Action adventure in 4 letters
The early pioneers, first and foremost Lt. Col. John Dean “Jeff” Cooper (10/05/1920–25/09/2006) and his men from the US Marines like Jack Weaver, Ray Chapman, Thell Reed, Eldon Carl, John Plahn and Bruce Nelson, would never have dreamed that their style of “practical shooting”, which they developed and propagated in a small, tight-knit group in North America, would conquer the whole world and now would be practised assiduously by over 200,000 active shooters in 108 nations from Andorra to Zimbabwe.
The birth of practical pistol shooting
But let’s start at the beginning: Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Cooper and his friend, Marine Corps Officer Howie Taft, took the first steps to develop practical pistol shooting in Quantico, Virginia, after the Second World War and the American involvement in the Korean conflict. Cooper, who studied history in Bear Valley, California, after his military career, organised the first competitions there in 1957, which are rightly considered the birth of practical shooting. Contestants in these early matches generally competed using the 1873 Colt Single Action Army revolver, and the they featured classic man against man quick draw competitions and instinctive shooting from the hip. Among the earliest enthusiasts was a young Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff named Jack Weaver, who was astonished at the high miss rate with the large-calibre handguns in one-handed shooting over relatively short ranges. He was determined to find a way of achieving reliable accuracy even over longer distances, while maintaining maximum recoil/muzzle flip control in rapid bursts of fire. His efforts culminated in the introduction of a two-handed shooting position at eye level with the shooting hand extended and the supporting arm bent, which eventually went down in history as the “Weaver Stance”. But it became obsolete long ago based on modern insight. Today, most of the top-level IPSC shooters practice a pure form or modified variants of the “Isosceles Stance”, a two-handed shooting position in which both arms are held straight.
Still making noise, 44 years later!
The world umbrella organisation was established in May 1976 by 40 founding members from all over the world – among them Ken Hackathorn, Ray Chapman, Dick Thomas and Raul Walters – at the International Combat Pistol Conference in Columbia, Missouri.
But the association and its members split into rival camps during the early years of its existence. While the majority of shooters were mainly interested in competitions, rankings, trophies and prizes, Jeff Cooper and a few others had different things in mind. He analysed the continuously changing shooting techniques, stage tactics and equipment in order to check their suitability for realistic combat scenarios. His colleague Ray Chapman was crowned world champion at the first IPSC World Shoot 1975 in Switzerland. He therefore became the patron of sporting IPSC shooting, and his followers/students at the Ray Chapman Academy of Practical Shooting in Columbia, Missouri, were dubbed “Gamesmen”. By contrast, the hard liner Jeff Cooper and his followers at the Gunsite shooting academy in Paulden, Arizona, were given the nickname “martial artists”. The curriculum at the Gunsite Ranch mainly consisted of combat techniques for military personnel, police officers, security staff and civilians concerned with sell-defence.
Over the following years, however, athletes such as US legends Rob Leatham and Brian Enos not only triumphed at competitions due to their dedication to training, modern concepts and meticulous upgrading of firearms and competition equipment, but also steered the IPSC association structure and organisation in the direction of sport shooting. The supporters of highly realistic combat shooting increasingly surrendered their former dominance, which, among other things, led to the establishment of the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) in 1996. But (often astonishingly ignorant) critics from the political world and popular media took the mere establishment of this association as apparent proof that modern IPSC shooting is a supremacist, technicised, high-performance sport that has nothing in common with anti-terror training or urban warfare.
IPSC – Accuracy, power, speed
Let’s now take a look at the principles of modern, dynamic sport shooting, which were originally developed in the United States and have been represented and organised by the Association of German Sport Shooters 1975 (BDS) for over 30 years. The Latin motto “Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas” (accuracy, power and speed) reflects the great demands that are placed on an IPSC shooter. Apart from the other “action” sports shooting competitions like the Bianchi Cup and Steel Challenge (also the moderate variant at PPC/1500), IPSC is the only form of sport shooting in which the weapon is drawn from the holster ready to fire on the start signal. Security is of course the top priority, as contestants progress through the stage carrying a locked and loaded firearm under time pressure. In Germany, this means that potential entrants must first complete a theoretical and practical safety and rules test (SuRT) in order to take part in the sport. Each competitor is also accompanied through the stage by a Range Officer (R.O.) who gives the starting signal, ensures safe firearm handling and monitors any infringements of the rules. They are also among the officials responsible for recording the scores. Incidentally, the competition judges are organised within their own training and education association (International Range Officers Association; IROA), whereby the German range officers are also active in the German Range Officer Institute (GROI).
