200/300 yard shooters notice

If you shoot the 200/300 yard or outdoor small bore ranges, please follow this link for important information.

Reminder

Chamber flags are now required on ranges. They are available in the clubhouse for $1.00, located on top of the paper target shelves. See club bulletin for details.

INTRODUCTION

Practical pistol competition, sometimes called IPSC (“ip-sick”) or action pistol, is a fun, exciting shooting activity enjoyed by thousands of participants world-wide. While there are similar competitions involving rifles and shotguns, this discussion will be limited to pistol competition, since that’s where most people start out.

You will notice that practical pistol shooting is referred to here as a competition. The originators of practical pistol shooting founded the activity for the purpose of gaining skill in the defensive use of firearms, but over the years it evolved into the fast, fun sport it is today. Most experts in the defensive use of the handgun will agree that practical pistol competition will help you learn handgun-handling skills, one of the important aspects in the defensive use of the handgun, but it is not, nor is it intended to be other than a competitive sport.

ORGANIZATION

The Practical Pistol activity at Tri-County Gun Club is affiliated with the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA). The United States is, in turn, one of the regions of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). This allows the TCGC Practical Pistol program to conduct matches sanctioned by USPSA, using the same guidelines and rules governing sanctioned matches across the country. This ensures that when competitors travel to matches at other clubs or even in other states, the rules and the conduct of the matches will be consistent. In addition to clubs, individuals may also affiliate with, or become members of, USPSA. For an annual fee, USPSA members will receive a rule book which states all the rules and policies necessary to follow when participating in a Practical Pistol match. In addition, after shooting the required number of what are termed “classifier stages”, USPSA members will be assigned to a class based on how their scores on the classifier stages compared to scores from all other USPSA members across the country. This allows for competition and recognition of performance between shooters of similar abilities.

MATCHES

Practical Pistol matches consist of a number of courses of fire, called “stages”, which are shooting problems which each shooter has to solve to the best of their ability. Each stage will consist of a number of targets and accompanying instructions. The instructions state parameters within which the competitor must address the shooting problem, usually to ensure safety, and sometimes to make the stage more challenging. Each competitor is accompanied through each stage by a Range Officer, who is usually another competitor with Range Officer experience and training. The Range Officer’s purpose is to give the competitor the signal to start shooting the stage and to time the competitor’s run through the stage, but most importantly, to ensure the safe conduct of the competitor through the course of fire. Because of this primary concern for safety, the Range Officer is in charge of the stage and his or her commands must be followed.

SAFETY

Safe matches and ranges are the number one concern of TCGC, the Practical Pistol Chairman, the Match Director, and every other competitor and person present on the range. All safety rules must be obeyed. To help ensure that TCGC members have a skill level high enough to allow them to compete safely in matches or to practice on the range, all users of this range must become Action Range certified by attending and successfully completing the club-authorized Safety Certification class and the subsequent Practical Pistol match. The class will cover the safety requirements for shooting on the Practical Pistol range as well as what to expect in a match, and the match will provide a forum for demonstrating that you have the skill level to safely practice on the range or compete in Practical Pistol matches.

Some match safety rules you must learn:

Firearms on the Practical Pistol range must be unloaded, except when you are on the stage firing line about to shoot a course of fire and are specifically instructed by the Range Officer to load your firearm.

Guns may be handled on the range only in the clearly marked Safety Area and during a course of fire. This means that guns may not be handled at your car in the parking lot, or be pulled out to show to an admiring fan, unless you are at the Safety Area.

When in the holster, your firearm must not have a magazine in it, and the hammer may not be cocked. When your firearm is out of the holster, it must be safely pointed at the backstop or bullet impact area at all times. Never point your firearm at yourself or anyone else, and don’t point it up in the air or down at the ground. You must be aware of where your firearm is pointing at all times. When in your hand, your firearm should always be held out directly in front of you where you can easily see that it is pointing in a safe direction. These safety practices are required when you are practicing on the range as well as at matches.

EQUIPMENT

It is tempting to want to start with expensive, top of the line firearms and equipment. However, it may be more prudent and possibly less expensive in the long run if you start with basic equipment and then upgrade after you talk to and observe experienced competitors and learn what suits you after you have some personal experience to draw on. Safe equipment is essential, but needn’t be top of the line, which usually equates to significant expense. The first item of equipment you think of may be your firearm, but that is far from the most important piece of equipment.

Loss of hearing or sight cannot be restored, so good ear and eye protection are of paramount importance, and are required on the Practical Pistol range. Hearing protection varies from inexpensive foam earplugs to expensive electronic earmuffs. Be sure that whatever type you use fits your ears properly so as to prevent harsh gunshots from damaging your hearing. Members of TCGC who shot before the need for hearing protection became evident can tell you what the consequences are; most of them must wear hearing aids now.

Sight protection is even more important than hearing protection. Make sure that the glasses or goggles you wear are impact resistant and fully protect your eyes, that they don’t impair your vision, and that they will stay on your face during strenuous activity.

