About MPSA and IPSC as sport
History of the sport
(some content taken from www.ipsc.org)
The art of shooting can be traced back as far as the Middle Ages but it wasn’t until the 19th century that
shooting actually developed into a sport. In the 200 years since, shooters have come together at the local,
national, and international level to practice and compete in a variety of shooting disciplines.
IPSC-style competitive shooting developed in southern California, U.S.A. in the late 1950’s and quickly
spread throughout the shooting world. As the sport attracted more interest, participants sought a more
structured format and competition environment. As a result, in May of 1976, the International Pistol
Conference was held in Colombia, Missouri where sportsmen from around the world participated in determining
the structure, organization, and future of IPSC marksmanship. A constitution was established and the
Confederation was born.
Accuracy, power, and speed were recognized as the quintessential elements that have become the foundation
of IPSC. The motto -DVC- Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas (Accuracy, Power, Speed) was introduced to reflect these
balanced elements. Safe gun handling skills, as well as procedures and rules for competitions were also adopted.
IPSC athletes must blend accuracy, power, and speed into a winning combination. Handgun targets are 75 centimeters
by 45 centimeters with a 15 centimeter center representing the “A zone” or
bulls eye.
Most shooting takes place at relatively close distances, with rare shots out to 50 meters. Hitting a
15 centimeter zone might seem easy to an experienced pistol shooter, but
is not so easy for the beginners. In IPSC only full power handguns
are used (9mm or larger).
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 is a key factor. Scores are divided
by the time taken to achieve them, adding to the challenge.
Handgun shooters may enter in any one of
the following Divisions depending on the style of firearm they use.
Open, standard, production, revolver, classic, production optic
and production optic light.
IPSC is not restricted to handguns
and the following disciplines are cater for; Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun, Mini rifle, Action Air, Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC).
Rifle and shotgun disciplines are similar to handgun but differ in many details. The differences are found
in their respective competition rules, but only a detailed comparison will show how different they are.
Multiple targets, moving targets, targets that react when hit, penalty targets, or even partially
covered targets, obstacles, movement, competitive strategies, and other techniques are all a part of IPSC
shooting to keep the athletes challenged and the spectators entertained.
Although the roots are martial in origin, the sport matured from those beginnings,
just as karate, fencing, and archery developed from their origins. IPSC shooting is an international sport,
emphasizing safety and safe gun handling, accuracy, power, and speed, in high-level competitions around the
world from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
MPSA are very competitive and produced a number of competitors who earned there national colors. In the
photo from left to right. Hendrik Engelbrecht - handgun in the production senior division
and production optics senior division, Ronnie Gower -
rifle in the semi auto open division, Chrissie Wessels - MPSA Chief Range officer, Dirk Bekker - handgun in the
open senior division and rifle in the semi auto open senior division, Louwrens van Schaik - combat rifle in the
elite X-class, Paul Loock - handgun in the production division. Other members not in the photo - Rosco Bekker -
handgun in the production junior division, Tommy Glover - shotgun open division, Jarrod McAllister - shotgun
open division, Jean Engelbrecht - handgun production division
and production optics senior division, Justin Peacock - handgun
in the standard division, JP Potgieter - handgun in the standard
division, Mitch McAlister - Shotgun in the open division -
Senior and Irving Stevenson - Rifle in the Open division - Grand
Senior. So 12
MPSA members received their national colours in IPSC Shooting disciplines.
Special achievements
At
the Handgun World Shoot XIX in Thailand in 2022 the SA National
production optic senior team achieved third place
overall and won bronze medals.
Jean Engelbrecht and Hendrik Engelbrecht was from our province and it was the first time in history that members from our
province won any medals at a World Shoot.
FLTR: Jean Engelbrecht, Hendrik Engelbrecht, Tinus Erasmus (Team Manager), Neil Taylor, Peter Lindstrom
Our
handgun standard division team Justin Peacock, J C Potgieter,
Kyle van Deventer and Johannes van Biljon won the
Racing Snake Trophy by finishing first in the standard division
in 2022. It is the first time in history for MPSA to win this trophy.
FLTR: Justin Peacock, J C Potgieter, Kyle van Deventer, Johannes van Biljon (Not in photo)
Irving Stevenson received his national colours and joined the grand seniors open auto team at the
Rifle World Shoot III in Finland, August 2024. He was very successful during the match
and he received the silver metal in the semi auto division for
grand senior category overall. Well done Irving we in Mpumalanga and South Africa are very proud of you.
General principle
- IPSC matches are designed, constructed and conducted with due consideration to safety.
- Courses of fire must be designed primarily to test shooting skills and not physical ability.
- Accuracy, power and speed are equivalent elements of IPSC shooting.
- IPSC shooting challenges are diverse
- IPSC matches are freestyle. Competitors are permitted to shoot targets on an “as and when
visible basis” in order to solve challenges in a freestyle manner.
Handgun rules
- Minimum cartridge caliber is 9×19.
- Minimum bullet diameter is 9 mm (Smaller calibers may be used at Club level to promote safe firearm use and interest in the sport)
- Firearms must be safe and serviceable
- A competitor may never use or wear on his person more than one firearm during a course of fire (Disqualification under unsafe firearm handling)
- Handguns with shoulder stocks and/or fore grips of any kind are prohibited