How to Get Involved in Competitive Shooting

Sooner or later, most firearm users encounter the concept of competing against other forces. Hunting is competition against nature, combat is competition against other humans or against predators, while sporting competitions are a low-stakes way to test your own mettle. Come last in a competition, and nothing is lost but some time, ammo, and pride. Another try is always available and encouraged.

Shooting Disciplines

Competitive shooting disciplines vary widely. Some test patience, math skills, and equipment—that would be Benchrest Rifle. Others have minimal demands on gear, testing mainly training and the ability to apply it at speed; Rimfire Steel Challenge is a prime example.

International Practical Shooting Confederation and International Defensive Pistol Association events came from defensive shooting scenarios. Three-Gun looked artificial until the most recent wars showed troops carrying a rifle, a sidearm, and an anti-drone shotgun at the same time. Cowboy Action Shooting is almost as much pageantry and acting as it is gunslinging. For a new shooter looking at competitive shooting with a fresh eye, so many choices exist!

Shooting Logistics

As in war, the first and overwhelming consideration is logistics. The main expenses in shooting formal competitions are usually time for training and travel, travel and lodging, ammunition, and only then the guns and optics.

For starters, local events are far easier to attend than regional or national ones. Rimfire competition cost less to provision with ammunition, but it’s not a certainty that speed shooting, like Metal Madness with standard ammunition, would cost less than accuracy shooting, like Precision Rimfire Challenge with match ammo, because of the vastly greater shot count in speed-focused disciplines.

These are base level skills needed for success: unconsciously competent safe gun handling, a decent level of competency with your specific firearms, and a positive attitude. Local events help jump-start the journey through the competitive shooting world. More often than not, somebody will volunteer to advise or mentor the new arrival.

Shooting Events

For newbies, attending all local matches would give an idea of what appeals to them. Some people just want to shoot, so sporting clays might be the ticket. Others like to get physically active, making various adventure challenges with hiking and climbing as an integral part of the courses a better fit. Bullseye pistol tests steadiness and mechanical accuracy, while IDPA and IPSC add some element of strategy to the mix.

Cost-wise, any discipline with a “production” class allows a reasonable chance of success with an off-the-shelf firearm with no optics or other refinements. Rimfire Steel Challenge and Metal Madness are good examples of short range, speed focused competitions where a bone stock 10/22 or Buckmark would be enough for a start. Bullseye, on the other hand, pretty much demands tuned, customized precision pistols to be even remotely competitive.

Decide what you wish to test—yourself or your gear. If the answer is “both,” then a much wider range of events would be appropriate. Would they represent an accurate test for purposes of combat? Probably not. But they do make a terrific training focus, producing the same skills that would serve you well in a sporting event.

Written by: Oleg Volk, Firearms Photographer