Profile of International Defensive Pistol Association Shooters

Industry Intelligence Reports
Helping Our Members Make Informed Decisions
2014 Edition
Profile of International Defensive
Pistol Association (IDPA) Shooters
Based on Survey Results from IDPA Members
25,000
21,600
19,100
20,000
15,000
10,000
13,700
15,300
nssf.org
17,000
IDPA Membership up 69%
2008-2012
5,000
0
23,100
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
SM
Industry Intelligence Reports
About International Defensive
Pistol Association (IDPA)
The International Defensive Pistol Association
(IDPA) is the international governing body for the
sport of defensive shooting. Founded in 1996, IDPA
competitions are designed for the use of practical
equipment, including full charge service ammunition,
to solve simulated “real world” self-defense scenarios
using handguns and holsters that are suitable for
self-defense use. The main goal is to test the skill
and ability of an individual.
IDPA is open to all individuals eligible to legally
own a handgun. The membership, which currently
totals over 23,800 and includes members in some
59 foreign countries, springs from all walks of life
and represents every skill level from the newcomer
to the world-class master. Most IDPA competitors are
members of one of the more than 300 IDPA clubs
across the country.
For its competitors, IDPA offers an exciting
platform for shooters. It is an environment where
practical equipment, techniques and courses of
fire are not only desired, they are required, and it
is an environment where a common service pistol
or concealed carry holster can serve as match
equipment, without handicap. The beauty of this
sport is that, while it is well-suited to the new or
average shooter, it still retains all of the necessary
attraction for the experienced shooter – the
challenge, personal satisfaction, camaraderie and
fun.
IDPA COMPETITIVE FORMAT:
IDPA rules and competition are structured to provide
members the opportunity to compete with common
model handguns and holsters available at any
firearms retailer across the country. By focusing on
non-competition specific equipment, IDPA offers
a low-cost barrier to entry for those interested in
expanding their recreational shooting to include
competition.
IDPA matches range from local club matches all
the way up to state, regional and national level
championships. In each case the structure of the
competitive format is the same. Courses of fire, or
stages, are designed around self-defense scenarios
2014 Edition
and are limited to a maximum 18 rounds per
stage. While course design is based on prescribed
standards, such as no targets out beyond 25 yards,
the scenarios are limited only by the imagination
of the organizers, allowing clubs to maximize the
entertainment value of a day on the range. Course
design often includes what are called standards
exercises, which test specific shooting and gun
handling skills. Standards exercises are usually
designed with minimal targets and require little or no
movement. The typical IDPA match offers a diversity
of shooting challenges that truly test both accuracy
and speed.
While the rules call for the use of widely available
handguns, IDPA competitors do not compete against
all shooters at a match, but instead head-to-head
within divisions based on the type of firearms
selected. These divisions are Custom Defensive Pistol
(CDP) for .45ACP semi-automatics only; Enhanced
Service Pistol (ESP) for 9mm or larger caliber
semi-automatics, often with certain minor customized
enhancements; Stock Service Pistol (SSP) for 9mm
or larger caliber double action, double action only,
or safe action semi-automatics; Enhanced Service
Revolver (ESR) for .38 caliber or larger double
action revolvers, with certain minor customized
enhancements; and Stock Service Revolver (SSR)
for .38 caliber or larger double action revolvers.
To insure members are competing against others
of a comparable skill level, IDPA uses a 90-round
classifier course of fire that any club can set up
using just a single shooting bay. Depending on the
shooter’s speed and accuracy, members are classified
from Novice (for the beginner) up through Marksman,
Sharpshooter, Expert and Master. In 2011 IDPA
added the classification of Distinguished Master
(DM) for the very best shooters in the sport. The only
way to become a DM is to win, or come within three
percentage points of the winner, at an IDPA national
championship event. To date there are just 26
Distinguished Masters in IDPA.
Regardless of the division shooters compete in, or
the skill level they compete at, the International
Defensive Pistol Association was designed to be
enjoyable at all skill levels, with a premium put
on the social interaction and camaraderie of the
members.
Page 2
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Demographic Profile
Ethnic background of IDPA survey participants
IDPA survey respondents by age group
ge
Avera
51
Gender of IDPA respondents
IDPA respondents by education
IDPA survey respondents by type of residence
Note: The statistics presented in the report are based on a survey issued by the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) to its members. All images not belonging to NSSF are courtesy of IDPA and used here by permission.
Page 3
Age:
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Demographic Profile
The average respondent, based on this survey’s results, can be described as a Caucasian male of approximately 51 years of age that graduated college and owns a home in a surburban
setting. He is employed full-time in a technical, professional or management position with an
average household income of $101,579 per year. For contrast, note that according to the Census
Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), the median U.S. household income for 2012 was $51,371,
lending to the perception that active IDPA participants are relatively comfortable financially.
