Anybody shoot pistol competitions?

I started shooting USPSA Steel Challenge matches a year ago. Don't know how experienced that makes me but I enjoy shooting matches and need to practice MORE!

I have noticed that practice makes a difference. DUH

Draw, transitions, and not missing targets have a much greater effect on your time than just pulling the trigger faster.

I haven't but have been wanting to try a tournament at my gun club.

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This is what killed me. I started moving slow and getting good hits, and then I tried moving faster which caused me to miss three. I didn't realize the penalty was so strong on a miss.

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You have to find that balance between speed and accuracy. If you miss completely or you get a "failure to neutralize", it really starts adding up.

The other aspect that's important is gamesmanship. In many of these matches, they have certain rules like tactical order (that's probably for all matches), combat reloads only, tactical reloads, shooting from cover, etc. You have to know how to read between the lines in order to be the most efficient. Some matches have restricted round counts or restricted mag counts so sometimes you're limited in how you can run a stage. Knowing how to best position yourself within those parameters is what separates a lot of competitors.

Also, practice the basics. Someone once told me there are no advanced techniques, just the basics sped up. Practicing draws, target acquisition and transition, and reloads will help you improve the most and will help when you get that adrenaline dump.



Also, be sure to practice failure drills. Load some snap caps randomly in your mag and practice "tap and rack".

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Steel is way more fun, though

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Yep!

Smoke and Hope is always fun. They always seem to put The Pendulum after Smoke and Hope at the matches I go to. You have to respect The Pendulum or it will teach you a lesson.

5" plate at 18 yds can be rough on your time

Smoke and hope looks fun AF, though

just curious as to what pistols you all are using in these?

And how many magazine/rounds do you need per stage?

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I use a standard Glock 17.

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That's what I'm using now. I just started with what I already had, but now I'm mulling over getting a G35 because .40s score way better. I am just going to have a hard time going against everything I stand for switching from 9 to 40.

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The hardcore match guys will use tuned up pistols

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It blew me away to see how many guys run STI type guns. They spend all that money on them fancy guns, and it seems they have more malfunctions than the factory style glocks and S&Ws. Not to mention they have to disassemble their mags and clean them every time they hit the dirt.

Those race guns are super finicky, especially when they're running reduced loads.

I assume you're wanting to run a 40 due to the wider diameter?

I've found that lower recoil 9mm is better just for the ability to have quicker, more accurate follow up shots. I started with 40 then switched to 9 and it worked out better for me. Again, for me, it's about shot placement more than time, but you have to find a balance. Then again, some people say that if you don't have a miss outside the 0 or A zone then you're not pushing hard enough.

I use a Sig P320 X5.

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And how many magazine/rounds do you need per stage?

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A steel challenge match is minimum 125 rounds, 5 stages/25 shoots for each stage.

The number of magazines depends on the class you are shooting in. I shoot the X5 because it classifies as a production gun so I can only load 10 rounds in a magazine. I need 5 magazines, but other classes you might only need 1 or 2 mags.