For the final part to this series, I will go over the equipment divisions, classifications, and classification methods for IDPA.
Divisions
This section should answer a couple of very common competitive shooting questions. What division should I shoot in? And is my pistol legal for IDPA? I will briefly describe each of the divisions, but specifics can be found in the IDPA Equipment Appendices on the IDPA website.
Stock Service Pistol (SSP)
SSP is the division that nearly anyone can sign up for and go shoot. As implied in the name, it is intended for stock service style handguns to have a place to compete. Allowed modifications are minimal and generally only include new iron sights along with internal upgrades or trigger work. Again, check the Equipment Appendices for specifics. Max weight is 43oz with an empty magazine inserted and the minimum cartridge size is 9x19mm. Magazine capacity limit is 15 rounds.
Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP)
ESP is also a very popular division for good reason. Any SSP legal firearm is automatically legal in this division, with the bonus of many legal modifications. This is the division for those wishing to modify their iron sighted handgun for carry or competition. Many modifications are allowed including enlarged magwells, compensated/ported barrels (provided they require a tool for removal), grip textures, and external aftermarket upgrades to controls or the trigger. The main stipulation is that the gun remain under the 43oz weight limit and fit inside the IDPA test box built to the length, height, and width limits for ESP. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
Carry Optics (CO)
CO is the most popular division in IDPA. Essentially, it is ESP with slide mounted optics allowed. Maximum weight is 45oz. Your red dot sight of choice must be mounted to the slide between the rear of the slide and the ejection port. Factory and aftermarket optic cuts and plates are allowed. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP)
In short, CDP is the home of the government model 1911. Of course, other handguns may be used, including Double Action/Single Action (DA/SA) and striker guns like the Sig P220 or Glock 21. The gun must be chambered in .45ACP and weigh no more than 43oz. There are many permitted modifications in the Equipment Appendix. A 1911 with a magwell, upgraded sights, grips, and trigger work would do very well in this division. Compensators or ported barrels are not allowed. Magazine capacity is 8 rounds.
Compact Carry Pistol (CCP)
CCP is for common EDC/CCW sized handguns, think Glock 19. Minimum cartridge size is again 9x19mm and the barrel must be 4 3/8” or less. The weight limit is 38oz and the division has its own overall size requirements described in the Equipment Appendices. Otherwise, all allowable modifications from ESP are allowed in CCP. Magazine capacity is 10 rounds.
Revolver (REV)
REV is, as the name implies, the home of revolvers. Besides the requirement that your firearm is, well, a revolver, the barrel can be no longer than 4 ¼” and loaded to a maximum of 6 rounds, even if your cylinder has a higher capacity. REV is further divided into Stock Revolver and Enhanced Revolver. Stock must weigh 43oz or less and shoot .38 Special or larger cartridges. Enhanced Revolver must weigh 50oz or less and shoot .357 Magnum or larger cartridges. Sights, grips, and cylinder latches may be changed. Trigger/action work is permitted so long as safety is maintained. No compensated or ported barrels are allowed.
Backup Gun (BUG)
This division is meant for very small concealable pistols. The minimum caliber is .380ACP and maximum weight is 26oz. Barrel length is limited to 3.5” or less and there is a separate test box limiting the overall size of the firearm. All ESP features and modifications are otherwise allowed. There is a BUG-R division for revolvers and details can be found in the Equipment Appendices. Magazine capacity is 6 rounds.
Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC)
PCC was made for those wanting to shoot a rifle form in this competition setting. The firearm must be semi-automatic and designed to fire from the shoulder, chambered in 9mm, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, 10mm, or .45ACP. Iron sights and optics are allowed. Very few modifications are excluded in this division. Please see the appendices for specifics. Magazine capacity is 30 rounds.
Classifications
The IDPA classification system is designed to rank shooters based on their demonstrated skills and to allow them to compete against others of similar skill. Competitors are classified by shooting one of two classifier stages or for match performance. We will briefly cover these below.
IDPA classifications are:
Unclassified (UN)
Novice (NV)
Marksman (MM)
Sharpshooter (SS)
Expert (EX)
Master (MA)
Distinguished Master (DM)
When someone becomes an IDPA member, they hold the classification of UN in all divisions until they complete their first classifier, perform well enough in a sanctioned match, or receive an equity promotion. However, competitors can only attain DM by winning the Division Champion title or scoring within 3% of the division champion in a Tier 5 match (Nationals, Worlds).
The most common method of classification is by shooting the Abbreviate Classifier, or 5x5. This is a 4-string course of fire totaling 25 rounds using an IDPA target set at 10 yards (course of fire is linked at the bottom). The shooter’s aggregate time is recorded along with any scoring penalties. That score determines the shooter’s classification based on their division. For example, a Carry Optics competitor shoots a raw aggregate time on the 5x5 of 21.47 seconds with two shots landing in the -1 scoring zone, which adds 2 seconds to their raw time for a final score of 23.47. Using the scoring matrix from IDPA we can see this shooter would then be awarded the classification of Sharpshooter. The raw time was within the time needed for EX, but his two second scoring penalty placed him in the SS classification.
The other method of classifying is by shooting the Standard Classifier. This classifier is 8 strings of fire totaling 72 rounds. This stage uses three IDPA targets as well as three barricades used as separate firing positions (Also linked below). The shooter’s times of each of the 8 strings are added up along with any scoring penalties for an aggregate score. This classifier does test a wider variety of skills than the 5x5 classifier. However, the 5x5 is a much quicker method to test and is used most often.
After a competitor receives their first classification, they will be given an equity promotion in similar divisions equal to one rank below their awarded classification. For example, our shooter in the above example who was classified as Sharpshooter would automatically be given the classification of Marksman in SSP, ESP, CDP, and CCP. The BUG, REV, and PCC divisions are unaffected as the firearms used in those divisions are much different than the mid to full sized handguns used in their classified divisions.
Finally, a competitor may also be promoted through match performance at sanctioned major matches. The top shooters in each division and classification can be promoted to the next higher classification (except for Master shooters wishing to make Distinguished Master as noted above). The number of top shooters who are promoted depends on the total number of competitors in the division and classification. See the Match Administration Rules for more information.
That does it for our in-depth look at IDPA! Relevant links are below.
Match Rules with Classifier times by division:
https://www.idpa.com/idpa-match-rules/
Standard Classifier:
https://www.idpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IDPA_Standard_Classifier_Stages.pdf
https://www.idpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/5x5-classifier.pdf
Current IDPA rules (as of this writing) are available at the links below.
IDPA Rulebook:
https://www.idpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-IDPA-Rulebook-Master-12-14-23.pdf
IDPA Equipment Appendices:
https://www.idpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023_Equipment_Appendix_Master_v2.pdf
Match Administration Rules: