Topic: USPSA Basic Information (Sticky)

[ekuo]

Interesting how things work.  I made an offer to Jeff to sticky a description of USPSA competitive shooting in order to try and attract new people to the sport, and he fired back by making me a moderator for the USPSA sub-forum.  OK, OK, time to step up and deliver I guess.

Here goes: 
USPSA stands for United States Practical Shooting Association, which is the U.S. affiliate of the more commonly known International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) -pronounced IP-Sick.  IPSC truly is worldwide, and when you consider the challenges of owning and shooting firearms in some countries, that's saying something.  The IPSC World Shoot next year will Greece.  In the U.S., you'll mainly see matches run under the USPSA banner, rulebook, and national classification system. 

So what is USPSA? 
Without trying to duplicate the text on USPSA's website, let's just say USPSA is a action-shooting sport which will test your basic marksmanship, gun handling skills, equipment, and even your problem solving skills.  USPSA's motto is Accuracy, Power, and Speed, and all three factors come into play in this sport.  Sure, we're all accurate from a static position with all the time in the world to line up the sights and depress the trigger, but can you hit a 6x11" A-zone repeatedly while moving?  And do it quickly?  Would you like to learn to do so? 

So if you like the idea of shooting in a dynamic environment where you're moving, shooting around barricades, shooting in awkward positions, shooting while moving, and going thru 6 to 32 rounds per stage shooting at paper, steel and reactive targets... keep reading. 

One of the biggest misconception that I want to try and debunk is: People are afraid to try USPSA since they don't think they are good enough.  OK, this may not be for you if you struggle with basic range safety... but all three clubs in the Treasure Valley are really good about bringing people along and showing them the ropes.  There really isn't a minimum skill level required, and competitive shooting sports like USPSA and IDPA are really good for letting us know what skills we need to improve upon.  Let me put it another way (we're all adults here, right?):  The first time you had sex, did you know what you were doing?  None of us could honestly claim GM status our first time out, but we still wanted to do it, right?  So we did it again, and again, and... never mind.  You get the point.  Hopefully I didn't offend anybody with my last analogy.     

Misconception #2:  This isn't tactical pistol training, or how to prepare for the remake of Red Dawn.  Lets just clear the air on that one.  Could you use your skills learned from USPSA to zap zombies?  Maybe, I guess, but can't really say since it's been a long time since I had anything to do with a zombie, and the subject never really came up...  But USPSA is good clean fun, albeit with a loaded handgun.   

Misconceptions #3:  People think that USPSA/IPSC is a sport where you must have a $4K customized pistol with compensator and electronic dot sight to compete in, and USPSA/IPSC is really an equipment race.  -That's just not true (or at least its not true depending on which DIVISION you choose to compete in). 

Divisions:
USPSA currently has six divisions:  Open, Limited, Limited-10, Production, Single Stack, and Revolver.  Chances are, you probably already own a gun that fits into one of the above Divisions.  But you may need to invest in a few more magazines...

Classification:
There is a saying in USPSA that you're only competing against yourself and others in your Division/Classification, and you track your improvement as you rise in Classification.   Sure, OK.  I won't try and debunk this fact, but if you're a competitive type, you'll be comparing your scores against your buddies at every match you shoot -mainly just for the bragging rights, and hey, we all want to do well...right?  Glock-26 shooters love beating somebody shooting an 27 rnd electronic sighted Open gun -probably because it doesn't happen very often (if ever) and when you do you should call a friend and brag about it... 

USPSA classification is based on the average of how well you shoot the standard USPSA Classifier stages, and those scores are graded on a curve based on the national database of every USPSA member in the U.S.  IIRC, there are approx 18,000 USPSA members.  The classification ranking starts at U (unclassified), then progresses upwards to D, C, B, A, M (Master), and GM (Grand-Master), with GM being at the top.  At every match, one stage is always reserved for one of the USPSA Classifier stages selected from a library of nationally approved classifiers.  Once you become a USPSA member, your score for the classifier stage is submitted to USPSA HQ in Sedro Wooley and entered into the national database of USPSA shooters.  Your classification (D, C, B, A, M or GM) will be calculated off the average of the top six classifiers you have on record, and compared to all the other shooters in that division. 

For more information, and a much better description of what I am trying to describe, check out this link to the USPSA Home page: 
http://www.uspsa.org/  -of note, click on the "Learn More About USPSA" video for an excellent description of the sport.   

