Got a personal anniversary this week: January 8, 2005 was when I became the first five-gun master in IDPA. The acronym stands for International Defensive Pistol Association, and until January ’05, there were four handgun divisions. They were Stock Service Pistol for double action or striker-fired (like the Glock), 9mm or larger caliber; Enhanced Service Pistol, encompassing the above plus single action autos, those with modified grip-frames and enlarged magazine wells, etc.; Custom Defense Pistol for .45 autos; and Stock Service Revolver for six-shooters with four-inch or shorter barrels. The latter division had been dominated by fast-reloading .45 ACP revolvers with moon clips, so the fifth division – Enhanced Service Revolver – was created for that kind of handgun to level the playing field among the other revolver shooters.
I had earlier become one of the first four-gun masters (never did find out which of us was THE first), and now there are 24 five-gun masters out of some 22,000 members worldwide. I’m still kinda proud of that.
Any anniversary is a time to look back at progress, and how we got from where we were to where we are. This year, Enhanced Service Revolver is “going away,” and IDPA will adopt two new divisions, one for compact 9mm-type pistols, and one to accommodate a small but growing trend of carry pistols mounting small red dot optics.
There have been other changes in IDPA rules. Some pleased the participating membership at large. Some, such as the recent requirement for reloading only while standing flat-footed, did not. IDPA has listened to its membership and that rule is changing. I for one think that is A Good Thing.
As the game changes over the years, so do each of the players. On my end, I noticed that while IDPA matured, I just got old. I was reminded of that in the three IDPA matches I shot in the last five weeks. Last Sunday in Orlando, shooting a little Glock 26 9mm in Stock Service Pistol, I managed to take “most accurate” overall for the match, but barely clawed my way into top ten when accuracy was combined with speed for final score. In December in Jacksonville, I managed to win Enhanced Service Pistol division shooting a Springfield Armory XDm 9mm and also win the Distinguished Senior category, a kind concession to the decrepitude of those of us over 65. And in between in Gainesville, I shot the same Springfield and didn’t win a damn thing, but still had fun. My hit potential is the same as ever, but I move slower than I used to between firing points, and in “run and gun” my “run” no longer keeps pace with my “gun.”
But it’s still good fun with great people, and it still keeps you sharp with defensive firearms, so I’m gonna keep doin’ it, even if the day comes when they have to time me with an hourglass instead of an electronic gunshot timer. If you haven’t tried IDPA, you owe yourself a shot at it, no pun intended. Go to www.idpa.com to find a club near you that hosts such matches.
Arrows show Mas’ brass in the air as Glock 26 shoots its way to “most accurate” at Orlando match last Sunday. Not shown is slowness of getting to firing station in the first place…Darn it.
Somehow the famous movie line “Old and slow as a pregnant yak” comes to mind for we old geezers… as I approach 68 I can honestly say “I feel your slowness”…:-)
First time I have heard a gun writer recognize the “age factor”. Bless you. I have said to others that the gun industry is like music videos. Targeted to the 15 -35 age group. This even though us mature folks comprise a huge chunk (approx 25%) of population. AND we are more prone to assault and its consequences than a young buck. I recommend you watch the video of a protester today who disrupted a ceremony for a 100 yr old vet. He tells a older security guard he is “going to break his jaw “. We have a generation that sees preying on older folks as sport.
Mas , it’s a well known fact that as you get older , you shrink .
When you shrink , your legs are shorter and that is the reason it takes you longer to get into fireing position — not because your getting OLD !!!
At 73 yr’s old , I do a lot of things slower , be still getting the job done.
Congrats on the anniversary and still staying active and loving what you do! So many people just….stop. Its awesome that you’re still doing what drives you!
Super nice. I support competition whole heartedly as it increases the handgun skills and promotes safety.
Can you still shoot IDPA matches when you’re in a wheelchair? Something tells me you’ll still be doing it if you can!
A firearm is still a great equalizer for those who know how to shoot it well, no matter how old you are & in a real life shootout it is very unlikely that you will have to run & gun like you do in IDPA matches. A quick dive for cover may be more practical. Also, having seen you shoot in person & having had you demonstrate unarmed techniques on me in class, I am not the slightest bit concerned about your ability to defend yourself, anytime, anywhere.
They say that Italian lovers make better lovers because they take it slow and easy. I had a personal anniversary on the 5th too, my birthday.
Where I’m at it is currently minus 4. Our club is supposed to have a .22 rf. silhouette match this coming weekend. Chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams and then 12 gauge hulls at 100 yds, no heat of course.
