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IDPA / ERGC New Shooter Briefing

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  • ilintner

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    Quoted from the ERGC Website:

    Welcome to your first IDPA match at ERGC
    IDPA competition is a game based on defensive use of the handgun. While not training,
    per se, it employs scenarios which exercise the equipment, clothing, techniques, and
    mindset appropriate to carrying a concealed weapon. Scoring emphasizes a balance of
    speed and accuracy. Your score is simply the elapsed time plus penalties for inaccuracy
    and procedural errors (which are converted to time). Lowest time wins.
    Safety is of paramount importance. Some of the rules may seem arbitrary or unrealistic,
    but many are the result of experience, and exist in the interest of ensuring a safe,
    enjoyable sport for all participants.
    Equipment requirements are minimal. The rules encourage commonly used guns and
    equipment in order to keep the sport affordable and accessible to nearly anyone. Eye
    and hearing protection are mandatory. A cap with a brim or bill is highly recommended.
    A cover garment is required for most courses of fire. For most shooters a suitable gun
    (9mm or larger caliber) and three magazines or speed loaders are sufficient. The final
    required items are pouches or carriers for magazines or speed loaders, and a sturdy
    belt. Specific equipment requirements are described in detail in the rule book, which is
    available for download from the IDPA web site (http://www.idpa.com/Documents/
    IDPARuleBook2005.pdf). Youʼll also receive a printed copy with your IDPA membership.
    Match staff at ERGC consists of the Match Director (MD), Safety Officers (SO), and
    Scorekeepers. While engaging a course of fire the shooter will be accompanied and
    supervised by the SO and Scorekeeper.
    At ERGC we operate a “cold range.” That is, during the match no one other than a
    shooter under the supervision of a SO is permitted to have a loaded weapon. When not
    engaged in a course of fire, all participants are required to have their guns unloaded
    and in their holster - no gun handling is allowed. The only exception is the “Safe Area.”
    Thus, if it is necessary to check something on the gun or, for instance, practice the
    presentation (draw from the holster) or trigger press, it may be done in the “Safe Area.”
    It is best for competitors to arrive at the range with their gun unloaded and cased.
    There should be no ammunition or magazines in the case with the gun. When ready to
    “gun up” the competitor proceeds to the “Safe Area.” There he/she will uncase the gun
    and ensure it is unloaded by 1) checking for an empty magazine well (or cylinder for
    revolvers), 2) locking back the slide and visually/physically checking for an empty
    chamber, 3) releasing the slide (closing the cylinder for revolvers), and 4) pulling the
    trigger or decocking. It is then safe to holster the gun. When ready to depart the range
    at the end of the match competitors must again use the “Safe Area” to ensure the gun is
    clear before placing it back in its case. These checks do NOT require a witness.
    However, if you are carrying a concealed firearm and arrive at the range with a loaded
    weapon youʼll need to seek out a SO to supervise clearing and holstering the weapon.
    [Rule #1 - The gun is always loaded.]Unlike the gun, ammunition and magazines (speed loaders for revolvers) may be
    handled at any time before, during, or after the match. At ERGC you can expect to
    shoot approximately 50 rounds in a typical match, so itʼs best to arrive with about double
    that to be safe. The classifier is a special match which is run a couple of times each
    year and requires exactly 90 rounds. Itʼs best to have extra in case of a re-shoot.
    Shooters must always be aware of where their muzzle is pointing. For the safety of
    officials and other competitors at ERGC it is not permitted to point the muzzle of the gun
    more than 90 degrees left or right of the downrange direction at any time. This is called
    the “180 rule,” and violation will lead to disqualification. Disqualification will also result
    from “sweeping” oneself or another with the muzzle. Additionally, shooters must ensure
    that they do not point the muzzle behind themselves when drawing their weapon or
    returning it to the holster. This is of particular concern when moving from standing to
    kneeling or prone. One of the most common situations in which this rule may be
    violated is when attempting to clear a malfunction. [Rule #2 - Never point a gun at
    something you are not prepared to destroy.]
    At ERGC, due to range restrictions, all firing must be oriented to the north. Additionally,
    we are required to ensure that all rounds fired remain within the confines of the range.
    Thus, they must impact a berm. Each shooter is responsible for every round he/she
    fires. [Rule #3 - Always be sure of your target and what is behind it.]
    After signing-in the shooters will be assigned to squads and will remain with that squad
    throughout the match. At present, due to the arrangement of the available range, only
    one stage may be active at any time (it is planned that eventually the range will be
    subdivided such that simultaneous stages may be active).
    Each shooter will be escorted by the SO and scorekeeper to engage his/her course of
    fire in turn. At the starting position the SO will call for the shooter to “load and make
    ready” Wait for the command from the SO. The SO will then confirm that the shooter
    understands the course of fire and will ask for confirmation that the shooter is ready.
    The SO will command “Standby.” This will be followed shortly by the beep from the
    timer.
    During the course of fire you may receive safety or procedural calls from the SO. In
    order of importance these include: Stop, Trigger, Muzzle, and Cover. It is recommended
    that you become familiar with these terms by reading the rule book. It is also very
    important to know the types of reload which are permissible and to master the
    technique, since this is an integral part of nearly every course of fire. This is covered in
    detail in the rule book. During the course of fire, unless you are actively engaging a
    target your finger must be outside the trigger guard, preferably indexed along the frame
    of the gun. [Rule #4 - Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.]
    When the last shot has been fired the SO will command, “If the shooter is finished,
    unload and show clear.” The SO will need to see that the gun is completely unloaded.
    Again, follow the SOʼs commands one step at at time. Once the gun has been cleared the SO will instruct you to holster the gun. Many people, now full of adrenaline, are
    nervous and clumsy at this point. There is no rush. Take your time and ensure you
    donʼt sweep yourself or anyone else with the muzzle as you holster the gun.
    When the shooters from each squad have finished, and the last shooter has cleared
    and holstered his/her weapon, the range will be called safe and the officials will go
    forward to score the targets. Additionally, at this time all other shooters are requested to
    go forward to paste hits and reset moving or falling targets in preparation for the next
    shooter. When all shooters in a squad have had their turn, the squads will rotate to the
    next course of fire.
    Set-up and tear-down of the courses of fire require some manpower. If you can arrive
    early or remain after the match your help will be greatly appreciated. Exact change is
    also appreciated when signing-in. Thatʼs it! We hope your introduction to IDPA will be
    safe and enjoyable and that youʼll come back often.


