Control
If you learn nothing else from Practical Shooting, learn the four laws that are the foundation of all safe gun handling. Remember that - Someday you will have an Accidental Discharge (AD)! The only questions are when, where, and how. If you are obeying the Four Laws of Gun Control when it happens, it will be scary. IF YOU'RE NOT, IT COULD BE TRAGIC!
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THE 1st LAW - THE GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED!
So EVERY TIME you pick up or draw a gun, inspect it in a safe manner (control your muzzle) and always treat it as a loaded gun.
THE 2nd LAW - NEVER POINT THE GUN AT SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY!
The only safe way to operate is to assume the Worst Case Scenario: Pretend that your 'empty' gun is loaded and that it's going to function perfectly. When you press the trigger it will FIRE! Since you are prepared for that, you only point the gun in a Safe Direction. This way, when Brain fade does result in an AD, it will be into a safe impact area and there won't be a tragedy.
THE 3rd LAW - ALWAYS BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEHIND IT!
Bullets can penetrate lots of things, many of which will surprise you. Identify your target before firing - even before dry-firing at home. If you are not sure, DON'T FIRE! Make sure there is a safe impact area behind it before firing. For home dry-fire practice, find and aim only at a BULLET PROOF BACKSTOP. Even though you have checked and double- checked your gun, you should still treat your gun as though it is loaded. Plasterboard walls and outer walls are not bulletproof. A handgun bullet will easily travel through several rooms before stopping. Who is in these rooms? You don't know, and you still aimed in that direction?! Shame on you!
THE 4th LAW - KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET!
Almost all of the ADs during a match are caused by a finger on the trigger when you were not ready to fire. Some examples: Finger on trigger during reloading, during movement, during the draw, and during jam clearing have led to ADs and disqualifications (DQs). Finger on the trigger during reloading or movement is a DQ - you don't have to AD - and two ROs are watching for just that. Of the five Match DQs at the 1988 US Nationals, four were ADs.
GUN CONTROL = SELF CONTROL
Owning a gun doesn't make you a safe shooter. It can make you a dangerous one if you are not willing to learn how to control the force at your fingertip.
The applications of these basic LAWS of gun safety are applied to the procedures used to run matches. The specifics of match safety are addressed in Section 3.1. 2.2 Equipment
The best advice is DON'T GO OVERBOARD until you understand what you are getting into. Shoot some matches. See if Practical Shooting is really for you. Learn to function under pressure with your chosen gun. If you live where possessing firearms for self defence is legal,
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it doesn't make much sense to rely on one gun for self defence and put all your practice time and money into another for sport shooting. Still hot to spend? Want a shopping list?
MINIMUM EQUIPMENT - A gun (9mm or greater semi auto, .38 special or greater revolver), belt holster that covers the trigger guard of the pistol (CR Speed), magazines or speed loaders and eye and ear protection.
GUN BELT - You probably noticed that when you drew, the belt flexed and the holster wiggled. Both are bad. Try a stiff gun belt mated to the holster to hold it in the correct position. Safety rules prohibit you from using your other hand to steady the holster while drawing. You will be disqualified if you do this. The modern gun belt is about 1/4' thick and has a strip of spring steel inserted by way of the holster to reduce flex even further. For men, the gun belt must be worn at waist level, ladies may wear this belt at the hip bone level. Only one belt may be worn, with all gear on it. CR Speed and Safariland are two of the most commonly used brands, There are also 'double-belt' systems that use Velcro to join an 'under' belt which is usually worn through the belt loops with an 'over' belt that holds the holster and magazine pouches.
These belts are very convenient for long matches as they allow the shooter to remove the outer belt during lunch breaks or between stages without disturbing the positioning of the mag pouches and holster.
HOLSTER - This key piece of safety equipment is a fine solution to the eternal question: Where do I tuck my gun? The holster must cover the trigger of the pistol and the muzzle must point downward to within 1 meter of the wearer. (See Section 3.1 for more information on match safety regulations.) If you use a nylon holster with a snap or Velcro strap, that retention device must be used when holstering the gun. Tie down rigs are prohibited unless it is your duty rig. The holster must also retain the gun through jump and roll tests, yet release it easily when you draw. Again, safety dictates that you can use only one hand while drawing.
You may have noticed the experienced shooters wearing highly efficient high-tech holsters. They seem daringly low cut, but they hold the gun while you go full speed over a 6' wall and permit a smooth draw from the shooting box on the far side. The most commonly used of the high-tech holsters are made by CR Speed, Safariland, Ernie Hill, Gilmore, and Hellweg. There are also a number of excellent 'tactical' holster makers. Police duty rigs are acceptable for competition.
SPARE AMMUNITION is carried in speed loaders or magazine carriers worn on the belt. It is a good idea to have at least 36 rounds available during a course of fire. This usually means 2-6 spare magazines or speed loaders. An experienced competitor will always have enough spare magazines or speed loaders so that there is at least one un-used at the end of a course of fire. The un-used device is 'malfunction insurance'.
GUN - At the least, must be serviceable and safe. It may be inspected at any time and withdrawn from the match if deemed unsafe. A good basic criteria for a competition firearm is that it is accurate and reliable. Guns based on the 1911 .45 design dominate IPSC shooting in one form or another throughout the IPSC, while high capacity 9mms such as the CZ are popular in many countries. Many beginning competitors start out with a stock handgun.
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You may be wondering about the value of all the modifications offered. The choice really depends on you and your uses. Is it a match gun, a self-defence gun, or a combination
Look at what other competitors are using, and ask around. Often used guns (especially those built on 'single-stack' frames) are available from shooters who are upgrading their equipment, or getting out of the sport. However, you shouldn't wait to have the 'right' modifications made before you start to play the game. Unless your gun is frustratingly unreliable you are guaranteed to have fun right out of the box.
RELOADING EQUIPMENT - This is the equipment that makes it possible for us poor folk to shoot thousands of rounds of ammo each year. Even if you don't reload your own, it is likely that you will be able to buy reloaded ammunition at half the cost (or cheaper) than commercial ammo. If you choose to purchase reloading equipment and make your own ammo, then you will probably reduce your cost by another 50%. Most reloading equipment pays for itself within the first 1000 rounds or so. Before you buy, ask around at a match, find out what the experienced shooters are using and what they say about it. Most are using some type of modern progressive reloader with an automatic powder drop (prevents empty or double-filled cases). In particular, Dillon equipment is used by the majority of competitors.
CLOTHING - Should allow you full freedom of movement and be adequate for outdoor use in your area. Clubs dislike seeing shooters in camouflage clothing or shirts with those controversial slogan favoured by overly armed gun store commandos, it gives us Image Problems. We're sure you'll understand. Matches are run in all weather conditions, so having foul-weather gear (raincoat, gloves, etc.) is suggested. Some competitors are now carrying knee and elbow pads for use in events that require the shooter to go prone or kneeling as quickly as possible. Athletic shoes are also suggested. Many shooters prefer to wear cleats of some kind to assist with traction, especially in muddy or gravelly ranges.
EYE AND EAR PROTECTION - Safety or shooting glasses and ear protection IS REQUIRED. Most clubs won't even let you spectate without these. (Sunglasses ARE NOT safety glasses.)
