I have several friends who shoot IPSC. I have shot in some GSSF (Glock shooting matches) before, but competition like this did/does not really fall in line with my core shooting beliefs.

What I liked about competitive shooting is that if you take it seriously, you end up praticing quite a bit. Assuming you have had training on how to shoot properly (basic marksmanship), this can be a good thing. If you have bad habbits and no formal instruction, then this could be a bad thing. You will become more accurate, getting tighter groups, learn about reloading if you take cometition seriously and apply proper shooting technique. Most of my comp friends shooting 1000-3000 rounds a month. This is a pretty expensive habbit and they all reload their own rounds and are very sensative about their ammo. They load as little power as they can to reduce recoil etc. If you have reloading gear, you should be in good shape.

What I don't like about competition is that many tactics used go against the rules relating to defensive shooting and the tactics one uses in that setting. For example, in competition, I was laughed at for retaining a partial magazine (tactical reload) while behind cover before transitioning to the next position. The "competition" shooters drop the partial mag (speed reload) while they are running out in the open with an empty gun. This is not the best defensive technique.

The use of cover is another example where competition guys just jump out in the middle of a doorway and don't properly pie the corner. Obvisouly when racing the clock, proper defensive technique is not practical and that's my problem with comp shooting.

I tried to utilize defensive tactics (properly pieing corners, proper reloads) in these competitions and I was basically given the cold shoulder because I would not violate basic rules of tactical shooting. I ended up stopping competition shooting because of this.

Most people that shoot at my public range (very big range), don't carry a gun in public and don't concern themselves with defensive shooting. Shooting is just fun to them or they hunt. I carry a pistol for defensive purposes and focus my training efforts towards the defensive cause, to me it makes more sense. Obvisouly some people don't give a hoot about defensive tactics so my concerns are of little importance to them. You should try some comp shooting out so you can make up your own decisions based on what matters to you. You don't need a $4000 race gun to try it out.

If you ever get out to Phoenix, PM me and we can check out my local range, it's over 1600 acres.