Andrea Contents
IDPA vs IPSC vs USPSA
When you first start your journey of gun ownership, satisfaction comes from occasionally practicing the target on weekends and learning everything you can about this new sport.
As time goes on, you become more experienced in firearms, and firing shots at a random target doesn’t feel the same as once you start to understand what you can do to vary your training with firearms.
This approach is correct because if you are interested in sports shooting it is essential to train but it becomes even more so if your interest is also armed self-defense where it is essential to maintain a certain training because taking the gun and keeping a gun in the safe without ever using it for years is not the best way to be ready if you have the misfortune of having to use it but the luck to have a powerful equalizer like firearms.
Now that you are hungry to learn and want to go beyond the polygon in line and maybe you also have the idea of considering participating in a competition of some kind but immediately you “clash” with a number of acronyms that at first can disorient but that actually go to work on similar and different aspects at the same time.
Fortunately, there are three large organizations that will take you on the road that best suits your personal shooting taste or try more experiences.
These are:
- IDPA – the International Defensive Pistol Association,
- IPSC – the International Practical Shooting Confederation and
- USPSA – the United States Practical Shooting Association.
The question is, which one is best for your particular interests and shooting goals?
Disciplines in comparison
Defensive Shooting vs Dynamic Sports Shooting:
They are different disciplines with some similar characteristics.
Both:
- require firing a number of shots at multiple targets in the shortest possible time and with extreme accuracy;
- allow learning the basics of shooting with firearms.
The substantial difference lies in the purpose for which a firearm is used.
In dynamic sports shooting,
the ultimate goal is to achieve the highest score in the ratio of accuracy of the result and speed of execution of the shot. Every procedure and/ or technical gesture is extreme and aimed at achieving this purpose. Since it is a sporting activity, some aspects of shooting are not treated.
In defensive shooting
, as already mentioned, the main goal is the survival of the shooter.
The use of the firearm is to be considered an extreme condition for self-defense and in any case always proportionate to the threat.
The defensive shot has the following characteristics, from an objective point of view:
- condition of strong psychophysical stress;
- variable distances (from a few centimeters to several tens of meters);
- often critical lighting conditions;
- different environments (large or restricted, rural, urban and domestic);
- possible presence of several people from whom it is necessary to discriminate:
- threats;
- alleged threats;
- third parties.
From a subjective point of view, the shooter must:
- keep constant attention on the surrounding situation, making every possible effort to have consciousness on what is happening around;
- adapt to the environment and threat reactions;
- maintain, in spite of everything, the ability to observe;
- adapt, applying the most efficient shooting procedures and techniques in relation to the evolution of the situation.
What is IDPA?
This organization has more than 20,000 members and offers competitions using practical CCW Concealed Carry Weapon and service equipment you rely on every day.
The main objective of the IDPA is to test the skills and abilities of individuals related to shooting.
Their competitions allow you to practice experience in the same weapons you possess to solve challenging and exciting defensive shooting problems.
There are thousands of IDPA affiliated clubs around the world and every weekend it is easy for you to find a weekly, monthly, regional or championship event.
It’s how people with similar ideas share skills and knowledge in a competitive arena.
The competitions are divided into two general categories:
- self-defense scenarios or
- standardexercises .
Self-defense scenarios simulate “real-world” clashes that require shooters to change shooting points and shoot from uncomfortable positions with shooting placement from about 3-20 meters.
Standard exercises do not duplicate a potential threat situation, but instead test specific shooting and weapon handling skills.
You don’t need to be in phenomenal physical condition to participate in competitions, which opens up matches to all legal firearms owners.
Membership provides a subscription to The Tactical Journal, their quarterly magazine, and access to many IDPA clubs and matches.
For more information, visit https://www.idpa.com/.
What is IPSC?
The motto of this international organization is Diligentia-Vis-Celeritas, which in Latin means precision, power and speed.
They are active in more than ninety countries around the world and recognize the disciplines of pistols, carbines, shotguns and action air.
In each kind of shooting, there are different divisions in which to compete, covering all skill levels.
They also offer two and three matches of weapons.
These fast-paced matches are set up in such a way that competitors don’t know in advance what to expect and could include multiple, moving, or responsive goals.
To continue the challenge, IPSC adds obstacles and competitive strategies to keep it interesting for both competitors and viewers.
One element in the rulebook for this organization is; the minimum size of the weapon allowed in competition is 9 mm or more, examples of which you can find here.
By signing up, you receive their quarterly magazine, IPSC World.
Go to https://www.ipsc.org/ for more information about this worldwide organization.
What is USPSA?
In essence, this organization is the American branch of the IPSC.
Organized competition types include multi-gun and various weapon matches that focus on the technical side of shooting.
Well organized for shooters of all levels, they divide the events into Production, Revolver, Single-Stack, Limited 10 and open divisions. In addition, there are seven skill levels in which to compete, and these are Grand Master, Master, A, B, C, D and unclassified.
This setup allows you to compete within your skill set against others who share your level of experience.
Since its inception, the USPSA has become more like the “game” and less like the practical side of shooting, which creates an atmosphere of excitement.
The equipment needs to compete are relatively simple and include a gun, holster, magazine case, eye protection and ear protector found here, along with a basic knowledge of gun and gun safety.
Speaking of security,this is the number one rule of USPSA events.
In fact, all USPSA ranges are cold ranges, which means that guns are kept unloaded and contained in a holster or case until officials signal to prepare.
Membership offers access to many shooting competitions across the country and the official publication of the USPSA, USPSA FrontSight.
If this organization triggers your trigger, jump on https://uspsa.org/ to get the full scoop.
Conclusions
Moving from shooting at the weekend shooting range to a random target shooting at the shooting range is already a step but still switching to participate in a shooting game will undoubtedly raise the bar of your firearms hobby.
Like any competition with time you will acquire the confidence that comes from going head to head with your competitors and you will be able to transfer that self-esteem and management of race tension also in other areas and in other trivial aspects of everyday life.
Regardless of the organization you choose, they all provide experience and will provide you with unattainable knowledge in no other way that only through competition can be developed.
Then there are also other ways but it is always about competition but with different tools and methods and allowed by law but on this I will dedicate specific posts.
Stay Tuned!
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