Pistol competitions, where to start?

[Plinker30303]

I'm interested in trying my hand at pistol competitions, but really don't have any background or experience with them so I'm looking for some tips on where to start.

I have a G43x for EDC as well as a G44 for practice. I practice with both, but more with the G44 and the lower cost ammo. I'm in the Atlanta metro near downtown.

Looking online it seems like most of the indoor ranges have various competitions, but I'm thinking I might like an outdoor venue better and more of a club atmosphere.

I found some listed with the Georgia Sport Shooting Association. I signed up for that, but haven't received any information back as of yet. https://georgiasportshootingassociation.com/

Of the three ranges listed on the GSSA site River Bend is closest at about 1 hour away - https://www.rbgc.org/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=265856 I see events and competitions listed there, but I'm still not seeing any detailed information about how they work, what you need etc.

I also checked out the GA DNR map of ranges here: https://georgiawildlife.com/locations/ranges

Of those the range at Clybel is closest at about 1hr away, but I don't see any competitions there or on the DNR site - https://georgiawildlife.com/clybel-wma

I guess what I'm looking for is where I might find the rules, regulations, tips and information about various competitions as well as any suggestions on where to go to watch or sign up for some matches.

Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BHPSteel]

I'm interested in trying my hand at pistol competitions, but really don't have any background or experience with them so I'm looking for some tips on where to start.

I have a G43x for EDC as well as a G44 for practice. I practice with both, but more with the G44 and the lower cost ammo. I'm in the Atlanta metro near downtown.

Looking online it seems like most of the indoor ranges have various competitions, but I'm thinking I might like an outdoor venue better and more of a club atmosphere.

I found some listed with the Georgia Sport Shooting Association. I signed up for that, but haven't received any information back as of yet. https://georgiasportshootingassociation.com/

Of the three ranges listed on the GSSA site River Bend is closest at about 1 hour away - https://www.rbgc.org/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=265856 I see events and competitions listed there, but I'm still not seeing any detailed information about how they work, what you need etc.

I also checked out the GA DNR map of ranges here: https://georgiawildlife.com/locations/ranges

Of those the range at Clybel is closest at about 1hr away, but I don't see any competitions there or on the DNR site - https://georgiawildlife.com/clybel-wma

I guess what I'm looking for is where I might find the rules, regulations, tips and information about various competitions as well as any suggestions on where to go to watch or sign up for some matches.

Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

If you're really new to competitions, (and you're a Glock owner), you might want to visit Glock Sport Shooting Foundation who run competitions all around the US. I don't think they have anything planned nearby in the near future, but they're a great option for new-to-the-sport pistol shooters, and I don't think you HAVE to own a Glock.

While River Bend holds USPSA,IDPA and ICORE competitions, it would probably be worth registering with PractiScore (https://www.practiscore.com/) because that's where many of the competitions are announced with venues and you'll be able to communicate with the people running them. It's free, and you'll be able to profile what you're interested in, along with an idea of just how they're run for new competitors.

 

[Plinker30303]

are announced with venues and you'll be able to communicate with the people running them. It's free, and you'll be able to profile what you're interested in, along with an idea of just how they're run for new competitors.

Great info thank you. I singed up on PractiCore and I'm looking through the materials on USPSA and IDPA.

I also found the rule-sets on the NRA site as well https://competitions.nra.org/competition-resources/

 

[robchavous]

River Bend also runs a monthly outlaw Action Pistol match which is pretty good for newer shooters. Steel Challenge is also a great venue to get started in. It has very little movement and has rimfire divisions which don't require drawing from a holster.

The other 2 big outdoor ranges in the area would be Cherokee Gun Club in Gainesville and South River in Covington. All the outdoor ranges host matches for all the major disciplines.

 

[greg vess]

River Bend also runs a monthly outlaw Action Pistol match which is pretty good for newer shooters. Steel Challenge is also a great venue to get started in. It has very little movement and has rimfire divisions which don't require drawing from a holster.