Employment status
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
While 6 out of 10 IDPA survey respondents work in
the top 3 occupations listed, IDPA members are
employed in a wide array of professions.
Total Household Income Before Taxes for 2013
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
Page 4
Primary occupations
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Participation Profile
Primary reason for shooting IDPA
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
First exposure to IDPA
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
IDPA respondents will travel more than
Annual participation in IDPA events
200 miles to compete in IDPA events . . .
indicated by IDPA respondents
Average number of events attended
annually by IDPA survey respondents:
Page 5
14
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Participation Profile
Respondents with a concealed carry permit
Conceal carry instructors in their state
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
(of the IDPA respondents with concealed carry permits)
Participation in other shooting sports
(more than 3 times a year)
Page 6
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Expenditure Profile
IDPA members in the U.S. spend
upwards of $30 million annually on the sport
Estimated 2013 total expenditures for
IDPA shooting equipment
Local shooting range membership
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
Cost of shooting range membership
Respondents that own
at least one handgun
specifically for
concealed carry
Respondents that own
at least one handgun
specifically for IDPA
competition
Page 7
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Expenditure Profile
Number of handguns owned specifically for
concealed carry
Number of handguns owned specifically for
IDPA competition
IDPA respondents on owning other firearms
Rifle
Shotgun
Page 8
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
IDPA Survey Respondents: Expenditure Profile
Likely to purchase a handgun
in the coming year
Respondents that reload
35%
No
65%
Yes
35%
No
65%
n=5,648
Yes
24%
Percentage of 0-70%
handgun ammo reloaders
n=5,648
24%
0-70%
50%
91-100%
10%
50%
71-80%
16%
91-100%
81-90%
16%
10%
71-80%
81-90%
n=3,656
n=3,656
Typical shopping locations for practical
shooting-related merchandise
Page 9
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
Participation and Expenditure Profile: IDPA Female Participants
Annual participation in IDPA events
First exposure to IDPA
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
as provided by IDPA survey respondents
Female participants’ primary reason
for shooting IDPA
Cost of annual shooting range membership
IDPA female respondents will travel more than
200 miles to compete in IDPA events . . .
Membership at
local shooting range
Annually, IDPA female respondents averaged
13 IDPA competitions or matches over the
course of the year
Page 10
Industry Intelligence Reports
2014 Edition
Expenditure Profile: IDPA Female Participants
Female respondents
that own at least one
handgun for
IDPA competition
Female respondents
that own at least one
handgun for
concealed carry
IDPA female respondents
that have a concealed
carry permit
IDPA female respondents
that are instructors for
concealed carry in
their state
Number of handguns owned specifically for
IDPA competition
Concealed carry
Other firearms owned
Shotgun
Number of
shotguns owned
Rifle
Page 11
Number of
rifles owned
Key FINDINGS:
•
The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is an alluring program across a broad spectrum of demographics –
age, educational background, occupational interests and economic standing.
• IDPA participants offer the potential for a substantial revenue source for your retail business or range.
•
IDPA members in the U.S. alone spend upwards of $30 million annually on the sport.
•
More than six in 10 IDPA members indicated that they are likely to purchase a handgun in the coming year.
•
More than six in 10 respondents indicated that they reload ammunition, primarily for handgun and rifle.
A smaller percent age of participants also reload for shotgun.
•
More than seven in 10 respondents are members of a shooting range and pay an average annual membership
fee of $163.
•
More than 5 in 10 IDPA members surveyed indicated that they compete in IDPA events 6 to 20 times per year,
with 14 events being the average number of IDPA matches/events attended annually.
•
Based on the responses from IDPA members, the average amount of estimated 2013 expenditures for competitive
shooting equipment totaled $1,580.83. Equipment includes firearms, accessories, reloading equipment and
components.
•
IDPA shooters participate in other shooting disciplines such as USPSA, steel, 3-gun, trap/skeet, sporting clays, long-range
shooting, silhouette, zombie target shooting, Cowboy Action Shooting and more.
•
While IDPA members shop in a wide variety of locations for shooting-related merchandise, the top two locations indicated in
this survey were “online” (7 in 10 respondents) and “independent gun store” (5 in 10 respondents).
Sources
IDPA Survey
IDPA Information
IDPA Program
INFORMATION
copy/Edits
Survey was issued to approximately 19,700 IDPA members in October 2013.
The survey closed with 5,648 responses.
GeneralinformationgatheredfromtheIDPAwebsite: idpa.com
Written by Paul Erhardt, Erhardt and Associates, Exeter, NH
Report provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and
ammunition industry. For additional research materials, visit nssf.org/research
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