USPSA FAQ
USPSA - United States Practical Shooting Association
Practical Shooting attempts to measure the ability to shoot rapidly and accurately with a full power handgun, rifle, and/or shotgun. Those three elements - speed, accuracy, and power - form the three sides of the practical shooting triangle. By design, each match will measure a shooter's ability in all three areas.
Description of how a match is run
To do this, shooters take on obstacle-laden stages requiring anywhere from six to 30+ shots to complete. The scoring system measures points scored per second, then weights the score to compensate for the number of shots fired. If they miss a target, or shoot inaccurately, points are deducted, lowering that all-important points-per-second score.
USPSA is run as a cold range, which means you may only handle the guns in specified SAFE AREAS, or while under the supervision of the Safety Officer.
Competitors move, negotiate obstacles, run, speed-reload, and drive their guns through each of several courses as fast as their skills will allow. Our matches are held outdoors, in all weather, further taxing competitor skill.
Most practical shooters are just regular Joes that enjoy shooting on the weekends - much the way the average golfer enjoys golf. We offer competitive divisions for most handguns, from revolvers, to scope-sighted, recoil-compensated "race guns" developed just for our sport.
If you come out and happen to observe a stage where an Open class A shooter is shooting, don’t get discouraged. You will fit into a class and compete against persons at your own level. Nearly everyone is very cordial getting new shooters started.
Typical matches consist of 5 stages totaling about 120 rounds, but always bring plenty of extra rounds, you will need a holster that covers the trigger, magazines and mag pouches (you will need to have up to 40 rounds on you for some stages). We have paper targets that are stationary, drop and twist, swing, turn etc. We have reactive steel also.
Match Fees
- $20 Non-SKSC members
- $15 SKSC members
Match Details
- Matches are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, March through October
- Sign in begins at 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
- Must be registered by 9:15 a.m.
- If you come later than 9:15 you will not get to shoot but you are welcome to watch and feel free to ask all the questions you want
- Shooting begins at 9:30 a.m.
- Shooting ends usually around 1:00pm
- Eye and Ear protection is required for everyone
- Spectators are welcome !
The USPSA Program can be found on the bays opposite (East) of the general purpose bays. However, parking must be across from the general bays.
For More Information
You can get information about rules and other great stuff at: www.uspsa.org .