First IDPA Classifier

[alfsauve]

The IDPA GA State Match is coming up and you have to be classified to shoot.  So a guy up in Jasper, GA volunteered to have some of us come up to his range (Pickens County Sportsman) yesterday afternoon and he'd run us through the classifier.  5 of us tried.

I've been practicing at the indoor range, as best as I can, with IDPA paper targets.  Of course, I don't have a barricade nor can I move forward/backward, but it is better than nothing.  (I walk in place for Stage 2 Strings 1&2).

Hot as blazes and I was nervous.  Pushed it too much and rushed.  I did learn I need to work on my 20yd accuracy.

I learn a lot from watching the other shooters and the RO took time to give them some pointers and tips (he's a tactical instructor in N Ga.)  Either he thought I was too arrogant to learn anything or my technique wasn't too bad, because he didn't have any comments other than "slow down some" about my shooting style. 

One guy had a trigger job done on his Glock.  (I think he did it himself.)  It would occasionally double.  Later in the match it actually trippled and quadrupedal.  I think he may have assembled it wrong.  Got something in backwards.

His dad was shooting a .45 and was limp-wrist-ing it.  Not a lot but wasn't gripping with the support hand well.  He'd stove pipe about once every magazine and the brass wouldn't eject very far.  The RO gave us a demo which was very informative.

No I don't know my final scores.  We were all pretty much exhausted and didn't take time to add up the strings while we were there.  Probably placed Marksman, but hoping I got Sharp Shooter.  I'm bitten by the bug and want to shoot it again.

One thing I notice is that the other people didn't seem too familiar with the course of fire.  It's published in the IDPA rule book and I felt real comfortable knowing what each stage/string was about.  All the other shooters got procedurals because they didn't follow the instructions.  Why wouldn't you practically memorize the "test"?   I'm very happy with my practice.  The RO gave us some simple drills to improve our scores.

[alfsauve]

175 -  I'm a Marksman.



Okay, I was hoping for Sharpshooter, but that's okay.  I have room to move up.

[Solus]

175 -  I'm a Marksman.



Okay, I was hoping for Sharpshooter, but that's okay.  I have room to move up.

Marksman, Sharpshooter....you're a show off either way.   

Congratulations and, yes, no doubt you will be moving up...you've done it elsewhere. 

Take care.

[Magoo541]

175 -  I'm a Marksman.



Okay, I was hoping for Sharpshooter, but that's okay.  I have room to move up.

Sandbagger!   


Good luck!

[ellis4538]

Not bad Alf...what were you shooting?  A Glock I presume.

I've been shooting for years and the hardest thing for this old fart is kneeling and etc.  Get down OK but hard to maneuver around the barrel and getting up is a B...H.


Richard

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

Actually this was done with my S&W 686 Revolver in SSR class.

The GA State Match is coming in October (and is already filled) so there will be more opportunities before then.  The next one I'm going to shoot a G17 in SSP. 

It's actually fun to shoot the classifier and I'm anxious to do it again. (I'm a bit of a masochist.  I actually loved the obstacle course in bootcamp.    The TI commented once that Sauve considers the OC a vacation.  Everybody hated me.)

[Solus]

You are a sick man, Alf, and they all were worried it was contagious.

[les snyder]

Alf... please switch to USPSA before you are totally indoctrinated....

[alfsauve]

Les,  I shoot USPSA, just not very often. 

[alfsauve]

So I thought these might be too shocking for my Facebook friends so I'll brag here.  This was at Friday's practice.   I do realize I'm nowhere near Expert level, but I think I can make Sharp Shooter on the next try.  At least in SSP


First is my Stage 1 + Stage 2 target for my IDPA classifier for SSP (G17)  (I know it's really shot on three targets, but indoors, at the range, for practice, I have to use just one target).  Combined time for the two stages was 85.34 (including the points down).  That would allow me to make 65 on Stage 3 and still shoot Sharp SHooter level.



In case you wondering:  For Stage 2, Strings 1 & 2, since I can't actually move downrange or uprange, I set the target at 7yds and walk in-place on the firing line.  It's as close as I can come to simulating those strings.



I like to end my range session with a rapid fire drill with my revolver.  Small target (8"x11") at 3 yds.  How fast can I get off 6 shots.  Subtract out 1st shot reaction time.   This is  the first time under 1 second.  (0.97)   Three splits were 0.19 and the other two were 0.20.  Next step is to get 0.19 on all 5 splits.