IPSC ("International Practical Shooting Confederation") stands for dynamic shooting with movement elements and is a relatively new trend in shooting sports.
The abbreviation IPSC stands for "International Practical Shooting Confederation" (in German: Internationaler Verband für angewandten Schießsport). In competitive IPSC shooting, in addition to shooting precision, movement and the time frame in which a designated course must be completed are relevant criteria for evaluation. This distinguishes "IPSC shooting" from "static shooting," where precision alone is the evaluation criterion.
Shooting in the IPSC style is practiced worldwide in over 100 countries by more than a million active shooters. Almost 400 international competitions are held each year. In Europe alone, 175 international competitions were held in 2015. In 27 of the 28 EU countries, the national shooting sports associations are members of the IPSC world federation.
How does IPSC shooting work?
IPSC shooting is primarily designed for handling a pistol for self-defense purposes; therefore, dynamic elements are an essential part of the process. Shooters are expected to combine the qualities of precision, speed, and power, assuming safe handling of the weapon. To do this, shooters fire multiple shots at targets measuring 75 x 45 cm from relatively short distances (up to 45 meters) under time pressure, with the center, the "A-Zone," measuring 15 x 15 cm. Unlike other shooting disciplines, only large-caliber weapons (9 mm or larger) may be used to come closer to a real defense scenario. There are multiple targets to shoot at, moving targets, targets that react to being shot, and penalty targets, depending on the design of the course. Targets can be shot within a short time with a specific number of shots, and a scoring mode is possible: In the so-called "Comstock Scored Stages," the time taken is divided by the duration required to complete it. Thus, the time spent, alongside precision, becomes a decisive element. The shooter must move during the shooting; they must navigate a course with several "shooting stations" while running.
The origin of this shooting form clearly lies in the combat area; one could compare IPSC shooting to a combat sport.
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