Equipment: 
I'll write more on equipment (pistol, holster, belts, mag pouches... etc) later, but the equipment requirements to get started are actually pretty basic.  As with IDPA, all you need to compete in USPSA is a pistol chambered in 9mm or larger, a strong-side holster, 4-6 magazines, a way to carry the mags, and hearing and eye protection.  Round count for a typical match in the valley is 120-150 rnds per match.  USPSA does allow stages to have upwards of 32 rounds, which is usually why we recommend people bring 4-6 magazines (six if you're shooting a 1911).  Because of the need for safety in a shooting sport: crossdraw, SOB, ankle, fanny pack, belly-band, or shoulder holsters are not allowed. 

The type of pistol you bring usually determines which Division you compete in, but the majority of the guns out there will probably fit into Production, Limited, Limited-10, or Single Stack Division (revolvers will be in Revolver Division...) When you show up for your first match, just tell them what pistol you brought, and somebody will hep you figure out which division you'll be in.

But just as a teaser:
Just about all the Glocks, XD's, XDM's, Sigg's, Beretta's ...etc (all of your striker-fired and SA/DA or DAO pistols will be competitive in Production Division or Limited-10.  You could also compete in Limited, but you may need some equipment upgrades and extended magazines to be more competitive. 

Just about all 1911's fall into Single Stack Division, with exception of a few guns that have a full length rail or comp, or sight-tracker, or 6" barrel... 

Ammunition: 
As mentioned earlier, the minimum caliber for USPSA is 9mm.  There really isn't a restriction on the upper end of the caliber scale, but typically .45 acp is the biggest caliber people show up with.  A .44 mag is not very competitive, but I do know one guy who shoots 10mm, and does quite well at it.  By default, he also gets all the 10mm brass afterwards...  9mm, .40SW, and .45 acp are by far the most common calibers. 

In USPSA there is Major and Minor scoring, and the breakpoints are the same as they are in IDPA, with 125 as the min PF for Minor, and 165 as the min for Major.  PF is calculated by multiplying the bullet weight by velocity (fps) and dividing by 1,000.  Typical WWB .45 acp ammo is somewhere in the 180-190 PF range, plus it costs more, which is why 90% of the USPSA shooters reload their own ammo to save cost and get the ammo closer to 170-ish PF. 

Because there is more recoil for a Major PF gun compared to minor, Major scores higher for hits in the B/C and D zones of the target, but more on that later. 

More Overview of USPSA:
USPSA is organized into Areas.  For Idaho, we belong to Area 1 (WA, OR, MT, ID, UT, CO, NV, and AK).  Each Area is further subdivided into Sections, and we're in the Idaho Section.  Tim Egan (goes by eedetail on BS) is the Idaho Section Coordinator, and has a role in looking out for our interests for all the Idaho USPSA shootes, and keeps our Area Coordinator informed.  He was also the MD for the last two Area 1 Championships (2009 and 2010).

There are four clubs in Idaho that are part of the Idaho Section, and we post our match information, scores, forum news, etc... on this website:  http://www.idahouspsa.com/index.php  I think there is also a club in Lewiston that hosts USPSA matches, but I honestly don't know a lot about them. 

I should mention that you DO NOT need to be a USPSA member to shoot local club level matches, but you must be a USPSA member to shoot Area Championships.  Annual membership is $40, and you also get a subscription to the bimonthly Front Sight magazine that USPSA publishes. 

This ought to start things off.  I don't know how to do it, but I'll try to make this Basic Information post a Sticky, and then start a Q&A Topic for a place for people to post questions.  Hopefully Pops, TG, TimE, and some of the other veteran USPSA shooters on BS will also chime in and share their wealth of knowledge.

Cheers, and good shooting. 
-Evans

 

[popsgunner]

Great start E, let's run with it, +1 on the money aspect, I have won matches with a modified uncles Mikes 25.00 kydex holster, modified as in open the forward portion so the gun come out a bit faster and a Glock 17. fairly stock on the Glock and as far as the mods that WERE made they are cheap and easy. Don't think I have more than 500-600 total into the whole set up, belt mag puches included. Spend your money on quality ammo and PRACTICE ! Good example, TGibson, a couple years ago he was a very good shooter but could be taken, now ....yeah whatever good luck he's a freakin Jedi gunknight. PRACTICE
Good gear is nice, it builds confidence and it's great at the BBQ's but as they say in the bike world, " Chrome don't get you home !" Send the rounds down range, plus the gun HAS TO work and put the rounds where you want them. Since IPSC is not an extreme accuracy game like say bullseye or PPC and gun that produces CONSISTENT 3-4 inch groups at 25 yards is great. Keep on it, I'm sure others will jump in.....hint,hint....