ACCESSORIES - Nice to have: Gun case for transporting your pistol. Bag for spent brass. Carrying bag to tote ammo and accessories around the range (those stools with a bag under the seat are very useful). Thermos and lunch. Pen for scorecards. Calculator for checking scores. Essential to have: whatever paperwork and/or locking devices are required to comply with gun control laws where you will be shooting. 2.3 Basic Skills
Most Practical Shooters have already taken a firearm safety course from their club or another source. In some places you will be required to take an IPSC training course before competing in a sanctioned match. Practical Shooting challenges you to integrate body and mind as you explore the limits of the man-machine combination. This involves a whole new set of unfamiliar gun control skills. To help improve your safe gun handling and shooting, we've prepared a summary of points to remember, and skills to practice. Study this first, then practice, SAFELY.
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2.3.1 Fundamentals
ACCURACY is fundamental. Align the front and rear sights. Focus on the front sight. Press the trigger without disturbing the sight alignment. Make sure that your gun is sighted in at a medium distance, such as 25 meters. Know where it prints at longer and shorter ranges. Shoot slow-fire groups and work on trigger control. Successful IPSC shooting will result from learning to be accurate quickly. You cannot miss fast enough to win.
Fast and accurate shooting is aided by proper grip and stance. Watch the better shooters in your local club and imitate them. Read Brian Enos' and J. Michael Plaxco's books on Practical Shooting. Both books have excellent sections on developing a 'freestyle platform' for IPSC competition. Often 'Master' or 'A' ranked shooters will offer lessons in competition techniques which can accelerate the learning curve for a beginning competitor.
J. Michael Plaxco suggests that you should always strive to shoot a minimum of 85%-90% of the possible points on a stage. If you are shooting 95%-100% of the points, you should speed up. If you are shooting less than 85% of the points, you should focus on accuracy.
2.3.2 Safe Dry Fire Practice At Home
FIRST MAKE A HOME SAFETY INSPECTION - Most of your house or apartment is unsafe for dry fire practice - particularly if there are people wandering in and out of the rooms around you. Apartment dwellers have a real problem - where ever they look there are thin walls and people. Floors, ceilings and walls are NOT BULLETPROOF! Look around until you find a solid wall that will stop an Accidental Discharge. A basement room would be ideal. If you have a gun safe, the inside of the safe or the inside of the door is a good place to aim. ONLY PRACTICE IN A SAFE AREA!!
ALWAYS INSPECT THE WEAPON BEFORE DRY FIRING - The first drill should always be CHECK YOUR WEAPON: Draw, point in a safe direction, ease the slide back to check for loaded chamber or magazine, ease it forward, AIM at a safe impact area, and press the trigger. No BOOM? OK, begin your practice. Check EVERY time you pick up a gun, even if you just set it down.
PRACTICE DRY FIRING - You don't have to fire a round to improve. Ten to fifteen minutes a day spent in practicing and refining your draw and fire, flash sight picture, reloads (empty magazines!), and pivots, etc. will pay off in increasing smoothness and speed. Dry firing does not bother a good gun, but dropping the slide on an empty chamber DOES nasty things to that nice trigger job. If the gun is empty, EASE the slide home. And keep your hand away from the muzzle when you do it!
Make a set of miniature targets and No Shoots out of cardboard. If available, check the course of fire diagrams and arrange them on that SAFE WALL to simulate the target arrays for the next match. Now practice smoothly drawing, aiming, pressing the trigger, and shifting between targets. Top shooters use mental conditioning and visualization techniques to improve their performance. Plan how you're going to shoot that stage. Try a walk-through. Go through the motions. Experiment and refine your movements. It works.
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2.3.3 The Draw and Fire Sequence
There are a number of different draw and fire styles. This style is simple and basic. As you do it, THINK: Smooth, flowing motion, rhythm, economy of motion, direct movement, FRONT SIGHT.
This description is based on a .45 automatic in a strong side holster. Revolver users: make needed changes.
GRIP - Your gun hand approaches the stock from above. It grips the pistol in a full firing grip. The thumb rests on the safety. The trigger finger is OUTSIDE the holster, parallel to the slide, ready to point at the target. At the same time the other hand moves into the GRAB position: forearm horizontal, fingers pointing straight towards the target, ready to mate with gun hand, hand clear of the path of the gun.
CLEAR - The gun is drawn up out of the holster until the muzzle just clears. You can feel the energy being stored in the shoulder, like the winding of a spring.
POINT - Your eyes are focused on the target. Now point your extended trigger finger at the target. Your shoulder drops, releasing energy as the gun punches DIRECTLY at the target (No arcing!). Meanwhile, back at the other hand...
SMACK & CLICK - The other hand travels out and up from below to meet the gun hand in front of your belly button. Make sure that the muzzle of the moving gun NEVER points at (covers) the weak hand. They smack together and interlock into a solid two-handed grip. The isometric push/pull pressure begins. The thumb flicks the safety down (off) and (1) rests on it or (2) continues down. (This is determined by your hand size. If option 1 gives you erratic performance of the grip safety, then try option 2. In both cases the thumb is captured by the other thumb.)
SIGHT - Isometric push/pull tension increases to the max. Gun moves to eye level and the eyes shift focus from target to front sight to obtain the flash sight picture. The front sight is in sharp focus, the target behind it is fuzzy. The centre of the first pad of the trigger finger rests on the trigger.
SURPRISE BREAK - While you are focused on the front sight, the trigger finger presses to the rear. When the gun fires, it should be a surprise. If not, you blew the shot. Continue to focus on your front sight. You want to line it up for the next shot. Avoid the desire to peer over the sights at the target (and miss).
THE RANGE READY POSITION - Take your finger off the trigger and return it to the 'pointer' position on the frame. Flick the safety ON as you lower the gun. Thumb rests atop safety. Grip remains the same but the pressure eases. Break at the elbows and bring your upper arms in until they rest against your chest. Your forearms and gun are level. The gun points down range into the berm.
In our version, the gun points into the berm, not at the ground (often seen) because of SAFETY. A bullet hitting the floor of the range will ricochet. You can move in this position (muzzle always pointed safely down range) and rapidly raise the gun to fire.
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GETTING SMOOTH - Speed in shooting comes from smooth motions. Smooth motions come from economy of motion. All surplus movement is eliminated. The gun moves from holster to 'on target' with no wasted effort. To learn and practice this, watch yourself while you draw in slow motion. Examine and experiment with each segment of the draw. Eliminate all waste and unsafe movements. Soon you'll begin to feel a smooth flow of movement. You can do this at home without firing a round.
2.3.4 Reloading, Movement, and other Skills
RELOADING (during a course of fire, for semi-autos) Remove your finger from the trigger guard and bring the gun toward you with your strong hand until it is about chest level, muzzle still pointing downrange. At the same time, press the magazine release button with your strong hand thumb and get your fresh magazine with your weak hand. You will probably have to shift your grip on the pistol so that your thumb can easily reach the magazine release. If you shift your grip, be careful to keep the muzzle pointed downrange at all times. Look at the magazine opening of the gun, and seat the new magazine with the palm of your weak hand. Re-establish your two-handed firing grip and continue shooting.
A few things to avoid if possible: (1) don't use both hands to remove the spent magazine. You should be reaching for the new magazine with your weak hand at the same time that you are pressing the magazine release. (2) Make sure that the new magazine is completely seated before moving the weak hand to the firing grip. Some competitors choose to load their magazines one round short of full to make the magazines seat more easily. Depending on the course of fire this may be an acceptable option. (3) Watch your muzzle. When bringing the gun toward them many beginners have a tendency to turn the gun so that it points near the 180 degree line. The best way to avoid this is to rotate your strong hand's wrist as you are bringing the gun toward your chest. This brings the magazine well opening into view and leaves the muzzle downrange. Don't rotate your hand, however, until the magazine has dropped free of the handgun.
