Additional Information

IDPA

The spirit of RRRC IDPA matches is to provide simulated “real world” self-defense scenarios in which you can use your carry or home protection handgun to solve the problem.

The main goal is to give you an opportunity to test your shooting skills and abilities using practical equipment under somewhat realistic conditions.

We use IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) rules only as our guidelines. Those of you who are IDPA members know that some of their rules have changed for 2005. It is my opinion that some of these changes are good and some are not practical. RRRC IDPA will continue to be a practical self-defense shooting sport.

Please review the following updated requirements for shooting RRRC IDPA.

CATEGORIES FOR IDPA

SSP – Stock Service Pistol – “Stock” Double Action or Safe Action 9mm (9×19) or larger factory service pistols. Handguns must be Double Action, Double Action Only, or Safe Action and be of 9mm or larger caliber.
Pistols, including magazine, must fit in the IDPA Box.
The maximum number of rounds that may be loaded in the magazine is ten (10).
Power Factor is 125.
Selective DA/SA pistols MUST begin with hammer down.

NOTE: SSP pistols of 9mm, but less than .45 ACP may also shoot in the ESP Category.
SSP pistols of .45 ACP may shoot in CDP Category.
ESP & CDP pistols may NOT shoot in the SSP Category.

ESP – Enhanced Service Pistol – Single Action type factory service pistols between 9mm and 10mm, such as the Browning HP, CZ-75, EAS Witness, and 1911A1 pattern pistols. Handguns may be Single Action, Safe Action, or Selective SA/DA and be of 9mm, .38 Super, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, or 10mm.
Pistols, including magazine, must fit in the IDPA Box.
The maximum number of rounds that may be loaded in the magazine is ten (10).
Power Factor is 125.
Pistols approved for SSP that are less than .45 ACP may also be used in ESP.

CDP – Custom Defensive Pistol – Any factory service pistol of .45 ACP. “Practical” custom 1911 style Single Action, Safe Action, or SA/DA pistols, such as the Para-Ordnance, STI/SVI, and Glock 21/30.
Pistols, including magazine, must fit in the IDPA Box.
The maximum number of rounds that may be loaded in the magazine is eight (8).
Power Factor is 165.
Pistols approved for SSP that are .45 ACP may also be used in CDP.

SSR – Stock Service Revolver – Any revolver of .38 Caliber (.357) or larger that utilizes ammunition with a rimmed case and is not reloaded with a moon clip. Maximum barrel length of 4.2” as measured from the front of the cylinder. Seven (7) or eight (8) shot revolvers are permitted, but may only be loaded with six (6) rounds.
Oversize or heavy barrels or oversize cylinder latches not permitted.
Power Factor is 125.

ESR – Enhanced Service Revolver – Any revolver of 9mm (.355) or larger utilizing rimmed or rimless cartridges, which may safely make a power factor of 165. Maximum barrel length of 4.2” as measured from the front of the cylinder. Seven (7) or eight (8) shot revolvers are permitted, but may only be loaded with six (6) rounds. Revolvers may be reloaded via speedloader or moon clip.
Oversize or heavy barrels or oversize cylinder latches not permitted.
Power Factor is 165.

MAG – Magnum – The minimum caliber is .41 Magnum and the Power Factor must be 270 or greater. Maximum number of rounds loaded is six (6) which includes topping off for semi-autos. If you choose to participate in this category, remember your equipment must be in the “Spirit of Defensive Pistol”. See Concealed Garments further down the page.

MF – Mini-Firearm – Any handgun below 9mm. If you choose to shoot in this category and your ammunition is not strong enough to knock down or activate stage props, sorry. You will not get a break on the street if your ammo is too wimpy to handle the task.
Maximum number of rounds loaded is ten (10) which includes topping off for semi-autos.

LE – Law Enforcement – Full time paid law enforcement personnel with arrest powers. You may use your duty rig or shoot from concealed carry. Duty rigs must have all retention features used. Concealment garment is NOT required if using duty gear.

JR – Junior – Junior shooters are welcome. You must be under 18 and be able to safely draw a handgun from concealed carry.

Belts – Gun belts may be no wider than 1 ¾” and must pass through the pant loops.

Holsters – Instead of a holster list, IDPA has come up with holster requirements. I personally think this is a better idea. Those of you who are using the Uncle Mikes Kydex holster that IDPA does not permit, don’t get excited just yet. I have examined this holster and even though I do not think it is suitable for concealed carry, you may be permitted to use it in RRRC Defensive Pistol. Try running your belt through the big slot area next to your gun and not through the slots that position the holster away from your belt. The distance between the shooter’s body and the inside of the firearm when the shooter is standing straight and upright can be no more than ¾ of an inch. If this distance is more than ¾ of an inch, is it really practical for concealed carry?
The front edge of the holster can be no more that 1 ¾ inches below the breech face on pistols or 1” below the rear of the cylinder on revolvers. (This does not apply for women) The trigger must be covered.

Ammunition Carriers
Magazine carriers – Must hold the magazine with enough tension to allow it to be turned upside down and retain a fully loaded magazine. Must position the magazine within 10 degrees of vertical with no substantial forward or rearward cant. Must be worn so the front edge of the carrier is behind the centerline of the body. Must cover the entire front face of the portion of the magazine inside the carrier. The front face is defined as the side of the tube away from the shooter’s body.

Speedloader Carriers – Must hold the speedloader with enough tension to allow it to be turned upside down and retained while fully loaded. Can either be of open top configuration that holds the speedloader in by tension and covers the full circumference and body of the speedloader, or retain the speedloader with a snap or Velcro closure.