[ekuo]

OK, thanks Pops for your insights on run what ya brung.  And it really is just that.  I first showed up with a Kimber TLE, a holster, and a double mag pouch.  Another 1911 shooter loaned me some extra mags so I could finish the long field course.  

So lets talk about gear.  

The gear you'll need is going to depend on the Division you choose to shoot in, as some divisions place restrictions on holster type, placement of holster and mags, type of gun, capacity of mags, and which after market mods are allowed.  

Belt:
Wthout going too much into specific brands, other than the pistol, I would make sure you have a good belt.  A solid belt that doesn't twist on you will be the foundation of your competition rig.  Here's the nice thing:  the same belt can be used in all six divisions, the only difference will be where you can hang your gear.  

The belts that have an inner belt that threads thru the belt loops of your pants then have an outer belt that velcros to the inner are pretty popular, primarily for the simple fact that they work well.  

Holster:
As mentioned above, the holster must be a strong side holster that points the muzzle within 3' of vyour feet.  No cross draw, ankle, shoulder, thigh rigs, or fanny packs allowed.    

Kydex is probably the most popular style of holsters in Production, Single Stack, and even some Limited guys are rocking kydex, but people still compete with leather holsters, even some IWB's.  It's not until you get into Open or Limited do you start to see some skeletonized race-holsters that are scary fast on the draw.

In Open, Limited, and Limited-10, you can wear your holster and mag pouches just about anywhere that allows you to reach it quickly, but holster must be on the strong side and must hold the gun so that the heel of the butt is not below the top of the belt.   So this is where a lot of these competitors will have the holster on the strong side a little further forward than the hip bone, and their mag pouches will be arrayed across their front at angles to where they can grab them quickly with the support hand.  

For Production and Single Stack, the holster and magpouches must be worn behind the hip bones (which is actually further forward than the centerline of your body than you might think).  Dropped off-set holsters are legal for Production shooters, but only female shooters in SSTK division can use the DOH.    

Mag Pouches:
Plastic and kydex pouches are probably more popular than leather these days, and the key is to carry enough!  As with holsters, there are limitations within some of the divisions on mag pouch placement.  

For Open, Limited, and L10, pretty much anything goes.  Three pouches is a good number to have for Open and Limited if you're using hi-cap mags, and four is probably a minimum for L-10.  

For Production and Single Stack, mag must be carried behind the hip bone on the support hand side.  For Production shooters, four mag pouches is a good number, but SSTK shooters will probably want five or six on belt, cause this division is also known as the "Limited-8".  For revo shooters... All I know is carry A LOT!    

If you lack enough mag pouches, pockets work, provided that in the two divisions that specify behind the hip bone, you don't reload out of your front pocket (which is in front of the hipbone...).  Thigh pocket of cargo pants, or hip pocket is a common place to stash extra mags, especially when the stage is littered with steel targets.  

Eye and Ear Protection:
Buy quality gear here, and don't skimp because we only have two of each.  Need we say more?

Actually, I prefer electronic muffs since then I can also hear what people are saying, especially when I'm on the line and the RO is giving me commands...  But foam ear plugs will also work in a pinch, and I usually have a spare set in my bag.

Good shooting!  

[ekuo]

So now that we've broken the ice with some of the basic info about USPSA, the next big question is where and when.  

The match schedules are generically posted on the IdahoUSPSA website, and the general rule of thumb is:

1st Saturday: Nampa outdoor range.  ISPS hosts a "fun" match which is based on USPSA rules, but is a more relaxed match that has a lot of steel targets (ease of resetting the stage), and a good way to get your feet wet in action-pistol competition.  

2nd Saturday:  Idaho Falls.  SEIPS hosts their monthly USPSA match on this day.

3rd Saturday:  Parma.  

3rd Sunday: Nampa (outdoor range)

4th Saturday:  Emmett.  

In the winter, set up usually starts at 0830, registration 0930, and the walk thru at 1000 hrs.  

In the summer months, figure an hour earlier for everything.  

