There are a few things that I've found that tend to confuse the crud out of new shooters when they're getting started in the shooting sports.

• You can shoot matches at clubs that you aren't a member at. This really seems to confuse people, because around here there really aren't any outdoor ranges that are open to the public for practice. Just about every place requires a membership, and most clubs have waiting lists that are literally years long. A lot of folks get confused thinking that they need to be a member at these ranges to shoot the match there. That's not the case if it's a sanctioned USPSA or IDPA match. Some clubs might have outlaw matches that are members only, so it it doesn't say IDPA or USPSA, check with the club.
• "I have all these "race" parts, why isn't my gun legal?" Yep, I've seen it several times where someone who hasn't ever shot a match builds a "race gun" that either isn't legal for ANY division in a game, or isn't competitive in the division. That Open Division gun you built out of your Ruger P95? Yeah, that's going to get you stomped 100% of the time. If you're just there to have fun, great, but if you're there to be competitive, you're gonna have a bad time.

• Believe it or not, vests are not required in IDPA. You're required to have your gun and gear concealed, but there's nothing in the rulebook about vests. I've heard people express concern about not wanting to shell out $75 for a vest before their first match, and they almost didn't believe me when I told them they don't need one.

 

Gear That Doesn't Suck

If you carry a gun, have a gun for self protection, or are just curious about what the heck terms like "stand your ground" and "castle doctrine" actually mean, you NEED to read this book.

I don't remember when I heard Andrew say it, but he once said something to the effect of "After reading this book, you'll never be able to participate in an online discussion of self defense law ever again."

He was right. Seriously, read the book.

Also, if you're local to Raleigh, he's coming to town to give a Law of Self Defense seminar on August 7th at Triangle Shooting Academy. Here's the details. (Use the code Triangle at checkout to save a little money.)

Shirts

Triangle Tactical shirts are still available until mid-week this week. If you haven't ordered one yet, use this link to get free shipping on your order. 

Contact

If you've got anything for me, shoot me an email at [email protected].