MOVEMENT - is often required during a course of fire. First and foremost, be aware of your muzzle. As you are moving through a course of fire an imaginary line extends 90 degrees left and right of you parallel to the back of the berm. If at any time your muzzle points outside this 180 degree zone (e.g. up range), you will receive a match disqualification. You are most likely to violate the 180 degree rule while moving. For this reason you should be aware of your muzzle at all times. Keep your finger out of the trigger guard while moving. When you arrive at the next shooting box, make sure you have an acceptable sight picture before firing.
If you are going to miss, it is more likely to happen as you are entering or leaving a shooting box, as you rush the shot. During your first few matches you should be concerned with safety and not speed. Walk between shooting boxes, concentrating on keeping your finger out of the trigger guard and muzzle downrange. With practice the safe gun handling will become 'second nature', and starting with correct habits will prevent embarrassing and possibly dangerous mistakes later.
STRONG HAND, WEAK HAND, PRONE, BARRICADES, AND OTHER OBSTACLES Keep muzzle downrange while assuming whatever position is required. If shooting from a window or barricade, avoid using the barrier as a support. Use both hands to clear jams (no penalty for doing this even if one-handed shooting is required). For one-handed shooting,
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develop a consistent place to put the un-needed hand. This spot varies from shooter to shooter - experiment with what works for you. Many shooters fold the un-used arm across their chest for stability. For prone shooting, practice shooting groups starting in prone, and then practice getting into that prone position starting from a standing position. When opening doors, be careful to have your weak hand clear of the muzzle before drawing. Often course designers will require you to open the door with your strong hand to remove the possibility that someone will 'cover' their weak hand while opening the door. Again, safety is more important than speed. 2.4 Practicing
SPEED vs. ACCURACY - New shooters often ask how to get fast. It's best to forget fast and concentrate on hitting the target. You can't get fast enough to make up for misses, but you can get carried away and have an AD. Speed will come with practice and increased smoothness. Don't worry about it. Concentrate on mastering the basics. Find a speed that will allow consistent 'A' hits at 10 meters. Mentally emphasize smooth hand movement to the weapon, smooth presentation to the target, front sight focus. Gradually increase the speed until your group opens up. Slow down again until all hits are in an acceptable group. Then move back to 15, 25, and 50 meters and repeat the process for each range. This will give you a sense of the pace needed to get results at various ranges. If you are forced to practice at a 'shoot one - load one' range where drawing is not permitted, practice your presentation from the Ready position. It works. A mastery of bull’s eye shooting pays off for a Practical Shooter.
As you progress in your practice, add in other skills on top of drawing and firing. Add multiple targets, reloads, and no-shoots. Practice shooting groups from strong-hand, weak- hand, and prone. If possible, set up multiple shooting boxes and practice moving from box to box. Some clubs have 'practice days' where a group of shooters will set up and shoot complex courses of fire multiple times.
A shooting timer is useful as the focus of your practice sessions shifts from developing safe gun handling skills and accuracy to increasing speed. Timers and provide the capability to measure draw time, split times, reload times, and other skills. You can use the points and time to establish a baseline against which to measure progress. It also makes a difference in making practice more like competition in that you will be shooting against the clock.
Everyone has different body geometry. Developing a personal shooting style takes research and experimentation. You are searching for what 'feels right' for YOU. Try different ideas and techniques. Get a practice notebook. Take notes. Write down the exercise, the scores and your comments. You can track your progress and improvements.
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3. The Rules of the Game
This section briefly covers the basic rules for competition. Consult IPSC rulebook for additional details. 3.1 Safety and Disqualification
The foundation of practical shooting is safe gun handling, developed through training and practice. We don't care how fast you do it; we care how safely you do it. Failure to abide by the safety rules of the sport will get you disqualified: from the match, or worse, depending on the violation. Most clubs reserve the right to block a competitor from entering a match who simply cannot handle a firearm (or themselves) responsibly. New shooters are expected to be concerned with safe gun handling first and foremost. Careful practice will improve both your gun handling and your shooting skills.
All IPSC matches are run with a cold range. This means that all shooters will keep their guns unloaded, hammer down on an empty chamber, unless instructed to load by a Range Officer. All clubs require eye and ear protection for all shooters and eye protection for spectators.
DISQUALIFICATION will result from:
• muzzle direction violating the 180 degree zone (pointing muzzle up range as described in Section 2.3.4) • accidental discharge • moving with finger inside the trigger guard during a course of fire • dropping a loaded gun during a course of fire (this includes having a loaded gun fall out of a holster such as in a course of fire which requires to you get up from a seated position or open a door prior to drawing) • having a loaded gun behind the line (if at a 'cold' range) • unsportsmanlike conduct • shooting under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
3.1.1 The Safe Area
The safe area is a designated location somewhere on a cold range where you are allowed to handle, work on, or dry fire your firearm. You cannot handle ammunition in the safe area, and some clubs prohibit the handling of magazines in the safe area as well. When you leave the safe area, your gun is either holstered or bagged. Elsewhere on the range, you are not permitted to handle your gun except under the direction of a Range Officer. However, away from the safe area you can handle your magazines (speed loaders) and ammunition. This includes loading magazines and placing them in the carriers on your belt. Proper use of the safe area insures that there is no place on the range where you can handle both the gun and ammunition at the same time - other than on the firing line when it is your turn to shoot.
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3.1.2 Range Commands
You should fully understand the rules for a particular course of fire before shooting it. Often the range officer will ask if you understand the course of fire. Once the Range Officer instructs you to load it is assumed that you have no questions. If you do have questions, ask them before starting the loading procedure. Better to ask than to receive unexpected penalties.
On the command 'LOAD AND MAKE READY' - the shooter will face downrange, fit ear protectors, glasses, etc., load handgun and make it ready. He will then take up the ready position for that stage.
After the shooter has assumed the ready position, the Range Officer (RO) will say 'ARE YOU READY?' if the shooter is not ready at this command, he should say 'Not Ready'. You may also hear 'Shooter Ready?' used in place of 'ARE YOU READY?', although it is not an 'approved' command.
If the shooter is ready, the RO will say 'STANDBY'. This will be followed by the cue to commence firing. The cue may be verbal, audible, visual, or self-starting. In most cases, the RO will sound the buzzer on an electronic timer which is the cue to begin shooting.
The competitor will then shoot the course of fire. When the competitor is finished, the RO will say 'IF YOU ARE FINISHED, UNLOAD AND SHOW CLEAR'. If you have actually finished the firearm is unloaded and held ready for inspection by the Range Officer. Self- loaders will have the magazine removed and the slide locked back. Revolvers will have the cylinder swung out and empty. The unloading procedure must be carried out with the muzzle pointed downrange at all times. If the gun requires that a magazine be inserted in order to drop the hammer, an empty magazine should be used, and it should be removed from the gun before the shooter leaves the firing line.
When the RO is satisfied that the gun is clear, he will say 'GUN CLEAR, HAMMER DOWN, HOLSTER' and the shooter will holster the handgun unloaded after pulling the trigger. The RO will then give the command 'RANGE IS CLEAR', and the targets can be scored and reset.
