On a more serious note.......................

Big Sky Redneck

First off I take 99.9% of what I read in the mags not with a grain of salt but a spoonfull. I consider most of the writings biased and very opinionated. Everything from gun manufacturers, calibers and most everything else I feel is written not as a nuetral view but as a personal one. Like all the bickering about the M16s versus the commie guns, you find an article smashing the M16 and praising an AK47 and I can find one that dissagress with yours.

I read alot of Amercan Handgunner because I like the stories by Massad Ayoob and a few other columns. There is one writer in that mag named Ken Hackathorn that loves to run down the IPSC and claim that anyone who shoots IPSC will not survive a defense situation. Now I want to ask those of you who shoot IPSC or have in the past, if Mr. Hackathorn is correct in his assumptions. Every other article this man writes is negative towards IPSC and I want to know if this is all personal opinion of his or does it have merit. I have never shot IPSC for one because I'm not that good with a handgun and two there are no matches within a 100 miles of here, I would rather got to shotgun matches and bow shoots.

So how 'bout it, if I decide to take up IPSC will I become a risk in a life or death situation? If IPSC is so bad and teaches very bad habits as he says, what are some good compititions that will help in defense situations as well as be entertaining?

Like I said, I generally read these for entertainment instead of education but this debate of his has been going on for awhile now and curiosity is getting to me.

pickenup

I can't answer your question because I have never shot IPSC, only because they REQUIRE you to dry fire your gun at the end of the shoot. I know some people and manuf. say it is ok, I just learned not to from way back and stick to it.There is a gun club I used to go to that has a competition shoot twice a month. They use rifles, pistols, as well as shotguns. Inside, outside, lighted, dim and flashlight conditions. The course was always different. Once had a course the local LEO's use and have to pass with score and time. If you can find one of those types of clubs. I am sure you would like it, and learn some new tactics.P.S. I had to quit, after almost a year, they changed their minds and would not let me use snap caps anymore. Maybe I was moving up on the score card a little to quick? Afraid of a little competition??? hehehe

If I knew then, what I know now.

Jody Commander

I have shot IPSC since before it was IPSC, (Cooper Matches) I also shoot IDPA, the two premier action shooting disciplines, and I can only speak from personal expierience, (No glitzy ad filled magazine paying Me to be pro or con) I love them both, IPSC requires more pricey toys to be competitive and there is little resemblance to a real life self defense situation like there is in IDPA but it is not meant to be, it is just a shooting SPORT. You will have to be in good physical condition to be competitive in IPSC for there is running and jumping and crawling in some of the tougher stages, Safety rules are strictly enforced! so as to prevent any harm to competitors and observors. Another plus for IPSC is the potential rewards, most of the bigger events have excellent sponsorship from suppliers of gear for combat shooters and they supply prizes of gear and money,some of the really good shooters can rack up some nice plunder in freebies and cash! Best way to find out about IPSC and IDPA is to go to a match and talk to the competitors AFTER the match,(They are like most other atheletes and like to mentally prepare for the match and don't like distractions). IPSC matches are fun and safe when done right, come out and see for Your self.

Alpine

In any high stress / combat situation three factors will contribute to your preformace: Training, Training, Training.
No matter what form of training you follow, you will revert to trained behavior in stress situations.
As to which one is "realistic" that is a matter of perspective and opinion.

If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there.