USPSA vs IDPA: Which Competition Is Right for You?
This month, let’s talk about competitive handgun shooting; specifically, I want to talk about the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). Both are highly competitive and have a huge following. Let’s dive in and see what makes them appealing as well as their differences.
International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA)
The IDPA is an attractive shooting series because it simulates real-world self-defense situations. Purchasing practical everyday carry handguns, using standard carry holsters, and wearing everyday clothing to simulate your everyday carry situations is gaining in popularity. These competitions are very strict on the gear you bring to their matches. The IDPA requires you to wear cover garments that conceal your pistol and spare magazines. You can’t use souped-up handguns like race guns with red dots, and they don’t allow compensators to keep the muzzle down as you navigate through the course. The IDPA also requires you to use cover and concealment while going through shooting stages. Your magazines are typically standard duty carry that can hold ten rounds, and reloading happens when you are concealed. They require you to engage closer targets before shooting targets farther away. Essentially, they are recreating shooting situations that you may encounter in a real-world condition. IDPA scores by taking the number of seconds needed to shoot the stage. Then, they add on seconds based on the hits on the targets. The lower total score is better. Hits on the center section of the target add no time to your score. However, hits on the outer sections of the target will add time to your score. Any shots where you completely miss the target will add even more time to your score. This system places an emphasis on accuracy. If you rush through a stage in record time but have missed or have bad hits on your targets, your score for the stage could double or triple your time.
If you are a disciplined shooter who has patience and can record many hits on targets in a short amount of time, this type of shooting may appeal to you. The IDPA is also considered to be a less expensive route to compete, since they have restrictions on what type of weapon you can shoot.
United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA)
The USPSA is a highly competitive series that is designed around speed and physical ability and is not as concerned with restrictions on the gear you bring to the range. In this series, you will see all types of handguns with many modifications. Modifications include race guns, compensated pistols, and high-capacity magazines.
In this series, it doesn’t matter what you wear because this series does not intend to simulate a real-world shooting situation. This series utilizes freestyle stages where shooters can plan their own path, shooting targets on the move. Magazine changes do not have to happen while concealed; you can change while on the run to the next stage. The scoring of USPSA is similar to IDPA, but you’re not docked points for hits outside the center of the target. A hit on the target is a hit. Extra points are given if you use larger caliber pistols. So essentially this series is about hits and speed. USPSA is more expensive than other shooting associations because they allow modified pistols as well as the amount of ammo used. The standard caliber used is 9mm, but you can rack up extra points for different caliber pistols. The thought here is the heavier the caliber of bullet, the harder it is to get back on target, so more points. You can also sink a lot of money into your firearm. Race guns can run into thousands of dollars.
Conclusion
Both competition associations will test your shooting ability as well as your physical limitations. I know several folks who shoot in both and find it both fun and challenging. You can check out their websites to see if there is a club close to you. I recommend easing into competition shooting. You can drop a lot of money on gear, ammo, and a firearm and then realize you don’t have the time, and you end up not being interested in competing. Shooting competitively requires a lot of time practicing; some of that practice you can do at home or at your home range. That takes time as well. Good luck!!
Semper Fi!
Written by: David Johnson, Leatherneck Gunsmithing
