The monthly International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) match at Cherokee Gun Club for May 2011 had an interesting variation. The match was designed around the Back Up Gun (BUG) Division of IDPA. This Division limits strings of fire to no more than 5 rounds. Any IDPA acceptable pistol could be used but all pistols were required to start loaded with 5 rounds only and could reload with no more than 6 rounds at a time.
Shooters had several options when they signed up. They could shoot the BUG match, a combination BUG and Defensive Multi Gun (DMG) match, or the IDPA Classifier match. A shooter could only choose one option.
The Club held the match on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Shooting started at 1:30 PM and was finished by 4:30 PM. There were 42 shooters overall, including 2 lady shooters. Fourteen competitors shot the Classifier option. There were 8 stages for BUG and BUG/DMG.
The scenarios for the match were all drawn from real life defensive encounters faced by Private Citizens. Four stages were scenarios and four stages were Standard Exercises to test fundamental shooting skills. All of the Standard Exercises involved shooting with one hand at some point and 3 required shooting around non-threat targets. Many shooters discovered that their one handed shooting skills were rusty.
Participants in the BUG/DMG option shot 4 stages with handguns and 4 stages with long guns. Two of the long gun stages used pistol caliber carbines and 2 used a shotgun. Three stages involved transitioning from the shooter’s handgun to a long gun at some point during the stage. Carbines used included lever actions, an autoloader with iron sights, and an autoloader with a red dot optical sight. The shotguns used were pumps and double barrels, all with bead sights.
Shooters had a 3rd option to shoot the IDPA Classifier, which is a fixed 90 round course of fire shot in 3 stages. The shooter’s score determines their Classification of Novice, Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, or Master.
Cherokee Gun Club holds matches each month on the 1st Sunday of the month. Signup begins at 12 Noon with shooting beginning at 1:15PM. The public is invited to watch or participate. Due to the 2011 Cherokee IDPA Wheelgun Championship on May 21st, the next monthly match will be July 3rd.
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