[aa1911]

If you can find an IDPA regular practice and matches in your area, do it! You will get quite a bit out of it. Even though it's competition, don't be scared off because you might not be as good as everyone else. gotta start somewhere, and not everyone that shoots IDPA is a full fledged pistolero either. My first match I beat about half the guys there. but it's about training, not score really unless you want to move up and strictly compete.

practice is usually about 100-150 rounds over 4 iterations/scenarios and is a great training resource/opportunity. I prefer that over IPSC, as it's just as the name implies, practical.

IPSC is still a great way to practice though too, just use your EDC gun/holster to get the same effect.