Shoots are the BEST way to acclimatize yourself to shooting under stress, albeit manufactured stress, but stress all the same.
The initial "stage fright" is the worst part.
Just remember, your only opponent is YOU, and you'll do well..
Of course I did my first stab at shootout at the local range. I learned that I can kinda hustle for a chunky middle age white guy. My choice of using my CZ P10C wasn’t the best but it did work. Now that I got it in my blood, I want to do it again. Now I have something to work on
Hi,
I've never done any runnin' and gunnin' or scootin' and shootin' in a competition format. I have trained a lot like that, some of it was timed. Good on you for getting out there and strutting your stuff in front of people. There is a range not too far from me that does steel challenge a couple times a month. I really need to try my hand at some low pressure competition. I'm sure it would be fun for this old geezer too.![]()
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
If available in your area, shoot a steel plate challenge, you against the clock. Tons of fun. You will find that the best shooters are also the most accessible to ask for pointers, pun intended. LolHi,
I've never done any runnin' and gunnin' or scootin' and shootin' in a competition format. I have trained a lot like that, some of it was timed. Good on you for getting out there and strutting your stuff in front of people. There is a range not too far from me that does steel challenge a couple times a month. I really need to try my hand at some low pressure competition. I'm sure it would be fun for this old geezer too.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Go and watch one or two of them, if you haven't already, it might not make you comfortable enough to jump in right away, but it'll help you get the jist of it.
If available in your area, shoot a steel plate challenge, you against the clock. Tons of fun. You will find that the best shooters are also the most accessible to ask for pointers, pun intended. Lol
And, I just remembered one other thing.
The shooters at most, if not ALL shoots, have backup gear (a lot don't, but they'll lend what they have, none the less) and if you show up with NOTHING, and decide you want to give a stage a try they'll lend you what they're using so you can shoot one, or all of the stages.
Funny thing with me is, I am obsessed with rules. My stress does not originate with performance but rather focuses on strict adherence to the rules. It is a curse, I shoot very well but get caught up in the "do and don'ts" to the point of poor performance at times.
Variety is the spice of life, three gun, CQB (rifle and pistol), IPSC, and USPSA, are all enjoyable, and every one you can shoot with a PCC, rifle, or pistol entirely, except in a three gun.
It's just up to the shooter.
I think 2026 may be the year I try my hand at some sort of competition. It's something I've been thinking about doing since my wife and I took up shooting in 2019. I'm not getting any younger so it's time.
I remember taking a "tactical" training at our local indoor range a few years ago. We were beyond the barricade and did a variety of things, including shooting on the move. At the end of the shoot/move drill, the trainer looked at me and said, "How many rounds do you have in that?" (I was shooting my EDC at the time, an XD Mod.2 subcompact)
I said, "15+1 with this extended mag."
He replied, "You should've done a mag change."
I answered, "Then you should've said something. I just kept moving and shooting and made it to the stop point without running out of ammo, so..."
Shooting is fun!![]()
Believe me, once you run your first stage, you're going to ask yourself why you didn't try it sooner.
My favorite part is the age range of the shooters you meet at a match. In my area they range from as young as 9, to over 80........
I think 2026 may be the year I try my hand at some sort of competition. It's something I've been thinking about doing since my wife and I took up shooting in 2019. I'm not getting any younger so it's time.
I remember taking a "tactical" training at our local indoor range a few years ago. We were beyond the barricade and did a variety of things, including shooting on the move. At the end of the shoot/move drill, the trainer looked at me and said, "How many rounds do you have in that?" (I was shooting my EDC at the time, an XD Mod.2 subcompact)
I said, "15+1 with this extended mag."
He replied, "You should've done a mag change."
I answered, "Then you should've said something. I just kept moving and shooting and made it to the stop point without running out of ammo, so..."
Shooting is fun!![]()