Where do I start out?

[CHEONG_FUN]

Hello,

I'm located in Orange County and would like to start learning more about competition shooting. Are there any ranges with classes semi close? Raahauges is closest to me about 40 minutes. Suggestions?

[Rez805]

Check this map out

https://practiscore.com/search/matches

EDIT:
Some questions to ask yourself
Type of competition you are interested in (Get to know the rules for each type of competition)
Distance you are willing to travel
Goals for competition (some people just want extra trigger time on a non-static range, others want to compete and see where they stand)

Some things to do
Watch videos related to the competition(s) you are interested in
Research what type of gear you'll need for each type of competition
Consider visiting an upcoming match (it's free to watch, but you'll probably end up wishing you shot it!)
Ask the questions (the Match Director can be a good resource, as can other competitors)

You've got quite a few options around you depending on how far you are willing to travel. I'm on the Central Coast and have traveled out to Piru, Bakersfield, and Tulare for Level 1 USPSA matches (basically anywhere from 2-3.5 hours drive). Your situation is, of course, your own. I will say that I've never been disappointed in any of the away matches I've gone to. Especially with Piru's open squadding policy.

Any particular type of competition shooting?

The folks out a Pala often post their stage diagrams in this sub forum. You can also check out youtube vids. Many shooters will title their videos based on the type of competition along with the date and the range/club and perhaps the division/class

e.g., I usually title mine SLOSA USPSA (whatever date). That can give you an idea of what to expect.

You can also do general youtube searches for whatever type of competition.

[CHEONG_FUN]

Check this map out

https://practiscore.com/search/matches

EDIT:
Some questions to ask yourself
Type of competition you are interested in (Get to know the rules for each type of competition)
Distance you are willing to travel
Goals for competition (some people just want extra trigger time on a non-static range, others want to compete and see where they stand)

Some things to do
Watch videos related to the competition(s) you are interested in
Research what type of gear you'll need for each type of competition
Consider visiting an upcoming match (it's free to watch, but you'll probably end up wishing you shot it!)
Ask the questions (the Match Director can be a good resource, as can other competitors)

You've got quite a few options around you depending on how far you are willing to travel. I'm on the Central Coast and have traveled out to Piru, Bakersfield, and Tulare for Level 1 USPSA matches (basically anywhere from 2-3.5 hours drive). Your situation is, of course, your own. I will say that I've never been disappointed in any of the away matches I've gone to. Especially with Piru's open squadding policy.

Any particular type of competition shooting?

The folks out a Pala often post their stage diagrams in this sub forum. You can also check out youtube vids. Many shooters will title their videos based on the type of competition along with the date and the range/club and perhaps the division/class

e.g., I usually title mine SLOSA USPSA (whatever date). That can give you an idea of what to expect.

You can also do general youtube searches for whatever type of competition.

Wow awesome! Thanks so much.

I think I'd like to know where I stand and do some entry level competition. Preferably within 1.5 hours or so.

I played tournament paintball for about 8 years, during college and after. Really miss that competition aspect. But flying and staying in a hotel for 3-4 day weekends are not really going to happen now with family etc.

What got me thinking of competition shooting was because I had a couple friends who I've lost connection with, that went into competition 3 gun I think. So just thought about entertaining the idea.

I will take you up on that offer from checking some YouTube videos I've seen a few but not really searched specific competitions.

I guess what type of competition, and the simple answer is one that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get setup with. I'm not in the position to have a tricked out $3000 handgun. I'd have to sell a beater car for that. Lol.

Thanks again for the reply

[Rez805]

Wow awesome! Thanks so much.

I think I'd like to know where I stand and do some entry level competition. Preferably within 1.5 hours or so.

I played tournament paintball for about 8 years, during college and after. Really miss that competition aspect. But flying and staying in a hotel for 3-4 day weekends are not really going to happen now with family etc.

What got me thinking of competition shooting was because I had a couple friends who I've lost connection with, that went into competition 3 gun I think. So just thought about entertaining the idea.

