Hi, i am new to shooting and bought my first handgun 3 months ago. I have been at the range every weekend practicing. since i have been interested in shooting i have always wanted to get into ipsc or another type of organized competition.  I have a production XDM. my questions are, am i too novice to get into competition now?  are there any classes that can be taken to learn how to shoot these matches? do i need anything before starting out? I am into guns for the challenge and the sport of it. it have always been interested in that aspect of firearms. . i am not one to hold firearms as trophies i am more into using them and doing well, more like a tool. i don't know if that's the right attitude but in the end i don't have a lot of money to have many guns to sit on a shelf.  if there is any good advice i need other than the questions i asked  i would appreciate any kind of input .  thank you for your time.

If you can hit within the scoring rings 95% of the time, then you are ready for competition. Check out production class competitions at Koko Head with MPPL and Rhat Rhat (can you speak Tagalog?). There are many out there that claim to be top shots. Competition separates the real shooters from the posers and teaches you different techniques for faster and straighter shooting..

If you can hit within the scoring rings 95% of the time, then you are ready for competition. Check out production class competitions at Koko Head with MPPL and Rhat Rhat (can you speak Tagalog?). There are many out there that claim to be top shots. Competition separates the real shooters from the posers and teaches you different techniques for faster and straighter shooting..

So where/how do you practice getting shots within the scoring rings 95% of the time?

 

Man, MPPL, RRB, and HPS is a way to learn some pistol craft tricks, but take it with a grain of salt.  There really are not many IPSC MA or GM on the island who are relatively squared away, but you can see how some of the fellas do a basic "draw stroke" and run around to get in position in order to attempt to call a shot. There are some talented "self taught" shooter in these clubs.  For the most part everyone is "self taught" and probably watches a lot of "Tube of You" videos to gain some skill. Some of the folks even record their performance and try to diagnose their success and failures. 

IPSC Production class is a way to go in my opinion.  Limited 10 and Open Class are fun but since we are limited to 10 rounds you get a **** load of magazine changes and it is hard to do "rhythm drills" while "floating the gun" from one target to the next in my opinion.

http://www.icetraining.us/training_calendar.php

Check out the following link if you are interested.  In the last 8 years, I found Rob Pincus's application for Combat Focus Shooting as a decent base line for some folks who are considering developing some pistol craft skills.  He is articulate and best of all you can watch it over and over again.  Another series to look into is from Matt Burkett.

Here is the link:
http://www.predatortactical.com/All-Burkett-DVD-s-p61.html

I spent some time in Arizona picking up hints and ticks while traveling between Tucson, Phoenix, and Sierra Vista to compete in local matches.  Mr Burkett was at one of the local matches and he gave us a free seminar on "calling the shot".  Granted we are very limited to some of the drills we can execute in Oahu,  but at least you can take a look at the series and train on what you can if you have an air soft pistol believe it or not.  Some times we used to bring our air soft copies and practice in our hotel room before some of our major matches.  Yes I know it sounds obsessive, but when you are in it to win it can get addicting.

You might be able to down load those videos on peer to peer sites, if I am not mistaken.

Hawaii is a tough place to start but I would humbly ask you to take your time and watch all of the shooters you see with a grain of salt.  Once you get familiar with "trigger press", and"sight alignment" - the rest is just muzzle orientation - extend/touch/press - aim/press/recover. 

I recently got my A$$ handed to me in mainland at a local IPSC match. I borrowed a friend gun gun since we were just passing through.  I could not even blame the gun since I  did not practice in over 8 months. It's a perishable skill and boy was I humbled!

Good luck to you.  We'll be at the range on Sunday if you make it out there. 

Cheers

b2b

Thanks for the long post to help a new shooter.

Thank you all for your informative comments. To answer some questions I shoot at Koko head target range and I don't think I am 95% in scoring area yet. I believe it's the 25 yard distance. I also don't speak tagalog. Sorry. I went on mppl and saw a 101 class. It sounds like a guide while you do your first competion rather than a class with information to get started. Anyone have more info of there 101 class? Would that be a good start for me?  I appreciate the 95% guide. I will be working hard to attain it. To make sure I understand 95% at what distance?
It also sounds like hawaii shooters are on there own in way, learning from you tube and reading. I guess just jump in a go! If there is any other advice on training and equipment needed i would love to hear it. Thanks to everyone that respond. I'll read responses again to make sure I answered your all your question as well. 

The 101 class is where you want to start. Make sure you have all the recomended gear.  5 mags and mag pouch, holster, 200 rounds of ammo etc.
They have a short briefing for the new people, then they group you with people that can answer questions as you begin. I suck at the pistol range
and i enjoyed my first time out with MPPL. My wife and aunty also did the 101 class a month later and had a blast too.

