USPSA and IDPA?

[remington]

USPSA and IDPA?

What are the major differences. No race gun, just a stock 9mm, .40 or single stack .45.

I live 10 minutes from Prado and was thinking of doing some of the Sat/Sun matches just because it looks like fun.

N

[HighLander51]

USPSA and IDPA? What are the major differences.

Just the rules, both are shooting games. IDPA was invented by Bill Wilson, and he wrote the rules to be different, if not opposite, to USPSA. IDPA is not tactical of training, it's just a different game. Everything is different except the shooting fast and acurate part. Since you live close to Prado, you live just as close to Norco Running Gun, give both a try.

There is a greater amount of subjectivity in IDPA calls by the RO's. There is a greater amount of 'freedom' in USPSA. For example you can shoot a USPSA match from concealment, if you wish to, there is no rule against it.

Most stock guns fit USPSA Production class, very much like IDPA SSP or ESP.

[3GunFunShooter]

Both are a lot of FUN!!
HighLander51 pretty much got it.
I do shoot both. Great bunch of people in both IDPA and USPSA. Lot of us at SacValley
shoot both.

[icedevil]

The basics have been covered, but I'll add that IDPA generally has shorter and simpler courses of fire (fewer rounds) with less movement. IDPA is often recommended to newer shooters for these reasons. As long as you prioritize safety (please go slow and listen to the experienced shooters/RO's!) there's no reason not to try either one as an intro to competition. Some people have really strong opinions on IDPA vs. USPSA (think religious debates). Try both and decide for yourself. Either one is 100x better than standing at a public range and shooting static targets.

[uscbigdawg]

I wrote this over at ARFCOM:

USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) is the US body of IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation). The over-arching principle is speed, power and accuracy or Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (seen as DVC on a lot of USPSA goodies). It's a game, plain and simple. There are six divisions that accommodate every firearm that's used around the world (with very few exceptions) and the use of either race or concealment gear. These divisions are Open, Limited, Limited-10, Singlestack, Production & Revolver. See brief outline and popular firearms choices below with very brief gear description. The biggest misunderstanding of USPSA is that you have to have a $4k race gun in order to be competitive. Never has been true but that was the perception.

Open: optics and compensators are allowed. The only restriction is the minimum caliber (9mm) and the magazine length ~170mm. "Race" holsters/mag pouches are allowed. Most popular firearms are STI/SV framed custom built guns. Some modified Glocks and EAA/CZ/Tangfolio
Limited: No optics, compensators allowed. Minimum power factor for scoring major (higher point value) is 40. Maximum magazine length is 140mm for double stack mags/170mm for single stack. Same gear allowed as open. Popular firearms = Same as open but more Glocks.
Limited-10: Same as Limited except with the restriction of 10 rounds in the mag...only.
Singlestack: 1911's in "stock" configuration with maximum weight and the use of concealment gear mandatory. Shooter has the choice of either 10 rounds in minor calibers (9mm) or 8 rounds in major (40 or 45). While a lot of folks think that additional rounds are more advantageous, depending on the style of the match, major calibers rule the roost.
Production: Any double action pistol in relatively stock configuration is good to go. Everyone is scored under minor power factor scoring and minimum caliber is 9mm. Use of concealment gear is common and Glocks, XD's, CZ SP-01's et. al. with the G34 likely the most popular.
Revolver: 6 rounders only. Gear = whatever you want. 357 is the minimum caliber with 40 S&W in a S&W 610 being the most popular. Use of moon clips is basically mandatory but not required.

IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) was founded by an off-shoot of USPSA that felt that the sport had deviated from its roots. Regardless of how anyone feels about that, it is exceedingly popular for its use of cover, concealment and only allowing the use of concealment gear. That said, that does not mean that the firearms are stock. Scoring is done as a time plus penalties (greatly simplifying scoring over the Hit Factor scoring done in USPSA; purposely not described for simplicity). Made up of 5 divisions (someone correct me if I'm wrong on this). No division allows the use of optics, compensators or extended magazines.

CDP: Custom Defensive Pistol. 1911 in 45 and that's pretty much it. It's for this gun but can't remember if the singlestack Glock is allowed.
ESP: Enhanced Service Pistol. This is the "tinkerer's" division. Just about anything goes so long as you make weight and it fits in "the box". Popular pistols range from modified DA/SA pistols to small caliber 1911 (9mm/40).
SSP: Stock Service Pistol: Very restrictive on allowed modifications. Basically, sights, trigger & springs. Done.
ESR: Enhanced Service Revolver. Revo w/ moon clips
SSR: Stock Service Revolver. Revo w/ no mods and use of speedloaders.
* There are barrel length restrictions in the revolver divisions, but don't know them off the top of my head.