But back to the crux of the matter: What is IPSC shooting?
It is basically very simple: Shooters wait for a starting signal – usually a beep or a stopwatch/shot counter (timer) – and are then asked to perform a known task. The objective is to shoot at the targets as quickly as possible in order to score the highest number of points. Clean hits are weighted higher than the speed of shooting, and accuracy improves automatically based on continuous training and competition experience. Lightning fast shooting that misses looks spectacular but yields no points! Scoring is calculated by dividing the hits made by the time elapsed from the start signal until the last shot.
Hit points divided by time = hit factor
The result dividing the hits by time yields what is known as the “hit factor”, which is the shooter’s score for the specific task (COF; Course of Fire or Stage). A higher hit factor equates to a better result. The shooter with the highest hit factor is awarded one hundred percent of the available points for this exercise. All other shooters receive a percentage of points that is equivalent to their hit factor relative to the score achieved by the best shooter. Targets mainly consist of the “IPSC Target”, a cardboard disc in standard or miniature size. The targets are divided into “A” (Alpha), “C” (Charlie) and “D” (Delta) hit zones and are assigned different point values, depending on the calibre power used by the shooter. “A” hits in the centre are always awarded the full 5 points, while hits in the peripheral “C” and “D” zones receive 4/3 points and 2 points/1 point, depending on the power level of the ammunition according to “Major Factor” or “Minor Factor” scoring. The major or minor factor used for scoring is calculated based on the ammunition’s bullet weight and velocity and is determined by the following formula:
Projectile weight (in grains) multiplied by projectile velocity (in feet per second), divided by 1,000 = factor
For clarification, as the calculations are based on US American units of measurement:
One grain (gr) = 0.0648 grams
i.e. one gram = 15.432 grains
One feet per second (fps) = 0.3048 metres per second (m/s)
i.e. one m/s = 3.281 fps.
During a competition, the range officers collect eight match cartridges from each contestant. One cartridge is then taken to pieces at a suitable a test shooting range and the bullet is weighed on a scale. A measuring device is used to test the velocity of three additional cartridges in order to assign them to the minor or major performance groups. The minor/major factors in the various firearm divisions are explained in more detail later on in this text.
Fiery freestyle
Nowadays, major competitions feature a balanced mix of short stages with a maximum of 12 rounds, medium ones with a maximum of 24 rounds and long stages with a maximum of 32 rounds. Besides the standard IPSC cardboard targets in standard and miniature sizes – which are also cut/halved as pendulum and barrel targets for use in static and moving set-ups – shooters also aim at differently sized steel cap targets (IPSC Classic Poppers with a height of 85 cm and IPSC Mini Poppers with a height of 56 cm) and round steel pates (with a diameter of 20 cm or 30 cm) or square steel plates (in 15x15 cm or 30x30 cm). Two shots are usually discharged at each cardboard target, although one should be enough to topple steel discs and contestants are always allowed to take an additional shot if they think they have missed or would like to improve a poor hit.
What makes IPSC sport shooting so gripping is that the matches always feature new, varied and demanding stages. Competition exercises are never repetitive, which prevents any emergence of boring routine. What’s more, a “freestyle” spirit pervades IPSC sport shooting, so contestants can pick from several potential ways to complete a stage, depending on their personal marksmanship skills. In other words: competitors can climb up the ranking with some brains and ingenious stage planning, proving that IPSC is also a “dynamic mental exercise”. Experienced top shooters need just a few seconds to “read” a stage accurately and analyse it perfectly during the dry run (walkthrough) with their shooter group (squad) shortly before the “hot” start of the competition. They know exactly where they will adopt shooting position and how they must align their bodies with the target, where they will switch magazines and which are particularly tricky and will require their complete concentration to discharge a clean shot/check the sight picture.
