Last week I did my first practical/combat/defensive competition. I think it may have been most similar to IDPA, but it wasn't as structured. What a humbling experience!
I've been shooting guns for 30 years, and handguns for 25. I'm a pretty decent pistol shot. But you do one of these competitions, and you realize there's a LOT more to CC defense than being able to shoot.
It was at a club with a big indoor range that one evening a week they do this defensive pistol event. I would guess close to 100 guys (and a few gals) went through it that evening. Here are some observations:
For me, I have spent my entire gun-owning life guarding against discharging a firearm indoors, like in my house. So the whole indoor range thing was a bit against my instincts.
No matter how much I went through things in my head in advance, I did the opposite. For instance, I had planned on taking only center-of-mass shots to keep things simple, except for one target where the body was blocked by a "hostage". So I was a bit stunned to see, when reviewing the targets after I shot, that they were ALL headshots.
I also knew that I had a total of 20 rounds in 2 mags, and that there were seven targets, so I knew I could put 3 in all of them except one, which I would have to hold back and only put two in. Again, when reviewing my targets: only two shots in each, and rounds left in my mag.
Since my only pistol that would hold 10 rounds was a gun that I never carry due to its size, I was using a holster I was unfamiliar with. This was a bit embarrassing when I couldn't get the darned thing holstered after I shot.
I forgot a few other smaller things, too. But I shot accurately, but I'm sure my time was very slow. I haven't seen the score sheet yet.
Most importantly, I shot safe, and learned a lot.
Seeing all the other guys there who did this a lot, and well, was a bit humbling, and really made it sink in that there are a lot of very well-armed and capable people out there on the street. It was a nice bunch, though. No macho BS, just a bunch of gun guys. And they were all really cool to the beginner.
So if you think your a real bad-tushy with your pistol, try one of these types of things sometime. You'll realize there's a lot more to it than calmly shooting at a target. Adrenaline is odd stuff.
I am eager to go back.
David
I've been shooting guns for 30 years, and handguns for 25. I'm a pretty decent pistol shot. But you do one of these competitions, and you realize there's a LOT more to CC defense than being able to shoot.
It was at a club with a big indoor range that one evening a week they do this defensive pistol event. I would guess close to 100 guys (and a few gals) went through it that evening. Here are some observations:
For me, I have spent my entire gun-owning life guarding against discharging a firearm indoors, like in my house. So the whole indoor range thing was a bit against my instincts.
No matter how much I went through things in my head in advance, I did the opposite. For instance, I had planned on taking only center-of-mass shots to keep things simple, except for one target where the body was blocked by a "hostage". So I was a bit stunned to see, when reviewing the targets after I shot, that they were ALL headshots.
I also knew that I had a total of 20 rounds in 2 mags, and that there were seven targets, so I knew I could put 3 in all of them except one, which I would have to hold back and only put two in. Again, when reviewing my targets: only two shots in each, and rounds left in my mag.
Since my only pistol that would hold 10 rounds was a gun that I never carry due to its size, I was using a holster I was unfamiliar with. This was a bit embarrassing when I couldn't get the darned thing holstered after I shot.
I forgot a few other smaller things, too. But I shot accurately, but I'm sure my time was very slow. I haven't seen the score sheet yet.
Most importantly, I shot safe, and learned a lot.
Seeing all the other guys there who did this a lot, and well, was a bit humbling, and really made it sink in that there are a lot of very well-armed and capable people out there on the street. It was a nice bunch, though. No macho BS, just a bunch of gun guys. And they were all really cool to the beginner.
So if you think your a real bad-tushy with your pistol, try one of these types of things sometime. You'll realize there's a lot more to it than calmly shooting at a target. Adrenaline is odd stuff.
I am eager to go back.
David
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