The matches are usually comprised of 5 or 6 stages, one of which will be the classifier.  Typical round count is 120-150 rounds, and usually we're done shooting in 4 hrs or less.  Match fees are usually $10 per shooter, but Emmett only charges $7/person.  At most clubs, new shooters shoot for free their first time.  

Weather permitting, most of the clubs shoot year-round.  But I think Parma shuts down their USPSA matches from Dec thru Feb.    
 

[tgibson]

@ ekuo....holy crap!!  I dont think there is that much info in the USPSA handbook!!  Well done!!!
@ pops...thanks for the kind words, and you are 100% right.  PRACTICE!!  Another good way to get a lot of practice in cheap is by dryfire.  I have done a LOT of it and if you have a little imagination, you can work a lot of different skills with it.  Transitions, draws, reloads, movement...really, the only thing you can't work in dryfire is recoil control.  Good stuff gents!!  Keep it up!!
Adios,
TG

[ekuo]

What to expect at a USPSA Match

First off, all USPSA Matches are mandated to be run "cold".  All competitor guns are to be empty (chamber clear, no magazine inserted, and hammer down) at all times during the match unless you are the shooter on the line and have been given the "make ready" command by the Range Officer (RO) for the stage.

Uncasing and Handling Firearms While at the Match
For safety reasons, it is recommended that competitors show up to a match with their unloaded pistol contained in their range bag.  All matches are required to have at least one "Safety Area" where you can uncase your handgun and insert it in the holster.  Safety Areas are also the only place where you can dry-fire, inspect your handgun, do repairs etc...  One note about Safety Areas:  No ammunition may be handled at the Safety Area (this includes live rounds, dummy rounds, snap-caps etc...).  People have been DQ'ed for handling ammo at Safety Areas...

Far be it from a shooting sport to interfere with your 2A right, so if you show up to the range while carrying your CCW, be sure to check in with the MD and they will help facilitate getting you "cleared" in an appropriate place.  

Handling Magazines and Ammunition While at the Match
It is OK to load magazines anywhere and anytime during the match, with exception of the Safety Area.

Registration
Just about all the local (Level 1) matches will register on the day of the match.  Level II and III matches typically pre-register in advance of the match (online or via mail).  When registering, it is important to make sure you are placed in the correct division, in the proper Power Factor for scoring purposes, and if you're a USPSA member to make sure the MD/Stats person has your correct USPSA Membership Number for when the classifier scores are submitted to USPSA HQ.  

If you have any questions about which division you should be in, if your gear is legal for that division, special categories..., this is a good time to ask.

Walk-Thru
Typically before a local Level 1 match commences, a walk-thru will be conducted where the MD or RO for that stage will read the Written Stage Briefing (WSB) and go over any particulars of the stage.  This is intended to give everyone a brief overview of the stages that will be shot, and get all the RO's on the same page so the stage will be shot consistently from squad to squad.  

For Level II and higher matches, typically only the RO's will do the walk-thru in the interest of time, since trying to herd 100+ shooters thru all the stages would take too long.  But fear not, each squad will get a briefing on the stage, and at least 5 mins to do their up close and personal "walk-thrus" prior to shooting the stage.  
 
Competitor Responsibilities During the Match
Guys, this is a volunteer sport, and what makes it successful is the hard work and dedication of everyone from first-time competitor to Match Director.  What makes things go smoothly is for everyone to be pitching in.  Each squad will need at least one RO to run the shooter and timer, a score keeper, and people to help reset steel / tape targets / and pick up brass and empty mags.  My favorite squads are where everyone is doing something all the time to help, and no one person is carrying the burden.  About the only time a competitor is exempt from helping out is when they are the on-deck shooter (so they can concentrate on what they will be doing when they are the shooter) or right after they just shot so they can load mags and get squared away for the next stage.  
 
Ever see a 81 yr old competitor scrambling in the dirt picking up your brass in 90+ degree heat?  You will at one of our matches!  

Have a Goal
From the mental aspect of the game, I think it is important to have goals when you come to a match.  The goals for my very first match were:  Have fun, don't get yelled at, and don't do anything stupid.  For my second match, it was:  All of the above, but I added:  try not to come in last.  From there, I tried to improve each time I showed up and have been slowly working on my game ever since.  

Cheers, and thanks for reading.    

[ekuo]

Guns!  

As the saying goes:  This thread is worthless without pics!  

