GADPA Frequently Asked Questions Q: Why is GADPA forming their own sport? A: GADPA leadership reached a point in 2014 where a new direction needed be taken. This was due to several differences in opinion and direction of the former sport. Ultimately, GADPA leadership wanted to bring the fun back to a shooting sport and a new version must be created to do so. Q: How many shots are required per target in Scenario Based Stages? A: The new GADPA sport does not require a specific number of rounds on target in Scenario Based Stages. In a real life scenario, the best advice is to engage a target until satisfied it is neutralized. This is exactly how the Scenario Based Stages are to be completed. Each target will be scored based on the BEST zone hit on the target. So, a competitor should engage each target with as many or as few rounds as they deem necessary. Q: Can GADPA scoring be further explained? A: As a reminder, here are the GADPA scoring rules: 2.4.3.1 The best ONE shot will be counted and scored when the competitor hits the target anywhere in EITHER the Head Area or the Down Zero Zone. 2.4.3.2 The best TWO (2) shots will be counted and scored when the competitor s BEST shot is in the Body Area Down One Zone. 2.4.3.3 The best THREE (3) shots will be counted and scored when the competitor s BEST shot is NOT in the Head Area, Down Zero Zone or Down One Zone. pg. 1
Here are some examples and explanations of how targets will be scored using GADPA scoring: Figure 1 - Down 0 Head Area, so the best one shot is Figure 2 - Down 1 Head Area, so the best one shot is Figure 3 - Down 0 Body Area Down Zero Figure 4 - Down 0 Major Power Factor Body Area Down Zero pg. 2
Figure 5 - Down 0 Body Area Down Zero Figure 6 - Down 6 (1+5) Body Area Down One Zone, so the best two (2) shots are A miss is added which equals five (5) points. Figure 7 - Down 2 (1+1) Body Area Down One Zone, so the best two (2) shots are Figure 8 - Down 3 (1+2) Body Area Down One Zone, so the best two (2) shots are Figure 9 - Down 1 Head Area Down One Zone, so the best one shot is Figure 10 - Down 12 (2+5+5) Body Area Down Two Zone, so the best three (3) shots are Two misses added. Figure 11 - Down 9 (2+2+5) Body Area Down Two Zone, so the best three (3) shots are One miss added. Figure 12 - Down 6 (2+2+2) Body Area Down Two Zone, so the best three (3) shots are pg. 3
Figure 13 Down 15 (5+5+5) The best hit is not on target, so the best three (3) shots are Figure 14 Down 1 Head Area Down One Figure 15 Down 0 Head Area Down Zero Zone, so the best one shot is Figure 16 Down 1 Head Area Down One Figure 17 - Down 1 Head Area Down Zero Zone, so the best one shot is Figure 18 - Down 1 Head Area Down One Figure 19 - Down 0 Head Area and Body Area Down Zero Figure 20 - Down 1 Head Area Down One pg. 4
Q: Why are the No-Shoot targets scored by the different zones hit? A: With the zones clearly marked on all No-Shoot targets, GADPA wanted to use these zones for all targets. So, a No-Shoot target is no longer a flat penalty no matter where you hit it. A hit in the Down Two zone will be a 3 second penalty. A more severe hit in the Down One Zone will incur a 5 second penalty. And a truly neutralizing hit in the Down Zero Zone will incur a 10 second penalty. Finally, your most damaging hit is the penalty incurred. Hitting the No-Shoot multiple times will only incur the most damaging zone hit. The perforations within the cardboard target that contain parentheses around the numbers indicate the No-Shoot penalty value. As a reminder, here are the rules regarding No-Shoot Targets: 2.9.4 No-Shoot targets will be scored based upon the single most damaging hit. 2.9.4.1 A Down Zero zone (including major zone) or Head Area hit is a ten (10) second penalty. 2.9.4.2 A Down One zone body area hit equals a five (5) second penalty. 2.9.4.3 A Down Two zone hit equals a three (3) second penalty. pg. 5
No-Shoot Examples: NO-SHOOT SCORING Figure 21 Figure 22 Figure 23 Figure 24 10 Second Penalty 5 Second Penalty 3 Second Penalty 10 Second Penalty The single most damaging hit is in the Head Area of the target. The single most damaging hit is in the Body Area Down One Zone. The single most damaging hit is in the Body Area Down Two Zone. The single most damaging hit is in the Head Area of the target. pg. 6
Q: Why is GADPA implementing Fault Lines? A: In most sports, the Out of Bounds or Boundaries are clearly marked and defined. Without clearly marked and defined boundaries, the competitors have to guess as to when they are and are not within those boundaries. This also leads to the officials guessing at what is and is not out of bounds. The addition of fault lines will take the ambiguity out of the calls for the Advanced Safety Officers. It will lead to consistent calls by the ASO s and the competitors will all know exactly where the boundaries are located. Q: Why is Major and Minor power factor being used with the targets? A: Research shows that there is a ballistic difference between Major and Minor power factor ammunition. Even with modern ammunition, the higher power factor ammunition will leave a larger temporary wound cavity. It is also more difficult to control ammunition with more recoil, as in major power factor ammunition. So, to accommodate for these differences we included a zone that gives those competing with Major Power factor ammunition more area to resemble these real life differences. Q: What was the rationale behind the divisions? A: The divisions were extremely difficult to create. We wanted to stay true to our roots in a defensive pistol sport, but we didn t want to exclude other disciplines from competing in GADPA. So, the divisions were created to accommodate as many competitors and their equipment as possible. However, the more divisions we added, the pg. 7
