{"id":53855,"date":"2016-03-02T10:09:20","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T15:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=53855"},"modified":"2016-03-02T10:09:20","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T11:39:21","slug":"journey-competitive-shooting-uspsa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/journey-competitive-shooting-uspsa\/","title":{"rendered":"Journey Into Competitive Shooting: Ep. 3 USPSA Pistol"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Becky<\/a>

Becky Yackley, the author of the article, shooting USPSA Limited division with a Glock 34.<\/p><\/div>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

In January, we started\u00a0this series with an introduction into the competitive shooting world with a piece that covered some basics on safety and gear. \u00a0We then followed up that initial article with one on\u00a0<\/span>Steel Challenge<\/span><\/a>\u00a0because of its low cost and slim gear requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, after having read those two articles, you\u2019re hopefully ready to bite the proverbial bullet and jump into shooting whole hog! \u00a0One of the most popular places to do that is <\/span>USPSA<\/span><\/a> pistol. \u00a0You’ll begin to see why in a moment, but first you can check out an overview of my series, “The Journey into Competitive Shooting.”<\/span><\/p>\n

THE JOURNEY INTO COMPETETIVE SHOOTING<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/a>

The Yackley Bunch!<\/p><\/div>\n

Ep. 1 Getting Started<\/a>
\nEp. 2 Steel Challenge<\/a>
\nEp. 3 USPSA Pistol
\nEp. 4 Shotgun<\/a>
\nEp. 5 3 Gun<\/a>
\nEp. 6 High-Power Rifle<\/a>
\nEp. 7\u00a0Cowboy Action<\/a>
\nEp. 8\u00a0Shotgun II<\/a>
\nEp. 9\u00a0IDPA
\nEp. 10 Bulls Eye Pistol
\nEp. 11 Smallbore Rifle<\/p>\n

Why USPSA?<\/h2>\n

USPSA pistol shooters are one of the largest actively competing groups of shooters who participate in weekly events. \u00a0There are <\/span>over 25,000 members and 400 local clubs across the country.<\/span> According to former USPSA President <\/span>Mike Voigt<\/span><\/a>, \u201c<\/span>USPSA handgun is where accuracy, economy of motion, blazing speed and precise control come together.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0Mike spent 12 years at the helm of the organization, and describes it as \u201cthe pinnacle of practical handgun competition, every bit as demanding of a wide assortment of skills as Formula 1 does in motorsports.\u201c \u00a0This isn\u2019t just someone telling you their baby is great, Mike has national and world titles in other shooting disciplines, but he calls USPSA \u201cthe pinnacle\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, giving that USPSA is a very demanding discipline — akin to Formula 1 — you may wonder why am I telling you that this is another great place to start? Well, because of something I talked about in the <\/span>first part of this series<\/span><\/a>: the people!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Kay<\/a>

Kay Miculek, shooting a Limited pistol.<\/p><\/div>\n

USPSA began with people. \u00a0People who wanted to push the boundaries of shooting in the areas of self-defense and training. \u00a0Due to this desire, it has grown into a testing ground for many techniques and practices that are employed by both LEO & military operatives, and many top-level USPSA shooters instruct military and law enforcement personnel.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>This crossover from sport to practical application is what draws people to USPSA, along with the fact that USPSA — and, the international sister sport, IPSC — employ such stringent rules. \u00a0USPSA shooters are in the public eye\u00a0and want to be there without drawing criticism. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But why should YOU<\/strong> do it? \u00a0One of the reasons I love it is the fear factor. \u00a0Yep, fear — of failing, of pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do, of going outside of my comfort zone, which all force me to stand back and gain a new perspective on shooting. \u00a0It also forces me to think on my feet and make split-second decisions, while people are watching. And here I come back to the people, they\u2019re your friends, family, and will laugh with you, keep you safe, and push you as much as you push yourself. \u00a0I love shooting at our home club with people I know so that if I make a mistake, the pool of prospective laughter isn\u2019t as big as a large match, but I make people laugh there as well. \u00a0I also love it because it teaches me to fail; to fail over and over, and over, until I stop failing and figure things out. \u00a0There are NO participation awards in shooting — well, maybe the enjoyment in the people you\u2019re with, but when you fail, you lose or get penalties. \u00a0But that\u2019s okay, because even the last place guy generally ends up learning something to apply to a future match. \u00a0So the only real losers are the people who don\u2019t pay attention to what they\u2019re learning.\u00a0<\/span>Even the pros laugh at themselves, and I\u2019ll use my friend <\/span>Maggie Reese<\/span><\/a> as an example. \u00a0The woman will crush you with a pistol: in open, <\/span>Single Stack<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Limited<\/span><\/a>, you name it, and then laugh at her girly running and move on. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

