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From: berenson@cookie.enet.dec.com (Coffee: Nature's Productivity Tool  04-Jun-1991 1043)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: IPSC and Revolvers
Message-ID: <35227@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 4 Jun 91 20:04:24 GMT
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IPSC has definitely turned into a development environment for firearms of
the future, more than a reflection of the current "practical" firearms.
Compensators are finally starting to make their way into actual combat
handguns (the 686 and 640 Carry-Comps are examples for revolver
fans...and some special forces and swat units are looking at comps for
their semi-autos).  With the advent of the new EPC electronic sight, I
think you'll see electronic sights in actual combat use very very soon.
It is IPSC competition that lead to these developments.

The response to this trend of IPSC reflecting the future rather than
today, unfortunately chases away new shooters.  The result is that a
parallel "Stock Class" is coming into being.  It is mostly informal now,
but I predict that it will be completely in place within 2 years.  My own
club has instituted a High Stock/Tactical award with the intent of
expansion if it is well received.  So far, we are running nearly 50%
stock guns at our matches since instituting the award.  If this keeps up,
we will probably expand to parallel Stock/Open clases.  USPSA thinking
seems to be running along the same lines, with this year's nationals
rewarding Stock shooters and some thinking about separate classifications
for Stock vs Open, etc.

As for revolvers, this is a tough problem.  It is part real, and part
psychological.  Given two shooters of identical capability, the one with
a semi-auto will outperform the one with the revolver in IPSC
competition.  Sometimes this is preordained by course designs which
require more than 6 shots from one shooting position.  But, even when
this is not the case, semi-autos can be shot just a little faster,
definitely reload faster and are less prone to fumbled reloads.  This
causes most IPSC competitors to go to a semi-auto, even if they intend to
shoot a stock gun.  The psychological factor is quite clear...people feel
that revolvers are non-competitive and therefore switch or quit the
sport.

Reality is quite different.  First of all, I know two front range
revolver shooters who can be in the Top-10 at a Colorado State IPSC
Championship every time they shoot.  So, its not impossible to be
competitive with a revolver.  Second, in IPSC you shoot within class.
Let's say that on pure talent with a "race gun" you would shoot as an "A"
shooter.  With a stock revolver, you might actually shoot "B" scores and
be so classified.  Thus, you would be competitive within class and able
to win your class.

Next, you really need to focus on competing against yourself rather than
against others.  I am a nationally ranked "D" shooter who has worked up
to "C" locally, and hopefully soon nationally.  I go out each match
looking to improve my own performance.  I like to win my class, but I'm
much more interested in my own progress.  I'm also a semi-auto shooter,
but I compete with a revolver in a local Modified PPC league to hone my
revolver skills.  I added 100 points to my scores over the course of the
league, and the fact that I was still 150 points from the top shooter
wasn't particularly important to me.

I'd encourage you to compete in IPSC with your revolver.  Remember that
you compete within class.  Also remember that Stock Class is coming, and
encourage the club you shoot at to start giving out awards for it *now*.
Within Stock Class, revolvers should be quite competitive (unless course
designers intentionally design for high-capacity semi-autos).
.............................................................................

Hal Berenson	

Home: 71640.3535@compuserve.com  OR  oldcolo!berenson@csn.org
Work: berenson@cookie.enet.dec.com

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