IX. Competetive Information B. IPSC Information 2. The IPSC FAQ by Karl Rehn (rehn@arlut.utexas.edu) The WWW version of this FAQ is available at: http://www.avaloncorp.com/~rehn/ Frequently Asked Questions: rec.guns, IPSC pistol competition. maintained by: Karl Rehn (krehn@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) 1st release: 12/23/93 updated: 2/4/94 - reformatted to 75 character line width updated: 9/21/94 - new Finland contact information, Limited rules, USPSA BBS, IPSC WWW home page information. updated: 1/6/95 - new Canadian contact list updated: 3/17/95 - new Finland contact information, Matches magazine reference deleted, Rob Boudrie's email address updated updated: 5/19/95 - NRA phone number updated, IPSC mailing list info fixed IROA home page added updated: 7/13/95 - WWW pages, GunGames, Steel Challenge, mailing list info OUTLINE: 1. What's Practical Shooting? 1.1 Overview 1.2 The principles of the sport 1.3 Background 1.4 The Equipment Race and Self Defense 2. Start Practical Shooting Safely 2.1 Four Laws of Gun Control 2.2 Equipment 2.3 Basic Skills 2.3.1 Fundamentals 2.3.2 Safe Dry Fire Practice At Home 2.3.3 The Draw and Fire Sequence 2.3.4 Reloading, Movement, and other Skills 2.4 Practicing 3. The Rules of the Game 3.1 Safety and Disqualification 3.1.1 The Safe Area 3.1.2 Range Commands 3.2 Unlimited? Limited? vs. Open? Modified? Standard? 3.3 Power Factor, Targets & Scoring 3.3.1 Power Factor 3.3.2 Targets 3.3.3 Scoring Methods 3.4 USPSA Classification and Ranking 3.5 Your First Match 3.6.1 Registration 3.6.2 On the Firing Line 4. More Information 4.1 Other Internet IPSC resources 4.2 Finding a club in your area 4.3 Books, videos, and magazines 4.4 Related shooting sports 4.4.1 USPSA 3-gun competition 4.4.2 NRA Action Shooting/Bianchi Cup 4.4.3 The Steel Challenge 4.4.4 Bowling Pin Shooting/Second Chance 4.4.5 Cowboy Action Shooting 4.4.6 Other Matches 5. FAQ Credits Appendix A - IPSC Rules, 11th edition Appendix B - USPSA regulations, 6th edition (US only) Appendix C - USPSA Limited Class information ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 shootoffs 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 centerfire handguns in large calibers (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 speedloaders in pouches also attached to the belt. Unlike bullseye or skeet, the events shot in each practical shooting match are different each time - which requires competitors to be diverse in their training. 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 shoot a match with your ÒcarryÓ gun to develop your self defense skills and test your equipment. 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. 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 "Combat Shooting - 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 which 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 "Leatherslap" 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 calibers. 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 pistolcraft" 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 the United States, the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) is the sanctioning body. Within the international administrative structure the US is designated as an administrative "Region". The member elected president of USPSA also serves as "Regional Director" (RD) for the US IPSC program. An important part of USPSA is the National Range Officers Institute (NROI), which sends instructors around the country to conduct training and certification courses for volunteer USPSA/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 and Self Defense 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 speedloaders 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-defense 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 ÒshootÓ 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! THE 1st LAW - THE GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED! Ê 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 ÒemptyÓ 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 Brainfade 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 application 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 defense is legal,Êit doesn't make much sense to rely on one gun for self defense 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 semiauto, .38 special or greater revolver), belt holster that covers the trigger guard of the pistol ('Uncle Mike's'-style or better), magazines or speedloaders for a minimum of 36 rounds, 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 bedisqualified 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. Ernie Hill and Safariland are two of the most commonly used brands, but any competent leather worker should be able to make a suitable belt at a reasonable price. 