To illustrate the point that this sport can be played with minimal investment in gear (and there's a good chance you already own some of it), here's an example of a Production Division ready set-up using a Glock-35.  (Timer not needed, its just a gratuitous photo prop)



The pic shows my G-35 with a few minimal mods, a Wilderness Instructor belt, and Uncle Mike's holster and two double mag pouches.  



If we were to total everything up, I think there's only a few hundred dollars there (minus the gun).  

WI Belt ~ $50
UM Holster ~ $25
UM Mag Pouches ~ $20/each ($40 total)
Glock OEM magazines ~ $20 each ($80 total, but you probably already owned a couple, right?)

Mods to the gun:

Grip tape ~ $12 for the decal kit
Warren-Sevigney Sights (black rear, FO front) ~ $85  (add another $20 for Pops to do the install)
25 cent trigger job  ~ $.25
3.5 lb connector from Glockworx  ~ $20
6 lb reset spring  ~ $6
OEM non-extended slide stop ~ $20  (The G-34/35 series come with an extended slide stop.  I shot it for a while like that, but occasionally would bump it with my support thumb and go to slide lock when I didn't want to. So I ditched it for the stock slide stop found on all other small frame Glocks.)

Total:  $338 +/-

From Appendix D4 (Production Division) of the USPSA Rulebook:
Gun with empty mag inserted must fit in the "box", which the G34/35 will.  
Can only load a maximum of 10 rounds per magazine (or 10+1 in the gun at the start).  
Can have internal work done to improve accuracy and reliability
Can replace sites with after market ones (but must be notch and post only)
Can replace barrel with aftermarket, provided same length, contour, and caliber as factory original
Can add checkering, stippling, grip tape, or grip sleeve
Can change minor components such as springs, safeties, slide stops, guide rods...)
Cannot add a magwell or external flaring of the magwell
Cannot disable any external safety
No external modifications that help control recoil

Pretty simple, yet competitive.  

As far as doing mods to the gun itself, the above is what I opted to do to mine without dumping a lot of more money into an after-market trigger system.  Just changing out the connector and reset spring, and doing the 25 cent trigger job made a huge difference over the stock trigger.  About the only other cheap thing I could do to improve the trigger would be to change out the firing pin spring for a lighter one, but I've seen too many times where that results in light primer strikes and the gun don't go bang...  

Sights are a personal preference, and YMMV, but I prefer a narrow FO front sight and a plain black rear sight.  For me, the Glock OEM sights just had to go... especially when shooting further than 15 yds.

[ekuo]

For aficionados of the basic 1911 platform, there is a USPSA division just for you guys!

Single Stack (SSTK) Division
Per Appendix D5 of the USPSA rulebook: "Only 1911 production type pistols.  Must be available to the general public and have their basis in the original 1911 service pistol as designed by John Moses Browning.  Pistols made from components that duplicate the factory original are acceptable.  Frames must be metal."

The equipment requirements in this division can be as basic as you like, or gussied up to suit your fancy.  

Here is an example of one of my 1911's with a web-belt, basic OWB kydex holster and three double mag pouches:


The only thing about SSTK gear is you have to carry a lot of magazines.  Four on the belt with one in the gun to start with would be considered a bare bones minimum.  As you can see in the pics, I carry 6 on the belt, one in the gun, and one barney mag.  It's not that you'll need 64 rnds to finish a 32 round field course stage, it's because there is a saying in SSTK division: when you're moving you're reloading.  Depending on how the targets are arrayed, you may only shoot 6 rnds before moving to another position that has another 6 or 8 rnd array.  To save time you'll want do a speed reload while you're moving to top off.  I've rarely had to reach for the 6th mag, but you know what they say about better to have it and not need it than...

That said, there's a lot of crap you're carrying, and the two-layered belts like the one shown in the next picture are really popular these days for the simple reason they work well to support all the weight and the convenience of having all your gear already on the belt each time you put it on.  


The way these belts work is the inner belt that has the loop-half of the velcro is threaded thru the belt loops on your pants and snugged down for comfort.  Then the outer belt, the one with the hook-half of the velcro, that already has the holsters/mag pouches is then velcro'ed to the inner belt by mating the hook and loop of the two belts together.  Lastly there is a belt keeper that you can use to secure both belts together.

In the last year or so, I also made the switch from double mag pouches to singles since I can carry more of them in less space.  And on my frame, I'm working with limited real-estate so I sought out the narrowest profile single mag pouches I could find.    