At our age Mas, the run and gun turns into walk and gun. pretty so it’ll be hobble on over and gun.
Keep shootin’.
Since I don’t shoot competitively (but hone my skills on my own steel range), and as age has slowed my footwork substantially, I will more faithfully follow the advice I’ve always given friends and family I’ve tutored over the years. If at all possible, “Let them come to you.” If you have the time, find cover and gain the element of surprise. Not possible in competitive matches, I know, but my advice in real life response to a threat.
If not possible, my advice echoes that of one of my movie heroes, “The Outlaw Josie Wales”. “Get mean, I mean downright mad-dog mean”.
It’s OK, Mas. At least you can still run a little. Some of the rest of us can’t even claim that!
Next thing you know Mas will be shooting BLANKS’ in the BLANK matches. Won’t hit anything, but he will sound good. Mas will say did you see that shot? No, but it sounded good.
Mas THANKS’ for all you do and all you have done to educate us all about fire arms. Thanks’ for the common sense and humor.
Long Island Mike – Mas has been telling us how much he’s slowing down for years – I think he’s playing us a bit. Mas, you and I are within days of each other (my bday is 7/6/48), so I can relate to what you’re feeling. I used to engage in something called “powerlifting,” an activity guaranteed to ruin a human body. Now, between surgeries, I try to lift 3 times/week and tell people “weightlifting is good for you – I’ve got the scars to prove it.” In the past few years, I have rediscovered firearms and rekindled my love for shooting – all after reading your words. My point? We are both doing things that make us feel alive. Very few people are able to do what they love – nearly every day – you and I are extremely blessed. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, Mas – you have certainly changed MY life.
Pistol Craft for Social Security Shooters…no…
Famous Handguns for Medicare Subscribers…not quite right either…
The right book is waiting to be written.
Everyone who has seen Mas shoot probably has their own story they could tell. When I took MAG 40 Mas offered to check the sights on our guns if he had a chance. I had an FNX-9 I could not shoot accurately. So, I had Mas check it out. Read the outcome here: https://gunculture2point0.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/massad-ayoob-checks-the-accuracy-of-my-handgun/
Congratulations on the anniversary of your achievement, and more power to you (especially your legs) as you continue in IDPA matches! Thank you for educating us on all topics concerning firearms. Looking forward to receiving and reading your latest book, “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense.”
Congratulations sir. Well done.
Congrats on the anniversary Mas! Glad you’re still having great fun at your young age! LOL I can empathize.
Now, at age 69, I find that the older I get, the better I was….
Congratulations on your anniversary! I like the good fun and great people part….staying sharp….very encouraging for me starting out just this year with IDPA with my shield.
At age 62, I guess you would consider me a youngster. This will be my 3rd year shooting I.D.P.A. It is great fun and I am pleaded to say that my wife of 28 years will be joining me on the range this season.
Thanks for setting a great example for us all.
Well, Mike, I can’t consider you a youngster…but while I’m not old enough to have been your daddy, I’m old enough I might have been your baby-sitter!
In fraternal geezerhood,
Mas
I thought of this thread today while watching terrorists murder a cop in Paris on CNN. I was pretty sure that Mas could have taken them all down from what looked to be a fourth floor apt over them. Even the rest of us on this thread would have been unable to watch murder without throwing some rounds towards them had we been up there instead of the French people watching and videoing with phones but all unarmed.
3-gun competition is very good practice for a Charlie Hebdo scenario. Military-type training by vets is very important, too. We should also be able to max the FBI Qualification. I am curious how Mas rates the FBI shooting test versus the IDPA and IPSC competitions. Thanks.
Happy Anniversary Mas,!
And remember that while speed may be fine, accuracy is final. 🙂
Fraternal geezerhood…LOL. I’m still living up the quick reflexes at 23 years of age…that being said I wouldn’t want to try and outshoot Mas at stakes higher then a 5 dollar bill. Mas, since you brought up 5 gun masters, I’d like to know your professional opinion of Mr. Ignatius Piazza as I am considering working for him.
HELLO MAS, CONGRATS ON UR ANIV. I HAVE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
ALL THE INFO THAT MADE ME A BETTER PERSON WITH A WEAPON. I AM 73
NOW AND CAN’T RUN ANYMORE. BUT A GOOD SOLDIER ALWAYS SHOOTS
STRAIGHT!!!! THANK U FOR ALL UR HELP…RON
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