My First USPSA Match Experience

Introduction

• The USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) is the premier shooting sports organization in the US. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or new to the sport, USPSA offers a structured, exciting path to elevate your shooting skills in a supportive environment.
• I was interested in the sport after seeing a match at my local gun range. I researched more about it and wanted to try it out.

Preparation

• In preparation for my first match, I reached out to the match director of my local club to find out what I needed and when the match would be. I recommend that you reach out to the director of your club to find out when matches are and what they require.
• There are sometimes match fees and range fees. The match director can give you the specifics for your match.
•  You can compete with just about any gun you have, there are lots of divisions that you can shoot in. You will need your gun, holster, 3 or 4 magazines, and mag holders for them.
• The practice for your first match should include safe gun handling skills, as safety is paramount at the match. Watch some videos on the USPSA competition to get a good idea as to what you are in for. Here is a link to a YouTube search that has some good videos.
• https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=uspsa+beginner

Arrival at the Match

• Arriving at my range on match day, I was met by a fellow competitor who welcomed me to the match. As time went on, more and more competitors arrived and welcomed me, and wished me luck for the day. I introduced myself to the match director and he went over the rules of the range and the different safe spaces for handling your gun and ammunition.
• I didn’t register for the match as I was unsure of what and how I needed to register. Now that I have been to a match, I know that registering on https://practiscore.com/ after creating an account (there is no cost to register) allows you to see your scores from your match. If you want to get your classification you will want to register on the USPSA website. https://uspsa.org/. There is a yearly registration fee, but this will give you a shooter number for your classifications.

The Stages

• Stages are designed to challenge you and make you a better shooter. There will be at least 1 classifier stage in amongst the others. The amount of stages will depend on the club.
• Shooting the stages on my first match showed me how out of shape I was and how different it is to move and shoot, not just standing and shooting at paper.
• The people that I met at the match were great and I had a great time shooting. Getting a baseline for my skills is great, I now know what skills I need to improve on. More matches will give me a good indication of how my skills are improving.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

• Standing still and shooting is very different from moving and shooting. Getting a good grip when your draw and getting your stance back after moving from one section of a stage to another are definitely something that was challenging for me to get right.
• There are gaps in my skills and my fitness that were made apparent during the match. Your match will either show you what are good at or if you have any holes in your skills.
• For your first match, go with an open mind and lots of enthusiasm. Be willing to help set up and tear down at the beginning and end of the day, along with helping change stages. You will get to learn the stages better by assisting, and a willing helper is always liked by your fellow competitors.

Conclusion

• As I reflect on my first match, I would not change it for the world. The experience was great and I learned a lot about my shooting and my skills. The people were very welcoming and encouraging. There are so many lessons to take away from the match. I will be going to more matches and improving my skills.
• I highly encourage you to go and participate in your first match if it’s something you are interested in.