Firearms, magazines, holsters, belts, pants, shirts, hats, ammo, etc: There is a wide variety of good equipment available, but unfortunately there is some bad stuff for sale also. Visit a couple of matches and talk to some top shooters or ask the activity chairman to recommend some people to talk to. There are gun-store commandos or magazine “experts” who talk a good game and may have a financial interest in selling whatever is on their shelf, but top shooters have all gotten to where they are by trying a lot of different guns and gear and can speak from real experience; most are happy to share their knowledge.

USPSA matches have a number of divisions for different type of firearms. This recognizes the fact that some firearm types have certain advantages in matches, and separates the handgun types into different divisions so that competitors compete not only against others at the same skill level, but against those using the same type of handguns. Check the USPSA rule book for the different handgun divisions.

Some basic equipment guidelines are: your firearm needs to work every time you pull the trigger. Incredible as it sounds, there are more firearms than you expect that won’t work every time. Ask for recommendations for brands that work flawlessly right out of the box, or be prepared to spend some additional money for expert gunsmith work if those types don’t suit you. Keep in mind that ammo for some calibers is cheaper to obtain than others, whether you are buying loaded ammo or reloading. Also note that very few competitors in the sport purchase loaded ammo. Even most competitors who can afford to purchase loaded ammo load their own so they have total control over the finished product. If you are going to shoot a semi-auto firearm, and most competitors do, you must have good quality magazines and enough of them to allow for the number of magazine changes you will encounter in a match. There are lots of neat holster systems available and most of them allow for rapid draws, you want to make sure your holster holds the gun securely so that it doesn’t fall out when you’re just walking around; the same holds true for your magazine pouches. A good belt is the foundation of a good holster system. Putting a good holster on a flimsy dress belt allows the firearm and holster to change position so you may have to fumble around when you try to draw your handgun or reholster it, and that is unsafe. A hat is good to keep the sun out of your eyes and to help keep ejected ammo cases away from your face. Clothing should not restrict your movement and not interfere with handling your firearm or other equipment. You will need a bag or other way to carry your ammo and other gear around the range. Especially in hot weather it is important to carry water along at a match; you will often feel tired and be dragging by the end of the match if you don’t stay hydrated. Comfortable shoes are important because you do a lot of standing at matches, and good traction is essential when you need to run through a course of fire. It’s not real often, but knee and elbow pads do come in handy on the occasional stage, as it is difficult to keep your mind focused on shooting accurately when the point of a rock is digging into your knee or elbow.

SCORING

The motto of IPSC is Diligencia, Vis, Celeritas, which are Latin words for Accuracy, Power, Speed. The founders of the sport believed that these three elements were the foundations of superior performance in defensive handgun shooting, and they still are the critical elements of Practical Pistol shooting today.

Accuracy: The standard USPSA target is cardboard, with perforations outlining A, B, C and D scoring zones. All A-zone hits score 5 points. B-zone and C-zone hits score either 4 or 3 points, depending on the power of the ammo being used. D-zone hits score 2 or 1 point. Each miss, or failure to have the required number of hits on a target, results in 10 points being subtracted from your total stage score. Accuracy in hitting the target is obviously very important to a good score in a match.

Power: This is determined by first firing your firearm with your ammo and measuring the velocity of your bullet using a device called a chronograph. Then that velocity is multiplied by the weight of your bullet, and the result divided by 1000 to get a number called your Power Factor. The idea is that the heavier the bullet and higher the velocity, the harder the firearm is to control when shooting. So you receive higher values (5,4,2) for your hits on the target if you are shooting a handgun that is harder to control. Conversely, you get slightly lower values (5,3,1) for hits on target when shooting a handgun that is theoretically easier to control. The higher scoring values are for Power Factors of 165 and above, termed Major power, and the lower scoring values are for Power Factors between 125 and 165, termed Minor power. The minimum power factor allowed is 125.

Speed: The idea is to shoot the stage so as to get as many points as possible, in the shortest amount of time, because your total stage points will be divided by your stage time, giving a number called the Hit Factor. An old saying you may hear around an IPSC range is: “You can’t shoot fast enough to make up for a miss.” That statement is true, with rare exception.

Figuring the Match Score: Not every stage has the same number of targets, the same degree of difficulty or takes the same time to complete, therefore, the Comstock scoring system attempts to equalize the scoring of stages within a match. The competitor with the highest Hit Factor for each stage is awarded the maximum number of points possible for that stage, and all other competitors’ Hit Factors are compared to the top stage competitor and earn a comparative number of points for that stage. The stage points are added up to determine the order of finish for all match competitors.

MORE MATCH INFO

Range Commands

“Load and Make Ready” This command is given by the Range Officer to the competitor on the firing line, after the Range Officer has verified that the range is clear of all people and it is safe for the competitor to shoot the stage. The competitor may draw his or her handgun, and with the firearm pointing directly downrange toward the backstop, safely load the handgun and holster it. The competitor may also adjust their equipment such as glasses, hearing protection, etc., as long as it is within reason and safe. The competitor, while not required to do so, will normally then indicate to the Range Officer that he or she is ready to begin the course of fire.