USPSA is a discipline where some of the biggest names in shooting, like <\/span>Rob Leatham<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Jerry Miculek<\/span><\/a>, have made history, with feats like Jerry\u2019s 19 USPSA National titles, or Rob\u2019s 26 USPSA National titles. It\u2019s also a unique mix of people that in many ways represent what the shooting community is about — people from all walks of life coming together to enjoy and become more skilled with their firearms. \u00a0To gain practical skills that they can carry with them into everyday life. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is USPSA Pistol?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s shooting your pistol, in one of many divisions, and doing it both fast and accurately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sounds simple, till you dissect it. \u00a0Just the guns and gear can make your head swim in what to use and why, in which division, but you have six to choose from: Limited, <\/span>Limited 10<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Production<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Open<\/span><\/a>, Single Stack, and Revolver<\/a>. \u00a0You can <\/span>read more about the divisions<\/span><\/a> and decide which is best for you. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>

Tim Yackley, shooting USPSA Limited Division.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dissecting further, there are variations in the type of match: level 1, 2, etc. \u00a0All have different parameters for what can be in each match, from the style and number of targets to the distance requirements for placing them — all these things point to rules. USPSA has a lot of rules! \u00a0So many, that if you\u2019re serious about shooting, and participate long enough, you tend to become a Range Officer (RO). \u00a0Not in a sense of knowing a lot, but literally, you take a RO class because there\u2019s just a lot to know, rules change, and the matches have rules about who can run a timer and who can supervise (be the RO), so when a spare RO is needed, the more shooters that are certified, the better. \u00a0But these rules also make it safe – they make it possible for thousands of shooters throughout the country to safely compete in matches every weekend. \u00a0Just take a gander at Practiscore\u2019s website<\/a> for any given weekend and see the number of USPSA matches that are scored. \u00a0It\u2019s awesome to see those numbers, but it gives the rules that we have to abide by meaning. It\u2019s about keeping people safe so the sport never gives gun-owners and competitive shooters a \u201cblack eye.” \u00a0Individual responsibility is at the core of all that. \u00a0Which is what makes this a great sport for kids, and a great sport for all gun-owners; it stresses the need to do your part, always, and to watch to make sure that others do theirs as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Down to the Nitty-Gritty<\/h2>\n
\"Tim<\/a>

Tim Yackley, shooting USPSA Limited Division.<\/p><\/div>\n

USPSA shooting is about being accurate, and fast, and finishing well requires a high skill level in both areas. \u00a0This means efficiency of movement, no wasted steps, not even wasted movements in your eyes or fingers, etc. Everything is programmed to run; like a tape playing in your head, you walk stages, you visualize, you program a stage plan and you execute it. \u00a0This leads to all sorts of catch phrases, \u201cslow is smooth, smooth is fast\u201d and \u00a0\u201ca perfectly executed plan is better than a perfect plan poorly executed.” \u00a0You also learn what a bad idea it is to change your mind at the last second. \u00a0You learn the value of thinking ahead, of planning for worst-case scenarios, of being able to think on your feet and change your plan mid-stage, while moving down range or through a course of fire – all incredibly valuable skills for LEO and military, but also for regular human beings as they navigate life. \u00a0You will walk away from your first USPSA match feeling very inadequate, and yet very motivated. \u00a0For me some of those first experiences were with one of the older guys at our club, we\u2019ll call him Old Man Brimmer. \u00a0He\u2019s had knee surgery(s), he\u2019s slow, he can\u2019t run, but he\u2019ll shoot Alphas all day long with a big ol\u2019 .45 and will then laugh and take satisfaction in that he\u2019s more accurate than all the kids running around throwing Charlies out for no good reason. \u00a0And that brings us to Alphas, Bravos, Charlies, and Deltas — scoring. \u00a0USPSA scoring works on time and hit factor. \u00a0It\u2019s math, if you\u2019ve listened to me talk on podcasts<\/a>, you know I\u2019m not a fan of math, I try to avoid it, so here\u2019s a <\/span>hit factor calculator<\/span><\/a>. Basically, it is points divided by time. The caliber of your pistol round also plays a role, so there is Major and Minor scoring. \u00a0I just focus on shooting accurately and fast and let the scoring program work its magic. \u00a0But having a basic understanding can keep you from accepting a score that\u2019s wrong, so, at least, sanity-check what you see on your scoresheet. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to Find USPSA<\/h2>\n

