Capitol Area Practical Shooters IDPA

New Shooter's Guide

Match Procedures

• Register at the scoring desk - there will be an equipment check at this point too
• Pay for the match (please try to bring exact change)
• Proceed to the designated Safe Area and gear up.  Please do not gear up at your vehicle.
• Attend the Shooter's Brief
• Help pick up brass and tape up targets between shooters
• Stay behind the Safe Line  when the range 'goes hot'
• After shooting your stages, please thank the SOs and other organizers putting on the match (admittedly, this is optional)
• Proceed to Safe Area to stow your gear
• Stay to the end of the match or show up early - We're always looking for volunteers to help setup or tear down the staging gear (targets and props).

REMEMBER: CAPS IDPA events will be run on a COLD range. This means that you may have magazines loaded and you may also have the gun in your holster on your hip. BUT you CANNOT have a loaded magazine in the weapon nor a round in the chamber! Please be sure to follow these rules - failure to follow this rule could get you DQ'd from the Match and your range membership revoked

If you have a Concealed Handgun License and are carrying concealed when you arrive at the match please find the Match Director or an IDPA Safety Officer. Tell them you need to unload and proceed with the SO to the Safe Area. You can unload at the Safe Area under the SO’s supervision. Please remain unloaded until you are finished shooting the match. Then, if you wish to load up before leaving the range, again, find the MD or an SO, proceed to the Safe Area and reload and holster. This is one of only 2 exceptions to the rule regarding not handling ammo in the Safe Area. The other exception is if your weapon jams during a Course of Fire and the weapon cannot be unloaded on the line. In this case, the SO will take the jammed weapon and proceed with the shooter to the Safe Area to attempt to clear the weapon. If the weapon cannot be unloaded, then an attempt should be made to make the weapon as safe as possible and the shooter advised to go directly to a qualified gunsmith to remedy the problem.

Equipment for the IDPA Shooter

• Your pistol or revolver and the knowledge of how to draw & fire it safely from concealment. Optional: You may want a duplicate gun in case your gun breaks you can simply switch guns and keep shooting. Autoloaders can have a 5' barrel or less. Revolvers can have 4" barrel or shorter.
• At least three magazines or speed loaders (possibly 4 Sloaders for Wheel-gunners).
• Gun belt, holster, and two magazine or speed loader pouches.(Holster MUST cover the entire trigger guard and be worn on the firing hand side of your body - line the holster up with the seam in your jeans or further back is fine.)
• Eye & Ear protection.
• Concealment garment (most stages and even entire matches may REQUIRE drawing from concealment).
• Your IDPA membership card & Classifier info (please know your Division and Class Level if you've shot IDPA before).
• Some cash - matches will cost $25 dollars for each Division you shoot (please try to bring exact change.
• About 100 Rounds of factory ammo (your reloads are OK as long as they meet the IDPA "Power Factor" - see IDPA Rule book for details).
• Optional: Your own beverages, snacks or lunch/breakfast . Dehydration in the hot Summer months is definitely something to avoid.  We provide water.