Speed is not witchcraft
Here are some pointers to help laypersons understand what it takes for IPSC shooters to perform well: In the standard IPSC exercise named “El Presidente”, three targets are suspended next to each other at the same height, and the shooter must decorate each one of them with two hits, change the magazine and then put another two hits into the discs. This means 12 rounds in total and one magazine change for a perfect score of 60 points. Eric Grauffel from France, currently the planet’s best IPSC shooter and seven-time World Champion, completed this exercise with a perfect score in just 3.48 seconds, shooting from a distance of 10 metres with his Open Division pistol!
Selecting the firearm
The world of IPSC sport shooting with handguns is currently divided into the following firearm classes:
Open Division
This is the Formula 1 class featuring particularly expensive, high-powered competition pistols with single action triggers, extra-long 170 mm magazines and capacities of up to 28 cartridges, reflex sights and compensator systems. There are no restrictions in regard to trigger pull, provided that safety and reliable firearm functions are guaranteed at all times. The major power factor is at least 160, the minor power factor at least 125. The minimum ratings for bullet calibre, case length and bullet weight are 9 mm, 19 mm and 120 grains, so the typical calibres tend to be 9mm Luger (9x19), 9x21 IMI, .38 Super Auto, .38 Super Comp, .38 Super Rimless or 9x23 Winchester.
Standard Division
This class predominantly features single action pistols in .40 Smith & Wesson calibre with double-stack magazine, 5"/127 mm barrel and mechanical sights, which must fit empty into a case measuring 225 mm in length x 150 mm in height x 45 mm in width with the magazine inserted, cocked and locked. But the past has shown that titles are also up for grabs with the moderate shooting properties of the minor calibre 9mm Luger. There are no restrictions on trigger pull in this division, either. The major power factor is at least 170, the minor power factor at least 125 points. With a view to the major score and its positive impact on the number of points, the lowest possible calibre is 10 mm (.40), which is why .40 S&W shells are considered the gold standard.
Classic Division
“Back to the roots!”: this IPSC handgun class is home to the classic Colt Government of 1911-A1 in all its current diversity of makes/models with single-stack magazine, a 5”/127 mm barrel and mechanical sights. Designed by John M. Browning, the classic was the preferred tool even in the earliest days of IPSC’s history. There are no restrictions in regard to trigger pull. The major power factor is at least 170, the minor power factor at least 125 points. With a view to the major score and its positive impact on the number of points, the lowest possible calibre is 10 mm (.40), which is why shooters pick 9mm Luger, .40 S&W or .45 ACP rounds. The case size rules outlined above for the Standard Division also apply to Classic Division pistols.
Production Division
The class with the most participants is dominated by typical 9mm Luger service pistols à la Beretta 92 FS, CZ 75, Glock G17, Heckler & Koch SFP-9, SIG Sauer P226 or Walther PPQ with mechanical sights. Here as well, though, specialised materials are becoming increasingly advanced so that, for instance, a heavy all-steel match pistol featuring plenty of extras – e.g. as the CZ Shadow 2, SIG Sauer X-Five Allround, Phoenix Redback, Tanfoglio Stock III Xtreme or Walther Q5 Steel Frame – have stepped firmly beyond the realms of a simple “duty pistol”. The otherwise standard classification according to major/minor calibre and corresponding rating does not apply in this case, so only a minor power factor of 125 is used. It is achieved with commercially available 9 mm Luger factory ammunition shot from typical barrel lengths. The rules prescribe a minimum trigger pull of 1,360 grams (3 lbs) and a barrel length of no more than 5”/127 mm. Incidentally, the trigger pull was just recently reduced from 2,270 grams (5 lbs) to 1,360 grams (3 lbs) according to international regulations. This took place during the trial introduction of the new Production Optics and Production Optics firearm classes. Only 15 rounds can be loaded, irrespective of the actual magazine capacity. Minor modifications are permitted. All approved firearms are entered in the continuously updated IPSC Production Division List (visit: www.ipsc.org).