There are USPSA matches all over the country. \u00a0You can find them listed <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> on USPSA\u2019s website, and you can look through <\/span>upcoming matches<\/span><\/a> on <\/span>Practiscore<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0Last Sunday, their site showed 660.<\/span> \u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Practiscore is an electronic scoring program and web site that many shooting disciplines are using for online scoring. \u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s a great tool, not just to find clubs, but to check your scores, \u00a0sign up for matches, or host registration. \u00a0Altogether, Practiscore is a time-saving dream for match directors. \u00a0And for shooters, access to results by category, division, and other metrics is not just a handy tool, it\u2019s educational. \u00a0It\u2019s actually a great way to learn about what matches are out there, and as you begin to digest all the bits and pieces on scoring and divisions, reading through results will help you grow your vocabulary. \u00a0To flesh out the numbers in the opening paragraphs about USPSA\u2019s 25,000 members, Practiscore\u2019s largest recorded day for unique shooters scores was March 4th, 2015, with 1898 shooters scored on that day. \u00a0And for 12 months, they had 35,343 unique shooters scored in USPSA. \u00a0This means you\u2019re definitely going to find a match near you!<\/span><\/p>\n

You know what you\u2019re doing, and where to go, now get ready!<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Prepare<\/h2>\n

The same guidelines for starting at local matches\u00a0and smaller events come into play here. \u00a0Start with a reasonable event, and push yourself from there. \u00a0USPSA matches at a club level are going to be what you want to begin with. \u00a0You can also look for leagues, as described in the last <\/span>article<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But you\u2019ll need to read the <\/span>rules<\/span><\/a> \u00a0on divisions and decide which to shoot in. \u00a0Once you have your gear, set it up and dry fire. \u00a0By dry firing, you can practice your draw, magazine changes, transitions, movement and taking your finger off the trigger and placing it outside the trigger guard, along the frame of the pistol. Whenever you move, your finger comes off the trigger! \u00a0You need to practice the heck out of this! \u00a0Do this over, and over, and over. \u00a0It\u2019s said that a person needs to perform at least 1,000 repetitions of a motion to develop muscle memory. \u00a0And you\u2019re not just memorizing \u00a0some ethereal concept, you\u2019re literally making a neural connection between your brain, your muscles – \u00a0your hands and eyes, and you want this muscle memory to be automatic so that your conscious mind can focus on your stage plan and the things you need to execute your stage plan well. \u00a0You want safety to be ingrained to the point of being automatic. \u00a0That\u2019s what keeps you and the people you\u2019re with safe, and gives us the latitude to push ourselves like it\u2019s a Formula 1 race! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

*Remember what we said last time about EVERY time you handle your firearm, check that the gun is empty – no mag, nothing in the chamber. \u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