I will take you up on that offer from checking some YouTube videos I've seen a few but not really searched specific competitions.

I guess what type of competition, and the simple answer is one that doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get setup with. I'm not in the position to have a tricked out $3000 handgun. I'd have to sell a beater car for that. Lol.

Thanks again for the reply

No sweat! The action pistol competitions you'll hear most about are IDPA and USPSA (along with 3 Gun). There's also Steel Challenge. It's kind of like a specialty match that has very little movement.

IDPA is generally speaking the lowest cost to get into. I help out with the local University's club and I usually start students in IDPA for a couple of reasons:
1) Low cost for someone who doesn't already have a decent set of equipment
2) Stage plans are laid out. It just boils down to execution
3) Technically speaking, you can take all of the rules in IDPA and run with them in USPSA. If you were to go the other way (USPSA mindset into IDPA) you would probably rack up a lot of penalties
4) "Time Plus" scoring is easier to explain

USPSA is where I find myself these days. The stage briefing is basically "engage targets as they become available". In other words, you make up your own plan. Check out some of the stage diagrams from LDF (Pala) in this subforum. They post a youtube vid that shows a general layout of the course of fire. You can also search youtube for that exact match (assuming that it has already been shot).

USPSA uses hit factor scoring. It takes into account scoring zones along with the time taken to complete a course of fire.
Hit Factor = Points / Time

You don't necessarily need a $3,000 gun to compete. Each sport has different equipment divisions. Production is the most "basic" so to speak. Very little modification is allowed externally (i.e., no dots, comps, magwells, external trigger mods), but you can still modify the internals. There is something of a "handicap" where you must have 10 rounds in the magazine after the start of the buzzer. A $3,000 production gun? I can't imagine what that would be. But I can definitely see a $3,000 Open and possibly Limited gun happening--that is if you include mags.

Here's a list of approved Production Division handguns for USPSA

https://uspsa.org/productionlist

As you can see, pretty much anything you can pick up in a store.

If you do jump straight to USPSA, keep in mind that regulation stages generally don't exceed 32 rounds. It's still recommended that you have at least 5 magazines if you run in a low-cap division (Production, Single Stack (i.e, 1911's), Limited 10, Revo).

A double belt is pretty much standard in USPSA.

Here's the official blurb (from 2014) from USPSA



You can also find footage from State Championships, Area Championships (That's USPSA-speak for a region. For example, CA is in Area 2. There are 8 Areas) and even National Championships on youtube.

Feel free to keep the thread going if you have any question and good luck!

[CHEONG_FUN]

No sweat! The action pistol competitions you'll hear most about are IDPA and USPSA (along with 3 Gun). There's also Steel Challenge. It's kind of like a specialty match that has very little movement.

IDPA is generally speaking the lowest cost to get into. I help out with the local University's club and I usually start students in IDPA for a couple of reasons:
1) Low cost for someone who doesn't already have a decent set of equipment
2) Stage plans are laid out. It just boils down to execution
3) Technically speaking, you can take all of the rules in IDPA and run with them in USPSA. If you were to go the other way (USPSA mindset into IDPA) you would probably rack up a lot of penalties
4) "Time Plus" scoring is easier to explain

USPSA is where I find myself these days. The stage briefing is basically "engage targets as they become available". In other words, you make up your own plan. Check out some of the stage diagrams from LDF (Pala) in this subforum. They post a youtube vid that shows a general layout of the course of fire. You can also search youtube for that exact match (assuming that it has already been shot).

USPSA uses hit factor scoring. It takes into account scoring zones along with the time taken to complete a course of fire.
Hit Factor = Points / Time

You don't necessarily need a $3,000 gun to compete. Each sport has different equipment divisions. Production is the most "basic" so to speak. Very little modification is allowed externally (i.e., no dots, comps, magwells, external trigger mods), but you can still modify the internals. There is something of a "handicap" where you must have 10 rounds in the magazine after the start of the buzzer. A $3,000 production gun? I can't imagine what that would be. But I can definitely see a $3,000 Open and possibly Limited gun happening--that is if you include mags.

