It appears that the IDPA match is off to a healthy start. They had about 30 shooters. The turn out for the USPSA matches have been okay, but more support/attendance is needed. If you have shot USPSA before, you already know how much fun these matches are. If you have not shot a match before, come on out and find out firsthand just how much fun it is. If you want some guidance on how the match works, tips on shooting the match, or just like to say "Hello", look me up tonight at Big Shots. It doesn't have to be me though. There are always a bunch of shooters who would be happy to help you make this a positive and safe experience.
Sean Gewecke is the organizer for the USPSA "Style" matches, and he is a great guy for the job. As the program develops, I'm sure he will be adding new complexity to challenge us. However, if the Big Shots management does not see a good turn out, their motivation for continuing the matches will wane.
If you ARE new to the matches, here are a few rules to help you understand what to expect...
SafetyFailure to comply with these rules will likely result in a DQ. That's a "DisQualification" and not a trip to the DQ for an ice cream.HERE is a post by JTH regarding USPSA safety rules. I could not find this before and just came across it. In his usual style, JTH does a great job explaining how things work.
Do NOT handle your handgun unless in the designated "Safety Area". When you are in the "Safety Area", you can handle your empty gun, but NOT any ammunition or even snap caps. The smartest thing to do is not to take any ammunition to the "Safety Area".
Do not handle your gun unless in the "Safety Area" or at the Range Officer's (RO's) instruction. Definitely do NOT handle the gun and ammo unless the RO instructs you to "Make Ready", this is especially important in the "Safety Area". The best plan is to not bring any ammo to the "Safety Area", not even dummy rounds (e.g., SnapCaps). If you are walking around with a firearm in your holster, make sure the gun is not cocked, regardless of whether a safety is engaged. So before you leave the "Safety Area", make sure you drop the hammer/striker.
Always keep the muzzle downrange. Assume there is an invisible wall (or for you geometry geeks, a plane) that goes from floor to ceiling and left side of range to right. If your muzzle breaks that wall (points back towards the normal shooting stations) you will be DQ'd.
Do not sweep your self with the gun while holstering, unholstering, reloading, moving, etc. Doing so will result in...you guessed it...a DQ.
What does a DQ mean? It means that after the match, we all meet you in the parking lot and beat the snot out of you. Well that might happen if you shoot our spouse or our best friend during a safety infraction, but normally you will just be done shooting and will not receive a score/ranking for that match. There is no real shame in it. As I said in another post, there are those that have and those that will. It will definitely be a learning experience for you, and I'm willing to bet you don't make that error again.
That is an uber quick rundown of the safety rules that will get you in the door and off to a good start. The strategy and skills are a whole other subject that is best taught by an instructor.
Shooting the courseTypically, there will be several standard USPSA targets that are brown but otherwise look like this...
Your goal is to put two rounds on the target, preferably in the A-zones (COM or ocular cavity).
Comstock Scoring:You are not normally limited to shooting at the target twice. You can shoot the target as many times as you like, but only the two best hits will count. This is known as "Comstock".
Virginia Count:Occasionally a stage will be set up as "Virginia Count" which does limit you to a fixed number of shots per target. Additional shots will be penalized.
Regardless of whether the stage is run as Comstock or Virginia Count, hits in the other zones (B, C or D) will result in a point reduction that varies depending on the zone hit. Also, a miss (or "Mike") is a penalty as is a failure to engage (did not attempt to shoot at target). Incidentally, every "Failure to engage" is also a "Mike", so that deducts points pretty quick.
Occasional you will have "No Shoots" which is the same target as above, but typically white OR marked in such a way to indicate that you don't want to shoot it. Shooting a "No Shoot" also deducts points. So...if you shoot two rounds at a target which is partially covered by a "No Shoot", and the first shot hits the target, but the second shot hits the "No Shoot", you will be assessed a deduction for a miss, AND a deduction for hitting the "No Shoot". Once again, the points start getting deducted pretty quickly.
You can also have targets covered with areas of black which indicate "Hard Cover". You don't incur a penalty by hitting the black area, but it does not count as a hit on the target.
For Comstock, if you recognize that you have put a round in the black (Hard Cover), or the White (No Shoot), or just plain missed, your simple solution is to shoot again so as to hit the desired target. However, for Virginia Count, you can only shoot the round count specified. For example, a stage set up as Virginia Count, may only allow two shots per target.
Occasionally, there are also timed stages where you get hits on as many of the targets as you can in the allotted time.
Equipment- Most all centerfire handguns are allowed though .38/9mm is the smallest caliber you can shoot.
- Holster: No cross draw, shoulder holsters, or in the waistband (IWB) allowed.
- Magazines: Suggest three minimum, but then this depends on the division you are shooting in. Most of these indoor stages will max out around 27 rounds required. However, if you don't hit where you want then extra rounds would come in handy to get the shot.
- Magazine pouches: Enough to carry your spare mags, but the magazines can be kept in a rear pants pocket if you don't have the pouches. Of course this won't help your times.
- Hearing and eye protection.
Match cost is $10 for non-members of the range and $5 for those that are members of Big Shots. There is not a requirement to be a member of USPSA.
Now you know about the match so...
COME ON DOWN AND SHOOT WITH US!Fly
