SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Smith & Wesson team shooters David Olhasso and Craig Buckland took home division titles during the 2008 International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Independence Match held at the Wilkes-Barre Rifle & Pistol Club in Pennsylvania. Competing in the Stock Service Pistol (SSP) Division, Team Smith & Wesson member David Olhasso placed first overall using his M&P9L pistol while fellow teammate Craig Buckland won first overall in the Stock Service Revolver (SSR) Division shooting a Smith & Wesson Pro Series Model 686SSR revolver.
The 2008 IDPA Independence Match featured 10 stages of fire with over 90 participants competing for five division titles. During the match, competitors were tested on a variety of defensive shooting skills including drawing from concealment, shooting on the move and engaging both stationary and moving targets. Also competing in this year’s match was Tony Miele, Director of the Smith & Wesson Performance Center, who earned first place in the SSR Sharp Shooter Division and Smith & Wesson employee J.J. Nuttleman, who finished in second place in the Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP) Division.
“This year’s inaugural match had a lot of non-traditional elements that we usually don’t face in other IDPA matches,” said Olhasso. “These challenges combined with the heat definitely made the match more difficult.”
When asked about the performance of the M&P9L during the competition, Olhasso remarked that the pistol continued to run flawlessly despite any of the conditions. “During the last several months of competitions, I have had the chance to compete with both the M&P9L and the M&P Pro Series pistol. While I use the M&P Pro Series pistol for the steel challenge and IPSC matches, the M&P9L is my first choice for the IDPA events.”