Practical Shooters are among the safest around. This is the result of our shooters' self control and our safety program. Mickey Fowler, one of the Nation's top IPSC shooters during the 80's, noted in an interview.
'I've shot hundreds of matches, literally, and I've never seen a bullet-related injury. Sometimes people sprain their ankles, but I've never seen a bullet wound. IPSC shooting has as near perfect a safety record as any sport could have. Obviously there is a potential for a great deal of danger in this sport, but the shooters adhere to strict safety rules and are disqualified if any safety rules are broken. I really can't think of any other sport that has as good a record as IPSC shooting.'
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3.2Classic, Open, Standard, Production and Revolver.
Classic: Handguns must be based on and visibly resemble the classic 1911-genre design. This means a single-stack, one piece metal frame, and a dust cover (without an accessory rail) which has a maximum length of 75mm when measured from the leading edge of the dust cover to the rear of the slide stop pin. Magazine well openings cannot exceed a maximum outside width of 35mm. Compliance is checked by way of a 35mm wide, and at least 5mm deep, notch carved into the outside of the box, or by use of a ruler or caliper, as approved by the Range Master.
Open: Under international (IPSC) rules Open guns are free from restrictions except for a limitation on the maximum length of a magazine, maximum length may not exceed 170 mm
Standard: A handgun in its ready condition (See Section 8.1), but unloaded and with an empty magazine inserted or empty cylinder closed, must fit wholly within the confines of a box which has internal dimensions of 225mm x 150mm x 45mm (tolerance of +1 mm, -0 mm). Note that all magazines must comply. The handgun is placed inside the box with the barrel parallel to the longest side of the box. Rear adjustable sights may be slightly depressed, but all other features of the handgun, (e.g. collapsible and/or folding sights, slide rackers, thumb rests, grips etc.), must be fully extended or deployed. Additionally, telescoping magazines and/or magazines with spring-loaded bases or base pads are expressly prohibited. Only porting of barrels is prohibited. Slides may be ported
Production: Only handguns listed as approved on the IPSC website may be used in Production Division. Note that handguns deemed by IPSC to be single-action-only are expressly prohibited. Handguns with external hammers must be fully decocked. (see Rule 8.1.2.5) at the start signal. First shot attempted must be double action. Competitors in this Division who, after the issuance of the start signal and prior to attempting the first shot, cock the hammer on a handgun which has a loaded chamber, will incur one procedural penalty per occurrence. Note that a procedural penalty will not be assessed in respect of courses of fire where the ready condition requires the competitor to prepare the handgun with an empty chamber. In these cases, the competitor may fire the first shot single action. Original parts and components offered by the OFM as standard equipment, or as an option, for a specific model handgun on the IPSC approved handgun list are permitted, subject to the following:
Modifications to them, other than minor detailing (the removal of burrs and/or adjustments unavoidably required in order to fit replacement OFM parts or components), are prohibited. Other prohibited modifications include those which facilitate faster reloading (e.g. flared, enlarged and/or add-on magwells, etc.), changing the original color and/or finish of a handgun, and/or adding stripes or other embellishments.
Magazines accessible to a competitor during a COF must not contain more that than 15 rounds at the Start Signal. Identifying marks or decals, internal capacity limiters, bumper pads and additional witness holes, which add or remove negligible weight to/from magazines, are permitted.
Sights may be trimmed, adjusted and/or have sight black applied. Sights may also be fitted with fiber optic or similar inserts.
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Aftermarket parts, components and accessories are prohibited, except as follows:
Aftermarket magazines are permitted, subject to 16.2 above.
Aftermarket open sights (see Rule 5.1.3.1) are permitted, provided their installation and/or adjustment requires no alteration to the handgun.
Aftermarket grip panels which match the profile and countours of the OFM standard or optional grip panels for the approved handgun and/or the application of tape on grips (see Appendix E3) are permitted, However, rubber sleeves are prohibited.
Revolver: No limit on cylinder capacity. A maximum of 6 rounds to be fired before reloading. Violations will incur one procedural penalty for each shot in excess of 6 rounds actually fired before reloading.
Any complete revolver (or a revolver assembled from components), produced by an OFM and available to the general public (except prototypes) is permitted.
Modifications such as weights or other devices to control and/or to reduce recoil are prohibited.
Modifications which are permitted are limited to:
Replacement of, or modification to, sights, hammers and cylinder releases;
Replacement barrels, provided the barrel length, weight and profile are the same as the OFM standard;
Cosmetic enhancements (e.g. plating, checkering of frames, custom grips);
Chamfering and/or modifications to the cylinder to accept "Moon Clips";
Replacement springs, and modifications to enhance the operation of the trigger.
"Self-loading" revolvers with retractable slides are prohibited in this Division. 3.3 Power Factor, Targets & Scoring
Success in practical pistol shooting comes from a combination of accuracy, speed, and power. These quantities are measured in different ways: points are awarded for hitting target zones and knocking down steel plates, time is measured with an electronic timer, and power is calculated from the velocity and bullet weight of your ammunition. All three scores affect the outcome of the match.
3.3.1 Power Factor
IPSC competitors are separated into two groups for scoring: Major and Minor power factor. The power factor is determined from the product of your bullet weight and the velocity of
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your ammunition. Competitors shooting Major power factor ammo receive additional points for peripheral hits on paper targets. In general, all pistols .40 calibre and up can make Major, and others (such as .38 super, 9x21/23/25) only make Major with hand loads. The power factor of your ammunition can be determined using a weight scale and a chronograph.
POWER FACTOR is calculated from bullet weight and velocity:
Open Division 1 Minimum power factor for Major 160 2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125 3 Minimum bullet weight 120 grain for major Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case 9mm (0.354") / 19mm 4 length (0.748") 5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major No 6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix E4) No 7 Maximum handgun size No 8 Maximum magazine length 170mm (see Appendix E1) 9 Maximum ammunition capacity No Max. distance of handgun and allied 10 50mm equipment from torso 11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies No 12 Optical/electronic sights Yes Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash 13 Yes suppressors
Standard Division 1 Minimum power factor for Major 170 2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125 3 Minimum bullet weight No Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case 4 9mm (0.354") / 19mm (0.748") length 5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major 10mm (0.40") 6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix E4) No 7 Maximum handgun size Yes, see below 8 Maximum magazine length Yes, see below 9 Maximum ammunition capacity No Max. distance of handgun and allied 10 50mm equipment from torso 11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies Yes 12 Optical/electronic sights No Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash 13 No suppressors
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Production Division 1 Minimum power factor for Major Not applicable 2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125 3 Minimum bullet weight No Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case 9mm (0.354") / 19mm 4 length (0.748") 5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major Not applicable 6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix F2) 2.27 kg (5lbs) for first shot Maximum barrel length 7 Maximum handgun size 127mm 8 Maximum magazine length No 9 Maximum ammunition capacity Yes, see Point 16.2 below Max. distance of handgun and allied 10 50mm equipment from torso 11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies Yes 12 Optical/electronic sights No Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash 13 No suppressors
Classic Division 1 Minimum power factor for Major 170 2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125 3 Minimum bullet weight No Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case 9mm (0.354") / 19mm 4 length (0.748") 5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major 10mm (0.40"), see below 6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix E4) No 7 Maximum handgun size Yes, see below 8 Maximum magazine length Yes, see below 9 Maximum ammunition capacity Yes, see below Max. distance of handgun and allied 10 50mm equipment from torso 11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies Yes 12 Optical/electronic sights No Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash 13 No suppressors
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Revolver Division 1 Minimum power factor for Major 170 2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125 3 Minimum bullet weight No Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case 9mm (0.354") / 19mm 4 length (0.748") 5 Minimum caliber for Major No 6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix F2) No 7 Maximum handgun size No 8 Maximum magazine length Not applicable 9 Maximum ammunition capacity No, see below Max. distance of handgun and allied 10 50mm equipment from torso 11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies No 12 Optical/electronic sights No Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash 13 No suppressors
Ammunition must make Minor to be used in IPSC competition.
