Competitive Shooting - Ask Me Anything

Idpa will be the cheapest enterance to shooting comps, $20.00 match fee plus 100 rds ammo
uspsa will be a bit more expensive, $20.00 match fee plus 200 rds ammo and few more magazines required pending class
3 gun will kill a bank account quick, 3 calibers of ammo various amounts, 3 guns, $20.00 and up entry fee, alot more gear is needed. Mag pouches for pistol, rifle and shell holders for shotgun. And other stuff I am forgetting
 
redhawk485 said:
Thank you for the offer and I will keep it in mind, but I think I have everything I need to get started. I just need to know how much it's going to cost me and whether, or not, I should concentrate on something simple in the beginning. Is three-gun more difficult? Should I concentrate on something useful, like IDPA? Are there matches close to me (Mebane) and do they have membership fees, registration fees, etc?
The first rule of shooting competition is we don't talk about the cost of shooting competition!
 
redhawk485 said:
Thank you for the offer and I will keep it in mind, but I think I have everything I need to get started. I just need to know how much it's going to cost me and whether, or not, I should concentrate on something simple in the beginning. Is three-gun more difficult? Should I concentrate on something useful, like IDPA? Are there matches close to me (Mebane) and do they have membership fees, registration fees, etc?
^^^Truth
 
I think ZSA is popular enough around here to make the list.

FlatFender;n9580 said:
There are 4 games that are the most popular:

USPSA - United States Practical Shooting Assoc. USPSA is straight up racing. There's no emphasis on tactics or proper defensive stuff, CCW or anything like that. In USPSA you're presented with a problem (a stage with targets, barriers, etc) and it's your job to solve it. In USPSA you'll see people shooting anything from a Glock 19 to a full blown racegun with optics and compensators, etc.

IDPA - International Defensive Pistol Association. IDPA focuses more on concealed carry, and you're required to start a stage with your gun concealed. Their gear rules are a little more restrictive, but generally most any off the shelf gun will be fine. They have divisions for the little guns that most of us actually carry up to full size 1911s etc. Stages in IDPA are generally shorter than USPSA, with a maximum of 18 rounds.

Steel Challenge - This game is owned by USPSA, but it's a completely different animal. There's very little movement. You're basically standing in a box, and on the buzzer you shoot 5 steel plates. It sounds and looks easy, but it's not. Steel Challenge has 8 standardized stages that are all setup the same and shot the same at every match. You shoot each stage 5 times and your best few scores count.

GSSF - Glock Shooting Sports Foundation - Think steel Challenge, but with paper targets and it's only for Glocks.
 
redhawk485 said:
Thank you for the offer and I will keep it in mind, but I think I have everything I need to get started. I just need to know how much it's going to cost me and whether, or not, I should concentrate on something simple in the beginning. Is three-gun more difficult? Should I concentrate on something useful, like IDPA? Are there matches close to me (Mebane) and do they have membership fees, registration fees, etc?
CGGR hosts 3-4 matches a month in Franklinton. second weekend is 3 gun and steel challenge third weekend is USPSA. most all of them are $15-20 registration fees.
 
Wake Acton Pistol would be a good resource to get our first time shooters out to also. quick and less than 100 round matches. very new shooter friendly.
 
What rifle games (Precision and carbine) are available near the the triangle?
 
Climberman;n30814 said:
What rifle games (Precision and carbine) are available near the the triangle?

I believe Sir Walter is allowing Pistol Caliber Carbine at their regular USPSA matches now. I think Woody's does too.

Woody's also does the Designated Marksman Matches, PRS, and I feel like some other rifle games I'm missing.

John Boyette posted about F-class at Butner further down in the competition forum.

I believe Frontline Defense does some long range type matches as well.
 
FlatFender;n30896 said:
I believe Sir Walter is allowing Pistol Caliber Carbine at their regular USPSA matches now. I think Woody's does too.

Woody's also does the Designated Marksman Matches, PRS, and I feel like some other rifle games I'm missing.

John Boyette posted about F-class at Butner further down in the competition forum.

I believe Frontline Defense does some long range type matches as well.

What is the difference between DMM, PRS, and F-Class?
 
Climberman;n30954 said:
What is the difference between DMM, PRS, and F-Class?

Total honesty, I'm not 100% sure. I'm a pistol shooter myself.

I know DMM gives you challenges like shooting from awkward positions, and stuff like that, but I really couldn't tell you.

Anybody rifle shooters on the forum that can help?
 
I know a CCP is required for most training type classes. Is it required for comps as well?
 
LizardKing;n31120 said:
I know a CCP is required for most training type classes. Is it required for comps as well?

