Guide to Getting Started in Action Shooting

All of the sports I will describe below are about shooting FAST, and not about precision. There is a whole different set of shooting sports out there that focus on being as accurate and precise as possible.

Steel Challenge - Try this first

All Steel Challenge stages consist of 5 steel targets of varying sizes and distances. One of the targets will be designated the “stop target.” You shoot all 5 targets in any order you want from a stationary position as long as you hit the “stop target” last.

You shoot each stage 5 times in a row. This makes it really great for starting out in action shooting because you have the opportunity to immediately iterate and try making adjustments to how you shoot the stage, and can see yourself improve dramatically over the course of a single stage.

A full day of steel challenge is 8 stages, although some places do fewer..

What you need to get started

Steel challenge has a lot of divisions so what you need depends on the division.

Rimfire

There are both rimfire rifle and pistol divisions, but equipment wise they need pretty much the same stuff.

  • Semi-Auto rimfire firearm
  • 5 magazines (fewer (~3) if you have hi-caps).
  • 350-400 rounds of ammo

Centerfire handgun

The centerfire handgun divisions draw from a holster. Reloads are off the clock, and done from a table.

  • Semi-auto centerfire pistol.
  • 5 magazines (fewer if you have hi-caps)
  • A holster on a sturdy belt
  • 350-400 rounds of ammo

USPSA

USPSA is a sport (mostly) for centerfire handguns. It involves stages that are generally complex requiring movement, navigating cover, and reloading on the clock. There are two main kinds of targets, cardboard silhouettes and steel falling targets. Cardboard targets have to be hit twice (double tapped), and steel targets have to fall to score.

Typical USPSA stages require 20-32 rounds (plus misses), and a day will have 6-7 stages.

What you need to get started

  • Semi-Auto pistol
  • 4 magazines (even if you have hi-caps)
  • A holster on a sturdy belt
  • 4 magazine pouches for your belt
  • ~300 rounds of ammo

IDPA

IDPA is meant to simulate defense scenarios and has much stricter rules about how you engage targets than USPSA. Targets have to be engaged in specific orders, reloads performed at specific times, and cover must be utilized. For example there is a penalty if you reload while not behind cover, or if you move before hitting all targets visible from your current cover.

Max round count for an IDPA stage is 18 rounds, with 6-7 stages in a match.

What you need to get started

  • centerfire pistol
  • 3 magazines
  • A holster and sturdy belt
  • IDPA has stricter holster rules than other shooting sports
  • 2 mag pouches
  • A concealment garment (jacket or vest that covers your holster). Fishing style vests are a common choice.

Cowboy action

Cowboy action is a multigun sport using old west style firearms on steel targets at fairly short ranges. There's a bit of movement involved (along with firearm transitions) and targets generally have to be hit in a specific order.

There is also a required costume component to the sport. For guys you basically need jeans, boots, a long sleeve button up shirt, and a hat. For ladies the requirements are a bit broader. As long as you clearly are making an effort people aren’t picky.

A typical stage is 20 (5 in each revolver & 10 in the rifle)  rounds of handgun ammo and 4-6 rounds of shotgun ammo with around 6 stages in a match.

What you need to get started

  • 2 single action revolvers
  • Lever action rifle in a pistol caliber that can hold at least 10 rounds in the magazine
  • Side by Side Shotgun OR Winchester 1897 pattern pump shotgun
  • Cowboy style leather belt with holsters
  • Some way to hold shotgun shells. Options are generally loops on your holster belt, an additional dedicated belt, or a bandolier
  • A costume
  • 150 rounds of handgun ammo (must be all lead bullets) and 2 boxes of birdshot

A few tips

Gear recommendations

  • This holster is available for most common guns and can be used for most shooting sports including IDPA.
  • Will pretty much work with any double stack magazines. I wear two of the blackhawks when I shoot USPSA.
  • Going Fancy: Folks who are really into USPSA tend to use special dedicated 2 layer belts. These consist of a velcro inner belt, and a stiff outer belt that keeps your mag pouches and holsters on it. You then velcro the outer belt to the inner belt which is run through your belt loops. Double Alpha Academy seems to be the brand most commonly worn by top shooters. Bladetech makes stuff in this space as well. Personally I have not invested in this level of equipment yet. [Update: I now use a double layer bladetech  competition belt, but still think a good leather belt works just fine.]
  • Also keep in mind that this style of gear is NOT allowed in IDPA.
  • Buying additional magazines: I usually buy my additional mags from places like midwayusa.com or ebay. For ebay make sure you know what brand they’re selling. Some of the third party magazine manufacturers make garbage. I generally only buy factory magazines or Mec Gar. Avoid Pro Mag at all costs. They jam like crazy, and aren’t worth the cheap price you can usually find them at.

Getting started with a holster

If you haven’t used a holster before, make sure you get comfortable doing a safe draw from a holster BEFORE your first match.Taking a class isn’t a bad option, but you can probably also learn from a youtube video and a couple hours of practice with an empty gun at home.

This video is a pretty good tutorial. Make sure to start really slow and pay attention to the location of your off hand before you try to go fast.

Signing up for you first match

Locally before you sign up for your first USPSA or IDPA match you will probably be required to take the into class put on by the Richmond action shooting club. I also found this to be an excellent class, even as a pretty experienced shooter. The classes tend to fill fast and be booked a long way out so I recommend signing up ASAP. https://www.richmondhotshots.com/intro-to-comp-class

Completing the class also gets you access to Richmond’s action range, which is pretty much the only place you can practice shooting rapidly and from a holster.

The monthly steel challenge at Coyote Valley also welcomes new shooters, so that’s another good place you can start. https://www.coyotevalleycowboys.com/steel-challange

Where to find matches in the bay area

Coyote Valley has a steel challenge the first Saturday of every month.Richmond Rod & Gun also does Friday Night Steel once a month during the Summer.

USPSA is held the first and third weekend of every month at Richmond Rod & Gun.

IDPA is held about once every 3 months at Richmond Rod & Gun

Cowboy Action is held twice a month at Coyote Valley, and once a month at Richmond Rod & Gun.