Okay - we get a lot of questions about various
topics, so this page is to help answer those more commonly asked questions.
First off, have you been to the sources?
IDPA
Website - International Defensive Pistol Association
USPSA Website
- United State Practical Shooting Association
You can find the answers to a large percentage of your questions there.
What are your range safety rules?
Glad you asked!
Here's a link to a page that details
it all.
Please
take a few minutes to read and understand our range safety rules.
DAPS has an inordinately high percentage of certified USPSA
Range Officers and IDPA Safety Officers, and we're very proud of that, and our safety
record. If it's your first match (or even your first couple), please pay attention
to what they have to say. Regardless of your prior experience with firearms,
we have very specific safety rules that must be followed. For example,
YOUR CAR IS NOT A SAFE AREA. Please do not holster/unholster
your gun in the parking lot. See the range safety rules for details.
How much does it cost to shoot a DAPS match?
There is always a $10 range fee that goes to Elm Fork for any match we
put on, and must be paid in the office. You will receive a wrist band indicating
you've paid the range. Please do this before signing up for a DAPS
match.
IDPA match fees are $6 for non-members, $5 for members. If it's
your first time to shoot IDPA with us, the match fee will be waived. USPSA
match fees are $11 for non-members, $10 for members. Annual memberships are $20,
and are open to anyone.
How do I join Dallas Action Pistol Shooters?
Easy. Either come to a match and fill out one of our membership forms, and
pay $20, or download one of these handy forms to print out, fill
out, and bring with you.
Now you can pay
online using our secure PayPal account. Click here to Buy Now!
What are some of the differences between
IDPA and USPSA?
IDPA stages and equipment are based on self-defense scenarios, using equipment
you would carry for self-defense. It stresses proper use of cover, the use
of concealment garments, tactical engagement of targets, defensive reloads, etc.
A typical IDPA course of fire (COF) ranges between a few shots (6 or fewer) up to
18 rounds. It is more structured, with course descriptions dictating shooting
position, target engagement order, reloads, etc. It's a great sport for both
new and experienced shooters, and provides an excellent structure for learning action
pistol sports. USPSA stages are more free-style, with no
use of cover, no concealment garments, no reload specifications, and typically higher
round counts. A USPSA field course will have up to 32 rounds per stage.
USPSA courses typically only dictate starting position, and the stage description
usually consists of "shoot them as you see them." Scoring is different between
the 2 sports, with USPSA really requiring a computer for effective match scoring.
IDPA scoring is simple, and can be done by hand or with a calculator. Both
sports are great fun, and a chance for shooters of ALL levels to compete with like-minded
folks, improve their shooting skills, and learn from other shooters.
Can I shoot with my IDPA gear in USPSA?
You betcha. There are several divisions within USPSA, and several
of them accomodate the equipment you already have(such as Limited 10,
Single Stack, and Production). The biggest difference
between the two sports might be round count. In IDPA, the maximum number of
rounds per stage you might encounter is around 18. In USPSA, you'll see as
many as 32 rounds for a field course, sometimes more (depending on the club).
If you just carry a couple more mags, you'll be just fine.
What USPSA divisions might a typical IDPA shooter compete in?
Production, Single Stack, and Limited 10 divisions are very similar to IDPA.
You can carry more mags, but for production, they must be behind the centerline
of your side. Holster regulations are a little more liberal. Limited
10 division allows race holsters, whereas Production and SS require standard holsters.
Most stages have arrays of targets that typically break down to 8 shots per array.
The hardest part of stage management for these divisions is remembering when to
reload. In USPSA, you can do "speed reloads," which means you can (*gasp*)
leave mags with rounds in them on the ground! More ammo means more fun, so
make sure you bring plenty.
What is an IDPA Classifier match?
An IDPA classifier match is a standardized match that is set up to specific standards
that test your basic skills. Based upon the total time you shoot the 3 stages (with
several strings to each stage), you will be placed into one of several classes:
Novice, Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, or Master. You can find the IDPA classifier
in the IDPA rulebook, or on the IDPA website: http://www.idpa.com.
How do I classify in USPSA?
USPSA classifier stages are a part of almost every USPSA match, and they vary greatly.
You accumulate classifiers, and after you have 4 of them under your belt, you will
receive your classification. USPSA classifications are D, C, B, A, M (Master),
and GM (Grand Master). See the USPSA website for full details.
How does IDPA Scoring work?
IDPA scoring is relatively simple. Your raw time for shooting the stage is
written on the scoresheet. Then, points down (non-ZERO hits on the target)
are added up and divided by 2. This number is added to your raw time.
If you have any other penalties (procedural, hits on a non-threat, etc.), they are
added to the score. Lowest time wins. In IDPA, you need to shoot fast,
but you also want good hits on the targets.
How does USPSA Scoring work?
It's quite a bit more complicated, but also more statistics-oriented. Here's
the official spiel on Comstock scoring: "A competitor's score is calculated by adding
the hightest value stipulated number of hits per target, minus penalties, divided
by the total time (recorded to 2 decimal places) taken by the competitor to complete
the course of fire, to arrive at a hit factor. The overall
stage results are factored by awarding the competitor with the highest hit factor
the maximum points available for the course of fire, with all other competitors
ranked relatively below the stage winner." Whew. Needless to say, we
use a computer program called EZWinScore to compute match results. The great
thing about USPSA scoring is that it provides you with ongoing feedback regarding
your average shooting performance and skill level. What do you need to know
about scoring? Well, the higher your hit factor, the higher your finish.
You want to shoot as fast as possible, but you also want to get good hits on the
targets, and avoid misses and other penalties, which are very costly.
What's a "race gun?"
It depends on a lot of factors, but most folks classify "race guns" and their "rigs"
as "something else I have to buy." The story has been told that the reason
that IDPA came into being was partially because USPSA became an equipment race.
That may have been true at one time, but all the divisions available to shooters
now have leveled the playing field. As for "race guns," well, yes - you can
spend a LOT of money on Limited/Limited 10 guns and Open guns in particular.
Open is considered the top echelon, primarily because it's the fastest division.
Let's face it - if you can use a red dot, and rarely have to reload - well, you're
going to beat other guns. It's an awful lot of fun to watch the Open gun competition.
If you want to see the fastest way to shoot a stage, watch Open. It's loud,
fast, and amazing.
Are you folks still shooting IDPA?
Well, heck yeah! We still dance with the one that brung us!
In fact, if you're shooting USPSA with us, you can still do all those things you
do in IDPA - there's no rules against using cover, wearing concealment, or doing
those tactical reloads. As far as we're concerned, any rounds downrange are
good rounds. Shooting is shooting, and we enjoy doing that every chance we
get!
You have more questions you'd like answered? Drop us a line.
Use the "Contact" link on each page to drop us a line.