CCP, as in concealed carry permit? No, we have kids who shoot competitively who cannot get a concealed carry permit.

​​​​​​
​​​​​
 
FlatFender;n31131 said:
CCP, as in concealed carry permit? No, we have kids who shoot competitively who cannot get a concealed carry permit.

​​​​​​
​​​​​

Thanks!
 
FlatFender USPSA question. The other night I had a double feed to clear. The extractor wasnt pulling the round out of the chamber with the mag out, looking back it would have been quicker to shoot it at a target, As long as it hit a target I wouldn't have been DQed right?
 
Butter;n31597 said:
FlatFender USPSA question. The other night I had a double feed to clear. The extractor wasnt pulling the round out of the chamber with the mag out, looking back it would have been quicker to shoot it at a target, As long as it hit a target I wouldn't have been DQed right?

I can't imagine you would be DQed for taking an aimed shot at a target.
 
FlatFender;n31600 said:
I can't imagine you would be DQed for taking an aimed shot at a target.

As long as it is during the course of fire and gun is pointed towards a target you'd be fine.
 
DMM is a team match with both shooters shooting a course of fire. Usually limited to 600 yards or so. Work as a team callkng shots and correctuons.

PRS is long range individual. Usually out to 1000 or a bit more. Focuses on positional shooting like off benches, stairs, roofs, awkward positions.

F class is bench rest shooting at long range. No positions just from a bench.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Great thread!

For any new shooters reading through this...

When you to do go to your first match, do your best not to let yourself get intimidated by the more experienced shooters on your squad. That is certainly easier said than done but keep in mind that everyone started out as a newbie at some point... even the guy setting the ground on fire he's moving so fast.

One of my favorite things about the competitive shooting community in this area is the willingness to help new shooters. NC is heavily populated with great matches of all varieties.
 
All of the local matches are new shooter friendly so come out and have fun. Everyone will be more than glad to help and even loan gear.
 
Tsconver;n31830 said:
DMM is a team match with both shooters shooting a course of fire. Usually limited to 600 yards or so. Work as a team callkng shots and correctuons.

PRS is long range individual. Usually out to 1000 or a bit more. Focuses on positional shooting like off benches, stairs, roofs, awkward positions.

F class is bench rest shooting at long range. No positions just from a bench.

Shawn,

almost got it. F-Class is prone bi-pod with a rear bag. Not bench shooting. We shoot from 300yds to 1000yds
 
Butter;n31597 said:
FlatFender USPSA question. The other night I had a double feed to clear. The extractor wasnt pulling the round out of the chamber with the mag out, looking back it would have been quicker to shoot it at a target, As long as it hit a target I wouldn't have been DQed right?

Are you talking about shooting the bullet out during unload and show clear? If so yes you would be DQ'd. You mentioned not extracting when the mag is out is why Im asking.
 
JBoyette;n32026 said:
Shawn,

almost got it. F-Class is prone bi-pod with a rear bag. Not bench shooting. We shoot from 300yds to 1000yds

Don't they also run the real fancy bipods that the open guns actually slide on? Also it seems to be very focised on equipment and loads. It still requires sklll but it is very stationary. It is kinda like bullseye compared to uspsa. I guess if it is your thing more power to you. More people shooting something is always better for 2a. Just not exciting enoigh for me personally.

also no one memtioned high power which is another discipline. Both involve skill but not for me.
 
Bumping this thread. I'll be standing by to answer your questions this evening, until I inevitably lose power here at home.
 
FlatFender said:
Bumping this thread. I'll be standing by to answer your questions this evening, until I inevitably lose power here at home.
The good news is that the forecast is for snow, or possibly sleet if upper atmosphere conditions change, but I can't find freezing rain anywhere in our forecast.

Hallelujah
 
Wolffy;n44679 said:
Whats better target focus or front site focus?

Depends on the target. There is no right answer since we shoot at all sorts of different targets under different conditions at different distances.
 
Wolffy;n44682 said:
How will 1/2 size targets affect stage designs?

I've shot them in outlaw matches in the past, and they're really not a big deal, just treat them like a longer distance target. I think it was a good decision by DNROI to allow them since it'll give smaller ranges more options.
 
FlatFender;n44693 said:
Depends on the target. There is no right answer since we shoot at all sorts of different targets under different conditions at different distances.

Trick question lol
 
Is it faster to engage target right to left or left to right?
 
Wolffy;n44739 said:
Is it faster to engage target right to left or left to right?

I'm more comfortable going left to right, but I've never checked to see if one way is faster than the other.
 
Should you barney a round even though the stage plan doesn't require it?
 
Back
Top Bottom