Your First Competition Match: A Complete Checklist

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Local club matches are the best way to get better at practical shooting, and most clubs welcome new shooters. The people running the match want you to come back. What they need from you is safe gun handling, knowledge of the basic rules, and a willingness to help reset targets.

This checklist covers USPSA, IDPA and Steel Challenge in general terms. Every sport has its own rulebook, and many clubs require a new shooter safety briefing or class before your first match. Check the club's website and the sport's current rules before you go.

Before match day

1. Register online. Most clubs use online registration and fill up. Note the start time and squad.
2. Check new shooter requirements. Some clubs require a safety orientation or a basic class first.
3. Read the basic rules. Know the range commands and the disqualification rules, especially the 180-degree rule, finger discipline and the safe-area rules.
4. Pick a division that matches your gun and gear. Our USPSA vs IDPA guide explains divisions.
5. Practice drawing and reloading from your rig, dry, with an unloaded gun. See dry-fire drills.

Gear checklist

• Your pistol, plus a holster that fully covers the trigger guard and fits your division's rules.
• A sturdy belt and enough magazine pouches. See competition belts and pouches.
• Enough magazines for the longest stage plus spares.
• More ammunition than the round count listed for the match, as allowed by the club.
• Eye and ear protection, which are mandatory. See shooting glasses.
• A range bag with a small tool kit, lube, a mag loader, a first-aid kit and a trauma kit.
• Water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat and rain gear.
• For IDPA, a concealment garment such as a vest or untucked shirt.

Arriving: the cold range and the safe area

Most matches run as a cold range: guns stay unloaded and holstered or cased except when you're on the clock under the range officer's command. Arrive with your gun unloaded and cased or holstered as the club directs. Use the designated safe area to uncase, holster or handle your unloaded gun. Never handle ammunition in the safe area. This is a disqualification rule at most clubs.

How a stage works

1. Walk the stage during the walkthrough to plan your shots and movement.
2. When called, step to the start position. The range officer gives the commands to make ready.
3. Load, holster and assume the start position when told.
4. At the beep, shoot the stage. Keep the muzzle downrange and your finger off the trigger while moving and reloading.
5. When finished, follow the unload and show clear commands exactly.
6. Help paste and reset targets, and pick up brass if you want it.

Safety rules that end your day

Rules vary by sport, but the common disqualifications include: breaking the 180-degree safety plane, having your finger in the trigger guard while clearing a malfunction, loading, reloading or moving, dropping a loaded gun, an unsafe discharge and handling ammunition in the safe area. If you're unsure, stop and ask the range officer. Nobody will mind.

Match etiquette

• Help reset targets and tape or paste between shooters.
• Stay out of the shooter's way and don't distract them.
• Be ready when you're "on deck" so the squad keeps moving.
• Ask questions. Experienced shooters love helping new people.
• Thank the range officers and match staff; they're usually volunteers.

Our range etiquette guide covers general range manners too.

Setting the right goals

For your first match, the goal is to finish safely, with no disqualifications, and to learn how stages flow. Shoot slower than you think you need to. Accuracy and safe handling beat speed early on. Watch fast shooters on your squad to see how they plan stages. Then practice the skills you found hardest at home with a shot timer.

What to do after your first match

Check your results online, usually posted within a day or two. Don't focus on your placement; look at your stage times and hits to see where you lost the most time. Pick one or two skills to improve, such as draws, reloads or transitions, and build a practice plan around them. Sign up for the next match while you're motivated.

Common first-match mistakes

• Arriving late and missing the safety briefing.
• Forgetting a stage plan halfway through; walk it a few times.
• Shooting too fast and missing; accuracy is more important.
• Not bringing enough water or snacks.
• Forgetting to help reset targets.

Bring a friend

Many shooters find matches easier with a friend. You can help each other with gear and stage plans, and it's more fun. If you don't have a friend who shoots matches, ask the match director to put you on a squad with experienced, helpful shooters.

Stage planning tips

During the walkthrough, count targets and plan where you'll shoot each from. Plan reloads at logical spots, not mid-array. Visualize the run several times. Simple plans work best for new shooters.

What to wear

Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes, a crew-neck shirt to keep brass out, a hat and shoes with good grip. Trail shoes are popular for gravel and dirt bays.

Match-day gear worth having