To illustrate why we want to learn about making crisp and fast transitions, pay attention to the end of this video of <\/span>Athena Lee<\/span><\/a> and watch her speed between targets <\/a>and how aggressively she drives the gun to the next target.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want a few other drills, check out the link at the bottom of the article.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your goal for your first several matches should be safety. \u00a0Don\u2019t worry about burning down the stage, focus on moving safely, finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard every time you move. \u00a0Focus on keeping within the 180, and thinking through the range commands you\u2019re given. \u00a0One of the very distinct rules that all shooting sports have is concerning handling firearms under supervision, if you uncase your pistol outside of the safe area at a USPSA match, you\u2019re going home. \u00a0You CANNOT<\/strong> handle any firearms unless in a designated safe area, or under the supervision of a range officer. \u00a0So it can be a little unnerving – learning all the rules at the same time as you\u2019re trying to learn the game and walk stages AND help reset targets. <\/span><\/p>\n

Etiquette: USPSA has some distinct etiquette. \u00a0So again, if you can go spectate at a match, it will go a long way to making your first match easier! \u00a0People who I\u2019m calling great and welcoming will not bend on safety, and they are always very observant of new shooters. \u00a0So you want to watch some videos, observe a match, participate as a spectator and really look and listen to what is happening. \u00a0Ask if you can just help out and post targets and watch. \u00a0You\u2019ll be safer and it will make your learning curve less painful! \u00a0Nobody likes to admonish a new shooter, but safety will override any desire to make people feel warm and fuzzy. <\/span><\/p>\n

What You’re Doing on a Whole New Level<\/h2>\n
\"Limited<\/a>

Limited Division is a great place for a junior to start shooting pistol, since the higher magazine capacity takes out excessive reloads and allows them to focus on their safety.<\/p><\/div>\n

So you have your gear, you found a match, you practiced with dry firing, you went to the range and worked a little, you watched some matches, what else do you need to know? It\u2019s just shooting, right? \u00a0Well, here we come back to the race car again. \u00a0You don\u2019t just hop in a car and take off without knowing some basic principles! \u00a0You might only drive a sporty Nissan, and don\u2019t need to go into the amount of torque an engine has, but surely you can learn that you downshift going into a curve and accelerate going out and just the same, you can learn that you change mags at the beginning of movement so you can end the movement ready to shoot. But even before tiny details, you want some other basics.<\/span><\/p>\n

How about some of the terms: hit factor, Virginia Count, Comstock, classifiers, field courses, there\u2019s \u00a0a lot of terms in USPSA and a huge rule book! \u00a0\u00a0These are all going to be terms you need to understand. I\u2019m going to give the short version on these, so please, if you\u2019re a USPSA rule aficionado, don\u2019t go crazy on me – this is for new shooters to understand the game! \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A field course is a stage where you are moving through a course of fire, usually lots of movement and lots of targets. \u00a0These tend to be Comstock scoring, meaning you can shoot as many shots as it takes to hit the targets, or take make-up shots if you call a bad shot. Here\u2019s a video<\/a> of <\/span>Mike Voigt on a field course at USPSA Nationals.<\/span><\/p>\n

A classifier is a course of fire that measures specific skills. It\u2019s usually short, generally no movement, or not much movement \u2013 something like moving to a forward box as you perform a mag change is pretty typical of the type of movement, if any. These are often Virginia Count stages, that means, you shoot no more than the prescribed number of shots, or you\u2019re penalized. You sometimes have a classifier stages with steel, but those are Comstock, since steel must fall to score, and you then need to have extra rounds to engage the target again if you miss.<\/p>\n

There are many classifier stages, and you will shoot them to earn a classification. \u00a0There is a balance to speed and accuracy, just like in field courses. \u00a0You can calculate your classifier scores <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>