Revolver Division
The starting field in the Revolver Division is less crowded by comparison, although it is truly amazing how quickly the shooters manage to reload their revolvers with clips or speed loaders. The IPSC revolver division is the undisputed home to the richly traditional US manufacturer Smith & Wesson, as their revolvers promise great value for money, have a good factory-fitted double-action trigger and there are countless retrofit/tuning as well as equipment/accessory parts to choose from, especially for this make. Major: 170; Minor: 125 factor points. Revolvers in the 9mm Luger and .45 ACP pistol calibres are also popular in this division, as they can be supplied very quickly with fresh rounds using half or full-moon metal clips. Only mechanical sights are permitted, and there are no restrictions on cylinder capacity – although a maximum of six rounds can be discharged before reloading.
Production Optics Division
The two new pistol classes of Production Optics and Production Optics Light were introduced – initially on a trial basis until 2021 – at the 42nd IPSC General Assembly in September 2018 to reflect current trends and preferences in the world of firearms. But it is reasonable to assume that at least the Production Optics Division will be included in the rulebooks on a permanent basis. German Championships in these new firearm classes were held in 2018 (only Production Optics), 2019 and 2020. Approved pistols entered in the IPSC Production Division List are used in Production Optics, although only with the increasingly popular miniature red dot sights on the rear top of the breechblock and not mechanical sights. The mini red dot sight (MRDS) can be mounted either using an adapter for the factory sights port, factory interfaces – as featured on the Glock M.O.S. models and the Optical Ready (OR) versions of the CZ Shadow 2 or Walther Q5 Steel Frame – or, as stated in the most recent rule changes, also by milling a matching window notch into the slide. Typical production metrics: calibre 9mm Luger, 5“/127 mm barrel length, minimum trigger pull 1,360 grams.
Production Optics Light Division
The further breakdown into Production Optics and Production Optics Light is to ensure equal opportunities for contestants. After all, a heavy all-steel pistol such as the CZ Shadow 2 has a high dead weight and therefore lower recoil and muzzle flip and is hence far easier to control when firing than a light polymer frame pistol such as a Glock G17. The only difference between the two Optics Divisions is the weight limit on the Light class, which dictates that the firearm must not weigh more than 1,000 grams with reflex sight and empty magazine. This gun class is therefore aimed primarily at fans of polymer pistols. Here are the production metrics in this case, also: calibre 9mm Luger, 5“/127 mm barrel length, minimum trigger pull 1,360 grams.
Small Calibre Open Division
IPSC sport shooting with small-calibre pistols for the rimfire cartridge .22 Long Rifle is also becoming increasingly popular, as the low-recoil weapons with manageable ammunition costs are ideal for practice and for training young shooters (based on national firearm legislation). The purebred small-calibre pistols or their large-calibre siblings with mounted small-calibre conversion kit and reflex sights must have a minimum trigger pull of 908 grams. Magazine capacities of up to ten rounds are permitted. As ammunition, .22 long rifle ammo in the standard or faster HV (high velocity) versions are allowed.
Small Calibre Standard Division
The same rules apply in the standard class for firearms with mechanical sights. In addition, the maximum weapon weight is 1,400 grams and the line of sight must not exceed 220 mm.
Strong shoulders to lean on
Compared to IPSC sport shooting with handguns, dynamic shooting with rifles and shotguns is a relatively recent development in Germany. But contestants are required to complete a more specialised safety and rules test, as these long guns are completely different in terms of their handling. The basic principles of IPSC shooting explained above remain of course, although the target distances are often different (especially in IPSC rifle competitions). The stage designs also vary, for instance the IPSC shotgun meets also feature static and clay pigeon targets. The following firearm classes are permitted in IPSC rifle shooting:
Semi-Auto Open Division
The two Semi-Auto Open (with optics) and Semi-Auto Standard (with mechanical sights) divisions are the classes with the largest number of participants in dynamic rifle shooting. Self-loading rifles belonging to the AR-15 type in the low-recoil calibre .223 Remington clearly dominate the field, also because there is a huge tuning industry for the countless modular, easily convertible makes/models based on this classic by Eugene Stoner. Calibres raging from 5.45 mm to no more than 8 mm are permitted in all centrefire rifle classes. 320 factor points are considered “major” and 150 factor points “minor”. Match rifles in the Semi-Auto Open Division may be equipped with optics (often a combination of telescopic sights as primary optics and reflex sight as secondary optics for fast shots at close range) as well as compensators and bipods.