Here's a list of approved Production Division handguns for USPSA

https://uspsa.org/productionlist

As you can see, pretty much anything you can pick up in a store.

If you do jump straight to USPSA, keep in mind that regulation stages generally don't exceed 32 rounds. It's still recommended that you have at least 5 magazines if you run in a low-cap division (Production, Single Stack (i.e, 1911's), Limited 10, Revo).

A double belt is pretty much standard in USPSA.

Here's the official blurb (from 2014) from USPSA



You can also find footage from State Championships, Area Championships (That's USPSA-speak for a region. For example, CA is in Area 2. There are 8 Areas) and even National Championships on youtube.

Feel free to keep the thread going if you have any question and good luck!

Thank you for the great info. I will definitely look into IDPA. your suggestions make sense. And I relate it to my old tournaments I used to play. But I'll check both out and dig through some videos and see what fits. I may send you a PM if I have a specific question for you.

Thank you.

And hopefully this thread will help other beginners out too.

[rmatt]

His advice is very great, I'll add my own that's a little different.

What pistols do you currently own you think you'd want to compete with? If you absolutely have to shoot with a pistol you currently own knowing that information we can help guide you a little better.

If you have a budget to buy "stuff" then that changes things. For example to go into IDPA and SSP division from "I have nothing" to "I'm shooting with acceptable beginner stuff" would be like this:
Glock 34 in 9mm. $550
Wilderness Instructor belt. $40
5.11 Concealment vest. $80
CompTac holster and mag pouches. $65 and $50
2 Glock magazines. $60

That's $845 dollars to walk in the door if you have to buy decent everything right off the bat.

Doing the same for USPSA to start in Production with nothing would be:
Glock 34. $550
Belt, holster, hanger, pouches complete kit from Benstoegerproshop $310
4 Glock magazines $120
For $980 to start with a no excuses, off the bat set up.

So first step, look at what you already own and how much money you have. Honestly.
Then watch matches in person or on line and see what you think. You can probably easily find competitor's videos online of the matches near you, you'd like to attend or participate in.
Third, read the rule book online for which ever one you're most interested in. Most of it will mean nothing to you, but it will later. Better to front load some of that stuff so it's not an out of the blue thing.

Fourth gut check your ability to move and shoot with your muzzle always down range and your finger off the trigger. Gut check your marksmanship abilitly. Gut check your gun manipulation skills. If you assess what you can actually do a little bit before hand in these areas you decrease your chance of getting DQ-ed your first match.

Now you've done wayyyyy more pre-work before most people who show up to their first match. Which normally is a gun they own, a dress belt or mmmmaybe a rigger's belt style. A cheap, sub optimal holster. Cheap mag pouches, poorly placed. Two to three mags. And guess what? They get by. People help them. They have fun. They may kind of just be along for the ride during the match but they're out there.

So what do you want to do? Spend a fair bit of time and maybe money then show up being a little more prepared. Or just take what you got and wing it and figure it out as you go? (Most people do the latter when they start)

[rmatt]

To give a personal example here is my story:
I was out shooting a pistol in the desert with my son. We started seeing who could shoot what. A light bulb went off in my head, "I wonder if you can compete against other people shooting a pistol?"

I went home and googled "san diego pistol shooting competition" and got the website of the local uspsa club. I read the faq on their site and then did a contact us email through the site.

They emailed me back and forth answering my questions. Because of the equipment I had at the time. A 9mm pistol and 3 ten round magazines. No holster or mag pouches or anthing yet, they referred me to the local idpa club.

So I email the local idpa club and they say you need a belt, a holster, a way to carry two mags on your belt, a gun and three mags. So I went to the surplus store and bought the cheapest webbing belt I could find and cloth mag pouches that fit on same.

Then I just went and showed up the very next possible match, kept my mouth shut about "me" other than to say I was a beginner and just did what I was told. A very fun time and I was instantly hooked.