“Are You Ready?” When you indicate you are ready or it appears to the Range Officer that you are ready to begin the course of fire, you will be asked this question. If not ready, the competitor must say “No” to indicate they need more time. If not ready, the Range Officer will wait until the competitor is ready and ask the question again. If the competitor indicates that they are ready, or does not indicate that they are not ready, the Range Officer will proceed to the next command.

“Standby” From 1 to 4 seconds after this command the Range Officer will activate the timer which makes a loud beep and begins counting the time. Between the Standby command and the beep, the competitor must remain in position and not let their hand “creep” toward their firearm in order to avoid a procedural penalty. If during a course of fire the Range Officer detects any unsafe condition on the range, he or she will yell “Stop,” and the competitor must immediately stop, point their firearm in a safe direction and wait for further instructions from the Range Officer. At the end of a completed course of fire the Range Officer will give the next command.

“If You Are Finished, Unload and Show Clear” The competitor will take their finger out of the trigger guard, remove the magazine and open the firearm so that the Range Officer can inspect the firearm for an empty chamber. After the Range Officer has determined that the chamber is empty and no ammo remains in the gun, the next command will be given.

“If Clear, Hammer Down and Holster” The competitor will point the gun toward the backstop and pull the trigger so that the hammer falls, another indication that the firearm is empty of ammo. When the competitor has safely holstered the handgun and all conditions are safe, the Range Office will give the last command.

“Range is Clear” This command indicates that it is safe for the competitor to move away from the firing line and others may move forward to score and tape targets.

Things Not to Do (actions that will get you disqualified from a match)

These actions are more fully described in the USPSA Rule Book, but most of them involve unsafe gun handling.

Accidental Discharge: outside the backstop or side berms or into the ground within 3 meters; a discharge before starting a stage or while loading, reloading, unloading or during remedial action; a discharge while moving except when engaging targets; a discharge after the Gun Clear, Hammer Down command is given

Unsafe Gun Handling: handling your gun anywhere except at the Safety Area or under the supervision of a Range Officer; pointing your gun in an unsafe direction; dropping your gun; pointing your gun at your own body during a stage; having your finger inside the trigger guard when clearing a malfunction, loading or reloading, or during movement; holstering a loaded handgun with the hammer cocked and the safety off; handling ammo in the Safety Area

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: gross or repeated unsportsmanlike behavior; failure to obey official range instructions; inappropriate behavior; under the influence of alcohol or non-medicinal drugs.

MATCH ETIQUETTE

Before the match: Show up early enough to help set up the stages if possible. Sign up for the match with the Scorekeeper by paying the entry fee, fill out your scorecards and get your gear on before the Stage Walk-Through begins. If possible, read the stage instructions before the Walk-Through. When the Walk-through begins, pay attention to the stage instructions and ask questions if you don’t understand the directions- each competitor is responsible for understanding stage instructions. Pay attention when squad assignments are announced, move to your assigned stage promptly and prepare yourself to shoot (make sure magazines are loaded, you have ear and eye protection, score cards are filled out, etc.).

During the match: During your first matches you should focus on controlling your firearm and shooting safely and accurately. Be conscious of where your muzzle is pointing at all times and what your hands and trigger finger are doing. Walk through the stages if necessary until you get used to performing all the things you need to do to shoot efficiently. You will naturally get faster as you become more familiar with the sport, and remember that the very best shooters preach that speed comes from being smooth. When not shooting, pitch in and help at each stage by recording stage scores, taping targets when directed to do so by the Range Officer, picking up brass, resetting targets and props. When you are “on deck” you are expected to do your pre-shoot preparation, such as walking through the stage to confirm target location, plan reloads, etc., so make use of your own time and don’t use up someone else’s prep time. Ask questions about procedures if needed, but don’t disturb another competitor when they are “on deck” and preparing to shoot next. After shooting a stage, stick around to sign your scorecard before you return to your gear to reload your magazines. If you have gun problems during the match you can go to the Safety Area to try to correct the problem, but don’t be the type that spends the whole match playing with your equipment. Most new competitors find that their scores improve just by getting their equipment fixed so that it works all the time. After a little shooting experience you can get some training and experience as a Range Officer. Some competitors don’t want to have the responsibility or do the work, but the top shooters realize that not only is it a good way to observe how lots of competitors shoot the stages, but to be a good shooter you need to know the rules and being a Range Officer is a good way to become familiar with the rules.

After the match: After you shoot your last stage, put your gear away and when the Match Director gives the word all competitors are expected to help tear down the stages and put the props away. When the scorekeeper has the complete scores, the Match Director will announce the order of finish, present awards, and hand out certificates and TCGC badge stickers to identify those who successfully completed Safety Certification.