Thursday, July 26, 2012

Indoor Pistol Match

At the last Fredericksburg USPSA match, one of the guys on my squad told me there were now "IDPA" matches being held at the local indoor range. The matches are held evenings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at The Range, and this week I was able to participate.

The matches at the range are run as IDPA matches, but don't have the concealment garment requirement, as it can get quite warm in the building. The match consisted of 4 stages, requiring 48 rounds minimum. On the first stage we started with hands on the side wall. At the start, four targets are shot with one round each, while moving to cover, then again with two rounds each from behind cover. I finished that stage 4 points down. The second stage had just two targets, one of which was hanging from the range's target track. On the start that target started moving downrange. The gun was loaded with 6 rounds at the start, and all 6 were shot, while advancing, on the rapidly retreat target. After a reload the second target required exactly six shots as well, while retreating. The shooter had to be sure to count those shots and fire only 6 or incur a penalty. I was very happy with my shooting on that fun stage, with just 3 points down.

The last two stages I didn't fare as well on, but I was still pleased. Stage 3 was a 'stand and shoot' stage with two targets which had been cut up to make four reduced size targets. I had a miss on one target that I didn't catch, as I saw a "hit" that turned out to actually light coming through a previously pasted hit. Live and learn, and 9 points down. The last stage had the shooter seated in a chair, holding a "fishing pole," with the loaded gun in a box at their feet. To the shooters right were four targets; two low horizontal targets and two upright. Shooting was done while seated. The goal was to hit the "wild dogs" first with three shots each, followed by three hits on each of the bad guys. I went too fast on this one and had a few misses putting me 13 points down.

I finished 5th out of the 17 shooters, so even with the misses on stage 4 I was quite happy with my finish. I came away with some ideas on things to work on, but most importantly, had a good time as well. I thought it was interesting that the two courses requiring shooting on the move were my best. My thought is I tend to go too fast on the "easy" standing stages. The Range is just a short drive from my home, making the event a convenient and fun mid-week diversion. The stages, and the people, are a lot of fun. I've now added the match info to my calendar and I'm looking forward to going back soon.

7 comments:

  1. I used to participate in a combat shoot every Monday night at a local indoor range. It was great until OSHA and the EPA made it impossible & illegal to do. The more a person has opportunity to keep the skills sharp & fresh, the better. Glad you did well and had a great time.

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    1. True Ron. More opportunity to shoot under even simulated stress is always good!

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  2. Stress is a GREAT learning aid. Too many people establish a comfort zone by shooting relaxed target style, at the same target, at the same distance for years on end. This often provides them "bragging rights" to good looking targets. Someone wanting to become defensively efficient will push out from that comfort zone, and not be afraid of failure.

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  3. I used to do the same thing down at Lafayette Gun Club in York Co. Didn't know they had that at The Range.
    Ut oh. I can see this is not going to go well on my wallet.

    Was the lighting OK? The Range seemed kinda dim last time I was there.

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    1. I was worried about the lighting myself, but it was fine. They had them all on, and we were inside the bay area, not in the dark stalls.

      It was fun, you should come out.

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  4. Dim lighting is another GREAT concept. Who promised us we would have great lighting should we need to use a firearm defensively? We used to do dark shoots too. If you never have, it IS an experience. Murphy tends to camp out in your back pocket while in the dark.

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    1. When I shot the Mid-Atlantic USPSA match last year there was a stage where we had to duck into dark rooms that was quite interesting.
      (http://www.musingsoverapint.com/2011/06/uspsa-mid-atlantic-sectional-match.html)

      Will have a class later this summer that will include night time work, looking forward to it.

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