U S P S A

An Introduction to USPSA Shooting

brought to you by the

Pinetucky USPSA Members

Agenda

U S P S A

1:00 Introductions What’s it like?

Types of competitions Safety Procedures Basic USPSA Information Equipment Divisions Match Organization Staff, Stages, and Scoring Range Commands 2

Agenda (continued)

U S P S A

Basic gun handling The “game” Advanced techniques First match expectations Costs Keys to Remember 3:00 Range session 5:00 Wrap-Up, Pack-up, Q & A 3

Introductions

U S P S A

    Mike, Mark, Nick, Thomas, Jordan, Jed, & Dewey Pinetucky Valkyrie Training Steve’s Gun Service 4

U S P S A

What’s it like?

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Types of competitions here

U S P S A

       USPSA Steel Challenge NSSF Rimfire challenge IDPA 3-gun ICORE PPC 6

More competitions

U S P S A

    Trap Skeet Sporting clays Air rifle 7

Safety Rules

U S P S A

       COLD Range – All guns are to remain unloaded and in the holster until brought to the line by an RO and instructed to Make Ready SAFE Areas – handgun handling may ONLY OCCUR IN A SAFE AREA, or on the FIRING LINE (at the direction of the Range Officer). There is NO HANDLING OF AMMUNITION in the safe area.

Violation of any Safety Rule results in a Match Disqualification 180 Rule – Do not allow the muzzle to point past 90 degrees to your right, left, up, or down. Finger - Your finger must remain clearly outside of the trigger guard unless you are actively engaging targets Sweeping – At no time should you allow the muzzle to point at any part of your body.

Dropping a weapon 8

Basic USPSA Information

U S P S A

     What is USPSA?

– 79 regions (countries) within the International Practical Shooter Confederation (IPSC) – USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) is the US region within IPSC Who Competes in USPSA?

– Over 20,000 active members in the US – In the CSRA we have accountants, attorneys, bankers, business managers, contractors, doctors, financial planners, law enforcement officers, plumbers, realtors, technology professionals...

When do matches occur?

– Usually every weekend across the globe – In almost any type of weather Where are matches conducted?

– Primarily outdoor shooting ranges – In our area: Pinetucky, Columbia, Spartanburg, Conyers, Summerville.

How do I begin?

– Find a club, get to a match, plan for a day of shooting like never before!

– – – Wealth of information at www.USPSA.org

, and www.BrianEnos.com/forums http://csrapistol.com

CSRADPL email list 9

U S P S A

Equipment Divisions

REVOLVER

     6 or 8 round capacity limit No barrel ports or muzzle compensators No optical/electronic sights No holster restrictions (all holsters must cover trigger) .45 ACP most popular round 10

U S P S A

Equipment Divisions

PRODUCTION

       Double-action pistols Decocked Belt holster and magazine pouches behind hip 10 rd magazine capacity No optical/electronic sights No external modifications All scored as minor 11

U S P S A

Equipment Divisions

SINGLE STACK

      1911-style pistols only Single stack magazines Belt holster and magazines pouches behind hip 8 rds Major, 10 rds Minor No optical/electronic sights 40 S&W, 45 ACP most popular rounds 12

U S P S A

Equipment Divisions

LIMITED & LIMITED-10

        Single or double-action pistols Double stack magazines Magwells & extensions 140mm magazines (10-rd per magazines for Limited-10) No optical/electronic sights No ports or compensators No holster/belt restrictions .40 S&W most popular round 13

U S P S A

Equipment Divisions

OPEN

        Single or double-action pistols Double stack magazines Magwells & extensions 170mm magazines Optical/electronic sights Ports and muzzle compensators No holster/belt restrictions .38 Super / 9mm major most popular rounds 14

Match Organization

U S P S A

      Matches consist of several courses of fire (stages) Each stage contains targets (paper and metal), vision barriers, props, and a written briefing that generally describes what to do Each stage requires 6 to 32 rounds Each competitor takes a turn at executing the stage Each competitor is timed and scored for each stage – Time starts at the audible signal, and stops at last shot fired – All stage scores are tabulated by computer – Placement is determined by total match points scored Each competitor

competes only against others using similar equipment (Divisions)

