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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
First IDSA Match in North Texas
A Shooter's comments after the match.
January 24, 2005
On Sunday, I shot the first IDSA
match. It was a fun experience. There were a number of things I liked
about this match.
First, the scoring system. It's based on the Paladin system. It takes a
total of 8 points of the target to neutralize it. To define the scoring
area, take a regular target. Now imagine a pawn chess piece. Put the top
of the pawn in the ocular region of the head. Now extend the body of the
pawn to where the base end just about where the bottom would be of a -0
ring on an IDPA target. This then gives you a COM area that some folks
feel more accurately represents what would be stopping shots on the human
body. This area represents 5 points regardless of the type of round you
might use.
Now all the area of an IDPA target that would be a -1, is the second
scoring area. Now we get into some discussion of major/minor PF. The
premise here is that a lower PF hit in this area would not be as effective
as a major PF hit. So the scoring here is 4 points for major and 3 points
for minor. The area that would be -3 in IDPA is 3/2 for major/minor.
So now as you shoot a COF, there is no specified number of shots required.
You simply shoot until you neutralize the target. 2, 3 or more shots,
whatever. Just get 8 points on the target.
I wasn't real sold on this system… until I shot it. Several things jumped
out pretty quick. This is MUCH faster to score. The target is either
neutralized or it is not. You can quickly look at the target and know. The
scoring is either "all neutralized or 1 missed.. 2 missed etc. A target
that is not neutralized adds 10 seconds to your score. Speed and accuracy
really do become paramount. I noticed this system really got rid of that
idea that I needed to "make up a -1. Shooting major, I never even
concerned myself with anything but something in the outer edges.
The match directors told us this system made it a dream to score at the
end of the day. No counting up points and all that. They were done very
quickly.
Non-threats are a BIG penalty here. 20 seconds! But then… if you were to
shoot a non-threat on the street, we don't even want to get into what THAT
would cost you. I like this idea….. even if I DID get hit with a 20 second
penalty.
Threat indicators. This was a big one to me. In so many shooting sports,
we just get too programmed into shooting blank cardboard. If we see any
black… we skip it. Here, we only shoot a target with a gun. (Knives may be
added later) But every target has SOME kind of indicator. Gun, Cell phone,
Hand. This REALLY makes you work on threat identification. The one NT I
shot was because the first target I saw had a hand and a cell phone. In my
shoot everything mentality, if that was not the shoot target, the next
target I saw with black on it MUST be the threat, right? It only had a
hand. No gun. I should have skipped the room. It cost me plenty for not
reading the indicators properly. (Yes this was a surprise stage.) This
really does add some thinking to the COF. I like this.
The speed was pretty good. I didn't see a lot of equipment race issues.
The guy who won the day overall, shot a minor high cap 9mm. I shot a major
high cap 45. I think we would have been pretty close if my gun had run
properly. (I pulled a gun out of the safe I hadn't used in 4 years. Looks
like it may need some work. I got a lot of practice clearing
malfunctions.) The revolver shooter finished 4th overall. What we did see
is that 10 round magazines are a limiting factor for some folks. Just like
they would be on the street if you had to really do some of this. The
folks shooting Clinton Capacity guns all said they needed full capacity
magazines to play. I didn't really see where 17 vs. 14 was that big of an
issue. But it's still early.
We shot rifle and sub-gun stages in addition to the pistol stages.
Everyone enjoyed the sub-gun. But this required that someone bring and
loan the gun so all could shoot it. Took a lot of logistics to make this
work. Not sure how practical this division will be for 99% of the clubs
out there. But, at least there is a category for the LEO who wants to
bring out their department equipment to practice in a side match
environment.
The rifle went pretty well. We still have some issues to work through in
this area. But I think the basic premise is still sound. Most of us who
might use a rifle will be grabbing it in a hurry. We won't have 30 round
magazines in pouches on our hips. If we need the rifle, we are going to
grab and go and we will only have the equipment that is already attached
and working. Optics can be there, but they are not turned on before the
stage is started. Just like it would be if the rifle was standing in the
corner before the rifle was needed in a real fight. I can tell you,
everybody was really looking at my always on Reflex II optics. (grin)
All in all, I had quite a bit of fun. There is still a lot of work to do
to solidify the sport. But it has promise. If you have the opportunity to
give it a try, I think you will all enjoy it.
Terry Burba |
For More Information Contact:
International Defensive Shooting Association
P.O Box 640 Cedar Hill, TX 75106-0640
Tel: 972-217-1182
FAX: N/A
Internet:
info@theshootingsport.com
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