Getting Started

Want to learn how to safely handle your pistol while moving, shooting through window ports, door ways, over or under tables, around walls? Start from a holster, or with your gun on a table, in a box, on a barrel, loaded or not loaded. Engage stationary targets, those that appear, appear/disappear, swing, rotate, you name it. Usually you shoot till you hit the target the correct number of times, regardless of how many shots it takes. Learn to always be aware of where your shots are impacting.

Sound like fun? Come join a sport that provides excellent fun and training in safe gun handling. We have shooters from teens to 75 year olds. Fast and slow, but always safe, and usually smiling at the completion of a COF. It's great to see families enjoy the sport together.

What is it? Practical Shooting is a way to learn safe gun handling while having fun. Practical Shooting is primarily a pistol competition (there is also 3-gun competition-Rifle-Shotgun-Pistol) that is internationally recognized. The sanctioning bodies are USPSA (USA) and IPSC (International). Shooting involves handling pistols safely while moving to negotiate various props through out a course of fire (COF). A hallmark of such competition is that the COF is never the same. Exception is a classifier that is shot nationally for purpose of providing you a national class. Shooters compete against others of their same ability (class). You can approach the sport with intense competition or just use it as a way to improve your gun handling skills. A key focus of this competition is SAFETY. Strict gun handling rules apply and are enforced. All competition is under the direction of a Range Officer (RO) who is there to assure safety and to help new shooters to have fun while doing so safely.

Targets include paper and reactionary targets such as steel plates and poppers. You may encounter paper targets that appear, appear/disappear, bob, swing. Distances range from close, a yard or two, up to 35 yards. Most targets are within 10-20 yards. For safety, steel is engaged at no less than 10 yds.

What equipment would I need? Do I need expensive and fancy equipment? Not at all. There are several Divisions in which you can compete that are equipment based. The minimum required equipment to get started are safety glasses, ear protection, a safe Double action, safe action (Glock type), or single action (1911 type) pistol or a revolver, 9 mm or larger caliber, and 3 or 4 extra magazines. You need a holster that securely holds the gun, trigger guard must be covered when holstered, and magazine holders, usually one or two double pouches. The relatively inexpensive Kydex type holsters and mag holders are an excellent entry rig.

The various divisions are OPEN (anything goes), Limited (iron sights-typical double stack magazines), Limited-10 (iron sights-single or double stack magazines loading maximum of 10 rds per magazine), Production (typical out of the box, nothing fancy, iron sights), Single Stack (classic 1911 pistols)...a typical COF is from 6 to 32 rounds so enough magazines to accommodate up to 32 rounds is adequate.. Good skills come with experience so we welcome and support the new shooter. Speed is not the focus, be smooth and safe, even walk the COF if you want. Compete against yourself and how smoothly you negotiate the COF.