I won't go into all the requirements for SSTK division, other than to say that the number of rounds you are allowed to load in your magazines in SSTK division is dependent on which power factor you are shooting.  For .40 and .45 that are declared major PF, 8 is the max per magazine, and the pistol with mag inserted must fit the "box".  For 9mm or .40SW loaded to minor PF, you can load up to 10 in the mag, but it still has to fit the "box" (i.e., no extended magazines like the CMC or Wilson 10 rnd .45 acp extended mag).

The holster and mag pouches must be worn behind the hipbones.
The holster must also hold the gun so that the front strap of the pistol is above the top of the belt.  If you're female, you are exempt from this requirement, and you may also use a Dropped-Offset Holster (DOH).  

For more info, see Appendix D of the January 2008 USPSA Rulebook.  http://www.USPSA.org/uspsa-rules.php  

Cheers, and thanks for reading.  

[ekuo]

Limited Division

Limited is a pretty popular division probably because it allows those with hi-cap guns to take full advantage of their magazine capacity and there's a ton of room to grow in this division both in the gear and strategy department.  

In some ways I think Limited is mis-named and it should be named UNLimited because there's really just not a lot of rules in this Division, save a few key ones:
-Minimum caliber is 9mm, but the minimum caliber for Major PF is .40/10mm.  
-Double stack magazines are restricted to 141.25 mm in length.
-No comps, thumb rests, or electronic sights are allowed in Limited.  
-No max weight or need to fit in a "box".  

You see a lot of people shooting Glocks, XDMs, M&P Pro's in Limited Div that can also do dual duty in Production Div, but generally speaking most of those people took their stock 14-16 rnd OEM mags and added extended basepads to their mags and big honking magwells as their start-up gear for Limited.  

This is my G35 that I also use for Production Div, with the addition of an Dawson ICE magwell and a heavy slug-plug to help balance the weight of the gun.  The mags are 15 rnd G22 mags with +5 extension basepads that yield a 20 rnd capacity.  The one on the left is a Dawson extension, and the two on the right are Arredondo extensions.


On the other hand, my preference is for the 1911/2011 platform, so here is my mostly stock STI Eagle with a 140 mm magazine with a Dawson SNL extension.  But for the life of me, I can't get more than 19 rnds in these mags (even the one tuned by Dave Dawson, but there are makers of 21 and even 22 rnd tuned 140 mm magazines for the .40SW, it's just that those require some serious cash).


From a gear standpoint, 2 hi-cap mags would probably be the minimum that you want to have on the belt, and in theory you ought to be able to get thru 99% of the stages with just two 18-21 round magazines...  But most Limited shooters will try to have 3 or even 4 hi-cap mags on them.  There really aren't any requirements for how/where you carry your gear, other than there can't be more than 2" between body and the gun or mag when worn on the waist.  To take advantage of this, many shooters like to arrange their mags at angles in the front of their body to speed up their reloads.  



Some people are running the skeletonized race holsters for their Limited rig, but I'm using a Bladetech DOH kydex holster as shown in the above pic.  The advantage to the skeletonize race holsters is they may help you shave a few tenths off your draw (or so I've heard).    

So at any rate, Limited is the division where you can see a very wide range of guns and gear from pretty basic to some pretty awesome displays of what master gunsmiths can do with a milling machine to customize a pistol to your exact specifications and shooting style.  

Thanks for reading, and stay safe.

[ekuo]

If a picture says 1,000 words, what does a video represent? 

Good one from the folks at Haa-vud...

Beginner's Guide To Shooting Competitions-USPSA

[ekuo]

Scoring

USPSA's motto is Accuracy, Power and Speed (Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas), and generally speaking USPSA matches are centered around how quickly you can shoot a stage (SPEED) and gain the highest points (ACCURACY).  POWER is measured by your Power Factor, which determines if you are scored Major or Minor. 

As a result, scores in USPSA are calculated based on Hit Factor, and the person with the highest Hit Factor wins.  Seems simple enough, but a few things probably need to be explained first.

