Practical Pistol Show 167 - We Go to Europe and brings our man purses along

Published on October 20, 2016
Duration: 32:26

This podcast episode discusses the experience of shooting IPSC matches in Europe, contrasting the highly organized CZ Extreme match with the less successful European Handgun Championship. Ben Stoeger and Matt discuss differences in stage design, including more moving targets and diverse shooting positions in European matches. They also cover the ceremonial aspects like opening and closing ceremonies, logistical challenges like target durability and helper availability, and the impact of weather. A significant portion is dedicated to the effectiveness of dry fire practice, particularly regarding target transitions and accuracy.

Quick Summary

European IPSC matches often feature more diverse stage designs with increased moving targets and awkward shooting positions. They also utilize waterproof targets to combat weather and commonly employ a 'zone format' for stage organization, which is also adopted by USPSA.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to European IPSC Matches
  2. 00:34CZ Extreme vs. European Handgun Championship
  3. 01:30Issues at the European Handgun Championship
  4. 03:34US vs. European Match Standards
  5. 06:31Pomp and Circumstance: Opening Ceremony
  6. 08:43Closing Ceremony: Awards Dinner
  7. 11:09IPSC Stage Design Guidelines
  8. 12:21Diversity in European Stage Design
  9. 13:54No Walkthroughs and Squad Dynamics
  10. 16:15Major Differences: Water, Food, Culture
  11. 17:08Shooter Attitudes and Match Standards
  12. 18:18Aesthetic Quality of European Stages
  13. 19:25Match Format and Shooter Numbers
  14. 21:33Impact of Weather and Delays
  15. 22:24Shoot-off Mechanics and Culture
  16. 24:18Dry Fire Practice Dilemma
  17. 25:34Flawed Dry Fire: Transitions and Accuracy
  18. 29:00The Mystery of White Targets
  19. 30:33Target Color Contrast Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between European and US IPSC stage designs?

European IPSC matches often feature more diverse stage designs, incorporating a greater number of moving targets, awkward shooting positions like strong-hand-only and weak-hand-only scenarios, and generally more complex layouts compared to typical USPSA stages.

How do European matches handle weather, particularly rain, with their targets?

European matches utilize waterproof targets that can withstand rain for extended periods, sometimes weeks or months. This contrasts with matches where targets may degrade quickly in wet conditions, impacting the competition.

What is the 'zone format' used in IPSC, and is it common in Europe?

The zone format groups stages into zones, with shooters completing a set number of stages within each zone per day. This is common in European IPSC and is a format that USPSA has also adopted for its sensible structure.

What are common mistakes made during dry fire practice for competitive shooting?

Common dry fire mistakes include practicing target transitions too quickly without proper sight picture acquisition, leading to missed hits in live fire, and focusing solely on slow accuracy without maintaining a realistic pace, resulting in slower match times.

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