[Nalapombu]

Hey all,

I am going to give these gun "games" a try. There are all kinds of ranges around me that have matches pretty often and I have never done any of them.

The IDPA uses basic holsters that you would use for concealed carry...right?

I'll let you all tell me what kind of holsters and mag holders I will need for these competitions.
Keep in mind that I am not really competing, I am just going to do it for fun and because I have always wanted to shoot in these competitions for a while now. I can't run, go prone or crouch down and twist my head and torso into strange positions and such.


I would also want to try 3 gun at some point, but that will come after I get a new 5.56 rifle to use.

Thanks all for the help.

Nalajr

 

[Jon_R]

Do you have any holsters now?

If not bladetech is very popular. Simple blackhawk holsters are popular. My favorite is comptac kybex belt holster.

Simple cheap kydex holsters worn on the hip will do you fine.

If you go blackhawk i recommend not serpa lock. No reason for a retention holster for games and some clubs ban them because idiots shoot themselves in their legs which slows down matches.

Have fun.

For mag pouches kydex pouches work good. I like single mag pouches. 2 for idpa and probably 3 for uspsa pending what division / mag capacity is you might need more.

 

[jdw174]

I have holsters from CompTAC and Daranich Tactical, as well as mag holders from both. Both makers are excellent. I personally prefer the Daranich Tactical product myself.

 

[Jim Watson]

I use Ready Tactical kydex holsters and mag carriers. I shoot with the maker and have ready access. There are numerous other brands, you need a strong side open top holster. IDPA has more limitations than USPSA.

I shot an IDPA match yesterday and did not have to go prone or kneeling.
Last week's match included a low cover (kneeling) position. Note that IDPA requires that prone or kneeling must be the last shooting position of a stage, you will not be required to get up on the clock. If you cannot do it at all, both sports have a "penalty in lieu of course requirement" provision. Can't shoot from the ground? Shoot standing up and take a procedural penalty and move on.

 

[kilroy2721]

If you are doing it just for fun, and not really competing for top place, then go with BladeTech, CompTac, or Ready Tactical. I have holsters from all three, and they are all top notch holsters. There are many more out there, but the majority that I see are these brands.

As far as you not being able to run, crouch, kneel or go prone...don't worry about it. Most local IDPA matches will be glad to have you and work with any problems you might have. Yes you will probably get some procedures for not kneeling, or going to the prone position, but who cares...have fun and enjoy shooting. As I am getting older, I am starting to take more procedures myself as I can't really get into kneeling position due to bad knees.

 

[jdw174]

If you are doing it just for fun, and not really competing for top place, then go with BladeTech, CompTac, or Ready Tactical. I have holsters from all three, and they are all top notch holsters. There are many more out there, but the majority that I see are these brands.

As far as you not being able to run, crouch, kneel or go prone...don't worry about it. Most local IDPA matches will be glad to have you and work with any problems you might have. Yes you will probably get some procedures for not kneeling, or going to the prone position, but who cares...have fun and enjoy shooting. As I am getting older, I am starting to take more procedures myself as I can't really get into kneeling position due to bad knees.

I find myself rapidly getting to the same point in life. It isn't the getting into those positions....it's the getting OUT of them. Haven't taken a deliberate procedural yet, but sadly it's coming.

To the OP: If you opt not to kneel or whatever, it's a 3 second penalty added to your time.

 

[Jon_R]

I find myself rapidly getting to the same point in life. It isn't the getting into those positions....it's the getting OUT of them. Haven't taken a deliberate procedural yet, but sadly it's coming.

To the OP: If you opt not to kneel or whatever, it's a 3 second penalty added to your time.

Not directed at you just fyi for others.

Sometimes it is not an option to take the shots out of the required position and take a procedural. It is best to check with the SO just to make sure. It should only come up as an issue if it creates a safety issue. Where the bullet will impact after passing through a target is a lot different from prone vs standing and if shot standing the spot of impact may be outside the safety parameters of the range such as ground shots at a bad angle with concern of skipping it over the berm.

 

[checkyoursix]

Hey all,

I am going to give these gun "games" a try. There are all kinds of ranges around me that have matches pretty often and I have never done any of them.

The IDPA uses basic holsters that you would use for concealed carry...right?

....
Thanks all for the help.

Nalajr

This is a link to the 2012 IDPA nationals equipment survey. As you can see, two brands have by far the biggest share of the market, Blade-Tech and Comp-tac.

I don't think you'd go wrong with a straight cant OWB holster from either of these two brands. Would not choose IWB, keep it simple and comfortable. Don't forget to order magazine carriers as well.

 

[willie_pete]

I use CompTac and am happy with it. Careful of the SerpaLock; some ranges, at least mine, ban them because of some ND's.

wp

 

[Jim Watson]

Clarify: You don't just make a shot out of a position you cannot assume and "take a procedural." You are required to clear it with the RO/SO in advance.
I don't see many that would be hazardous to take from standing rather than kneeling but I guess it might arise. In which case you would be charged for the miss(ses) as well.

 

[Bren]

Hey all,

I am going to give these gun "games" a try. There are all kinds of ranges around me that have matches pretty often and I have never done any of them.

The IDPA uses basic holsters that you would use for concealed carry...right?

I'll let you all tell me what kind of holsters and mag holders I will need for these competitions.
Keep in mind that I am not really competing, I am just going to do it for fun and because I have always wanted to shoot in these competitions for a while now. I can't run, go prone or crouch down and twist my head and torso into strange positions and such.


I would also want to try 3 gun at some point, but that will come after I get a new 5.56 rifle to use.

Thanks all for the help.

Nalajr

Something like a Blade Tech kydex will work for IDPA and USPSA. The Blade Tech injection molded holsters and magazine pouches work great and cost even less.

Remember to buy 2 single magazine pouches, even though it costs a little more, not one double.

 

[jdw174]

Clarify: You don't just make a shot out of a position you cannot assume and "take a procedural." You are required to clear it with the RO/SO in advance.
I don't see many that would be hazardous to take from standing rather than kneeling but I guess it might arise. In which case you would be charged for the miss(ses) as well.

We have a lot of "older" shooters at our club matches, and during the safety briefing, the MD will always give the instructions that if there's a position called for that can't be assumed (i.e. kneeling or whatever), the shooter has the option to shoot out of that position and take the 3-sec penalty.

 

[MedicineBow]

I just use my CCW holsters. I guess if I used a gun I did not routinely carry I would get a holster similar to the one that I use for CCW so the training would be similar. Some care also has to be taken to make sure the holster is legal. I heard someone being told at a recent IDPA match that a Serpa was not permitted.

 

[ede]

I'd use what I had, if I had to buy I'd get something cheap until I figured out if I liked it or not. I use BladeTech for stock type applications and CR Speed for everything else.

 

[Spiffums]

I find myself rapidly getting to the same point in life. It isn't the getting into those positions....it's the getting OUT of them. Haven't taken a deliberate procedural yet, but sadly it's coming.

To the OP: If you opt not to kneel or whatever, it's a 3 second penalty added to your time.

Depending on how my knees are feeling I sometimes don't take real low cover. I just kinda hunker down and get the same view of the targets. I take my PE and go on. It's not worth the 5 seconds on my score to hurt the next morning.

Big Matches are different :supergrin:



As for a holster, it depends on how you approach the game. If you do intend to shoot USPSA and IDPA just go with the Blade tech DOH. If you get serious about it you will end up with 2 holsters anyways because you will want the DOH for USPSA and get tired of taking it off and on for IDPA.