FIRST TIME IDPA SHOOTERS BRIEFING – ORSA IDPA

                                                                                                The briefing will start at 9:30 am

 

RANGE COMMANDS & RANGE SAFETY

1.  At your car - Put on your gear but leave your gun in the bag or pouch.  Take your bag

     or pouch but no ammunition to a marked Safe Area, clear your gun, holster it then keep

     it holstered unless you’re under the direct supervision of an SO (Safety Officer) and given the          

     range  command to load and make ready or otherwise specifically instructed  unholster the

     gun by the SO.   No ammunition is allowed in the Safe Area at any time.

2.  Wear eye and ear protection at all times while on the range.

3.  You will get a COF  (course of fire) description and safety walk through before shooting starts.

4.  SO Range Commands:

    A.  Load and Make Ready.

    B.  Shooter Ready.

    C.  Standby.

                BUZZZZZZZZZ

     WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED SHOOTING:

    D.  Unload and Show Clear. (Both look at Chamber) Gun Clear.  

    E.  Slide Down or Cylinder Closed.

    F.  Hammer Down.

    G. Holster.

    H. Range is Safe. 

      POSSIBLY WHILE SHOOTING, YOU MAY HEAR:

    I.  Finger - you've got your finger inside the trigger guard - take it out

    J.  Muzzle - you're close to pointing the gun in an unsafe direction - correct it

    K. Cover - you're not using cover properly - correct the use of cover

    L.  Stop - freeze, there's a problem.  Follow the S.O.'s instructions   

 

5.  Keep your finger outside the trigger guard during loading, unloading, drawing,

     re- holstering, while moving (unless engaging targets) or during remedial action.

6.  Keep the muzzle within the designated “Muzzle Safe Points” and below the berm.

 

IDPA RULES

1.  Use cover if it’s available.  Hide 50% of your upper torso and 100% of legs and feet.

2.  Shoot targets in Tactical Priority .  That means:

     If you have COVER - as they become visible.

     NO COVER - near to far.

3.  Use IDPA approved reload – slide lock, tactical or with retention.

      If  you’re not at slide lock you must retain the magazine, empty or not.

4.  All reloads must be done behind cover

5.  Don’t leave cover with an empty gun.

6.  No air gunning or ghosting.

 

TARGETS AND SCORING

1.  Three scoring areas on targets – 0, -1 and -3 points down.  Miss is -5 points down.

     Add half second per point down. 

2.  Vickers scoring system.  Elapsed time + points down + penalties.

3.  Penalties – PE(3 seconds),  FTN(5), HNT(5), FTDR(20) and DQ.

4.  Vickers Count – no limit on rounds fired.  Limited Vickers – specified number of

rounds, loss of highest hit for each round exceeding number but only one procedural penalty.

 

Visit the IDPA web site www.idpa.com  for a down loadable version of the complete 2005 Rule Book.

 

 

WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL I NEED?

1. A handgun. It can be a pistol or revolver. It must be 9 mm or larger. ( 9 mm = .357" so any .38 cal or larger is ok.) There are 5 gun Divisions. Your gun will fit into one of these Divisions. The Divisions do not compete against each other. Although you can shoot a subcompact gun with a small magazine capacity it’s not advisable. Low cap guns won’t be competitive within your Division and firing up to 100 rounds from a light gun isn’t going to be much fun.

2. At least 3 magazines or 3 speed loaders. If you have a fourth mag it can be used as a stripper to get the gun to full capacity. A fourth speed loader will make your initial load faster. Although it will speed things up a little it can’t be used during the stage so it’s useful but strictly optional.

3. Two mag pouches or one double pouch for pistols. Three holders for the speed loaders if you’re shooting a revolver.

4. A holster. No cross draw or shoulder rigs.

5. A vest, loose shirt or jacket that will conceal your weapon.

6. One hundred rounds of ammo. You probably won’t need all of it but if some range equipment fails you might have to shoot a stage twice so a little extra is a good idea.

7. Eye and ear protection. Even if you’re just going to watch you need eyes and ears.

Here’s what the rule book gives as guidance for all equipment.

A. Practical for self-defense use.

B. Concealable - All equipment will be so placed that, when wearing an open concealment garment with your arms extended to your sides and parallel to the ground, it can NOT been seen from the front, rear or sides.

C. Must be suitable for and worn in a manner that is appropriate for all day continuous wear.

If you’re a first time shooter don’t worry about all of the detailed specifications on equipment in the rule book. Especially holsters. Just bring what you own or can borrow and have a safe, fun match. You can look at what equipment the experienced shooters use. It will give you a good idea about what works and is competitive. Then, when you start beating some of the really good shooters, someone will be sure to explain to you the subtleties of the equipment rules.