This was the 5 Defense Shooting Competition at EDELWEISS

Around a month ago, the 5th Defense Shooting Competition took place at Edelweiss. This was the first competition according to the Sportordnung für Internationales Verteidigungsschießen in collaboration with ISB. After a quick registration, we were allowed to move on to the first station in Hall 1. Action in sharp shooting awaited us! Three magazines were loaded and placed on a table. When the timer signal sounded, you had to run to the wooden posts and carry a magazine to them as quickly as possible. With an increased heart rate, you then entered the course, hitting 4 targets while avoiding injuring civilians. Once this was accomplished, you moved on to the next wooden post for the next magazine, shooting through barricades and one-handed shooting were required. Finally, transporting the last magazine on the last wooden post, which was needed at the next station. The transition to the next station, hidden behind the door as seen in the photo above, was seamless. Without time pressure, you had to open the door and identify which targets could be shot at, while achieving the most accurate shot placement. But that wasn't all. The conclusion of this station was an AR15 from Oberland Arms, with their new LPVO optic (HERE in the review). This was provided and formed a small sniper station. Using the optic made it relatively easy, but one had to hit an oval target, partially concealed by a No-Shoot panel. Once accomplished, off to Hall 2, where the next stations were waiting. Three more stations full of surprises and tricky situations were set up here, with a lot of attention to detail. When the timer signal sounded, you had to enter the room and choose one of three paths. Each path led to a station. According to the sport regulations, you then had to act accordingly. Incorrect actions or reactions led to deduction of points. Here's the conclusion of a station. Light could be used if desired, but it also brought disadvantages, such as reflective or mirrored targets that limited visibility and made target identification difficult. Here, for example, you had to engage the front target, but a civilian target was placed behind it. If you shot straight at it, you injured a civilian behind and received point deductions. For many participants, it was a learning experience, as we hit the civilian in the arm because the angle chosen was not optimal. A great learning effect that one would rather experience in a training scenario.

No expense was spared on dolls, targets, and other distractions.

Not every window could be shot at just because a weapon was seen. The woman in the middle was meant to represent a friend in the scenario, someone you know, and you were supposed to remember her face before entering the room. Policemen were also not to be shot at.

After going through several scenarios, you needed time to process the experiences and quickly realized how many decisions need to be made in a short amount of time when faced with an unknown room scenario.

After going through 5 live shooting stations, it was time to put away the weapon and focus on the FX station for the final assessment. There, however, another surprise awaited, as seen here.

Equipped with Airsoft Glocks from Umarex, the task was once again to enter room by room and engage all armed targets, unless they were policemen or otherwise designated as non-targets. Your approach was also judged, and major mistakes resulted in deductions.

That was it, and we were really impressed by all the effort put into the stations. We would love to do something like that more often, but this competition takes place only once a year.

For those who are interested and would like to give it a try, be sure to stop by the Christmas Competition on December 17th.

EDELWEISS ADVENTURE online