Choose your pistol and a good holster. You'll want several mag carriers as well. There is no practice, other than you are allowed to walk through and assess the individual stages before the group starts. You can figure where and from what position you'll shoot from, be able to see all the targets and their positions, and maybe count your shots and figure where your tactical reloads will need to take place. Our club does IPSC, but it's similar. Under USPSA, there are a few classes such as limited 10 (ten round mags only), production (any modern hi-cap pistol/mags), and single stack (1911's mainly or SIGs and such with single stack mags), and minor (9mm) and major (40S&W and over) categories to shoot in. If you're shooting some steel target stages...definitely bring more ammo than the match lists....for instance, match xxxxx, 176 total round count...these are good hits on target and the count won't include misses....yes, you can shoot 300 rounds in a stage or until you run out of ammo or full mags...you're only going against yourself and the clock. First time...bring twice the ammo of the total round count, and just go to learn and have fun, and be safe. Safety will be reiterated numerous times. Your muzzle should never go past 90 degrees either side of you facing down range. I've seen one guy get disqualified for spinning around after engaging a target in the sixth stage of an eight stage match. Good luck.

It just seems like it's a lot of fun. I can't wait to give it a try. I'll need to practice up a bit more first. I'm still trying to get my trigger control down.

Thanks for the info!

Just go to the range you mentioned and tell them you are a newbie and want to get started. I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut they invite you right in and provide a bunch of the training you need. If they don't they aren't as friendly as the gun nuts out here.

There is no need to wait untill you have trained on the wrong stuff.

Good luck and have fun.

I sent an e-mail off to the guy in charge of the club down there. We'll see what comes of it. I'm hoping they have a few practice stages set-up. I'd just love to be able to go through them as a warm up or something.

Originally Posted by TOF

Just go to the range you mentioned and tell them you are a newbie and want to get started. I'll bet a dollar to a doughnut they invite you right in and provide a bunch of the training you need. If they don't they aren't as friendly as the gun nuts out here.

There is no need to wait untill you have trained on the wrong stuff.

Good luck and have fun.

+1 - If you wait until you think you are good enough then you will never go. Make sure that you can safely handle your weapon, invest in a good holster and mag carrier and then hit match. Admit being a new shooter and just take it slow and safe. Within a few matches you will feel right at home.

Thanks for the advice all. I'll keep you updated on how I'm progressing.

I have tried it on a visit down to georgia. First time. Had a blast, didn't (quite) come in last. IDPA rules are a bit different from ipsc. 2 spare mags limit. no air gunning. Usually there are not practice ranges set up, but study the rules and avoid procedurals and you will do fine. After that it is just practice. Check out this video

http://www.gadpa.com/forums/thread/854.aspx

click on "play video"

I am also going to attempt IDPA in the near future. I'm just going to try and have fun and concentrate on keeping it safe.