IDPA or USPSA?

[THauch33]

Just wondering if any of you shoot either of these? I just bought my first handgun (SR9) this spring and was thinking I would try IDPA, but then found out the club also has USPSA and they shoot that on Saturdays, which works better than Sundays (IDPA) for me. Which series would you recommend?
Thanks for any info.

 

[Grendel]

I shoot SR9 in IDPA. I'm not sure how competitive the SR9 would be in Production USPSA/IPSC.

USPSA tends to have a higher round count and is more pure "run-n-gun". IDPA was created by a few of the IPSC founders with the goal of being more self-defense oriented. Most of the stages are of the "I'm minding my own business doing such-and-such when...". There are restrictions on the type of holster and mag pouches you can use, and limitations on the guns themselves.

There's a whole mess of argument on whether or not IDPA is good for defensive training or not, and I'm not even gonna touch that. But if you want to shoot more like you would in a defensive situation, then I'd suggest IDPA, where use of cover is required, as long as other considerations to try to simulate defensive problems. If you just want to run-n-gun, USPSA/IPSC, though I know loads of folks who shoot both. I would, but that's too much ammo for me to buy.

-JT

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

Grendel pretty much summed it up right there.

I used to shoot both regularly and used to be the match director for our IDPA club. I learned a lot about shooting playing those games. Mostly safe gun handling skills and how to actually use my gun.

If you go into it with the mindset that you are going to have fun, then that you'll do.

At some point you'll want to win. Everybody does I don't care what they say. Not the latest, greatest gadget is going to propel you to the top of your class. I've seen too many folks show up at matches with all the expensive gear and fancy pistolas, only to end up at the bottom of the list and never showing up again - whether out of embarrassment or frustration. Run your SR9 in Production and have fun with it.

There was nothing I enjoyed more than the shooter who shot what he carried and made noteable improvements over the course of time.

Lots of IDPA shooters shoot USPSA. The reverse is not so common. You can always tell an IDPA shooter at a USPSA match - he's the one having fun.