And then aaaffffftttteeer the first match and in the following months that's when like a lot of people things got crazy. hahahaha. Buying a new gun, new gear, taking a class, shooting way more and on and on. hahahah.

[CHEONG_FUN]

To give a personal example here is my story:
I was out shooting a pistol in the desert with my son. We started seeing who could shoot what. A light bulb went off in my head, "I wonder if you can compete against other people shooting a pistol?"

I went home and googled "san diego pistol shooting competition" and got the website of the local uspsa club. I read the faq on their site and then did a contact us email through the site.

They emailed me back and forth answering my questions. Because of the equipment I had at the time. A 9mm pistol and 3 ten round magazines. No holster or mag pouches or anthing yet, they referred me to the local idpa club.

So I email the local idpa club and they say you need a belt, a holster, a way to carry two mags on your belt, a gun and three mags. So I went to the surplus store and bought the cheapest webbing belt I could find and cloth mag pouches that fit on same.

Then I just went and showed up the very next possible match, kept my mouth shut about "me" other than to say I was a beginner and just did what I was told. A very fun time and I was instantly hooked.

And then aaaffffftttteeer the first match and in the following months that's when like a lot of people things got crazy. hahahaha. Buying a new gun, new gear, taking a class, shooting way more and on and on. hahahah.

Thank you for both posts.

As far as personal handguns.

XD 9 service 6 mags
XD 9 sub compact 4 mags
M&P 9 compact 4 mags
Looking at a HK p2000sk currently too.

Have iwb holsters only currently for edc.

I do have a decent EDC belt with a cobra buckle. Nothing crazy but found it on Amazon and has been doing well for past 6 months. Still very Ridgid.

I do have an ability to pick up a Glock19 from a cousin who is possibly looking to get rid of it. Would that be that much better than my xd9? Am I "that" newb with the XD's and not a Glock guy? Haha

Regarding your story, that's awesome. I have 2 girls, still too young to shoot. But maybe in next year or so I'll start teaching my oldest. I'll have to check out both idpa and uspsa. I'd probably lean towards IDPA not sure.

[Rez805]

From what you listed (guns, mags, belt, IWB holster) it looks like your good to go in IDPA--assuming that you have mag pouches that you can use. One of the unique aspects of IDPA is the use of a cover garment. The most popular (as you'll see in Rowdy's list) is a 5.11 tactical concealment garment. That's pretty much the "go-to" for IDPA. Personally, I just used a oversized rain jacket.

Definitely heed Rowdy's advice regarding the "gut check" with respect to moving and shooting in safe manner. Fortunately, you can build these skills in dry-fire practice before you even step foot into your first match.

Fourth gut check your ability to move and shoot with your muzzle always down range and your finger off the trigger. Gut check your marksmanship abilitly. Gut check your gun manipulation skills. If you assess what you can actually do a little bit before hand in these areas you decrease your chance of getting DQ-ed your first match.

Approaching IDPA (and any action shooting sport) from a stance of safety is huge step towards growth and success--you can't succeed if you keep getting DQ'd for safety violations. It pains me to see shooters reloading and even "showing clear" with their finger on the trigger. It takes a hair of a second to get your finger indexed outside during reloads/movement and back on when you get to your target.

Consider this. When I was getting my feet wet in USPSA, I shot a classifier and slipped. I had already beaten into my brain that reloads, movement, clearing jams, and "show clears" were to be performed with the finger outside of the trigger guard. During a fall, I would imagine that anyone's instinct would be to brace/clench pretty much everything. It could have been much, much worse. Fortunately, my hat caught most of the fall lol.

Reduce the speed around 10 seconds to see the indexed finger


With respect to a Glock 19 vs XD. It's really your choice. I wouldn't get too caught up in the "arms race". Just shoot what you like. Most of the shots you take are within 15 yards anyway. I shoot a 4.25 M&P and I don't feel that it keeps me from scoring acceptable hits.