Semi-Auto Standard Division
Firearms in the Semi-Auto Standard Division exclusively use mechanical sights, which places particularly high demands on the shooter, especially for long-range shots, for example at 300 metres. Compensators are also permitted to reduce muzzle instability, but their dimensions must not exceed 26x90 mm. The maximum magazine capacity for the IPCS rifle divisions in Germany is always 10 rounds.
Manual Action Open Division
The number of entrants in the two manual action classes is quite modest compared to their semi-auto counterparts. A rifle with a classic bolt action for the Open Class may be equipped with optics and compensator and can also be fitted with a bipod.
Manual Action Standard Division
The maximum magazine capacity for rifles with bolt action and mechanical sights is just 5 cartridges. Muzzle attachments and bipods are not permitted. The Manual Action Standard 10 Division with a larger magazine capacity of 10 rounds is currently being trialled and will come to an end on 31/12/2017 if it not extended.
Mini Rifle Open Division (small-calibre semi-auto rifles with optical sights)
Like in the handgun class, there are also Mini Rifle divisions for small-calibre long guns shooting .22 Long Rifle rimfire rounds. The rifles in the open divisions can be equipped with optics, compensators and bipods.
Mini Rifle Standard Division (small-calibre semi-auto rifles with mechanical sights)
Contestants in this division compete for points using iron sights. The maximum magazine capacity in the mini-rifle disciplines is also 10 rounds.
Pistol with shoulder stock and optical sights
Although the world governing body assigns these two firearm classes to the rifle divisions, they are primarily welcome additions for IPSC production pistol shooters who fit their 9x19 duty pistols into a modern chassis to shoot them from the shoulder like a long gun. CAA Roni, FAB Defense KPOS or HERA Arms Triarii are among the names given to this kind of carbine retrofit systems with polymer or lightweight metal housings and shoulder stock. 150 factor points are mandatory for the minor score. Optics, compensators, gas discharge ports and bipods are all permitted in the Open Division.
Pistol with shoulder stock and mechanical sights
This class features the same firearms with open sights, although features such as compensators, gas discharge ports and bipods are prohibited. Only firearms with original slide and receiver are permitted in the two disciplines of pistols with shoulder stock and optical/mechanical sights. The barrel must not be shorter than 4” (102 mm) or longer than 6” (152 mm). Conversion kits by the firms Mech Tech, Wilson, Stenger and Norlite are banned in all disciplines with shoulder stock. They are classed as long guns and are therefore assigned to the IPSC Rifle 1500 Joules, i.e. the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) class.
Pistol Caliber Carbine
What is still called IPSC Rifle 1500 Joule in Germany is now known internationally as the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) class and is becoming increasingly important. Top-level competitors mainly use 9mm Luger carbine ammunition with blowback on an AR-15 basis. German manufacturers like HERA Arms, Oberland Arms or Schmeisser have suitable models in their portfolios. But American vendors are also heavily involved in this market sector, of course. These products include highly specialised match firearms like the carbines by the US manufacturer Quarter Ten Circle. The rules require a minor ammunition power factor of 125, a 9 mm minimum bullet weight of 115 grains and a maximum velocity of 500 m/s. A world championship in IPSC shooting with pistol calibre rifles (PCC; Pistol Caliber Carbine) was originally to be held in 2021 at the famous shooting range at Frank Garcia’s Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproof (Florida, USA). But the event was called off due to the corona pandemic and has been postponed to an unspecified date in 2022.