Hit Factor
Hit factor (HF) for each stage is calculated by dividing the total points of your hits by your time.  For example, you shoot a stage comprised of 6 USPSA metric targets and the stage description requires two hits on each target for a total of 12 hits with a maximum of 60 points.  For simple math, let's say you shot the stage "clean" and hit all Alphas and your stage time from the buzzer to your last shot was 12.00 secs.  Each hit in the A-zone is worth 5 pts, so your hits scored 60 pts (12 X 5 pts = 60).  Divide the 60 pts by the 12.00 secs, and you got a HF of 5.0000 for that stage (60/12=5).

The HFs for all the competitors in each division are compared against each other, and the person with the highest HF is awarded the maximum number of points for that stage (graded on a curve so to speak), and everybody else is awarded the number of points based on the percentage of their HF compared to the person with the highest.  So if the high HF for the stage was 10.0000, that person would be awarded 60 pts towards the overall match ranking, and you would get 30 pts because your HF of 5.0000 is 50% of the high HF (10.0000). 

Major / Minor Scoring:
         Major       Minor
A:      5 pts        5 pts
B:      4 pts        3 pts
C:      4 pts        3 pts
D:      2 pts        1 pt
Steel: 5 pts        5 pts

Essentially the difference between Major and Minor is nil if you shoot all Alphas, but minor scores one point less than major for each hit in the other zones. 

A miss (aka MIKE) is calculated as twice the maximum available points of that target, which is -10 pts for any Mike on a metric or Steel left standing.  So Mikes hurt your score.  A lot.  Avoid them if at all possible, even if it means slowing down to a crawl. 

Balance of Speed and Accuracy
There definitely is a balance between speed and accuracy, and the general rule of thumb is to shoot as quickly as you can but still keep roughly 80% of your hits in the A-zone.  If you're hitting all Alphas you could probably speed up a little, but if a lot of your shots are in the D-zone or missing the target (Mike) then slowing down would be a good thing.  But the balance of speed and accuracy seems to suggest that its OK to sacrifice a little accuracy for speed. 

Case in point:  Using the above example of a stage with 6 metric targets (12 hits), let's say your buddy shot all A's (60 pts), but it took him 20 seconds to complete the stage.  His HF is a 3.0000.  Conversely, let's say you kicked the speed and shot 6 A's, 3 C's, and 3 D's (48 pts if shooting Major PF, or 42 pts if Minor) in a stage time of 10 secs.  Your HF would be 4.8000 if Major or 4.2000 if Minor, which is still better than the slower but more accurate shooter.

Hope this sheds some light.  Thanks for reading.

[egress81]

While looking around I found these guys. Some good info here.


http://www.powerfactorshow.com/

[ekuo]

Watched a few of those episodes last night.  Some good info.  Thanks for posting that Travis. 

[Momma Sheepdog]

So ekuo I have read this string of posts and must say I have learned a lot from them. I even saw the belt that I was interested in and showed it to Sheepdog1. But I really want to compliment you on how well written all your posts are. I know that sometimes fingers get flying and can't keep up with our thoughts. I must say that you have done a great job of making sense to the inexperienced shooter. Plus I just wanted to compliment you on composition, grammar and ease of reading. I know we all have spellcheck but taking time to proofread to make sure what you were thinking is what is on the page is a pleasure to read!Thank you  

[ekuo]

Thanks for the kind words Momma!  (My mama would be proud... )

The main goal of starting this thread was to attract new shooters to USPSA, so hopefully we'll see you and Sheepdog1 at a match sometime soon!  There are actually quite a few "couples" that shoot regularly at the Nampa, Emmett, and Parma matches, so you guys will be in good company.  

The belts in the above pictures are the CR Speed Hi-Torque belts.  The general rule of thumb is to order one that is 4-6" larger than your normal waist size (I wear 34" pants, so I order a 38" belt).  That said, Rick over at Center of Mass also offers a similar belt that has gotten great reviews (had I known about his belts when I bought the CRs, I probably would have gotten a COM...).  

I see in the Chick Chat forum that the Ladies are going to try and organize a shoot.  If I can help in any way (i.e. help dream up some stages, set-up, RO...), please let me know.  Happy to help.  

Cheers!

[ekuo]

Thought I'd describe how the scores from the USPSA classifiers are used to figure your classification of GM, M, A, B, C, D, and U.

If you just joined USPSA or are not currently a member, you're classification is U (unclassified).  To earn a classification, you must a) become a USPSA member, and b) shoot a minimum of four Classifiers to get your first classification in a particular division. 

