First USPSA Match

[chbix]

Finally got out to my first match, although I didnt compete I was there to observe and learn.

i was invited out by member Pierre! from this board.

It was with the local group from the WNPL, thats Western Nevada Pistol League.

I got to watch some differnet level of people compete, from the new guys (one had only shot one previous production pistol match before this one and this was only the second time he had fired a pistol) to the seasoned veterans, from the stock glock and 1911 shooters to the race gun master shooters. I got to watch a variety of stages and the use of different tagets, including shoot/no shoot, swingers, and poppers.

About half way through I was kinda bummed I didnt take the chance and compete, however I dont have all the stuff required yet (holster is on the way, need at least 4 more mags, and mag carriers, i was short on ammo count as well.

But I will definately be shooting at the next one in January.

[Mark L Miller]

Glad to hear you enjoyed that match. USPSA is very addictive. Remember it is fun, then everything else will fall into place. It is not training(although you do learn a lot about you & your gun), life & death or your job. Just like IDPA,PPC, Bullseye, or GSSF, it is just a game with a score sheet & another chance to do better next time. Good luck & enjoy! MLM

[Shooting Alpha's]

Hope you had a good time. Even though you didn't compete it sounds like you were very observant. You can learn much just by observing in this game. Good luck and I hope you have fun come January.

[AlphaMike]

Have fun with it. It becomes an 'illness' in short order.

[madmike2u]

Everyone is correct, once you get the bug it will consume all your free time and money!

At my range they made us take a 2 day class in order to shoot action pistol. Day 1 was classroom, basic safety and lessons on "cold range" procedures and drawing from a holster safely, then we went outside and shot a few rounds under heavy supervision. I had never thought about the fact that, here in California, most of us had never drawn a gun from a holster (myself included)!

Second day, we competed in an actual match. They divided us up equally among the other shooters (there wasn't a "newbies" squad) and it was great to get pointers and tips from everyone with more experience than myself.

The best pointer I got on my first shoot. "You're not the fastest one here today, so don't try to be". Everyone encouraged safety rather than speed, move deliberately, not quickly, watch the muzzle direction and the trigger finger, take your time, and try to hit all "A's".

And the very first thing they told me, don't confuse the game we're playing with actual defensive training. If you want tactical training, there are great places for that like Thunder Ranch and FrontSight. This is just a game. It may improve your reflexes and make you much more comfortable handling your gun, but it's still a game.

It's a really great sport, you're gonna love it.

madmike