IDPA – PCC – Lessons Learned

I got my second shot at the PCC qualifier today, this time in the down sized format. I learn something every time, so here it is.

In the full scale format, where the targets are at 15, 25, and 50 yards, having a low power scope is a swell idea. Especially at 50 yards. My scope is adjustable, 2-6 power with a 50mm apeture so I get a nice wide field of view. This is good when you move from one target to the next as you worry less about whether you're looking at the right one or not. NOTE: make sure your adjustable scope is set to the lowest magnification at the start. You want to see as much as possible and not just the -1 number stamped into the cardboard somewhere. When I shot the full sized qualifier, I lost the most points on the closest strings, which isn't supposed to happen. On subsequent strings, I changed the magnification to 2X.

The alternative setup for the qualifier is to change all the setup dimensions from yards to feet, including the target size. Here it is on an 8-1/2x11 sheet of paper.

Download the pic and print it out. You can set up a stage in a room and shoot it with an airsoft pistol for practice or you can take some copies to the range and set them up at 15, 25, and 50 feet to dial in your PCC. 

In 1/3 scale format, again 2x is plenty of magnification but what you need to remember is that at very short distances, your rifles point of impact will be 2-3 inches below your point of aim. Nearly everyone today had that problem. Additionally, with the target being only 1/3 of normal size, a 2”-3” drop will be equivalent to a 6-9” drop on a full sized target. Thus aiming for the torso A zone will get you hits on the lower edge of the target if you're lucky. Aiming at the head will get you hits in the torso A zone. If your scope has multiple ranging marks, you need to dial it in at 50', then move up to 25' and 15' making note of which mark is your new POI. Yeah, yeah, everybody knows this. So why did almost nobody seem to know this today?

At this point, I need 3 cheat sheets, one for IDPA close qualifiers, one for normal IDPA qualifiers, and one for USPSA events which run out to 200 yards. 

Most PCCs make 1200-1300 fps at the barrel which is very similar to a .22lr hi velocity. The best way to set one up is probably to zero at 35 yards, which gives another zero at 125 yards, and 18" low at 200. Now work out the hold overs for the close in stuff, and the hold under for 100 yards and make a cheat sheet.