Shooting Disciplines

Action Pistol (IPSC):

The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) was officially founded at the International Pistol Conference held in Columbia, Missouri, in May 1976. Forty people from around the world were invited to attend this conference in order to determine the nature and future of practical marksmanship. Colonel Jeff Cooper was acting Chairman and acclaimed as the first IPSC World President.

The promotion of accuracy, power, and speed as three equal elements was the prime objective of the Conference along with procedures and rules for safe gun handling. A constitution was established and the Confederation was born. The origins of practical shooting were developed and the motto - DVC - Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (Accuracy, Power, Speed) was introduced to reflect this balanced objective.

Today, the International Practical Shooting Confederation is promoted in more than sixty countries (called Regions) from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Every year, the elected representatives of these Regions meet at the IPSC General Assembly.

In practical shooting, the competitor must try to blend accuracy, power, and speed, into a winning combination. Targets are 75 centimeters by 45 centimeters with a 15 centimeter center representing the "A zone" or bullseye. Most shooting takes place at close range, with rare shots out to 45 meters. Hitting a 15 centimeter A zone at 45 meters or less might seem easy to an experienced pistol shooter, but in IPSC only full power pistols are allowed (9mm or larger). This power minimum reflects the heritage of this modern sport, and mastering a full power handgun is considerably more difficult than shooting a light recoiling target pistol especially when the competitor is trying to go as fast as possible. Time, also plays a factor. In Comstock scored stages, the scores are divided by the time, adding to the challenge. Competitors may enter any one of five Divisions depending on the style of firearm they use.

Matt Mclearn, World Shoot Bisley, England 1993.

Multiple targets, moving targets, targets that react when hit, penalty carrying targets mixed-in, or even partially covering shoot targets, obstacles, movement, competitive tactics, and, in general, any other relevant difficulty the course designer can dream up all combine to keep the competitors enthusiastic and the spectators entertained. While the rules of IPSC state that the course of fire should be practical and diversity is to be encouraged, to keep the sport from becoming too formalized or standardized. In fact, some matches even contain surprise stages where no one knows in advance what to expect.

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Duty Pistol - PPC:

Originating in the early 1960's Police Pistol Combat (PPC) shooting was originally developed by the NRA as a way to improve the training and proficiency of police officers in the use of their firearms. Over the years this shooting competition has evolved into the various matches and tournaments that we have today.

Individual PPC competition tests the shooter's ability under a number of time limit, distance and position constraints (the course of fire).  The standard course for Individual PPC competition is the "1500 Course of Fire" which consists of the aggregate score from five "matches" (Match #1 to #5), fired at 7, 15, 25 and 50 yards (or meters) and totaling 150 rounds of ammunition.

The "1500 Match" normally takes under an hour to complete and is a true test of a shooter's skill with a firearm.  Either revolvers or semi-auto pistols may be used in this competition and modifications to the firearm are allowed (as detailed in the current CPCA Rule Book).

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