At each USPSA match there is always has one stage that is selected from the library of official USPSA Classifiers, and your score for that stage is then submitted by the host club to USPSA and updated once a month in the national classification database.  For each classifier and each division, there is a National High Hit Factor (HHF) which is the highest score that they have on record from all the clubs in the country.  The HHF is given a percentage of 100% and your score that you shot is based on the percentage of the HHF. 

So for example, on the classifier from today's match at Emmett (CM-99-23 Front Sight), my hit factor was 9.1640 (calculated by dividing my total points of 57 pts by my time of 6.22 secs).  For the division I was shooting (Single Stack), my HF of 9.1640 is 68.5277% of the national HHF, which means I shot at the B-class level today (hey, guess what, I am a B-shooter in SS division!). 

That 68.5277% is then averaged in with five of the highest scores of my most recent eight that I've shot, and that average is what is used to calculate my national classification.  I think my national average is something like 66.XXXX%, so today's score will be averaged in with five of the highest classifier scores in SS division of the most recent eight that I shot, and will probably nudge me up a fraction of a percentage on my quest for A-class. 

If today's classifier score was the first one that you shot as a USPSA member, or first classifier that you shot in a particular division, then you'll need three more classifiers for USPSA to calculate your first classification in that division.  After that, its based on the average of your highest six of the most recent eight...  USPSA updates their website monthly, usually around the 10th of each month.  So sometime in mid-Feb if you go to USPSA's website and enter your USPSA # in the Member's Support section, you should see the classifier that you shot today, your HF, and your percentage based on the national HHF. 

But if you can't wait until the middle of Feb, and by-god-must-know-right-now how well you did, go to this website: 

http://www.classifiercalc.com/

It's not an official USPSA website, but it is pretty darn close at estimating what the national HHF is, and what your percentage would be when it is entered into the national database.  Select your division first, then in the drop-downs find your classifier.  Today's classifier was CM-99-23, so it is in the CM-99 family.  Scroll down until you find 99-23 Front Sight.  Enter your HF (you can find that on the score sheet at www.idahouspsa.com) and submit. 

Questions?  Give me a shout. 

Cheers

[popsgunner]

E, lets talk a bit about ammo, very important factor, obviously factory ammo is the best, most consisitant but may be cost prohibative, if you load or use handloads a few notes to watch:

First and foremost safety and reliablity above all, know your reloader.
load for just over major if thats what your are shooting, major is 165 so load to 170 and you should be fine all around the country at most times of year. ( bullet weight times velocity divided by 1000)

size your cases as far down and then some as you can, clean is okay, generally no need to trim or primp or crap like that for pistol brass.

Taper crimp for auto pistols and roll crimp for revolvers and watch your overall length,  load back from your max magazine internal length about 20-30 thousands, too long is just as bad as too short.

I have used damn near every pistol and shotgun powder out there, pick one that fills the case about 60% and follow the book specs for reloading , don't get creative here or things will go BOOM instead of bang.

Flat nosed bullets will not feed as reliably as round nose, jacketed bullets make the same hole as lead bullets and cost alot more, I shoot plated most of the time, easy on the wallet and shoot well.

We as IPSC/USPSA shooters are not in the bullseye game so if your loads shoot CONSISTANT 3-4 inch groups at 35 yards you are in good shape.
we see great gear all the time killed with crap ammo, feed it well and your shooter will take good care of you.
pops

[ekuo]

Recent discussion in the IDPA subforum about IDPA membership prompted me to post this clarification about USPSA Membership:

From the USPSA Rulebook:

Rule 6.4.1:   All competitors must be a individual members of USPSA, or current a member of their IPSC region, for Level II and above competitions.  

Our local club matches at Nampa, Emmett, Parma, Idaho Falls, and Baker City are considered Level I.  A State Match is considered Level II, Area Match Level III, and Nationals is Level IV.  

So in short, you are NOT required to be a USPSA member to shoot our local matches.  Instead, what USPSA does is assess an "activity fee" per shooter per match.  The activity fee is applicable for all competitors, regardless if they are a member.  The activity fee keeps the lights on at USPSA HQ, keeps them happy, and us happy.  

Happy hunting

-EKuo

[alphaholic]

Also, the club gets more points, if you are a USPSA member, towards the clubs activity credit. we encourage everyone to join, but you dont have to be a member to shoot, it just helps the club out. Ray

[MtGoat]

Ekuo,

Thanks for the write-up.  Off to look for more gear 

Pat