r/canadaguns • u/AlonzoMosely88 • Mar 22 '26
Competitions/matches [BC] IPSC and IDPA style shotgun shooting on Vancouver Island or the mainland?
Hi everyone:
I'm in Victoria and looking to get into IDPA/ISPC style shotgun competitions.
- Is there anyone that runs informal/formal shotgun competitions like this?
- Is there anyone who offers training courses for doing the above?
I know the Victoria Fish & Game Protective Association has a multi-purpose range that comes close to this. However, I'm pretty sure that is 3-gun and/or pistol-only which I can't do because I missed the boat on buying handguns. Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.
I'm open to travelling to the mainland on occasion too, but would prefer to stay on the island if I can help it.
Thanks!
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u/Kubix Mar 22 '26
So this is the IPSC BC website. Has the match listings and all the info.
You will need a Black Badge certification to compete in IPSC. Most ranges will require you to have your black badge to holster at the range to practice. I would talk to the guys at Victoria Fish and Game about who does the courses and what their contact is.
Far as I’m aware there is no specific black badge for shotguns yet, it’s all done with handguns. Once you are certified with handguns, you can compete in shotgun class. You may need to try and find someone to borrow handgun from to complete the course. You will also need to shoot 1 match before you get your full black badge.
A lot of the 3 gun stuff has moved over to 2 gun and will be in its own club with its own certification, so ask at vfg about what the league is there.
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u/AlonzoMosely88 Mar 31 '26
Thanks! Yeah I was wondering what the different competition leagues are doing to work around these handgun bans. I'll ask at the club office when I head up there this weekend.
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u/Spydude84 Mar 24 '26
DSSMatch is the multigun provider on the mainland and you'll need to take your CASE safety course through them to shoot matches here. I can't speak for what things are like on the island though.
Shotgun and rifle are perfectly fine to have, pistol isn't required, though you will be sad when everyone else has a pistol and you don't.
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u/AlonzoMosely88 Mar 31 '26
Thanks for letting me know!
Yeah I figured there was some kind of exam to take before being allowed to participate in these matches. It's one thing to stand at a bench shooting stationary targets. But running and gunning at multiple targets definitely takes more coordination and acute safety awareness.
"You will be sad when everyone else has a pistol and you don't." Lmao...oh well...such is life. There is nothing I can do about it so I'm not going to worry about it.
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u/Spydude84 Mar 31 '26
To be clear, I'm also in the same boat. No pistol either, and it makes me sad lmao
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u/MigsOnGuns Mar 23 '26
Hi, I’ve been the match director for the Multi-Gun matches here in Victoria for the past few years. So far, VFGPA does not have any shotgun specific IPSC matches. The closest thing we have are the Multi-Gun matches three or four times a year. The matches are designed to accommodate those without a pistol so just rifle and shotgun is no problem. In order to compete you need to take the short South Island Action Shooters (SIAS) course at the range and then you can sign up for matches. Our next match is on April 26 and I would encourage you to come out and watch! It’s very likely as time goes on that if we get more interest in Shotgun IPSC in Victoria we’ll start to have matches. This year they’re starting to have local level Mini-Rifle IPSC which are competitions with a 22 rifle!