Quote from: Teichi on November 11, 2011, 10:47:08 PM

If you can hit within the scoring rings 95% of the time, then you are ready for competition. Check out production class competitions at Koko Head with MPPL and Rhat Rhat (can you speak Tagalog?). There are many out there that claim to be top shots. Competition separates the real shooters from the posers and teaches you different techniques for faster and straighter shooting..

So where/how do you practice getting shots within the scoring rings 95% of the time?

Kokohead on the pistol range (not the silhouette side).  It's humbling, I beat up my frame the last time I went there.

I've never competed in anything here in Hawaii, but in the shoots back home, you just go for it, man.  What's the worst that can happen?  (Ok, ok, you could get shot/shoot yourself and die.  Aside from that...) The worst that could happen is you'll get embarassed by much better shooters.  Who cares?  You might even embarass some of them.  I'll always remember the time I took my trusty black fiberglass Mossberg to a trap shoot, and beat a guy using a Ruger Red Label and all the associated I'm-a-by-God-professional vest, glasses, etc, etc, etc.  When the punk kid in the Oakleys with a $300 shotgun beat him he was so pissed off he packed up his stuff and headed home...at eight o'clock in the morning!  Bye, guy!   (Didn't help that my older cousin was loudly exclaiming that, "Holy cow, this is Cougar's first trap shoot!  Can you believe it?!?  He's going to beat this guy!")  DISCLAIMER:  Don't do that.  It's never good to taunt people with loaded guns in their hands.  Plus it's horrifically bad form.

I'd say find out when the next beginner level competition is and go for it.  Even if you get the pants beat off of you, you're still going to be out in the sun, shooting your shiny new gun! 

I've never competed in anything here in Hawaii, but in the shoots back home, you just go for it, man.  What's the worst that can happen?  (Ok, ok, you could get shot/shoot yourself and die.  Aside from that...) The worst that could happen is you'll get embarassed by much better shooters.  Who cares?  You might even embarass some of them.  I'll always remember the time I took my trusty black fiberglass Mossberg to a trap shoot, and beat a guy using a Ruger Red Label and all the associated I'm-a-by-God-professional vest, glasses, etc, etc, etc.  When the punk kid in the Oakleys with a $300 shotgun beat him he was so pissed off he packed up his stuff and headed home...at eight o'clock in the morning!  Bye, guy!   (Didn't help that my older cousin was loudly exclaiming that, "Holy cow, this is Cougar's first trap shoot!  Can you believe it?!?  He's going to beat this guy!")  DISCLAIMER:  Don't do that.  It's never good to taunt people with loaded guns in their hands.  Plus it's horrifically bad form.

I'd say find out when the next beginner level competition is and go for it.  Even if you get the pants beat off of you, you're still going to be out in the sun, shooting your shiny new gun!

^ + 1. Great advice.

Just go for it and have fun.
The longer you're around shooting, the more people you'll get hooked up with that are into different disciplines.

Hey Gang, great advice and funny writing. I enjoyed reading! Thanks again!  One last question; it looks like i need a belt, holster and mag pouch. where is best place to buy them on the island? OR is it best to go online?

My wife and I had same the questions a lilttle over a year ago when we went to the 101 Class.  If you've already got a stiff leather or webbing type belt, you might want to use that for now.  If you decide on what type of eqpt you want later, you'll probably end up checking out the CR or DAA comp belts.  As for mag pouches, I prefer doubles, it comes out cheaper since you need pouches for at least 4 mags (the 5th will be in the gun after you load and make ready).  Some guys prefer all single pouches, it allows for more space between the pouches.  The cheaper, ones are okay, just make sure your mags will fit (I don't know if XD mags are drastically different).
 As for holsters, you might want to consider getting one that is made for your make of pistol.  Most Production shooters tend to use Kydex type holsters, the ones that are specifically made seem to fit better.  Nothing wrong with the cheaper universal types, (Uncle Mike's comes to mind),  I've just found that with those types, the tension screw tends to tighten on one spot, while lifting on another.  The last thing you want is for some part  of you holster to enter the trigger guard when you're holstering.
  My wife and I ordered online, not too much cheaper but more choices.  We went with Comp-Tac for our M&Ps (excellent but pricey), and I recently picked up one of the cheaper BladeTechs for Single stack.  We've ordered with no issues from Comp-Tac(excellent products/customer service), Dillon (fairly cheap), and Dawson Precision(good prices).  As far as local, the OGC guys shoot a lot of the matches, you might want to see if they bring in gear.  A couple of the guys at Security also shoot, they bring in gear but its not always in stock.