[CHEONG_FUN]

From what you listed (guns, mags, belt, IWB holster) it looks like your good to go in IDPA--assuming that you have mag pouches that you can use. One of the unique aspects of IDPA is the use of a cover garment. The most popular (as you'll see in Rowdy's list) is a 5.11 tactical concealment garment. That's pretty much the "go-to" for IDPA. Personally, I just used a oversized rain jacket.

Definitely heed Rowdy's advice regarding the "gut check" with respect to moving and shooting in safe manner. Fortunately, you can build these skills in dry-fire practice before you even step foot into your first match.



Approaching IDPA (and any action shooting sport) from a stance of safety is huge step towards growth and success--you can't succeed if you keep getting DQ'd for safety violations. It pains me to see shooters reloading and even "showing clear" with their finger on the trigger. It takes a hair of a second to get your finger indexed outside during reloads/movement and back on when you get to your target.

Consider this. When I was getting my feet wet in USPSA, I shot a classifier and slipped. I had already beaten into my brain that reloads, movement, clearing jams, and "show clears" were to be performed with the finger outside of the trigger guard. During a fall, I would imagine that anyone's instinct would be to brace/clench pretty much everything. It could have been much, much worse. Fortunately, my hat caught most of the fall lol.

Reduce the speed around 10 seconds to see the indexed finger


With respect to a Glock 19 vs XD. It's really your choice. I wouldn't get too caught up in the "arms race". Just shoot what you like. Most of the shots you take are within 15 yards anyway. I shoot a 4.25 M&P and I don't feel that it keeps me from scoring acceptable hits.

Yea IDPA seems like the good way to start and get the understanding of the action sport shooting scene. The one thing that I think helps me alot is my experience with tournament paintball. When rmatt mentioned the gut check of manipulating firearm, run gun, etc with finger off trigger. It's alot of what I have some potential experience with playing paintball for years. There's a lot of muscle memory in me when running and gunning and finger placement, at least I hope it's still there somewhere [emoji28]. I think I'll have a small advantage with that experience.

In your video you did a great job. Definitely a scary situation.

Yea I really like my xd's and I get some of the hype of Glocks but quit honestly I don't want to spend any unnecessary money I don't have haha.

I did just come across the Prado Olympic shooting range hosts uspsa club weekly for the Norco Running Gun. I will need to check that out.

[CalAlumnus]

[IVC]

If you're interested, a local instructor in Temecula has a class for beginners who are interested in USPSA. It's about safety, range commands and checking out the gear so you feel comfortable to show up at the first match.

You can look up the group on "MeetUp" at https://www.meetup.com/SoCal-Shooting-Events-Group/

Alternatively, you can go with all the great advice in this thread and just show up at the first match. It comes down to comfort level and how confident you are that you can be safe and handle the gun correctly at the match.

[digelectric]

So first step, look at what you already own and how much money you have. Honestly.

[OCEquestrian]

I think your first step should be to get some good solid tactical training to get your weapons manipulation skills and bio mechanics / body motion down and start to develop some muscle memory.

An ISDA or USPSA match is NOT the place to learn handgun presentations, manipulation and moving with / shooting your handgun.

You need to bring those skills with you the first time you step out onto the range. YouTube videos and advice here in this forum ARE NOT and never will be substitutes for proper blocks of instruction from a qualified instructor.

There is NOTHING worse that someone whose focus is on the the gear and the money showing up at a match only to see they cant shoot their way out of a paper bag or be safe while trying...

For IDPA in Orange County (2x month at Prado Olympic Shooting park in Chino) http://ca-idpa-shooters.com/

[tanks]

I think your first step should be to get some good solid tactical training to get your weapons manipulation skills and bio mechanics / body motion down and start to develop some muscle memory...

In regards to this you are in luck that one of the top instructor cadres that also includes multiple USPSA GMs in the USA is coming to Orange county.

To Pala range in February.

https://www.tacticalperformancecenter.com/products/handgun-mastery-3-days-pala-ca

And Prado range in March

https://www.tacticalperformancecenter.com/collections/classes/products/handgun-mastery-3-days-prado-ca

The 3 days of instruction will get you going in leaps and bounds.