    The most up to date info regarding upcoming matches can be found here: http://escambiarivergunclub.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10
     

    ilintner

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    Do you have to join ERGC also to shoot IDPA? What is the round limit per mag 10?

    You do not have to be an ERGC member to shoot IDPA, the entry fee for members is $15, and non members is $20.

    The round limit is 10 +1 in the chamber for the SSP class.
     

    TennJeep1618

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    Do you have to join ERGC also to shoot IDPA? What is the round limit per mag 10?

    You do not have to join ERGC, but you do have to join IDPA before you shoot your second match. I think it's $20 for non-ERGC members and $15 for members.

    Mag capacity limit depends on the division. SSP is 10, but I think CDP is 8.
     

    JWlineman

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    First match you don't have to be an IDPA member but after that you do correct?
     

    Khaot1c

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    Good stuff. I've participated in 2 of the events out here with the Hurlburt club. A couple of the guys have mentioned the ERGC. I'd like to give it a try.
     

    Khaot1c

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    Download a timer app for your phone. Not matter what kind of plans you make they all go down the toilet when the buzzer goes off

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
     

    JWlineman

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    Yeah after watching the vids from the last match I look more like Andy Griffith than an operator out there. Nothing tacticool about your first match. Haha
     

    TennJeep1618

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    What distances do you shoot? I need to know for practice reasons.

    Anywhere from 2 yards to 20-25 from what I've seen in the last two matches. The stage detail for stage 1 last week said paper targets were to be set at 40 yards, but I'm pretty positive they weren't that far. Looked more like 20 or so to me.
     

    ilintner

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    How big are the 20-25 yard targets?


    Most of the targets are the IDPA silhouettes, some are steel targets of varying sizes..

    Rifle-Target-IDPAFull.JPG
     

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