Last Sunday I participated in my first IDPA match. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, and I finally decided it was time when I out shot everyone else in the NRA instructor course. Like I said then, “[t]hat’s probably because all I practice is slow, aimed hits at a known distance against a stationary target with no stressors present.”
I headed down to the match with oddball and New Shooter Drew (who, by the way, has logged over 6,000 rounds since he shot a pistol for the first time 8 months ago–what’s your excuse?) as my entourage. I had four goals. In order of importance, they were:
- Don’t shoot myself.
- Don’t shoot anyone else.
- Don’t get disqualified.
- Don’t come in last place.
I’m happy to report I met all four goals. Sort of.
See, there was a match and a classifier. I came in second to last (of 25) in the match, but I was the worst performer in the classifier. I actually told the Safety Officer, “I swear I’ve shot a gun before today.”
I want to blame the poor performance on the fact that I was running a Glock 23 instead of a larger 9mm like a Glock 17 or an M&P9 Pro. Several times during the day I entertained the thought of buying a new pistol, but I think the real answer is just to get better with the one I have been carrying for years.
Although I do hear that the kool-aid is delicious.
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