Generally shooters use Semi-Automatic 9mm and above, up to the .45 depending on the stage being fired. Different weapons are used depending on which division you want to shoot in. In open division you can use modified (Race) guns with compensators, Electronic sights, custom triggers etc; where in the (cheaper!) Production Division you use weapons as they came from the manufacturer. There are more divisions and each one has strict rules as to what conforms to that division.

You could, but these large calibers have too much power and hence recoil to be used in competition. Most competitive stages require a mix of speed and accuracy – not excessive power. Some targets such as steel “knock down” targets need a certain amount of power to knock them down, and too much power will slow down the rate at which you can hit targets due to the recoil.

That is a Range Officer. The RO controls the range and instructs the shooter when to load, shoot and unload weapons. He follows closely with an electronic timer which records how many shots are fired and the time it took to complete the stage. If the RO detects any safety violations he can stop the shooter immediately. After the shooter has finished shooting under his control, he ensures that the weapon has been unloaded and returned to the holster or gun box. The RO is to be obeyed at all times otherwise you will be asked to leave the range.

Practical shooting is a sport in which competitors are required to combine accuracy, speed and power to successfully complete many different types of shooting "problems". Competitors use centerfire handguns in large calibres (9mm/.38 special is the minimum allowed) and shoot full-power loads. Fewer points are awarded to competitors using "minor" power loads. These handguns are carried in belt holsters and are accompanied by spare magazines in pouches also attached to the belt.

At any given match a shooter may be required to shoot targets 2 meters away in one stage, and 50 meters away in the next. Sometimes the targets are paper, sometimes they are steel. Often "no-shoot" penalty targets are placed near "shoot" targets. Points are subtracted from a shooter's score for hitting the "no-shoots". Shooting may be done from freestyle, strong hand, weak hand, prone, or any other imaginable position, depending on the course of fire. Since scoring uses both total points and elapsed time, the shooters strive to find the best combination of accuracy, speed, and power to win.

IPSC is at all times a VERY safe sport. Because shooters are moving with loaded guns only one shooter competes at a time, under the watchful eye of a trained Range Officer.  The slightest safety or rule violation disqualifies that competitor from further competition in that match.   Of all the Pistol Shooting disciplines IPSC takes the longest to learn.   Once you have learnt to compete safely IPSC is really about problem solving.  Because there is almost never a set way to shoot a course you have to work out how to do this – when to reload, when to move, where to shoot from, how fast to shoot and where the targets are.   While accuracy matters (you cannot miss fast enough to win) your score is divided by your time, so speed matters too.

Each stage is different, set up for the purpose and it is unlikely you will ever shoot the same stage again. There might be just one shot required, or as many as 32 if you hit everything first time, but you can shoot until all targets have been shot as the rules require. As long as you are safe, and follow the rules, how you shoot this is up to you.

The sport recognizes many different aspects of individual excellence. There is a wide diversity of attitudes among the shooters at a match. For some, the match is part monthly practice, part social occasion. They enjoy the challenge, the fun and social aspects of the sport, and don't take things too seriously. At the other end are the athletes - the Serious Competitors. They respond to the challenge by employing modern sports training techniques to condition mind and body to peak performance. In between are all sorts of shooters.

Please contact secretary@cbpc.co.nz  for more information