Moon Clip Carriers – Must hold the clip with enough tension to allow it to be turned upside down and retain it while fully loaded. Can either be of open top configuration that covers at least 60% of the circumference and 100% of the cartridge height and retains the moon clip by tension and a stud that protrudes through the center of the clip, or retains the moon clip with a snap of Velcro closure. Moon clips may not be retained in the carrier by three or less cartridges.

Dropping Loaded Ammo – A three (3) second procedural penalty will be assessed any time a loaded ammunition feeding device (magazine, speedloader, or moon clip) is dislodged and falls out of the carrier during a course of fire. Dropping a loaded ammunition feeding device during a reload is not a procedural as long as the competitor picks it up before engaging targets.

Knee Pads and Elbow Pads – May be used if worn under the clothing.

Concealment Garments – All equipment should be so placed that, when wearing an open concealment garment with your arms extended out to your sides parallel to the ground, it can NOT be seen from the front, rear, or sides. Your concealment garment should be practical for your environment. Competition only garments are prohibited and are defined as: vented or mesh vest that allow the firearm, holster, spare ammo or ammo carriers to be visible when standing normally, chest pockets, specially-made pockets or any material inserted in pockets or around pockets to keep the pocket open for stowage of partial magazines after a reload. Examples of acceptable garments are: shirts worn with the tails out, vests, or jackets that cover your gun and ammunition.

Reloads – Must be performed from behind cover, if available, and will be deemed completed when the fresh magazine is seated and the slide is fully forward or the cylinder is closed and the partial magazine, if applicable, is properly stowed.

Cover – More than 50% of the shooter’s upper torso and 100% of the shooter’s feet and legs must be behind cover while engaging threat targets. For low cover, one knee must be on the ground and for vertical cover, such as a wall/barricade, 100% of the shooter’s legs and feet must be behind cover. A general rule of thumb is that the shooter will have to lean out of cover more and more for each target he engages (slicing the pie).

Cover While Reloading – If cover is available and you are reloading, you must be 100% behind cover until you are reloaded. IDPA permits you to expose your head to the threat while reloading. RRRC Defensive Pistol DOES NOT! If you are not using cover properly the Range Officer will yell “Cover” meaning that you start using cover immediately. If you continue to use cover inappropriately, a Procedural Penalty consisting of 3 seconds shall be applied.

IDPA Box – The IDPA box measures 8 ¾”x 6”x 1 5/8”. SSP, ESP, and CDP must fit in this box with an empty magazine inserted. This includes all spare magazines that will be used during the match.

Re-shoots – No shooter can re-shoot a stage or string for gun or “mental” malfunctions. Re-shoots are allowed for stage equipment malfunctions or Range Officer interference with the shooter.

Comments from the Match Director – There are few changes for 2005 from what we have been doing. The new Revolver Category is probably the biggest change. For those of you who shoot IDPA and are confused like I am, don’t be for RRRC Defensive Pistol. As I said, we plan to continue to be as practical as possible. Some of the equipment I saw last year could not, or would not, be carried on the street. When I refer to equipment, I mean your handgun, holster, ammo carriers, belt, etc. In 2005, out of respect for law enforcement and concealed carry shooters, I would like RRRC DP to be a little more “concealed carry” and less competition oriented. This does not mean that we should not be competitive. Being competitive is where the fun is for many of our shooters. I just want the equipment used to be something that you could, or would, carry on the street. This is what I mean by the “Spirit of Defensive Pistol”.

Listed Below are some Specific need to know points of information – Safety Is our First Concern

PROCEDURAL PENALTIES – 3 Seconds added to your score
Failure to comply with mandatory reload. 1 procedural penalty per reload, not per shot fired.
Creeping or Premature Start. Any movement after the “Standby” command and prior to the start signal that is NOT specified by the stage.
Proper use of cover: More than 50% of the shooter’s upper torso and 100% of the shooter’s legs/feet must be behind cover while engaging threat targets. lf the shooter does not have to move between target engagement, cover is NOT being used.
Reloads must be executed behind cover and completed before leaving cover. 100% of the shooter’s upper torso, legs, and feet must be behind cover while reloading.
No loaded ammunition carriers or live rounds may be left behind.
Shooting targets out of sequence. Targets MUST be engaged from near to far and as you see them from cover.
Firing extra shots. If the stage has a fixed round count, tape over the highest scoring hits for each shot fired and assess 1 procedural penalty.

MATCH DISQUALIFICATION – DQ
Dropping gun during a course of fire loaded or unloaded.
2. Accidental Discharge –
a. During Course of Fire. Any shot fired outside the confines of either the backstop or side berms or which strikes the ground within 3 meters of the competitor, or any direction deemed unsafe or strikes range props that are not intended to be shot.
b. While loading, reloading, unloading, or during remedial action in the case of malfunction.
c. Any discharge during movement except while engaging targets.
Handling a handgun at any time except when in a designated safety area or on the firing line under the supervision of a Range Officer.
Muzzle is allowed to point rearwards, that is, brakes the 180 degrees or is pointed in an unsafe direction whether loaded or not.
Sweeping – Allowing the muzzle of a loaded handgun to point at any part of the competitor’s body during a course of fire.
Failure to keep finger outside the trigger guard while clearing a malfunction where the competitor clearly lowers the firearm down from aiming at targets.
Failure to keep finger outside the trigger guard during loading or unloading.
Failure to keep finger outside the trigger guard during movement except if targets are visible to the shooter and the shooter maintains a sight picture on the targets with the intent of engaging them.
Handling live or dummy ammunition in a Safety Area.
Having a loaded handgun other than when specifically ordered to by the Range Officer.
Under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct – The use of inappropriate language at any time is grounds for Match Disqualification.
When the Range Officer gives a command such as “The range is clear” or “Get the first aid kit”, it is NOT appropriate for ANYONE to yell other commands unless these commands are directly connected with the safety and wellbeing of the people on the range.