Flexible scatterguns
Contestants in dynamic IPSC long rifle shooting can focus on “point shots” from rifled barrels, as well as “scatter shots” using a shotgun with a smooth bore barrel. The shotgun is extremely versatile, especially in terms of compatible ammunition, as it can be fed with shotgun shells, birdshot and buckshot in various grain sizes, as well as slugs. A quick reloading technique can help to clinch the title in competitions, especially for manual and semi-auto shotguns with tubular magazines. It is impressive to observe how quickly and fluidly the shooters pull several cartridges out of the holders with one hand and feed fresh ammunition into their shotguns while moving around the stage.
Shotgun Open Division
As a general rule, calibre .20 and an ammunition power of 480 factor points are the minimum for IPSC shotguns. Leaded shotgun ammunition is permitted, provided it does not contravene local environmental regulations. Bismuth shot can also be used, but tungsten and steel shot are only permitted for paper targets and synthetic and frangible targets. Semi-automatic shotguns in 12/70 and 12/76 with box or tubular magazines are predominant in the Open Class and come equipped with reflex sights and compensators. They must not exceed a length of 1,320 mm. Even rotatable and/or multiple magazine tubes as well as weights and other external attachments to reduce recoil are permitted.
Shotgun Modified Division
This division is home to semi-automatic shotguns with (extra-long) tubular magazines (box magazines are prohibited), compensators and mechanical sights. Like the shotguns in the Open Division, they must not be longer than 1,320 mm. And while almost everything is allowed in the Open Division, here there are complex rules with detailed regulations concerning the firearm technology. Modifications or additions may be made to the elevator of the magazine tube to facilitate the loading process in “customised shotguns”. But these modifications or additions must not exceed 75 mm in length or protrude more than 32 mm in any direction from the standard frame of the shotgun.
Shotgun Standard Division
One of the specifications for the following two shotgun classes, “Shotgun Standard” and “Shotgun Manual”, is that they must be mass-produced models running to at least 500 units. Semi-auto shotguns with tubular magazines, the type most commonly used in the Standard Division, must not be fitted with a muzzle attachment. There are no specifications for the bolt system in the Open, Modified and Standard Divisions, so contestants can conceivably take part with a bolt-action shotgun as well, although this would automatically place them at a disadvantage compared to shooters with self-loading models.
Shotgun Manual Division
While the Open Class is dominated by self-loading shotguns with quick-change box magazines (Molot Vepr, Franchi SPAS 15) and the Modified and Standard Class by self-loading shotguns with tubular magazines by Benelli, the Shotgun Manual Division is home to classic pump-action shotguns such as the Mossberg 500, Remington 870 or Winchester 1300. If they like, contestants can also line up with a break-barrel shotgun whose two barrels can hold no more than two shells. Other rules apply on the international stage, but national regulations restrict the magazine capacity to 10 shells in all shotgun classes.
Ammunition for match winners
GECO, the official ammunition supplier for many major IPSC events in the past, including the European and World Championships, is committed to the world of dynamic sport shooting far beyond its portfolio of specialised ammunition. The company generously sponsors five top IPSC shooters from two countries and, among other things, gives its name to the prestigious IPSC Level III competition GECO Masters in Germany. The simple fact that Csaba Szászi is not only a top IPSC shooter, but also the leading man at RUAG Ammotec’s in-house test shooting range in Hungary demonstrate clearly the extent of GECO’s practical focus and competence. Csaba has worked for the Hungarian ammunition manufacturer MFS since 1995 and remained true to the company after its takeover by RUAG Ammotec as well. As an active match shooter and for professional reasons, he is able to analyse which ammunition types deliver particular functional reliability and accuracy during his numerous matches with fellow shooters.
Risk of infection
The current German IPSC sporting regulations for handguns, carbines, rifles and shotguns run to almost innumerable pages and can, for example, be easily and conveniently downloaded as PDF documents from: www.bdsnet.de. All match commands are issued in English, as IPSC shooting is an international sport. But don’t be put off: they are easy and quick to memorise. IPSC shooters are a communicative bunch who enjoy talking shop, so you should just visit a competition and be inquisitive enough to ask questions. You will be surprised how fast you will make contacts and astonished at how you will learn! Be careful, though: IPSC sport shooting is a highly communicable virus that may well remain for your whole life once you are infected.
