Newcomers to practical shooting are often uncertain about the gear they will need to get started in USPSA IDPA or US Steel Challenge competition.
Hopefully we can dispel the many myths and provide you some suggestions of how little you actually need to compete for the first time. Naturally any sport operates at varying levels and practical shooting is no exception. For the newcomer it can be daunting to decide what they should buy and what they shouldn’t.
It doesn’t have to be expensive (expense is relative of course) and ultimately the gear you buy is one of your own commitment and personal choice. Sadly there are few resources out there offering advice. Those that are lucky enough to have friends already within the sport it’s a lot easier, but if you were like me trying to start afresh with no one to turn to I learned as I went along.
Consider the list below recommendations, then take a look at the products choices in the handgun gear sections and make up your own mind.
If in doubt simply call us 321-206-6710 and we'll be happy to talk through your options.
IDPA:
www.idpa.com
IDPA works on very simple principles so it’s not all that difficult to get started. You'll need a belt holster, a stout belt a magazine pouch or holder to carry two magazines. Don’t forget your eye and ear protection and a concealment garment that fully covers the handgun and holster. The list of course assumes a semi-automatic rather than a revolver.
1) Use a good quality rigid belt. The Wilderness CSM belt is ideal. $44.95
2) Blade-Tech sting ray (belt loop) holster. $62.95
3) Blade-Tech Millennium Tek-Lok double mag pouch: $24.95
4) Woolrich Elite lightweight vest: $64.99
5) ProEars passive ear muffs: $31.95
6) Tifosi Pave 3 lens set sunglasses $59.95
7) CED Competition Range bag with gun slip. If you already have a stout bag you can buy the gun slip separately A gun slip is essential since you will have to carry your gun encased to a safe area to holster your gun $78.95
USPSA
www.uspsa.org
USPSA becomes a little more complicated due to the number of different divisions you can compete (www.uspsa.org) in and personal preference but a really good starting point would be:-
1) Competition belt. CRSpeed or DAA. $54.95
2) Holster
a. Blade-Tech sting ray holster for single stack $62.95
b. Blade-Tech dropped and offset (DOH) for production Limited, L10. $67.95
c. Race or competition holster for Open. You can also use a race rig for LTD and L10. The cost will depend on which race rig you choose, e.g. Ghost Ultimate, CRSpeed WSM11, Safarliand 012 or Arredondo. $140-260
3) Minimum of 4 single mag pouches (or two Blade-Tech double mag pouches) e.g. CR Speed Versa, Safariland 773, or Blade-Tech single tek-lok mag pouches. $120-150.
4) Tifosi 3 or 4 lens set $49-59
5) ProEars passive/electronic ear muffs $31.95-$300
6) CED Competition Range bag with gun slip. If you already have a stout bag you can buy the gun slip separately A gun slip is essential since you will have to carry your gun encased to a safe area to holster your gun $78.95
Steel Challenge
www.ussteelshoot.com
If you shoot 22 no holster is needed at all, nor mag pouches for that matter just a gun slip and a range bag. For any of the other divisions most competitors use their USPSA ring. You don’t however need mag pouches if you only shoot steel, since most competitors just reload between strings from their range bag.
For any division apart from 22
1) Competition belt. CRSpeed or DAA. $54.95
2) Race or competition holster enables the fastest draws for “surrender” draws, but many competitors will simply use the belt holster they for other competition use. The cost for a race rig will depend on which one you choose, e.g. Ghost Ultimate, CRSpeed WSM11, Safarliand 012 or Arredondo. $140-260.
3) CED Competition Range bag with gun slip. $78.95
If you already have a stout bag you can buy the gun slip separately A gun slip is essential since you will have to carry your gun encased to each stage or if you holster at the start of a match at the safe area
4) Tifosi 3 or 4 lens set
5) ProEars passive/electronic ear muffs $31.95-$300
Final Considerations
Most equipment for competition has settled on an belt width standard of 1.5 inches, so if you want to mix and match gear a 1.5 inch belt is the best platform to use. Note that holsters and mag pouches have developed over the years from essentailly a cottage industry and can vary in design. Modern competition belts are rigid and thick in profile so its not always possible to slide any type of mag pouch or holster onto a DAA or CR speed competition belt. However all of the the equipment listed in our recommendations above will work with either the DAA or the CR Speed Belt platform, although you may need to slacken off tension screws on a hanger or belt loop to slide it on the belt.
Blade-Tech have taken the concept of compatibility even further because they have developed a modular systenm that allows to use a number of different belt attachments to accommodate a number of needs. The sting ray is fully adjustable for belt width and you dont need shims! If you buy a sting ray holster today it can be changed out to a DOH, paddle, Tek-lok or thigh rig tomorrow!
Lastly, if in doubt call us, we'll be happy to help.
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