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Staff, Stages, and Scoring

U S P S A

   Staff – MD (Match Director) – RO (Range Officer) – Setup/Teardown Crew (those whom we

cannot

live without) Stages – Diagram (rough picture of stage targets/props/barriers) – Written Stage Briefing (what you’re to do) Scoring – Points divided by Time – Major scoring values (A=5 pts, B/C=4 pts, D=2 pts) – Minor scoring values (A=5 pts, B/C=3 pts, D=1 pts) – Generally count the best 2 scoring hits per target A C D A C D 16

Additional Info USPSA Competitor Classifications

U S P S A

 USPSA maintains a catalog of standard Classifier courses  Your score on a Classifier is compared with an average of the top scores for that Classifier  Your Classification Designation reflects how your performance compares with the top shooters

across the country Classification Designations

Grand Master Master A B C D 95% - 100.00% 85% - 94.99% 75% - 84.99% 60% - 74.99% 40% - 59.99% < 40.00%

Classifier Name Division

El Presidente Limited

Your Score at Match (pts per sec)

50 points / 5 seconds= 10

Avg High Score in Database (pts per sec) Your National Classification Percentage

60 points / 5 seconds= 12 10/12 =83.33%

Your National Classification Designation

A class www.NTPShooters.org - INTRO to USPSA - www.USPSA.com

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Range Commands

U S P S A

         Make Ready Are You Ready Standby “Beep” (the audible start signal) Muzzle, Finger, Stop If You Are Finished, Unload, and Show Clear If Clear, Hammer Down, Holster Range Is Clear Everyone resets stage 18

Basic gun handling skills

U S P S A

       Draw Grip Loading Reloading Muzzle awareness Finger awareness Holstering 19

The “Game”

U S P S A

        Hit factor Makeup shots Freestyle versus Standards Comstock, Virginia Count, Fixed Time Timing reloads Stage planning Walk throughs Tenths and hundredths of a second 20

Advanced techniques

U S P S A

      Uprange starts Gaming starts How fast should I shoot?

– Calling shots Transitions Getting into and out of positions Opening ports and doors 21

More advanced techniques

U S P S A

     Shooting through ports & around walls Moving while not shooting Shooting on the move Reloading on the move Carrying props 22

U S P S A

Additional Info First Match Expectations

        Arrive at the range as early as you can Introduce yourself to the Match Director – ask how you can help (you will have IMMEDIATELY made a new friend!) Ask for a coach/mentor for the day Tell your squad RO that you are new to USPSA shooting Make yourself useful during the match – tape, reset, shag ASK QUESTIONS!

Safe area Equipment to bring – Eye, ear protection – Pistol (.38, 9mm, .40, .45) – Sturdy Gun Belt, and Belt Holster – THREE or more magazine pouches, FOUR or more magazines – 200 rounds of ammo (you will likely need only 100-150) – Drinks, snack, ball cap, clothing appropriate for the season 23

U S P S A

Additional Info Startup Costs

 Startup costs – Use what you already own – Most of these items can be borrowed from an experienced shooter, allowing you to ‘test the waters’ before buying (including a pistol) – Budget your equipment as to your taste and pocketbook  Recurring costs – Ammunition costs can usually be reduced in half by using reloaded ammunition – Local match fees have been stable for many years – Prize table matches will have higher match fees (usually 150+ competitors, multiple days, 10-12 stages)

Startup Costs

 Belt Holster  Gun Belt  5 Magazines  4 Magazine Pouches  Ear Protection  Eye Protection

Total One-Time Recurring Costs

 Match Fees  Ammo (150 rds/ match)

Total Recurring Low

$20 $35 $60 $40 $5 $20

$180 High

$255 $75 $625 $150 $250 $300

$1655 Low

$8 $30

$38 High

$275 $60

$335

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Range session

U S P S A

    Range Commands Review (on the range) Dry fire demonstration with empty magazines – Making Ready – Drawing from the holster / from a table – Reloading – Unloading and showing clear Live fire USPSA Stage Live fire Steel Challenge Stage 25

Keys to Remember

U S P S A

     Keep SAFETY as Your First Priority Listen and Obey the RO’s commands Maintain ‘muzzle awareness’ - ALWAYS Walk! Do Not Run (yet)! And Remember… HAVE FUN – it’s why you’re here!

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