more diluted the divisions would become. We chose to include 5 divisions and will revisit the divisions periodically to make sure we don t need to make any changes. Each division currently allows a multitude of competitors to choose a division that best fits them and also allows them to train for other shooting disciplines. The Concealed Carry Division (CC) reflects what IDPA shooters would call SSP and ESP. The Competition Division (CO) reflects what USPSA shooters would call Limited Division. The Open Division (OP) is similar gear to USPSA s Open division. The Revolver Division (RD) is similar to the revolver divisions in both IDPA and USPSA. Q: Why doesn t every division require concealment? A: We didn t want to force people from other shooting disciplines to compete in a manner that is not familiar to their other sports. For example, USPSA shooters do not wear concealment. Therefore, if they don t want to wear concealment and shoot gear similar to USPSA, they can do so within the Competition and Open Divisions of GADPA. However, other people want to compete in a defensive pistol type sport. The Concealed Carry Division, Single Stack, and Revolver Division allow them an area to do so with similar equipment. These people will be competing against others also wearing concealment as you would in a real life defensive situation. Q: How many rounds should each division load? A: We wanted to get away from dictating to everyone how they should manage their ammunition. People carrying or using a firearm that can hold 18 rounds would rarely ever download their magazine to less than full capacity unless forced to do so. So, competitors can choose how they want to load their magazines. Most divisions have maximum rounds to start and also maximum rounds carried to level the competition side of each division (see division rules for specifics). This pg. 8
means that someone that is practicing for an IDPA match can load their firearm in a manner exactly like they would in their upcoming IDPA match. Competitors from other shooting disciplines can also load their firearm as they see fit per GADPA division rules. Q: What does reload and/or manage ammunition as the competitor sees fit to safely complete the course of fire mean? A: This means exactly what most would think it means. A competitor may reload and manage their ammo in any way they see fit to safely do so. They can drop loaded magazines, reload on the move, reload in the open, shoot to slide lock, perform a tactical reload, etc. There are no restrictions to how a competitor can choose to manage their ammunition. Safety is the only overriding factor. For example, an ASO may prevent a competitor from retreating in a course of fire to recover a partially spent magazine due to the safety concerns associated with doing so. It falls on each competitor to make sure they manage their ammunition to complete the course of fire. So, dropping a partially spent magazine may mean they are unable to finish the stage due to running out of ammunition. This is at the shooters discretion. Q: What happens if I don t hit a target? Is it a Failure to Neutralize or some other Penalty? A: The new scoring system has eliminated the failure to neutralize. By scoring the best zone hit, the penalty for missing the target completely is built in to the target. For example, if the best zone hit is a complete miss of the target, then the best 3 shots will be This target would be down 15 points (7.5 second penalty to score). However, forgoing or missing targets completely will incur a procedural error penalty. Q: Can I just fire one time at each target? pg. 9
A: Yes, you can fire as many or as few times as you deem necessary. Each target will be scored by the best zone hit. Therefore, you can plausibly shoot only one time per target and have zero penalty points if you hit the Down Zero zone on each target. This means someone with a limited capacity firearm could effectively use this firearm to shoot a GADPA match. The risk of penalty points is high for anyone only firing one time per target. Q: What classification do I register for at a GADPA match? A: You no longer need to register for your classification at a GADPA match. With the new Tier system, each match will force rank each division from top to bottom based on finishing time. Each match is a new opportunity to earn a Tier placement. The idea is to eliminate people from competing in divisions that are above or below their skill level. Every sport is riddled with competitors that compete in a division that isn t representative of their skill level. This new system will eliminate the Sand Bagger. Q: Is there no longer a Classifier to shoot for a Classification? A: No. There is no longer a classifier for each competitor to shoot. The new classification is earned at every Sanctioned Match a competitor shoots or annual classification. Competitors can earn either an Annual Classification or a Sanctioned Match Classification. These will all be performance based classifications and not from a set course of fire. This eliminates the need for a Classification match. It will also have people competing in classifications more indicative of their true skill level. The classifications will become a reward earned and each classification earned will have a reward patch representing their achievement. Q: How do I earn an Annual Classification? pg. 10
A: An annual classification can be earned by any GADPA Annual Member. Only Annual GADPA Members are eligible for an Annual Classification. Any Area Sanctioned Match that is competed in by a competitor will count toward an Annual Classification toward that division. At the end of a calendar season (January December 15) the top 3 Area Sanctioned Matches will be used to calculate a competitor s average Tier placement per division. This average will then lead to the Annual Tier Classification earned. The following shows a couple examples: Annual Classification Example 1: Competitor # 1 Top 3 Match Points Earned: o 1 Tier 1 finish = 5 points o 1 Tier 2 finish = 4 points o 1 Tier 3 finish = 3 points TOTAL = 12 POINTS Tier Calculation: o 12 3 = 4.0 o 4.0 = Tier 2 Shooter Classification Annual Classification Example 2: Competitor # 2 Top 3 Match Points Earned: o 2 Tier 1 finishes = 10 points o 1 Tier 2 finish = 4 points TOTAL = 14 POINTS Tier Calculation: o 14 3 = 4.67 o 4.67 = Tier 1 Shooter Classification pg. 11