Dport wrote:
"A couple of more questions if I could. Does the holster have to be concealed for the match?
You said the shoot in Fred-vegas was under USPSA rules, I thought that was more IPSC style. Were you shooting the match with IDPA type equipment?"
More than willing to field questions; keep em' coming:
USPSA and IPSC are generally the same sport with slightly different rules, and in the USA it is called "USPSA" - even though we were the ones who invented IPSC around 1976.
Why the different names? When IPSC went international, it was forced to become "politically correct" by countries like Italy which bans any sort of military or police training by civilains. Thus, they can't use tagets with "heads" or shoot through door ways, windows, etc. Here in the USA, we kept the familiar torso shaped targets - head and all - and simply formed USPSA. Now, the US version (USPSA) is closer to Jeff Cooper's original "Combat Shooting Competition" than the international sport of IPSC (which exists only outside the USA).
Concealment:
-it is not required by USPSA. It is allowed if you want to use it.
-it is required by the similar sport of IDPA. Back when USPSA became too specialized in the mid 1990s, a group of shooters split from USPSA and formed IDPA to focus on concealled carry and the use of non-race guns. All IDPA guns have to be non-ported, no compensators, no dot sights, under a certain weight, no race holsters, and no more than 10 rounds in a magazine no matter what its capacity. All targets have to be close and can only be engaged in a certain order (usually called "tactical priority") magazines have to be retained if they contain ammunition. There are other rules as well, but bottom line is: its similar to USPSA though there is only one way to shoot a given stage in IDPA. After IDPA was formed, USPSA created separate classes for stock guns and they are now the majority of handguns used in USPSA (relatively few shooters use specialized "race guns").
I shoot and support both IDPA and USPSA. They are very similar. A stock semi-auto 9mm or 1911 is very competitive in either sport.
The central calendar for USPSA events in the area is:
www.vamdsection.org
I am not aware of an IDPA calendar for VA.
However, there is an IDPA at my home club, Shooters Paradise in Woodbridge tonight (Wed). and I'll be shooting at 8 PM (using my actual CCW .40 from a CCW holster); its a little late to sign up but people who want to shoot should send an e-mail and request a slot by following the info at www.shootersparadise.com under "forum" and "IDPA at Shooters" ; I think there were some 8 PM slots open.
Anyone is welcome to come by & watch, ask questions, check out the match tonight; just look for the guy with the clipboard & we'll assign someone to answer questions, explain the action, etc.
The next Fredericksburg USPSA will be held one month from last Sunday; sign up by following www.vamdsection.org
Keep the questions coming & see you at the range,
CBR