Calibre must be .38/9mm or higher, and 9mm Luger may be scored as major under current IPSC rules which makes Major. Outside of Unlimited/Open class .40/10mmand 45ACP has been deemed the minimum calibre permitted to score as Major.
3.3.2 Targets
There are several types of targets that may be used in IPSC competition: the standard cardboard IPSC target, the IPSC Mini Target (one third smaller) the IPSC Popper, the IPSC Mini Popper, the 30cm round plate, the 15cm round plate the 30x30cm rectangular plate and the 15cm rectangular plate. All of the steel targets will fall when hit. The IPSC Mini Popper is a 2/3 scale version of the standard IPSC Popper shown below. The circular section is 15cm across on the standard Popper, and 10cm on the Mini Popper. Both Poppers are to be set so that they will fall from a hit at the calibration zone (in the circle) from a 9mm factory load. Unless otherwise marked, all steel targets are worth 5 points when hit. 10 point steel targets are also allowed, but are rarely used. In the US, steel targets may be painted any colour, but Pepper Poppers that are 'shoot' targets may not be painted black.
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The standard cardboard IPSC target (shown above) and the IPSC Mini target has 3 zones: A, C, and D. Targets scoring values for Major and Minor power ammunition are shown in the table next to the target. Normally the target is tan but white IPSC targets are used as 'no- shoot' targets as described below.
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3.3.3 Scoring Method
COMSTOCK COUNT - Each target must have a stated number of hits on it, e.g., 'Best two hits will be scored.' You may shoot as many rounds as you wish at each target; take as much time as you need. The clock stops when you are finished. An electronic timer records the time of each shot. If a target has less than the minimum required hits you are penalized 10 points each. So if it called for three holes and you have one, you get 2 x -10 or -20 points. In the case of a 10 point plate, a miss is worth -20 points. Your score is your total points (minus penalties) divided by your time for that stage, which is your 'hit factor'. Negative hit factors (due to negative point totals) are not allowed, so a 0.0 is the lowest possible hit factor. Larger hit factors are always better. Typically these numbers will run from 0.0000 to 10.0000 or higher.
'No-shoot' targets are designated by white standard IPSC paper targets. In the US, Pepper poppers may also be used as 'no-shoots'. These targets are typically placed near 'shoot' targets to increase the difficulty of the event. No-shoot and miss penalties can combine quickly. A common error is to fire two shots at a shoot/no-shoot target array, scoring one round on the 'shoot' target and one on the 'no-shoot' target. If Comstock scoring is used, both a no-shoot and a miss penalty are assessed - since there is only one scorable hit on the 'shoot' target. Thus the shooter has lost a total of 25 points: -10 for the miss, -10 for the no-shoot, and (effectively) -5 for the points an A hit would have provided. Using the same reasoning it can be said that misses 'cost' the shooter -15 total points, -10 from the penalty and -5 from the points not earned. Misses and no-shoots quickly decimate any earned points from other targets and are to be avoided at all costs. A slow hit scores higher than a fast miss - or worse, a fast miss and no-shoot.
Additional procedural penalties may be assessed for failing to follow the instructors for a given course of fire: engaging targets from the wrong shooting box, or failing to perform a mandatory reload. Most penalties are 10 points, although some are only 5 points. Course designers often specify how procedural penalties are to be given in the course description. Always read the course description carefully and ask the range officer any questions you may have prior to shooting the stage, to avoid unwanted penalties.
See IPSC Handbook for the complete rules for each method of scoring.
3.5 Your First Match
WHAT DO THEY EXPECT OF ME? - SAFETY is the first concern in Practical Shooting. The match officers expect you and every other shooter to display the SELF CONTROL
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needed to handle your gun and yourself in a safe manner. These tips will help you understand how a match is run, your part in it, and what is expected of you.
WANT TO BE AN EFFECTIVE COMPETITOR? - Then relax and enjoy the fun. Banish all distracting thoughts of prize and place; you're challenging yourself. Don't try to shoot the other guy's match; set a speed that works for YOU. The one who makes the least mistakes fastest often wins. Set realistic goals. If you improve 5% each time out, if you learn something new from each match, you're a winner!
DO YOU MEET THE SKILL REQUIREMENTS? - Before appearing at a match ready to shoot, check to see if you meet the skill requirements. Many clubs require new shooters to pass a Shooter Safety Check before they can register for a match.
IS MY EQUIPMENT READY? - Make sure that all of your equipment is prepared and in good working order. Always take enough ammo - a good rule of thumb is taking double the amount of ammo needed for the match, in case you end up re-shooting all the stages. For most local matches 150 rounds is an acceptable minimum to bring; 200-250 rounds is more common. Most matches require 75-125 rounds to complete. Bringing extra ammo allows you to keep all spare magazines (speed loaders) full for every stage.
TRANSPORTING YOUR FIREARMS - Generally speaking, if the gun and ammo are locked in the trunk, not accessible to the driver, there should be no trouble. To be sure, CHECK AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS.
3.5.1 Registration
THE REGISTRATION PROCESS - Once you get parked, find Match Registration. Pay your match fee and get a registration packet. If you are a new shooter at your first three matches, tell them you're NEW. They will often mark your scorecards NEW to alert the ROs so they can assist you.
FILLING OUT THE REGISTRATION PACKET - The packet consists a set of score cards. Take the time to fill them out correctly and return that pen you borrowed. Tell registration if anything has changed from last time such as address or class. Note the SHOOTER NUMBER. That SAME NUMBER MUST APPEAR on every score card. That's YOUR JOB. To STATS you are a number on a score card - that is how they call up your records. Check the boxes if you want to register for any special classes (Stock Gun, COP, Lady, Revolver, etc.)
MAJOR OR MINOR - Does the card show if you are shooting Minor Factor or MajorFactor? The shooters doing STATS need that on the card to properly calculate your scores. If you leave it blank, they may score you as a Minor.
SCORE CARDS - One for each stage. Make sure that you enter the correct information. Write in your SHOOTER NUMBER and name.
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SAFETY FIRST! CHECK OUT THE LOCAL RULES - If you are familiar with the club's safety policy, now is the time to put your gun and gear on. Local procedures for this will vary. If you are new, now is the time to check out the local ground rules. They should be posted. If not, or if you have questions, ask one of the match officers for a clarification. They will appreciate your responsible attitude (you've made some points). Some clubs will let you gear up at your car, others require that you use the Safety Area. In many handling your gun outside of a safety area will get you disqualified from the match.
SAFETY FIRST! THE BASIC RULES - The Four Laws of Gun Control are the basis of gun safety. If you are ever in doubt about the right thing to do, apply the Four Laws. In addition, there are certain basic ground rules that will keep you out of trouble at an IPSC match:
(*) Once your gun is holstered, LEAVE IT ALONE unless you are on the firing line and a Range Officer is directing you. (See Safety Area for the exception.)
