r/canadaguns • u/Final_Birthday2205 • Aug 19 '26
Competitions/matches IPSC - Getting Started
Hey guys!
I have been looking to get started in IPSC. I contacted an instructor at my club, however I am unsure what the next steps are to get my Black Badge, or if the instructors at my range even offer the ability to conduct that course.
I plan on borrowing a friend’s Glock 44, however I am aware I need a range belt, magazine pouches, and a holster. On the candidate page it mentions the holster cannot have a index finger release, does this mean retention holsters are not allowed? Even if they utilize a thumb flip system instead of an index finger button?
What other equipment is required besides the basic range garb (ear defenders, eye protection, etc).
Also, if you have any recommendations on what equipment to buy i’d greatly appreciate it! I am trying to do this on a budget as a university student, so I don’t wanna break the bank, some OWN holsters i’ve seen from big names like Safariland are upwards of $190…
Cheers (:
2
u/edyuster Aug 19 '26
Is this instructor just a club level instructor? or are they a qualified Black Badge instructor? Normally anyone who is qualified to run a Black Badge course would provide you with all the information you need including when and where the course is being taught.
Firstly, you should check if the Glock 44 is even allowed. I'm not aware of any Black Badge courses that allow for anything that's not part of the handgun division (in Ontario at least). I've also not seen any matches that run handgun .22LR division.
Your standard eyes and ears are required.
For holster, a thumb switch one like the Double Alpha ones would be allowed but they are not recommended for the course. The cheap option is to get something from either Blade Tech or Black Scorpion.
For magazine pouches, you need 4-5. Blade tech has decent options as well, but anything will do for this.
For belt, you just need something that's sturdy. Normally people just go for the inner + outer belt that attaches by velcro.
I hope you at have a lot of practice with handguns and specifically with the handgun you're taking to the course. It's not an easy course and you don't have time to be working on your fundamentals or analyzing your shots.