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 convienent 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. This prevents an accidentally discharged round from striking the ground within 1 meter of the shooter - thus preventing a possible match disqualification as well as injury. (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 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 speedloaders. An experienced competitor will always have enough spare magazines or speedloaders so that there is at least one un-used at the end of a course of fire. The un-used device is "malfunction insurance". A good minimum number of rounds to take to a local match is 150. 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 US, while high capacity 9mms such as the CZ are popular in many countries. Many beginning competitors start out with a stock handgun. 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-defense gun, or a combination? Let's see what John Shaw - twice IPSC national Champion recommends: ÒWe all agree that an out-of-the-box .45 (1911 type) is going to need several modifications right off the bat, including sights, a new trigger and trigger job, lowering the ejection port (unless it's a Commander or a Gold Cup) and throating the barrel. If you're just getting started in match shooting, or if you carry the gun on the street, I recommend a high-visibility fixed sight. I recommend either the Wilson or the Millet. You'll need a new front sight as the stock one tends to reflect sunlight. If your gun is a duty gun, however, or one to be carried on the street, you should go with a ramp front to the facilitate drawing the gun from a holster.Ó (from John Shaw: You Can't Miss) 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 commerical 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 slogans favored 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 berms. 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 (eg. Canada) 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. 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. 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.) It is also possible to disable the grip safety, but if you own the gun for self-defense purposes,it is not recommended. On a firearm intended only for competition, disabling the grip safety (provided there are other safety mechanisms remaining) is allowed under IPSC rules. 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 center 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 ÒpointerÓ 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. 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 Òon targetÓ 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 (eg. uprange), 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 embarassing 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, 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 ÒAÓ 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 Òshoot one - load oneÓ range where drawing is not permitted, practice your presentation from the Ready position. It works. A mastery of bullseye 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 gunhandling skills and accuracy to increasing speed. Timers are available from $130 and up, 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 a different body geometry. Developing a personal shooting style takes research and experimentation. You are searching for what Òfeels rightÓ 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. 3. The Rules of the Game -------------------------- This section briefly covers the basic rules for competition. Consult the USPSA rulebook (if you're in the US) or IPSC rulebook for additional details. There are differences between some USPSA rules and the IPSC (international) rules. A few of these differences will be noted. The IPSC rule book is available as Appendix A, and the USPSA regulations are available as Appendix B. 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 safe 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 USPSA (and most 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. Most clubs require eye and ear protection for all shooters and eye protection for spectators. Even if your club does not require it, use of both are strongly encouraged. If your club runs a "hot" range (weapons loaded at all times) make sure that you understand and follow all of their safety regulations. DISQUALIFICATION will result from: - muzzle direction violating the 180 degree zone (pointing muzzle uprange 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 (speedloaders) 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. 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. ÒI'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.