(*) Once your gun is loaded, always have the safety on unless you are actually shooting at a target. This is not required under the rules, but it's a good habit.
(*) Keep your finger OFF the trigger until your sights are ON the target. Get in the habit of extending the trigger finger. WHEN YOU MOVE, THE FINGER MUST BE OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD WHEN NOT ENGAGING TARGETS. A finger inside = Disqualification!
IN THE SAFETY AREA - The SAFETY AREA is the ONLY area of the match aside from the firing lines where gun handling is allowed. Signs should be posted that tell what the conditions of use are. If in doubt, ask. Some clubs allow dry practice here, some only permit checking of weapons. If your gun breaks, this is where you take it for field repairs. If George wants to show you his Blastatron 10, this is where he would do it.
(*) LOAD MAGAZINES ANYWHERE BUT THE SAFETY AREA!
(*) NO LOADED GUNS OR AMMO HANDLING IN THE SAFETY AREA, EVER!!!
You can wear your loaded magazines in pouches, but you cannot remove them while in the Safety Area. Gearing up in the Safety Area? Then uncase the gun keeping the muzzle pointed in the indicated safe direction. Check to make sure it's unloaded. Do this by racking the slide or opening the cylinder and inspecting. Then close slide or cylinder and reholster. Once holstered, leave it alone. Playing with your gun behind the lines will get you disqualified for unsafe gun handling.
3.5.2 On the Firing Line
SHOOTER STAGE INFORMATION - WHAT THE STAGE IS ABOUT - Find the official set posted in Registration or on the stage and read it. It will show how each stage is going to be run, and will have any last minute changes or corrections. You need this data to plan your strategy. (Got a strategy?)
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HOW THE STAGE IS RUN - Two Range Officers will be running a stage. The Chief Range Officer handles the shooter, watches his gun, and prevents him from doing something unsafe. The Range Officer (Timer) runs stage administration: order of shooters, their job assignments, spectators, and target scoring. When you are shooting, the CRO will be watching YOUR GUN while the RO will be to the rear, watching for procedurals. When possible, both the Chief Range Officer and Range Officer will be certified RO's. At local matches often only the Chief Range Officer will be certified, and other experienced club members will serve as assistant Range Officers.
STUDY THE SHOOTING PROBLEM - You can learn a lot just by watching others handle the problem. Watch how they handle their guns, how they move, where they reload all the things that make up their game plan. What worked? What didn't? Study the Shooter Stage Information posted in the waiting area. The CRO will give a walk-through and briefing to each new squad of shooters. He will explain the course, his safety concerns, and other matters related to shooting the course. Now is the time to ask those questions.
HELP RUN THE STAGE - Practical Shooting is a cooperative sport. Our Range Offices are shooters - unpaid volunteers who've paid their entry fee and want to shoot the match, too. They need and expect your full cooperation in helping run the match efficiently. Time saved on any stage means that the overall match ends sooner. You can do your part by understanding the course of fire BEFORE you come to the line, and by doing your share of the jobs on the stage. The squad on line works the stage. Job assignments are announced by the RO. You'll work as:
BRASS PICKER - Gather spent brass and discarded magazines when the shooter has finished. Present these to him when he leaves the line. Well-organized shooters have their own brass bags to make your job easier.
TARGET PATCHER - When the CRO and shooter finish inspecting a target, the CRO will tell you 'Patch Up!' You then patch all the bullet holes in the target, check the target edges for any grazing shots (usually they leave dark bullet lube marks); patch these, then onto the next target. If you aren't sure that a target has been scored, ask. If you patch before the CRO scores, there will be a great mess, much unhappiness, and sorrowful words.
YOU’RE TURN TO SHOOT - COME PREPARED so when the CRO asks if you have questions, you know the answers. Whether or not your scorecard shows that you are a new shooter, the CRO will be happy to help you. He wants you to be safe, learn the game, and have fun. Prepared also means having enough ammo for the problem. If you run out in the middle, you're out of luck. Did you check each magazine to see that it was full? (TIP: DON'T put used magazines back into your carriers; only full ones should be there.) You'll forget this, and you'll find out.
YOUR SCORECARD - When you have finished shooting and been cleared, the CRO and you will inspect the targets. Stay 1 meter away from the target unless told differently. Do not touch the target unless you want it scored as a 0. If you disagree with the score, you may challenge it. You will get three opinions, which are final (RO,CRO, Range Master or Match Director). Check the scorecard carefully before you initial it. Once you and the CRO have signed it, it's a definitive document. It's a good idea to keep your own separate record of the score and times so you can catch any errors.
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FINAL SCORES - When the gear is put away and STATS has finished scoring, the final stage scores will be posted for inspection and correction. Then STATS will calculate the match scores. The Match Director will announce the winners and present the awards. In the case of many matches you may have to wait several days before you are mailed final, verified results. No matter who took what home, if you learned something new, if you improved your skills, if you had fun doing it, you are one of the winners in Practical Shooting. 4. Where to find more information
If you have questions about practical shooting not answered by this FAQ, several sources are listed below that may help. 4.1 Other Internet IPSC resources
There are also many IPSC-related WWW pages, including:
• www.ngpsa.co.za • www.ipsc.com • www.uspsa.org • www.sapsa.co.za 4.2 Books, videos
Recommended Books:
• Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals (Brian Enos) • Shooting from Within (J. Michael Plaxco)
Recommended Videos
• Shooter Ready (Rob Leatham) Dillon Precision • At the Beep (J. Michael Plaxco • Burner Series (Jerry Barnhart) 4.3 Related shooting sports
Many people who shoot IPSC pistol matches also enjoy several other shooting sports which use similar equipment and/or rules, such as: USPSA 3-gun competition for rifle and shotgun, NRA Action Pistol shooting, Steel Challenge shooting, Bowling Pin shooting, and Cowboy Action Shooting. Brief descriptions of these related sports is provided below.
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4.3.1 3-gun competition
In addition to practical pistol competition, many clubs also put on '3-gun' matches where pistol, rifle and shotgun are used in courses similar to those shot with pistols only. IPSC has developed a set of rules for rifle and shotgun competitions based on the practical pistol rules. All rules of the standard handgun edition apply to rifle and shotgun, except for amendments as discussed in the IPSC rule book.
Standard paper IPSC targets and Pepper Poppers are used, with the paper targets commonly engaged with buckshot or slugs, and the plates engaged with lead shot (from #2 - #9). Other types of targets may be used, including falling round and square steel plates, bowling pins, and 'thrown' clay birds. Although some clubs may give awards for pump or Limited classes, many Serious Competitors are now using shotguns with extensive modifications similar to those found on unlimited class pistols. A 'full-race' shotgun might be a Remington or Benelli semi-auto with an extension magazine tube that holds 10-14 rounds and a ported barrel. Some competitors are using 'red-dot' scopes in place of traditional sights, and a few have added bipods for use in courses that require engaging targets with slugs at distances from 50 to 100 yards.
Rifle: The power factor for rifle is calculated using the same equation that is used for pistol: bullet weight in grains times velocity in feet per second, divided by 1000. The Major calibre minimum power factor is 340 and the Minor power factor floor is 160. In the US this usually divides the .223 calibre rifles (AR-15, Mini-14, and others) from the .30 calibre rifles (such as the M1A). Standard IPSC targets may be used as well as steel plates suitable for use with rifles (thicker and stronger than the plates used for pistol and shotgun competition). Some clubs may give awards for Limited Class in rifle, which prohibits the use of scopes, bipods and compensators.
