Smith & Wesson hosted the inaugural International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Back-Up Gun (BUG) Nationals at S&W’s Shooting Sports Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, on November 14, 15 and 16. The IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match had over 200 competitors shooting 13 stages of fire that included low-light, automobile, home defense and commercial establishment scenarios, with three to five rounds expended per stage.
Why a backup gun competition? Currently, the best-selling handguns for most manufacturers are compact or subcompact models, creating a simultaneous increase in interest in training and applications for concealed-carry permits from almost every state in the union. Additionally, the combination of self-defense weapons with timed sporting competition produces a useful realism that is directly applicable to situations that a CCW holder might encounter.
IDPA Executive Director Joyce Wilson said, “The IDPA was first conceived as a sport to have people use the equipment they use every day, so the Back-Up Gun match was the perfect venue to have people actually test their skills with the pistols that they routinely carry.” She went on to say, “Smith & Wesson have always done a wonderful job of putting on a match here at the Springfield facility. Being indoors, they were able to use a lot of props that cannot be used outdoors. We used a lot of light stages and dark stages, and even mixed light targets that, together with the “don’t-shoot,” non-threat targets very close to the actual targets, challenged the shooters to make the decision to use or don’t use a light because the targets were harder to see than they thought!”
The Standard Service Pistol (SSP) and Standard Service Revolver (SSR) divisions were won by Mike Seeklander and Jerry Miculek, respectively. Miculek won the overall SSR Master title with a final match score of 166.5 seconds. Team S&W made an exceptional home-team showing. Revolver competitor Josh Lentz placed third overall for revolvers, while the newest member of Team S&W, Randi Rogers, claimed the top spot for ladies and Team Captain Julie Golob came in second in the SSP division.
The event was heavily sponsored by leading industry manufacturers, vendors and publications, including Tactical-Life, who all contributed to make the event the huge success that it was, as noted by the competitors, staff and hosts. During the awards dinner, S&W’s director of marketing, Paul Pluff, stated that this was not only a very successful and well attended match, but that he would support making it an annual event. 2014 here we come!
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match
Division Champions and Special Category Winners
SSP Champion: Mike Seeklander
SSR Champion: Jerry Miculek
High Lady: Randi Rodgers
High Law Enforcement: James Meyers
High Military: Chad Barber
High Military Veteran: David Harrington
High Senior—Jerry Miculek
High Industry—David Harrington
High Junior—Clark Coneby
High Press—Mike Seeklander
Most Distinguished Senior – Paul Chamberlin
For more information on IDPA and the inaugural Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun (BUG) Nationals, visit idpa.com.
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – Dan Henderson on Stage Two: Home Alone
MORE VIDEO COVERAGE ON THE NEXT PAGE!
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match: Dave Harrington, Winner – Stage Five
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – HK Team Jason Koon on Stage One: A Moment in Time
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – Jeff Kelly on Stage 4
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Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – Josh Lentz: Team S&W
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – Julie Golob on Stage One
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – High Lady Winner Randi Rogers on Stage Two
MORE VIDEO COVERAGE ON THE NEXT PAGE!
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match- Randi Rogers: High Lady Winner on Stage One
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – Younger shooter Lee Wills
Smith & Wesson IDPA Back-Up Gun National Match – VIDEO
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