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[quote="LeonCarr"]I have been competitive shooting (PPC, IPSC/USPSA, IDPA) off and on since 1993. Since that time I have tried to focused more on tactical training than competitive shooting for several reasons:

1. Gamers. Anytime you have a "game" with "rules" people are going to try to bend the rules or break the rules without getting caught. Also, most courses of fire, even in IDPA which is supposed to be more realistic, isn't. On one stage during a USPSA match, a 38 round hose fest out to 50 yards, one shooter, a Vietnam era Green Beret, as the buzzer went off he unloaded his 1911, holstered it, walked off the line, went to his truck, retrieved his 20 Inch Colt AR and several 30 round magazines, and walked back to the line and started to load and make ready. He was DQed, told the RO that if he saw 38 bad guys he would either do what he just did or run :). He left the match.

2. Whiners. I have seen grown men cry more at shooting matches than at any other place.

3. Standing Around. As I age traveling 2 hours or more round trip to take 6 hours to fire 125 rounds or less just does not appeal to me anymore.

In a good tactical training course you spend most of the time learning and shooting to win the fight, instead of being told that you are never going to be a master class shooter because you stepped out of a box made out of 1 inch PVC pipe too soon or too late on the last stage.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr [/quote]


Leon, I appreciate your view and have heard similar from others.
Here is another view.
Training vs Practice is an often discussed subject.
For the purpose of this discussion:
Training is performed under the supervision of a qualified instructor to obtain knowledge and
useful skills.
Practice is the performance of knowledge or skills already known.
Now add a shooting "Game" with its inherent rules. Let's use old time "Bullseye competition.
When a shooter begins his course of fire is he training or practicing?
He is performing skills with knowledge previously learned not obtaining knowledge or skills from an instructor.
He is much like a "practicing attorney" or "practicing doctor".
Now consider the "game" of IDPA/USPSA.
To be proficient the shooter must attain a certain amount of skills including draw, stance, grip, malfunction
clearance etc. as well as knowledge of the rules. He should have practiced these skills prior to the match with dryfire etc.
As stated elsewhere, the addition of a time factor and presence of peers and onlookers adds to the stress factor.
Is this is training or practice? What is he practicing?
Here is the greater question.
Will the knowledge and skill practiced in these matches improve the shooters chances of winning a fight or would he be equally
prepared had he not competed?