Practical rifle and shotgun competition requires the same balance of accuracy, speed, and power as practical pistol. As in the pistol game you will likely find a wide variation in course design from club to club. For further information consult the IPSC rule book.
4.3.2 Action Shooting/Bianchi Cup
The NRA has an Action Shooting program which has events similar to IPSC, except that there is a pre-defined set of courses of fire. Instead of the standard IPSC paper and steel targets, the NRA uses the Bianchi 'tombstone' paper target, 8' falling steel plates, and a 'speed target' similar to a Pepper Popper. There is a minimum power factor floor of 120, but there is no Major/Minor division as in IPSC. All courses of fire are scored using points only, as all events are Fixed Time. All courses are 'revolver-friendly' in that all strings require 6 shots or less or include mandatory reloads. The NRA Bianchi Cup is the national championship for the NRA Action Shooting Program. For more information contact the NRA.
4.3.3 The Steel Challenge
The Steel Challenge is a major pistol match that uses all steel targets and is scored on time only. Until 1993 there was no mandatory power factor of any kind; in 1993 a minimum power factor of 125 was instituted due to the replacement of the stationary steel targets with
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falling steel plates on several events. All courses of fire consist of 5 steel targets (8', 10' and 12' circles, or 18'x24' rectangles) in various configurations. There are 7 of these events, most of which do not change from year to year. For each course, the competitor begins in the 'surrender' position, draws his/her handgun and places one hit on each of the 5 steel targets. There is no limit on the number of shots that may be fired at each plate. After the competitor finishes shooting, the time is recorded. If the competitor has left a plate unhit, a time penalty is assessed. Some courses require that a particular plate be engaged last. Plates not hit before the stop plate is hit are counted as misses, and the time stops when the stop plate is hit. Five strings are shot at each event, and the best 4 of 5 times are kept for score. After all 7 events are completed the times from each stage are added. The match winner is the shooter with the fastest total time.
Some IPSC clubs also shoot Steel Challenge or 'speed plate' matches where a lower (or no) power factor is required, and you may IPSC shooters talking about 'steel guns' or 'steel loads' in reference to lightweight guns designed to fire loads in the 100-140 power factor range. 5. Training Tips
Here are some basic thoughts and ideas that might help you improve your IPSC shooting, refocus your training, or enjoy competition more.
5.1 Identifying What's Wrong
Basically there are two areas to look at: points and time. After your next match sit down and look at your scores. Where are the people who are beating you getting ahead? The easy answer is 'time', because the typical thing is for people to get fixated on going fast and forget that the scoring has two components. Before you look at the times, look at the points. It's important to understand the relationship between the high hit factor on a stage and how many seconds a point is worth.
It's very common for the high hit factor at a major match to in the 7-12 range. No matter what the high factor is, one over that factor is how many seconds one point is worth. In other words, if the high factor is a 7, one point is worth 1/7 of a second; for a 12 factor stage, one point is worth 1/12 of a second. If you are only a 50% shooter, multiply those numbers by 2: for you one point is worth 1/6 of a second, if you are running a 6 factor on a stage where the winner shoots a 12 factor.
A lot of people don't understand that a miss doesn't cost you 10 points -- it costs you 15, because you aren't getting the 5 points for that missing A. That means on a 10 factor stage, where each point is worth 1/10 of a second, a miss is equal to 1.5 seconds. That means if you can make up that miss in less than 1.5 seconds your factor will be higher than if you leave it. This also means that in certain cases you are better off to leave a small steel plate after engaging it once or twice, than taking up 10 seconds banging away at it. Obviously you can't do that if the whole course is small steel plates, but there are times when taking the miss is better than eating a lot of time. If you have a jam after firing one shot at the last target on a
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stage, you have already engaged the target. If it takes you longer than 2 seconds to clear the jam or reload, you are probably better off stopping and taking the miss -- especially if the stage has a high factor (over 10).
Here's a key to mastering any physical skill: before you try to perform the skill at any significant speed you need to spend some quality time getting the form right. There are a million subtle details in your grip, stance, draw, reload, and target acquisition. Part of learning to go faster is to break down what you are doing and analyze it. Compare your form to someone else's, preferably someone who is a lot better than you are. When you practice, concentrate on smooth, relaxed motion, and correctness of form. You are far better off with a 1.4 second reload, for example, than a tense, jerky reload that is 1.0 second one of ten times, 1.8 most of the time, and two of ten times you botch the load completely.
There is no substitute for diligent practice. The hard truth is that unless you are willing to spend some time dry firing or on the range, you won't see any dramatic improvements in speed. Worse than that, it really takes 3-4 sessions a week to show significant improvement. Otherwise you are only maintaining or inching forward. If you can spend 10 minutes a day dry-firing you will probably be better off than making one trip to the range and shooting 500 rounds in one session. Of course, there is also no substitute for going to the range and setting up field courses and shooting a lot, but as you'll see I've come to believe that how you practice is as important as how much you practice.
5.2 Attitude
Attitude is the most important factor, in my opinion. First and foremost, you should be excited about shooting the match, and waiting your turn to shoot a stage should be like standing in line for your favourite rollercoaster. The electric jolt that should hit you as the start buzzer goes off is what makes IPSC so much fun. Think back to the first few IPSC matches that you shot. You didn't know much about the scoring rules or how to game a stage, but if you are like most competitors you had a great time, because it gave you an adrenaline rush. Unless you are one of the lucky few who are making a living shooting matches, don't ever lose your perspective. The day after the match no one but you, and maybe a few friends, will remember how you did on stage 5. If it stops being fun, take a break and regroup. For most people, IPSC stops being fun because of frustration with gun problems, erratic performance, or burnout from ending up being match director, course designer and head RO at too many matches. All of those things can be fixed.
5.3 Gun Problems
Everybody's been there, or will be there someday. When you least expect it, usually at a major match, your gun will break. It will probably break after running flawlessly in practice for months. If this happens, remember that there is always another match. Find a gunsmith that you trust, and who can repair your gun in a timely fashion, especially during match
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season. If you can afford, get a backup gun. If you intend to shoot more than 3 major matches each year, a backup gun is a wise investment. If the main gun breaks the day before the match, having an identical spare that you can pull out of the safe and use is a wonderful thing. By the time you start shooting multiple major matches per year you've made a significant investment in equipment, ammo, travel, and match fees. The backup gun may seem like overkill but once you have one you wonder what you ever did without it. The bad news about fixing gun problems is that it always costs money. Unfortunately, IPSC is an equipment intensive sport, and keeping the guns running is a big part of it. For some shooters tinkering with the guns, and trying to squeeze every ounce of maximum performance from them, is almost more fun than shooting them!
5.4 Erratic Performance
If you go to the SAPSA WWW “www.sapsa.co.za” page and use the search feature to look at how an average shooter performs at matches, you'll see an interesting trend. Except for the people who finish in the top 10 at major matches, almost everyone has a wide variation in their percentage. Those that win their classes are almost always the people who do the following: the gun runs on every stage shoot 90% or better of the possible points on every stage fire a minimum of makeup/extra shots no misses, no-shoots, or procedurals figures out an efficient plan to run each stage and sticks to it
For most people, meeting these goals is much harder than learning to go faster, but eventually no matter how fast you go if you fail to meet these goals on match day, someone will beat you -- maybe someone who is a lot slower.