Ó 3.2 Unlimited? Limited? vs. Open? Modified? Standard? Recently the USPSA instituted a Limited class which restricts the modifications allowed to a competitors' firearm. Essentially, Limited class includes all pistols that do not have optical or electronic sights, compensators, or ported barrels. Most common modifications to improve reliability and accuracy (trigger job, throating, lowering the ejection port, etc.) are allowed. For complete descriptions of allowed and disallowed modifications consult the USPSA rule book. All firearms that do not qualify for Limited class are in Unlimited class. The current Limited class equipment restrictions are included as Appendix C to this FAQ. Under international (IPSC) rules Unlimited and Open guns are the same, free from restrictions. To be eligible for the Modified Division, a handgun in its ready condition (eg. cocked and locked) must fit in a box measuring 225 mm x 150 mm x 45 mm. As long as a handgun fits in the box any modifications are acceptable. In Standard Division any complete handgun produced by a factory in quantities of 500 units per year is permitted. The only modifications which are forbidden are ports, compensators, and optics. IPSC only permits extension magazines in Open Division. 3.3 Power Factor, Targets and 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 your ammunition. Competitors shooting Major power factor ammo receive additional points for peripheral hits on paper targets. In general, all pistols .40 caliber and up can make Major, and others (such as .38 super, 9x21/23/25) only make Major with handloads. 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: bullet weight (grains) x velocity (feet per second) --------------------------------------------------- = Power Factor 1000 MAJOR is from 175,000 up. 200 gr. .45 bullet at 900 feet/second = 180 power factor. MINOR is from 125,000 to 174,999. 125 gr. 9mm bullet at 1000 feet/second = 125 power factor. Ammunition must make Minor to be used in IPSC competition. Caliber must be .38/9mm or higher, and 9mm Luger may not be scored as major under current USPSA rules. Outside the US, ammunition for the 9mm which makes Major may be used according to IPSC international rules. Outside of Unlimited/Open class .40/10mm has been deemed the minimum caliber 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 Pepper Popper, the US Popper, the 8" round plate, and the 6" square plate. All of the steel targets will fall when hit. The US Popper is a 2/3 scale version of the standard Pepper Popper shown below. The circular section is 12" across on the standard Popper, and 8" on the US Popper. Both Poppers are to be set so that they will fall from a hit at the calibration line (below 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 color, but Pepper Poppers that are "shoot" targets may not be painted black. * * * * * * * * * * * <----*-------- circular section (8" or 12" diameter) * * *-------------* <----- calibration line (IPSC) * * * * * ----- * <----- calibration line (USPSA) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ***** POPPER (not to scale) ********* * * * +---+ * * | A | * * +---+ * * B * *********-------******** * / \ * Power Factor and Points * / \ * ------------------------ * / \ * | Zone | Major | Minor | * | +-------+ | * |======================| * | | | | * | A | 5 | 5 | * | | | | * | B | 4 | 3 | * | | | | * | C | 4 | 3 | * D | C | A | C | D * | D | 2 | 1 | * | | | | * ------------------------ * | | | | * * | | | | * * | +-------+ | * * | | * * \ / * * \ / * * +-------------+ * * * * * * * ******************* standard IPSC target (not to scale) The standard cardboard IPSC target (shown above) has 4 zones: A, B, 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. 3.3.3 Scoring Methods Three methods of scoring are in common use. They are: TIME FIRE - You are given a stated number of seconds to complete the problem, i.e., draw and fire 2 rounds at one target in 5 seconds. The number of rounds to be fired and the time limit are set. You are penalized for late and extra shots, but not for misses. COMSTOCK COUNT - Each target must have a stated number of hits on it, eg., ÒBest two hits will be scored.Ó 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. LIMITED COMSTOCK OR ÒVIRGINIA COUNTÓ - Places a premium on Gun Control. The number of required hits are specified and you may only fire that number of rounds, but you can take all the time you desire. As you cannot fire extra shots to make up for misses, each round fired must be accurately placed. It is quite possible to zero a Limited Comstock stage. Extra shots and extra hits are penalized. Again the score is divided by time to arrive at the hit factor. "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 the USPSA or IPSC Handbook for the complete rules for each method of scoring. 