The Skinny on Competitive Shooting: An Interview With Blogger Jennifer Moore
By Jenny Teague

You've got into shooting. You like it, but you want to do something more than just shooting at targets. Maybe you go into hunting. But what if hunting isn't for you? What's the next step? Perhaps the idea of competitive shooting has never crossed your mind? Perhaps it has, but you don't know the first thing about how to get involved? Fear not, friends. Jennifer Moore was once new to shooting. She had tackled the issue of pistol shooting, got her hunting license, but wanted something else to do in between the occasional bowling pin shoots and hunting seasons. She looked into the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and decided she would start a blog for people out there who want to try competitive shooting, but aren't sure where to start or how to do it.

Jenny Teague: Jennifer, how did you get into shooting?
Jennifer Moore: Self defense was my primary reason for getting into shooting. My husband is in law enforcement and began teaching me to shoot.

JT: What was your reason for starting competitive shooting?
JM: I wanted to find a way to make shooting enjoyable, I figured that there had to be more to "practice" than just grinding away at a target in the desert.

JT: What was your reasoning for starting the Shootin 4 Fun blog?
JM: When I first decided to do USPSA shooting, I looked all over the internet for more information than just the "rules" of USPSA. I wanted to know what to expect at matches step-by-step, because I didn't want to look like a scared tourist at my first match. I couldn't find any blogs, or information that gave me all the information that I would have liked to have had. I decided to start the blog, so that others would have the information that I had been looking for and couldn't find. Also, by writing about the entire process and being open about the entire experience, I hope to take away some of the fear and nervousness that might be holding some people back from trying this awesome sport.

JT: For those who are new to USPSA or want to try it out but don't feel like reading the ginormous USPSA rule book, how do you know what area to register for?
JM: For most newbies, the Production Division is probably what you're going to want to get into. This division is for "stock" weapons with no modifications (well, very little modifications). There is a list of guns on the USPSA site that qualify to compete in Production. If you have a revolver to shoot, there is a Revolver division. Limited division is for guns that have been modified or for some reason don't qualify under Production. You can do some pretty heavy mods in this division, but still aren't allowed any type of optical or holographic sights. Limited-10 is the same as Limited, but you can only have 10 rounds in your magazines. Open, is an "anything goes" division, optical sights, and all the bells and whistles... people in this division tend to spend a lot of money "tricking out" their guns.

JT: How does someone know where to find USPSA matches to compete at?
JM: Your best option is to check with local gun clubs. The USPSA website will have major matches listed, but generally don't have specific club matches listed. If you need help finding clubs in your area, go to the USPSA website and click on the "Club Locator" tab.

JT: Do you need to be registered with USPSA or have any special membership to compete?
JM: You do not need to be registered with the USPSA or club membership to compete in USPSA matches. Of course, after you try a match or two, you may want to consider joining. You don't actually get "Classified" until you are a member of USPSA. Which doesn't affect the fun factor of going out and shooting, but it does help you strive to get better by trying to classify higher and get up into the coveted Grand Master Class! Also, clubs generally give a discount to the registration fee if you are a member of their club.

JT: Can you use any gun or are there minimum requirements?
JM: Most of the guns used in USPSA are either 9mm or .40. 9mm is the smallest round that USPSA allows, and they don't generally allow "magnum" loads as that damages the steel targets. If you decide to go into any division other than Production, the Power Factor of your ammo comes into play... Minor and Major. Depending on how powerful your gun and ammo are you will be scored differently. All of production is scored in Minor no matter what Power Factor you are using.

JT: How long is the course?
JM: Typically there are 2 to 6 "stages" and each stage has between 6 and 40 rounds fired. Usually each course of fire will only have one "classifier", which is the score they use to calculate your class.

JT: If a person doesn't have any spare magazines, how many would you suggest they purchase in order to compete?
JM: I would recommend at least 4 spare magazines, and better yet 5 or 6. When you shoot in production class, you can only load 10 rounds per magazine. If you are shooting a stage that has 38 targets, you are pushing it pretty close. What if you miss? What if you have a malfunction? I personally take 5 magazines with me to my matches.

JT: Do you have any other advice in terms of additional supplies to bring to a match?
JM: Obviously you'll want to bring a range bag. Bring "TWICE" the amount of ammo that you think you will need. You never know when you'll have a reshoot. At my last match there was a guy who had to reshoot a stage of 32 shots 4 times!

JT: Since you've started competing, how have you been doing?
JM: I've only competed in two matches so far and I feel I've been doing pretty well. I came in 5th in Production my first match and 8th in Production on my second match. I have been taking it slow, focusing more on accuracy and not getting disqualified or any penalties. In time I will feel comfortable enough with the format to pick up my speed.

JT: What's next on your agenda?
JM: The next USPSA match that I will be attending is on June 19th. The following weekend I will be attending a "Revolver-Only" bowling pin match. Now, if I could find an ammo company who would like to send me unlimited ammo, I would probably attend USPSA matches every time I could find one!! I hope to encourage more people to become involved in this sport. Not only is it fun, but it vastly improves your shooting skills!

Thanks to Jennifer Moore for providing some helpful information regarding USPSA this month and we wish her luck at her next match! For more information on USPSA and the official rule book, you can go to their website http://www.uspsa.org . To read more of Jennifer's adventures in her experience with USPSA, check out her blog Shootin 4 Fun.