New Shooters
Thank you for your interest in Rocket City Practical Shooters. We welcome new shooters to all of our matches. You are also welcome to come out and watch if you are interested.
We usually shoot two types of matches at Rocket City Practical Shooters, United States Practical Shooting Association and Steel Challenge Shooting Association.
USPSA is a shoot and move competition. It involves shooting various target arrays while moving. Each match is made up of about six stages. It is a balance of speed, accuracy, and skill. The stages always change. We always have a new shooter orientation before the match. This is a great intro for new USPSA shooters:https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2019/1/10/9-things-i-learned-from-my-first-uspsa-match . The rule book also has some great information, I recommend that you look at the rules governing the division you want to shoot at a minimum.
Basically, you need a handgun in 9mm or larger, a holster that covers the trigger, 3-5 magazines, depending on capacity, appropriate mag pouches and about 200 rounds of ammunition. Our longest stages may go up to 40 rounds. All pouches and the holster are on your belt during the string.
Steel challenge has eight standard stages. The focus of this match is speed. On each stage, you shoot five strings and the total time for your best four strings is your score. I recommend new shooters start here. The same equipment as USPSA is used with the addition of rimfire rifles and pistols with iron or optical sights. If you have a .22 rifle or pistol with enough magazines for five, five round strings you have all of the equipment you need. Centerfire pistols start from the holster and rimfire pistols and rifles and centerfire carbines start aiming at a cone. This website has a great introduction for Steel Challenge: https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/10/5/our-guide-to-starting-in-steel-challenge
Youtube has a great selection of videos. Here are a few links that have more information:
https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/230792-beginners-guide-to-shooting-sports/
We have new shooters come out to every match. We have a new shooter orientation and you'll probably get more help than you want. We run a cold range. No gun handling in the parking lot or anywhere else, except the safe areas in the shooting bays. You can load and handle ammo anywhere but the safe area.
I hope to see you at the range soon,
Dave Hylton