Most stages at major matches these days have high hit factors in the 7-12 range, which means that shooting a miss is like taking an extra 1-2 seconds. The difference between an 85% run and a 70% run, for example, is usually one miss and a couple of D's. When you practice, shoot as if every run is the last stage of a match, and all you have to do is shoot your speed and get all the hits to win the match. If you allow yourself to get D's in practice, you will get misses and no-shoots on match day. Under stress, you will do what you have trained yourself to do. It is the first 50 rounds that you fire in a practice session that reflect what you will do on match day, not the last 50.
Here's where attitude comes back into the picture. The way I see it there are two basic attitudes on match day: Fun and Serious. If you are in 'Serious' mode, you spend some time before the match chamber checking match ammo, cleaning magazines, and generally doing
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everything you can to make your gun work. The night before the match you eat healthy food and get a good night's sleep. You get up early enough that you are awake and alert by your first stage, and you stretch and warm up your muscles before it is your turn to shoot. You have looking at the stages and put together a plan on how you intend to shoot the stage, and you have run through it in your mind enough times that you can turn your back on the props and describe to someone else, in detail, exactly what you are going to do. The more detail you have in your mental plan, the less you have to think when the buzzer goes off. At each stage, you tell yourself:
This is going to be the best stage of the match - because you are excited to be there and you intend to shoot 100% of your potential. If you allow yourself to be intimidated by a course of fire you have already lost! Visualize yourself shooting the stage perfectly.
No matter what it takes, I will get the hits. You will pay attention to your dot or your sights, and do your best to call every shot as it breaks. If you see your sights move off the target as you shoot, fire a makeup before your gun leaves the target. Calling your misses and not having to go back to targets, or leaving misses and no-shoots, is a major problem for most shooters. In order to achieve this you have to teach yourself to stop blinking as the gun goes off. Videotape or a practice partner will help with this.
I am ready to shoot right now. - Because you could be the first shooter in your squad. Because you have taken the time before you walked up to the stage to prepare yourself and your equipment, and because IPSC is so much fun that you can't wait to do some shooting!
The other option is to get into 'Fun' mode, where you go have fun the night before the match, and throw your stuff in the car the morning of the match and hope that your gun is clean, that you have enough ammo to shoot the match, and that you have a holster and magazines. If you go in this mode, don't get upset when things go wrong. After all, you didn't make the effort to prepare for a 'serious' match. If you go in 'Fun' mode you have already decided that whatever your score is - good or bad - is secondary to the activity of shooting and socializing. Training hard and trying to achieve your personal best is a great thing, and when you succeed it is extremely rewarding -- but unless you keep things in perspective you can easily get on the road to burnout when things get tough.
5.5 Burnout
If you get serious, eventually you will get to a point where you are facing burnout. This is true whether you are shooting 2000 rounds a week trying to make Master class, or running your local club singlehandedly, or both at the same time. The best solution is to take a break, or change something. Switch from Limited to Open, or vice versa. Shoot a match with a revolver, or your carry gun from concealment. If you are one of the backbone workers of your club, travel to another club where you are only expected to be a shooter, and not a match
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director. It may be sacrilege to say it, but you could (gasp) just skip the match completely and go see a movie or sleep in.
5.6 Final Thoughts
This little essay isn't intended to give you all answers, and is just a collection of things that I've learned from many years of trying to continually improve my scores and win matches. Some of it may be wrong, but it's what has worked for me. If this information helps you, or if you find that it doesn't help, let me know. I'm always learning something new, and you never know, what you figure out may be the thing that helps me get a little closer to excel at shooting. 6. PISTOL DRY FIRE/LIVE FIRE 6.1 Things to remember
The grip being the most important part of the draw, it should be broken down into segments
• Web - Web of strong hand contacts back strap of pistol as high as possible • Index - The part of the middle finger that touches the outside edge of the trigger guard, makes contact providing a "index" that your hand is going to grip the pistol properly. To find this index, carefully place the pistol in your hand in the full firing grip, and then push your middle finger up against the trigger guard to the point of pain. You now have a very real, tactile index of your hand position on the pistol before you even complete the grip. Those of you who shoot frequently will notice that you have a callous there. • Finger - The trigger finger goes to its straight position on the frame. (with the holster being between finger and gun) • Wrap - Excluding the trigger finger, wrap all the fingers around the grip with a firm even pressure.
Once you have that down, then you can proceed.
Most training organizations teach the draw as a 4 or 5 step process, which combine several movements into a step. In fact there is a whole lot more going on. The steps below break the draw into it's actual individual components and are designed to take you through the drawing process. We start out with distinct steps to learn the process and evolve into one smooth stroke where we are not conscious of the steps.
Grip - You obtain your strong hand firing grip on your pistol in your holster. This grip does not change. Trigger finger is straight. Clear - Pistol is lifted clear of the holster. Trigger finger remains straight. Pivot - Pistol is pivoted so the muzzle points toward the target. Pistol is just above the holster Click - Safety is removed (autos) Smack - Support hand grips the pistol
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Punch - Pistol is moved to eye level, finger goes into trigger guard Look - Sight alignment is verified with a flash sight picture Press - Trigger is pressed
Thus we work through the following steps.
Grip. Clear. Pivot. Click. Smack. Punch. Look. Press. Grip. Clear. Pivot. Smack. Punch. Look. Press. Grip. Clear. Smack. Punch. Look. Press. Grip. Clear. Smack. Punch. Press. Grip. Clear. Punch. Press. Grip, Clear. Press DRAW!
As practice continues the steps start to blend together (ie: In the second sequence the pivot and the release of the safety blend into one step. In the third step the clear, pivot, and safety release blend into one step, etc.) and eventually the process and thought train just becomes "draw" and when done right you can actually look at a target, close your eyes, draw, and when you open your eye the sights will be aligned.
When practicing the draw DO NOT rush the speed. Work for smoothness and economy of motion. Speed will come naturally. If you have no real experience in drawing start with an empty pistol until the motions are imprinted on your muscles. 6.2 Practice Drills
Draw and Fire - 20 repetitions Hans Surrender Draw and Fire - 20 repetitions Hans at Sides Turn, draw, and snap - 10 each from Left , Right Turn and 180 draw and fire 10 Repetitions Draw, Fire, change magazine, and point in - 10 repetitions
Pay particular attention to smoothness and economy of motion and to achieving a proper sight picture at the end of the draw stroke. (Ideally, you want to be able to look at the target, close your eyes, draw, and then open your eyes and have the sights aligned on the target.)
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6.3 Live Fire Practise Drills
Pistol Range Drills Range Stage Meters Targets Drill Time Repetitions Rounds
5 1 Fire 2 rounds 1.5 2 4
2 at 1.5 7 meters apart Fire 2 rounds at each target 2.5 2 8
10 2 Fire 2 rounds, per target 3 2 6 10 1 Fire 2 rds 2 2 4
10 3 - 1.5 apart 2-2-2 reload 2-2-2 8 1 12
Fire 2 rd at each target, using left, 10 2 - 1.5 apart right, and 180 pivot 3 1 12
15 2 Fire 2 rounds at each target 3 2 18
25 1 Fire 2 rounds at each target 3 4 4 Total 68
7. Reference Material www.krtraining.com www.ipsc.org www.USPS.org www.crspeed.co.za www.sapsa.co.za www.ngpsa.co.za
Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals (Brian Enos)
Shooting from Within (J. Michael Plaxco)
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