Tips and Tricks

The purpose of this section is to share the things you have learned with new shooters.  If you have a tip or trick send it to the webmaster and it will be posted here.  Of course we expect it will apropos to IPSC shooting.

Tip:  Aim small, miss small.

Advice I got from a shooter I respect a lot:  If there is an array with a difficult target and one or more easier ones start with the easier ones and you will have a rhythm by the time you get to the hard one.

The following comes from Jerry the Geek:

Okay, I can play that game. Here are my Tips & Tricks for the CCS Website (who is better qualified to know what things do NOT work?) You choose which should be included. I won't be offended if none of it makes the cut. jB)

Limited Capacity? (Revolver, L-10, Singlestack, Production) If you're moving, you probably should be reloading.

Aim for the A-zone. Hit it. Speed will follow, but never try to shoot faster than you can shoot accurately.

Corollary 1: You will waste more time making up missed shots than you will by taking the time to AIM.

Corollary 2: Save time by moving fast and shooting smart. Lose time by shooting too fast, and missing.

Get good hits on the first target. It will build confidence and improve performance over the rest of the stage.

Corollary : Given a choice, engage the most difficult target in each array. You will naturally speed up as you engage successively easier targets.

Clean your gun every day that you shoot it. A reliable gun will beat a fast shooter more often than you can imagine.

Carry extra small-parts which might break or be lost during a match. Examples: extractor, guide rod plug.

Corollary : Know, and suck up to, somebody who knows how to replace small parts on your gun.

Carry extra reloads, on every stage. You may only need one or two reloads by your game-plan, but what happens when the game-plan goes wrong?

Corollary 1: The game-plan always goes wrong. Plan for it.

Corollary 2: Make sure your magazine carriers won't drop your LOADED magazines when you run, squat, jump or throw yourself into a prone position.

Make your reload strategy part of your stage strategy. Expect the unexpected.

Relax! Don't start a stage all tensed up. Never hunch your shoulders when the RO says "Are you ready?" Look cool, be cool.

If you reload your own ammunition, carefully inspect each round before you put it in the 'match ammunition' box. Only use match ammunition in a match.

You get "style points" by shooting really fast. There is no box on the score card for "style points".

Those old guys, who seem to consider themselves your New Best Friend and are too free with unsolicited advice? If you hear the same thing from two of them, they just might know what they're talking about.

Don't expect to win your first IPSC match. Maybe not even the second. This makes the disappointment easier to bear.

Speed kills. Speed wins the match. Find the balance that works for you.

Remember DVC? Shoot your ammunition over a Chronograph BEFORE competing in a Major Match. Do this BEFORE you load up all your brass with what may be a weak load.

Practice reloading your gun at home, every week.

Practice strong-hand and weak-hand target acquisition at home, every week.

Practice transferring your gun from your strong hand to your week hand at home, every week.

Practice. Or lose. Your choice.