Intro To Competitive Shooting
by Michael Carnevale
Average Joes and I wanted to fill a need we saw in the 2A community around getting into
competitive shooting. We wanted to bridge the gap from people training at their local range to
entering the world of competitive shooting.
So why do competitive shooting?
Well it is a great way to challenge yourself in a measurable format over time. It challenges you both
mentally and physically. Finally it may unlock opportunities to you that you can’t normally do or
access at your local range.
So what do you need to get started?
First and foremost a belt, ideally a competition style belt but any belt will work to get you going. You
will also need at least 2 magazine carriers, ideally 3 so that you have enough rounds for some of the
longer stages you may shoot. Finally a sturdy holster that allows you a smooth and consistent draw.
If you are wanting to compete in outlaw style matches (non-USPSA) the rules are very flexible -
meaning you can use a thigh holster, have a light on your gun and some other things. If you are
wanting to get into USPSA official matches you will need to rock a holster with no light or thigh strap to be in compliance.
How do you sign up for a match?
Most matches are on Practiscore and you can search by your location to see what is in your area.
You will need to create an account in order to register for matches. You can pick which group of
shooters you will spend that day with. You may also consider signing up for a USPSA account which
allows you to officially receive a Classification as you compete. You will need to shoot what is called
a “classifier” stage in order to officially have your Classification tracked and potentially advance.
There are several classes from D up to Grand Master and you will need 6 classifier stages to receive
your initial USPSA classification. More info on this is available in the USPSA app.
Which Class/ Division do I shoot?
The two most popular divisions are Carry Optics and Open. Carry Optics is any pistol that most gun
owners commonly use but you can not use a magwell, the barrel can’t be ported, and your optic
must be slide mounted / not frame mounted. The second division is Open - which allows magwells,
comps, porting, and frame mounted optics.
What to expect at your first match?
ALL MATCHES ARE COLD RANGES - meaning no ammo in your gun anytime if you are not
shooting a stage. Leave all your gear in the car initially when you arrive, as this will ensure you know
where the safe area is located where you can then later unbag and place your firearm in your holster
unloaded. Then proceed to the check in desk - you will pay anywhere from $10-$30 per match
based on whether it is an outlaw match or USPSA qualifier match. There will be a new shooter
meeting if it is your first time and then a safety briefing prior to the match starting.
Once you get to your first stage with your group, you will be provided a period of time to do a stage
walk through. This is your opportunity to read the directions for the stage as outlined (usually on a
table or barrel) and walk the stage to create a plan. The best plans account for as much moving and
shooting you can do and ensuring your reloads are timed when/where it makes sense. Do not break
the 180 - this means always have your gun pointed downrange and in a safe direction both during
your course of fire or reloading.
After the walkthrough time is up - the shooting order for your group will be announced. Once it is
your turn you will step into the designated start area and wait for commands from the Range Officer.
Do NOT touch your gun until the Range officer instructs you to do so - if you do it will likely result in
you being disqualified from the match and that sucks. The Range officer will give you the following
command - “Make Ready”. This now allows you to do what is necessary to get prepared for that
stage. You may start the stage in a few different ways - loaded and holstered, unloaded and
holstered, an unloaded table start, etc. Once you have “made ready”, the RO will say “shooter
ready, standby…beep” once you hear the beep you are free to begin the stage.
Once you have completed the stage - you will hear the following “If you are done, unload and show
clear” drop your mag and empty any ammo that might be left in your gun. Show the empty gun to
the RO while keeping it pointed downrange. Once he confirms it is clear, he will say “slide down,
hammer and holster”. This means send your slide forward, point the gun downrange and pull the
trigger on an empty chamber and then re-holster. You are now done and can head off the range.
How are matches scored?
Matches use what is called “Hit Factor” which means the measure of a competitor's performance
and how well they managed the balance of speed and accuracy. Hit factor is a number that
represents how many points you score per second on a given stage. The higher the number, the
better your stage score. Each target has an A-zone (best) C-zone, and D-zone (worst). If you
completely miss a target that is called a “Mike” and if you miss shooting at a target completely it is
called a “Failure to shoot at”. The RO and score keeper will walk the stage and score your hits vs
time. Final match scores are usually available a few hours after the match.
So those are the basics of competitive shooting – if you have any questions feel free to reach out to
me at averagetx@gmail.com or @AverageTX on instagram.
Useful Links:
• Registering for local matches - www.practiscore.com
• USPSA - www.uspsa.org
• Gear - www.benstoeger.com
• USPSA App - HERE
• Practiscore App - HERE
• Hit Factor Scoring App - HERE