WHAT IS IPSC?
This new shooting sport was formulated to determine the ability to use a pistol in its primary intended purpose of self-defense. The promotion of accuracy, power and speed as three equal elements was the prime objective of the Conference along with procedures and rules for safe gun handling. A constitution was established and the Confederation was born. The eight principles of Practical Shooting were also developed and the motto - DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (Accuracy, Power, Speed) was introduced to reflect this balanced objective.
Colonel Cooper said, "Let's find out what equipment and what techniques work best for self defense through organized competition, and today, the International Practical Shooting Confederation is promoted in more than fifty countries (called IPSC Regions) from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
In practical shooting, the competitor must try to blend accuracy, power and speed, into a winning combination. Targets are 75 centimeters by 45 centimeters with a 15 centimeter center representing the "A zone" or bullseye. Most shooting takes place at close range, with rare shots out to 45 meters. Hitting a 15 centimeter A zone at 45 meters or less might seem easy to an experienced pistol shooter, but in IPSC only full power pistols are allowed (9mm or larger). This power minimum reflects the practical heritage of this modern sport, and mastering a full power handgun is considerably more difficult than shooting a light recoiling target pistol especially when the competitor is trying to go as fast as possible. Time, also plays a factor. In fixed time stages, very short times are allowed for shooting a prescribed number of rounds or, as in Comstock scored stages, the scores are divided by the time, adding to the challenge.
Multiple targets, moving targets, targets that react when hit, penalty carrying no-shoot targets mixed-in or even partially covering shoot targets, obstacles, movement, competitive tactics, and in general, any other relevant difficulty the course designer can dream up all combine to keep the competitors enthusiastic and the spectators entertained. While the rules of IPSC state that the course of fire should be realistic and practical, they also state that diversity is to be encouraged, to keep the sport from becoming too formalized or standardized. In fact, some matches even contain surprise stages where no one knows in advance what to expect.
Although the roots are martial in origin, the sport matured from these practical or martial beginnings, just as karate, fencing, or archery developed from their origins. Now, practical shooting is an international sport, emphasizing safety and safe gun handling, accuracy, power, and speed, in major competitions around the globe. The crowning glory for practical shooting is to become the IPSC World Champion
Colonel Cooper said, "Let's find out what equipment and what techniques work best for self defense through organized competition, and today, the International Practical Shooting Confederation is promoted in more than fifty countries (called IPSC Regions) from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
In practical shooting, the competitor must try to blend accuracy, power and speed, into a winning combination. Targets are 75 centimeters by 45 centimeters with a 15 centimeter center representing the "A zone" or bullseye. Most shooting takes place at close range, with rare shots out to 45 meters. Hitting a 15 centimeter A zone at 45 meters or less might seem easy to an experienced pistol shooter, but in IPSC only full power pistols are allowed (9mm or larger). This power minimum reflects the practical heritage of this modern sport, and mastering a full power handgun is considerably more difficult than shooting a light recoiling target pistol especially when the competitor is trying to go as fast as possible. Time, also plays a factor. In fixed time stages, very short times are allowed for shooting a prescribed number of rounds or, as in Comstock scored stages, the scores are divided by the time, adding to the challenge.
Multiple targets, moving targets, targets that react when hit, penalty carrying no-shoot targets mixed-in or even partially covering shoot targets, obstacles, movement, competitive tactics, and in general, any other relevant difficulty the course designer can dream up all combine to keep the competitors enthusiastic and the spectators entertained. While the rules of IPSC state that the course of fire should be realistic and practical, they also state that diversity is to be encouraged, to keep the sport from becoming too formalized or standardized. In fact, some matches even contain surprise stages where no one knows in advance what to expect.
Although the roots are martial in origin, the sport matured from these practical or martial beginnings, just as karate, fencing, or archery developed from their origins. Now, practical shooting is an international sport, emphasizing safety and safe gun handling, accuracy, power, and speed, in major competitions around the globe. The crowning glory for practical shooting is to become the IPSC World Champion