Good article, now I just wish I had some better local ranges and clubs. And more money, ’cause you can never have enough ammo. :)

The major problem with IDPA is that there are too many little tactical-wannabe rules (tactical sequence, ridiculous reload restrictions) and too many people who mistake those rules as actual fighting methodology. I’ve watched as 20-something IDPA Safety Officers at major matches scolded the likes of Dave Harrington or Ernest Langdon about “combat” technique, use of cover, etc.

Like most things about shooting and competition, you get out of it exactly what you put into it. I can honestly say that my shooting skill has been pushed more by competition than any class I’ve ever taken. Exposure to great shooters like those mentioned above also sets the bar much higher than you could ever realize by simply hanging out at your local club.

I agree with your premise 100%. As some one who has carried a gun for over 30 years (25 on the job), I think that any activity which gets you trigger time under any kind of pressure is good. for a lot of years the only training I got as an LEO was standing up and shooting at targets under ridiculously long time frames from a series of set distances. If not for being heavily into competitive shooting long before becoming a cop, I would have felt very inadequately trained.

I got involved in IPSC (pre-USPSA) in the late 70′s- early 80′s, back when our competition guns were more like the average over the counter modern 1911 carry gun (actually with less bells and whistles) than the race guns which caused the formation of IDPA.

Having been in three “for real” shootings, I can tell you that any amount of trigger time which causes you to become familiar with presenting and operating your gun quickly and under pressure is a good thing. Tactical training is good when and if you can avail yourself of it, but don’t listen to the “mall ninjas” disparage sports like IDPA when the only “training” they probably ever get is the occasional weekend plinking session.

Most of us will never be in a gunfight, much less multiple gunfights. We won’t have a chance to develop an aggressive mindset over time. If we’re going to get it, we’re going to get it on the range, or not at all.

With its emphasis on speed above all, USPSA and steel actually do a better job of preparing shooters to get shots on targets fast. And that’s what counts most in 99% of cases. Not how you juggle your magazines.

Having the ‘self-induced’ pressure of being on the clock and having other shooters observe you performance, drawing your weapon while wearing a concealment garment, using cover, shooting while moving, shooting at moving targets, reloading (with retention and from slide lock), and target identification are a few of the benefits I see from shooting IDPA that are applicable to defensive hand gunning.