Tim Yackley, shooting USPSA Limited gun and shooting a Texas star.<\/p><\/div>\n

Some people seek out special classifier matches. \u00a0Some people find out what the stages will be ahead of time and practice them. \u00a0There are a couple terms that come into play here, and I\u2019m going to teach you about them so you become good competitors. \u00a0Sandbagging refers to shooters who purposely shoot poorly, or slowly so they don\u2019t bump their classification up so that when they get to a big match, they can reap the benefit of performing well in a classification below their actual skill level. \u00a0Sometimes this happens just because they can\u2019t get to classifier matches and they improve quickly. \u00a0Shooters joke about this, but it doesn\u2019t happen intentionally all that often. \u00a0The other term is grandbagging, and refers to the shooters who will shoot a classifier stage over and over to get the score they want to bump themselves up into a higher classification. \u00a0Sometimes that means they will shoot and ask for only the best score to be entered. \u00a0This accounts for the Master class shooters who get stomped on by B and A class shooters in a match. \u00a0Don\u2019t be a grandbagger – everyone recognizes that they\u2019re race car drivers who can only drive their special gun, in their small realm of comfort, but once they step outside of it into a real deal match, their fancy race car and card can\u2019t help them. \u00a0Be a muscle car! \u00a0This is a muscle-car, <\/span>Athena Lee<\/span><\/a>, a pistol-shooting extraordinaire and all around badass. \u00a0\u00a0She shoots with both <\/span>muscle-car power<\/span><\/a> and at other times, <\/span>graceful agility.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

So as you start out on this adventure, power through everything and make a little noise as you go, even if it\u2019s loud and not always graceful, because once you get warmed up, you can lay on the gas and blow by the cars that are just for looks. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Finish Line!<\/h2>\n
\"10-year-old<\/a>

10-year-old Andrew Yackley prepares for a steel stage at the 2014 USPSA Area 5 Championship.<\/p><\/div>\n

I have a different goal when I shoot than most shooters, even most women shooters – I\u2019m bringing kids along with me. \u00a0My 3 boys all compete, and they\u2019re doing so at a level that isn\u2019t just ho-hum, I have one junior national champion in Bianchi Cup, and the younger two are at a respectable skill level for their ages. \u00a0But more than anything, I want them, and YOU, to take away the life lessons that competition shooting brings to the table. \u00a0I want you to learn how to think on your feet, how to think for yourself and not follow the crowd of 10 shooters who shot the stage the same way before you, I want you to help out and engage with others, I want you to stay safe and help others stay safe. \u00a0Basically, I want to ensure you turn into a capable human being who can actively participate and not just consume. I want you to race, and make it to the finish line with respect. Don\u2019t just read about shooting and guns, don\u2019t just buy the cool gear, get your butt out there and do something! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bonus Material:<\/h2>\n

Want some really detailed info on the draw? \u00a0Watch <\/span>Mike Seeklander\u2019s video<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0Mike is a great instructor, and if you can ever take one of his competition pistol classes, do it! \u00a0I want to take another because I learned so much in the first class! \u00a0He even gave me a code so you guys can watch one of his videos from his <\/span>Vimeo channel. \u00a0If you watch the “Static Draw, Varied Target” drill, you\u2019ll know more about the draw than most people. \u00a0The code to use is “becky”, and this link<\/a> should take you right there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About the author<\/strong>: Becky Yackley has been shooting competitively since she began as a teenager with service rifle and\u00a0<\/em>smallbore. She\u2019s lived near the typical Marine Corps bases and spent 10 years near DC while her husband was active duty, but has settled into Wisconsin and shooting 3 Gun, USPSA, and Bianchi pistol with her three boys and husband. An avid runner and outdoorswoman, she shoots guns and photos, and sometimes her mouth\u2026which her friends often remind her keeps them \u201calert\u201d at late hours on road trips. Never known for being quiet, she\u2019s bringing her brand of humor our way this year in hopes of sharing her love for shooting sports with our readers.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introduction In January, we started\u00a0this series with an introduction into the competitive shooting world with a piece that covered some basics on safety and gear. \u00a0We then followed up that initial article with one on\u00a0Steel Challenge\u00a0because of its low cost and slim gear requirements. Now, after having read those two articles, you\u2019re hopefully ready to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":53906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,491,6,10,272],"tags":[132,472,561],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-53855","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-becky-yackley","9":"category-competition","10":"category-shootbetter","11":"category-uspsa","12":"tag-buzz","13":"tag-competitive-shooting","14":"tag-uspsa"},"yoast_head":"\nJourney Into Competitive Shooting: Ep. 3 USPSA Pistol<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Journey Into Competitive Shooting: Ep. 3 USPSA Pistol -\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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