The biggest differences between USPSA vs. IDPA. USPSA is "freestyle" in that it is up to the shooter to solve the problem given the parameters established by the stage designers limitations and the rules of the game. IDPA is much more regimented in order of engagement. IDPA draws from concealment, incorporates use of cover and other defensive minded techniques, has a lower round count and the maximum rounds per stage and distance of shots taken are shorter. As previously mentioned, the scoring methods are also different. Beyond that, they are VERY similar.

In the end, they're both fun. Try them both and enjoy them both.

Rich
(Hope that wasn't too wordy)

[applevalleyjoe]

Thanks, bigdawg...very helpful post!

[jb7706]

I wrote this over at ARFCOM:

USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) is the US body of IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation). The over-arching principle is speed, power and accuracy or Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (seen as DVC on a lot of USPSA goodies). It's a game, plain and simple. There are six divisions that accommodate every firearm that's used around the world (with very few exceptions) and the use of either race or concealment gear. These divisions are Open, Limited, Limited-10, Singlestack, Production & Revolver. See brief outline and popular firearms choices below with very brief gear description. The biggest misunderstanding of USPSA is that you have to have a $4k race gun in order to be competitive. Never has been true but that was the perception.

Open: optics and compensators are allowed. The only restriction is the minimum caliber (9mm) and the magazine length ~170mm. "Race" holsters/mag pouches are allowed. Most popular firearms are STI/SV framed custom built guns. Some modified Glocks and EAA/CZ/Tangfolio
Limited: No optics, compensators allowed. Minimum power factor for scoring major (higher point value) is 40. Maximum magazine length is 140mm for double stack mags/170mm for single stack. Same gear allowed as open. Popular firearms = Same as open but more Glocks.
Limited-10: Same as Limited except with the restriction of 10 rounds in the mag...only.
Singlestack: 1911's in "stock" configuration with maximum weight and the use of concealment gear mandatory. Shooter has the choice of either 10 rounds in minor calibers (9mm) or 8 rounds in major (40 or 45). While a lot of folks think that additional rounds are more advantageous, depending on the style of the match, major calibers rule the roost.
Production: Any double action pistol in relatively stock configuration is good to go. Everyone is scored under minor power factor scoring and minimum caliber is 9mm. Use of concealment gear is common and Glocks, XD's, CZ SP-01's et. al. with the G34 likely the most popular.
Revolver: 6 rounders only. Gear = whatever you want. 357 is the minimum caliber with 40 S&W in a S&W 610 being the most popular. Use of moon clips is basically mandatory but not required.

IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) was founded by an off-shoot of USPSA that felt that the sport had deviated from its roots. Regardless of how anyone feels about that, it is exceedingly popular for its use of cover, concealment and only allowing the use of concealment gear. That said, that does not mean that the firearms are stock. Scoring is done as a time plus penalties (greatly simplifying scoring over the Hit Factor scoring done in USPSA; purposely not described for simplicity). Made up of 5 divisions (someone correct me if I'm wrong on this). No division allows the use of optics, compensators or extended magazines.

CDP: Custom Defensive Pistol. 1911 in 45 and that's pretty much it. It's for this gun but can't remember if the singlestack Glock is allowed.
ESP: Enhanced Service Pistol. This is the "tinkerer's" division. Just about anything goes so long as you make weight and it fits in "the box". Popular pistols range from modified DA/SA pistols to small caliber 1911 (9mm/40).
SSP: Stock Service Pistol: Very restrictive on allowed modifications. Basically, sights, trigger & springs. Done.
ESR: Enhanced Service Revolver. Revo w/ moon clips
SSR: Stock Service Revolver. Revo w/ no mods and use of speedloaders.
* There are barrel length restrictions in the revolver divisions, but don't know them off the top of my head.

The biggest differences between USPSA vs. IDPA. USPSA is "freestyle" in that it is up to the shooter to solve the problem given the parameters established by the stage designers limitations and the rules of the game. IDPA is much more regimented in order of engagement. IDPA draws from concealment, incorporates use of cover and other defensive minded techniques, has a lower round count and the maximum rounds per stage and distance of shots taken are shorter. As previously mentioned, the scoring methods are also different. Beyond that, they are VERY similar.

In the end, they're both fun. Try them both and enjoy them both.

Rich
(Hope that wasn't too wordy)

I'm pretty sure that you can use any .45 that meets the criterion in the rule book, unless there is a rule someplace I can't find.