I shot a steel challenge match for the first time this weekend. It was my first competition in almost a year, I probably have shot less than a dozen total. That gun is still under 1k rounds and I’ve probably only shot two mags through it all year as I don’t get to shoot much anymore.
My point, which some of you have known far longer than I have, is that competition has a ton of significant benefits over just blasting at a range. There were a lot of people there that are far older than me and have been shooting for much longer but have never done anything formal or structured. Go challenge yourself and your gear. Clearly my KKM barrel needs some work.
I used to do a lot of IDPA matches, and definitely need to start up again. I still train alot, but agree there are many huge benefits to competing, especially in matches with good courses of fire. And i liked how IDPA was specifically focused on every day carry fundamentals and scenarios.
Seems like you guys shoot a lot, maybe take a break from your normal long range stuff to mix it up.
I haven’t shot IDPA, the only time I considered it, I learned that WMLs weren’t allowed. I don’t know if appendix was either. Shooting open with a modified Glock is more realistic than that for me so I never looked further. The local club here does an unsanctioned concealed carry match sometimes too, I guess it’s a combination of everything which sounds cool.
Either way, the point being that a lot of threads on this forum have drifted from actual shooting and there is some great time/money value in local matches.
Thanks, a little frustrating as I used to place in top 10-20% out East, with more competition. Eastern PA matches had 150 shooters, multiple GMs and Ms… but I was consistent then. Just getting back into it. Im hoping to win at least one by the end of the year here… but I need time for rock climbing and long range too… i need more time!
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Uspsa now allows appendix CC and wml for CO division
Go Compete !
100% agree, competition will take you out of your comfort zone and cause you to confront shooting problems one would never expect. People get nervous and, I think, equipment gets nervous… Guns will malfunction that have never malfunctioned before. I used to do a lot of IDPA and a little USPSA but strictly handgun competition got a little boring even though I was hardly a master…
Now my prefered competitive outlet is 2 gun action, I would hesitate to call it extreme, everything is “extreme” these days. I really like the “Brutality” series of matches.