The other 2 big outdoor ranges in the area would be Cherokee Gun Club in Gainesville and South River in Covington. All the outdoor ranges host matches for all the major disciplines.

I was a member of Riverbend for three or four years I can't remember how long before I left and came up here. They are very good people. It's an excellent facility and I know they have those pistol competitions there a lot. They also host cowboy action shooting and have those targets set up in a little mock western town that's on premises that's actually super cool. They also have the timed matches and whatnot.

 

[greg vess]

Anybody that's within 40 minutes of Riverbend Gun Club should be a become a member immediately if not sooner. It's actually an outstanding gun facility and shooting facility as a whole. Pistol ranges with knockdown targets, skeet and trap shooting, clay pigeon throwers in the woods so you can mock actual hunting scenarios, archery range and pretty much anything else you can think of.

You can go there for a day take five to six guns and shoot your fill. Going through the week is what I did which was the best scenario all together. I basically had the place to myself. Maybe a couple of Hardcore Rimfire shooters in there during the week but other than that it was dead. Deer walking across the ranges, seeing turkey there before, I missed seeing a bear by about 5 minutes on 200 yd range real early just after sun up one morning. I would go there and sit and shoot and forget the world outside existed. It was absolutely the best form of meditation I've ever known. I would go in the morning real early set up be the only one there half the time through the week and just shoot and nothing else on my mind. I would shoot rifles for probably 2 or 3 hours and then go hit the knock down pistol targets. It was Valhalla for shooters. Indeed!

 

[gyppo]

If you are downtown you are in luck. Stoddards on the north side has a uspsa match every other tursday. A great bunch of guys. all you need to know to make it easier are the safety protocols. Plenty of videos on safety and range commands. Go humble and realize safety is your only goal in the first few matches. Some of the best people in the state shoot at that match.
Look at the stoddards calendar and you can find times. There are probably matches other than the uspsa match. The calendar will list them. In the beginning you can shoot any action pistol match you like, they will all be similar enough to get you accustomed to the game.

 

[Braxton1]

We host a USPSA match at Autrey's Armory in Fayetteville every Tuesday evening at 7 (be there and registered by 6:45). It's a great group of laid-back folks who've mentored a ton of new shooters over its 30 year history.

 

[insulinboy]

I'm going to second that steel challenge is a good place to start. Plus the ringing steel just puts a smile on your face and you know you hit your target.

For steel challenge you need a good holster, ear protection, eye protection, a firearm, 5 mags for said firearm, and I generally brought 200-500 rounds of ammo (normally 5 targets per stage, 5 rounds per stage so 25 rounds a stage with no misses and 5 stages per match but some matches will do as many as 8 or 10 stages).
I also suggest bringing a peanut butter sammich and liquids to stay hydrated. There are centerfire and rimfire classes and optic (open) and iron sight classes for each as well

Another fun match is bowling pin shoots. They used to do them at georgia firing line which shouldn't be too far from you either. You have 6 rounds to clear 5 targets and get to run 3 times per class you enter

 

[RiverBend]

Anybody that's within 40 minutes of Riverbend Gun Club should be a become a member immediately if not sooner. It's actually an outstanding gun facility and shooting facility as a whole. Pistol ranges with knockdown targets, skeet and trap shooting, clay pigeon throwers in the woods so you can mock actual hunting scenarios, archery range and pretty much anything else you can think of.

You can go there for a day take five to six guns and shoot your fill. Going through the week is what I did which was the best scenario all together. I basically had the place to myself. Maybe a couple of Hardcore Rimfire shooters in there during the week but other than that it was dead. Deer walking across the ranges, seeing turkey there before, I missed seeing a bear by about 5 minutes on 200 yd range real early just after sun up one morning. I would go there and sit and shoot and forget the world outside existed. It was absolutely the best form of meditation I've ever known. I would go in the morning real early set up be the only one there half the time through the week and just shoot and nothing else on my mind. I would shoot rifles for probably 2 or 3 hours and then go hit the knock down pistol targets. It was Valhalla for shooters. Indeed!

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the best range in the south