3.4 USPSA Classification and Ranking USPSA currently recognizes 6 classifcations: Grand Master (GM), Master (M), A, B, C and D class. Members of USPSA are classified based on their percentage, which is determined from their performance on classifier stages. These stages are shot by clubs all over the US, using identical props and targets. The scores are mailed to USPSA and ranked. The shooter with the highest score is given a 100% on that stage, and all other shooters' scores are recorded as a percentage of the top score. For each USPSA member, the six highest percentages are averaged, and an overall percentage calculated. As new scores are sent in, a shooter's classification may improve. Classifications are only lowered in special cases (see the USPSA rule book for more details). The percentage limits for classification are: Grand Master .... 95% to 100% Master .... 94.9% to 85% A .... 84.9% to 75% B .... 74.9% to 60% C .... 59.9% to 40% D .... 39.9% and below Some clubs do not use national classifications, and prefer to have a club classification system. Usually a new shooter will shoot as "Unclassified" for the first few matches until a class can be assigned. Outside the US different countries use a wide variety of classification systems. 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 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 take 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 (speedloaders) 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. Present your Safety Check or class card, pay your match fee and get a registration packet. If you are a new shooter at your first three matches, present your Safety Check card and 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 of a registration card and 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 how they call up your records. Check the boxes if you want to register for any special classes (Stock Gun, COP, Lady, Revolver, etc.)Ê MAJOR OR MINOR - Does the card show if you are shooting a Minor (.38, 9mm, etc.) or Major (.45, .44, etc.) caliber? 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. 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 places (eg. all of Canada) 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?) 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 TAPER - When the CRO and shooter finish inspecting a target, the CRO will tell you ÒTape it!Ó You then tape all the bullet holes in the target, check the target edges for any grazing shots (usually they leave dark bullet lube marks); tape these, then onto the next target. If you aren't sure that a target has been scored, ask. If you tape before the CRO scores, there will be a great mess, much unhappiness, and sorrowful words. YOUR 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. BREAKING DOWN THE MATCH - The usual procedure is to break down while the final scores are being calculated. All the shooters help break down. All the targets, props and gear are returned to their storage locations under the supervision of the Range Officers. 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 is an email mailing list for IPSC shooters. Typically this list averages 5-20 messages a day on the topics of equipment, upcoming matches, rules and regulations, and general information. Shooters of all levels, from beginners to Master class shooters, as well as experienced range officers and USPSA/IPSC officials are subscribers. Any questions not answered by this FAQ can likely be answered by someone on the mailing list. To subscribe, mail to: listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu Content of message (not subject line) signon ipsc The digest version of the mailing list is available also. If you have problems subscribing to the mailing list, contact Rob Boudrie at "rboudrie@epoch.com". There is also an FTP site for the IPSC mailing list: ahti.hut.fi in the /pub/ipsc directory. The rec.guns newsgroup has an FTP site at flubber.cs.umd.edu where this FAQ and other firearms-related files are stored. There are also many IPSC-related WWW pages, including: Karl Rehn's home page: http://www.avaloncorp.com/~rehn/ Dan Nafe's IPSC home page: http://www.shadow.net/ipsc.html International Range Officer's Association: http://Fox.NSTN.Ca:80/~iroa/ IPSC Finland: http://www.hut.fi/~weba/ak-945.html Michael Davis' IPSC home page: http://www.halcyon.com/ipscone/homepage/html Texas South Section: http://www.hal-pc.org/~spirit/index.html SF/San Jose IPSC clubs: http://reality.sgi.com/employees/chuckr/ranges.html Eric Knee's Firearms Industry Home Page: http://www.epix.net:80/~eknee/ Oregon IPSC Page: http://www.teleport.com/~hcm/index.html Guncraft Sports: http://www.usit.net/guncraft 4.2 Finding a club in your area The best way to get started in practical shooting is to find the club (or clubs) in your area and go watch a match. One way to locate a club is to check bulletin boards at local ranges and gun shops. Someone on the IPSC mailing list may live nearby and could direct you to a club. Most often the easiest way to find a club is to call your Region or Section Coordinator who can give you the name and phone number of a contact person at a nearby club. Names and numbers for IPSC officials are listed below. in the United States -------------------- United States Practical Shooting Association P.O. Box 811 Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 President: Andy Hollar 1-206-855-2245 (office) 1-206-855-0380 (fax) office hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. annual membership dues: $30/year, non-US $40/year. The USPSA office has a listing of all US clubs, and should be able to provide contact names for a club near you. USPSA also runs a BBS, at 1-719-254-4367. ------------------------------------------------------------ in Canada --------- IPSC CANADA 63 Waterloo Dr. S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3C 3G2 REGIONAL DIRECTOR Mr. Bryan R. Hodges 400, 7016 Macleod Tr. S. Calgary, Alberta T2H 2K6 Bus. (403) 258-0771 Fax. (403) 258-1265 Res. (403) 246-3247 SECTION COORDINATOR, AB SECTION COORDINATOR, NWT Mr. Rick Clements Mr. Richard Peach 114, 9010 - 106 Avenue P.O. Box 818 Edmonton, Alberta Yellowknife, NWT T2H OM9 X1A 2N6 Res. (403) 425-9057 Res. (403) 873-6476 Fax. (403) 425-9057 Fax (403) 873-3573 SECTION COORDINATOR, SK SECTION COORDINATOR, B.C. Greg Nash Mr. Randy Fisher P.O. Box 1543 925-6 Street Maple Creek Saskatchewan New Westminster, B.C. S0N 1N0 V3L 3C8 Bus. Res. (306) 662-4106 Res. (6O4) 621-4474 Fax (604) 522-0097 SECTION COORDINATOR, MB SECTION COORDINATOR, ONTARIO Mr. Chris Morris F.W. Lorne Rowe 49 Lennox Avenue P.O. Box 54571 Winnipeg, Manitoba 1712 Avenue Rd. R2M 1A7 M5M 4N5 Bus. Res. (416) 322-5440 Res. (204) 258-0223 Fax (416) 322-7822 Fax SECTION COORDINATOR. NB SECTION COORDINATOR, QUEBEC (TEMPORARY) Mr. Austin MacFee Mr. Jacques Beaudoin P.O. Box 768 4010 St. Patrick Hampton, New Brunswick Suite 22 E0G 1Z0 Montreal, Quebec Bus. Bus. (514) 768-2839 Res. (506) 832-4033 Res. (514) 383-2414 Fax. (506) 432-1559 Fax (514) 768 6684 SECTION COORDINATOR, NEWFOUNDLAND SECTION COORDINATOR, NOVA SCOTIA Mr. Wayne Leaman Mr. Sean Hansen 62 Tupper St. 28 St. George Blvd. St. John's, Nfld. Hammonds Plains, N.S. A1A 2T8 B4B 1K7 Res. (709) 466-3495 Bus. (902) 493-4165 Bus. (709) 463-8811 Res. (902) 835-3327 Bus Fax. # on request. ------------------------------------------------------------ in Finland ---------- Finnish Shooting Association Practical Division PL 27 FIN-00241 Helsinki, Finland voice: +358-0-1582481 fax: +358-0-147764 4.3 Books, videos, and magazines Recommended Books: The Basics of Pistol Shooting (NRA) National Rifle Association 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 1-703-267-1000 Canadian Black Badge Manual The Competitive Edge (Nick Alexakos) P.O. Box 805 Oakville, Ontario L6J 5C5 905-849-6960 The Modern Technique of the Pistol (Greg Morris) Gunsite Press Paulden, AZ 602-636-4565 You Can't Miss (John Shaw) Mid-South Institute of Self-Defense Shooting 503 Stonewall Memphis, Tenn 38112 Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals (Brian Enos) Zediker Publishing P.O. Box 426 Clifton, CO 81520 Shooting from Within (J. Michael Plaxco) Zediker Publishing P.O. Box 426 Clifton, CO 81520 Recommended Videos: Shooter Ready (Rob Leatham) Dillon Precision 7442 E. Butherus Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85260 1-800-223-4570 At the Beep (J. Michael Plaxco) J. Michael Plaxco 21621 Roland Cut-Off Road Roland, AR 72135 1-501-868-9787 Mail Order Video (1-800-942-8273) has an extensive catalog which includes videos of USPSA Nationals, the Steel Challenge, Bianchi Cup, and other Practical Shooting competitions. Recommended Magazines: Front Sight - published by USPSA American Handgunner 591 Camino de la Reina #200 San Diego CA 92108 Practical Shooting International P.O. Box 62 2104 Main Emmetsburg, IA 50536 1-712-852-3918 GunGames Magazine P.O. Box 516 Moreno Valley, CA 92556 909-485-7986 909-485-6628 fax gungames@aol.com 4.4 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 as well as contact information is provided below. 4.4.1 USPSA 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. USPSA 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 USPSA rule book. Shotgun: All shotguns 20 gauge or higher are scored as Major, and anything less than 20 gauge is Minor. 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 10-15 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 caliber minimum power factor is 340 and the Minor power factor floor is 160. In the US this usually divides the .223 caliber rifles (AR-15, Mini-14, and others) from the .30 caliber 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 USPSA rule book. 4.4.2 NRA 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. 4.4.3 The Steel Challenge The Steel Challenge is a major pistol match held in California each year 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 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. 