Classification System The USPSA classification system is a great way for competitors to see how their skills and performance compare with other members shooting in the same division. The system tracks your ranking using your USPSA membership number and your Classifier stage performances. Classifiers When you compete at sanctioned USPSA matches, you will shoot stages called classifiers. Classifiers are specific courses of fire that are designed to measure a competitor’s abilities within a division. They are a consistent way to evaluate accuracy, speed, and gun manipulations across different ev ..read more

Your dominant eye is the eye your brain prefers for processing sight information. You need to know which eye your brain prefers so you can position the gun’s sights for your dominant eye. Site alignment usually happens unconsciously without much thought, as your brain already knows which eye it trusts. Why do we need to know which eye the brain trusts? Because it will help you and your brain be more accurate and consistent at speed. Most people have a dominant eye that is the same as their dominant hand. Two-thirds of the population are right-eye dominant, and one-third are left-eye dominan ..read more

Download the Red Dot - Sighting Targets and Guide Red dot sights are becoming more and more popular in shooting sports competitions. Sight pictures are simplified, and it allows you to stay “target focused” as you move across each target for faster target acquisition. Any sighting system's accuracy must support the intersection of the sights and the barrel to the target. One big difference between a red dot and an iron sight system is the height distance from the sight (or dot) to the barrel’s bore axis. Most iron sights sit low to the bore axis, making them more consistent across near-to-far ..read more

Below are some of the best resources on practical shooting sports, that can help you improve all aspects of your competitive performance. USPSA Competition Rules: September 2021 By USPSA Buy on Amazon SCSA Competition Rules: March 2021 v2 By USPSA, USPSA Buy on Amazon USPSA Rifle, Shotgun, and Multigun Rules: September 2021 By USPSA Buy on Amazon Skills and Drills Reloaded By Stoeger, Ben Buy on Amazon Practical Shooting Training By Stoeger, Benjamin, Park, Joel, Stoeger, Ben Buy on Amazon Get to Work: The Practice of More Points Per Second By Steve Anderson Buy on Amazon Match Mentalit ..read more

Power factor is designed to help keep the playing field equal in USPSA divisions around ammunition performance and firearm recoil. The Power factor calculation is an effective way to measure ammunition's relative performance from a competitor's firearm and group them into Major and Minor categories. Recoil Effects  When your pistol generates lower recoil or muzzle flip, your ability to take accurate follow-up shots and shoot faster on targets is increased. When you have heavier recoil, your ability to shoot quickly with follow-up shots is reduced, as the gun can be more challenging ..read more

Hit factor is the measure of a competitor's performance and how well they can manage the balance of speed and accuracy. Hit factor is exclusively used in USPSA competition and, the number represents how many points you score per second on a given stage. The higher the number, the better your stage score. How do you calculate Hit Factor? You can calculate your hit factor (HF) by adding your scored hits to get a total number of scored points (SP). You then subtract any penalties (P), and this number gives you your total points (TP) for a stage. You divide your total points (TP) by your stage ti ..read more

    TRIGGER ACTION TYPES Trigger actions refer to how a firearm operates with each trigger press. There are two common types of trigger actions: single-action and double-action. Some firearms incorporate both. The trigger mechanism or action releases the striker or hammer, so it causes the primer on a cartridge to be struck and fire a shot. Depending on the action type, other operations (to prepare the firearm to fire) may be tied to each trigger press. A striker-fired gun uses a striker rod or firing pin driven by a spring that hits the bullet primer. Striker-fired handguns are ver ..read more

Steel Challenge competition is a great way to get started in shooting sports. It's an excellent place for beginners because the rules and targets are simple, and movement is not a significant factor. Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) is often just referred to as Steel Challenge. It's a speed shooting competition that has simple rules and stages, which makes it an easy event for first-time shooters. When you come to a Steel Challenge match, it's not just about the guns. You'll see people of all ages having fun with others as they compete in this friendly competition that has somethin ..read more

If you are serious about pistol shooting sports, you will need spare magazines. Having enough loaded magazines before you start a stage ensures you can reload and complete the course of fire efficiently. Steel Challenge (SCSA) competitions do not require you to carry your spare magazines on your person, but USPSA does. Extra magazines should be located on the opposite side of your pistol and holster, as this allows you to reload quickly using your support hand. For Steel Challenge competitions, you will need a minimum of twenty-five rounds for a five-string stage—and this is if you shoot it p ..read more

Shot timers are essential to measuring performance at speed. A timer is an essential tool for competitive practice during dry-fire or live-fire sessions. The shot timer will provide details around the speed of your draw, transition times between targets, and the timing of follow-up shots. When you log your times, you can evaluate your performance and determine where to fine-tune. Key Measures and Methods Time to first shot - The duration measured from a start signal to the first shot on target. Useful for gauging draw speed performance. Split times or splits - The duration between shots o ..read more