4.4.4 Bowling Pin Shooting/Second Chance Bowling pin matches were started by Richard Davis, the man behind Second Chance body armor. Mr. Davis is "behind" Second Chance in more ways than one, as he is the inventor and U.S. Patent holder for the modern-day concept of concealable soft body armor, and he is also known for demonstrating the effectiveness of this body armor by shooting himself with a .44 Magnum while wearing it. Often during his early sales demonstrations he would shoot himself and immediately turn and fire at several bowling pins (knocking them over) to prove that one was not incapacitated by the impact of a bullet stopped by body armor. He also began holding an annual shooting match, the Second Chance bowling pin shoot. The original format for the bowling pin shoot was to place 5 pins near the front of a flat table. The shooter would then lift the handgun from its ready position resting on a rail and fire at the pins until they all hit the floor. The time began with an audible signal and ended when the last plate hit the ground. The format of the match has been changed and the pin tables are now multi-level. Events are held for pistol, revolver,snub-nose revolver, rifle, shotgun, submachine gun, and other firearm types. An organization was founded to promote pin shooting matches - the North American Pin Shooters' Association. This group, along with the Second Chance company, can provide more information about bowling pin shooting competitions: For more information: Second Chance P.O. Box 578 Central Lake, MI 49622 USA 1-800-253-7090 North American Pin Shooters Association c/o Practical Shooting International magazine P.O. Box 62 Emmetsburg, IA 50536 USA 1-712-852-3918 4.4.5 Cowboy Action Shooting Cowboy Action shooting is a combination of Old West gunfighting with IPSC-style rules and scoring. These matches use single action revolvers, lever-action rifles, and side-by-side or pump shotguns in 3-gun courses based on cowboy scenarios. Like IPSC, these scenarios use props (tables, chairs, "horses", storefronts, etc) and are always different. Scoring is done on time only, with time penalties for misses. There is no power factor, but firearms and ammunition must comply with the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) rulebook. Shooters compete in Traditional, Modern (adjustable sights), Lady and Junior classes. One of the unique aspects of SASS approved cowboy action shooting is the requirement placed on costuming. Each participant is required to adopt a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession of the late 19th century, a Hollywood western star or an appropriate character from fiction. Their costume is then developed accordingly. Many matches (especially big matches) also include costume contests, trail rides, and other related cowboy activities in parallel with the shooting. For more information: Single Action Shooting Society 2034 E. Lincoln Avenue #315 Anaheim, CA 92806 714-991-SASS 4.4.6 Other Matches There are other matches not described in detail in this FAQ which may be added in later updates, including the Masters (which combines the sports of IPSC, bullseye, and metallic silouhette), the NSSA/Chevrolet Sportsman's Challenge (a 3-gun match combining pistol, rimfire rifle, and clay bird shotgunning), revolver-only IPSC matches, the American Handgunner Man on Man shootoff (an all shoot-off match), the Texas Paper and Iron championship (similar to the Steel Challenge), the Soldier of Fortune match (a 3-gun match), and many others. Magazines such as American Handgunner and Practical Shooting International can provide additional information about the wide variety of shooting competitions currently available. Yank Price (1-310-280-0911) is organizing a new league which will use a time-only format and have a single power factor floor of 125. This new format will also support .22 rimfire action events and use an ISSA-style (headless) target. Use of standard IPSC and Bianchi targets will also be allowed. 5. FAQ Credits ---------------- This FAQ is written and maintained by: Karl Rehn (krehn@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) Applied Research Laboratories, The University of Texas at Austin USPSA A-9640, Level II Range Officer, NRA instructor and Training Counselor with help from: Dave Bartlett (ak409@freenet.carleton.ca) Beverly McCord (Beverly_McCord@oakqm3.sps.mot.com) Daniel Berlinger (Daniel@circumtech.com) John Ellis (harris.jellis@IC1D.harris.com) Keith de Solla (keith@terminus.ic.cmc.ca) John Wells (71034.1363@compuserve.com) Chet Polo (chet.polo@tpis.cactus.org) Barry Needham (barry@uts.amdahl.com) Tim Moore (tmoore@tinton.ccur.com) Andy Hollar (ahollar@aol.com) some sections of the FAQ were extracted from: USPSA Practical Shooting Handbook, 6th edition April 1992 (Stanford, Hollar, Metcalf, et al.) Northwest Section Handbook, 1991 edition (John Wells) Canadian Black Badge Manual (Bell, Di Paolo, et al.) Questions, comments, suggestions, and corrections should be sent to: Karl Rehn (krehn@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) -= DVC =-