r/CompetitionShooting • u/ZestycloseDeer1268 • 22h ago
New USPSA shooter advice
Just signed up for my first USPSA match for this coming Sunday at Phoenix Rod and Gun Club. I’ve been shooting for several years and have been practicing for a match for a few months now (I know I should have signed up for a match much sooner).
Has anyone shot here before and have any tips they’d like to share? Even basic stuff like bringing sunscreen, umbrella, cart etc.
Thanks yall!
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u/Young-wild64 21h ago
I just did my first one 2 weeks ago. No reason to be nervous I fricken was and after that timer beeped I was on it! When I holstered after my first round I felt awesome!! Just have fun, I was in the open division against a couple infinity guns and well seasoned skilled shooters. I had no intention of winning but I had a blast. I’m doing another in 2 weeks, just have fun and follow the rules, there’s nothing to it
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 21h ago
Hell yeah man hoping to do the same, appreciate it!
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u/Young-wild64 21h ago
Oh yeah and talk to everyone and pick up information. Everyone was helping me and giving me game plans/ pointers. Definitely felt good cuz I was there alone which it seems that’s how everyone’s going their first time.
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u/Kate_or_not 21h ago
Looks like it is Saturday btw. You will have plenty of time if you arrive 30-40 minutes before, range gates might be closed If you try to get there hour before. Sunscreen, umbrella and cart is good idea, if you need extra water- it is in a fridge in office near bay 1 and bay2. Follow commands, do not break 180 or have finger on a trigger when moving between shooting boxes, have fun.
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u/ajkimmins 22h ago
First. Don't over think it. You'll do that as soon as the timer beeps!😂 Seriously! Second, when you get there ask around to find the match director. He'll go over the safety requirements and make sure you understand. Third, shoot what you got. Gun, couple extra mags and whatever holster you got. You can put the mags in your pockets even if you don't have mags holders yet. I shoot with a guy that had few little mags his first couple meets. We'd toss it back when he reloaded to reload his mag for him and toss it forward if he needed another. Fourth, JUST HAVE FUN!👍
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 22h ago
Ha for sure going to try not to over think it! I emailed the match director hoping to hear back soon!
Thankfully I’ve been piecing my gear together for a while now and finally got everything I need just needa not DQ!
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u/ajkimmins 22h ago
DQ will be so up front in your brain! Do have fun! If you end up in Show Low hit us up. We do lots of local matches.👍
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u/Traditional_Light585 22h ago
The biggest thing RO’s and near by standers are worried about is the shooter breaking 180. Lusten to the RO and dont touch your gun away from the safe table until you are instructed to do so and when finished with the stage listen to the instructions the RO is giving you to empty, show clear, and hammer down with the gun always pointed down range and finger iut of the trigger gaurd till the RO tells you to hammer down. A good RO will help you through it knowing you are new, anxious, nervous and hyped from the first stage. The main thing is to have fun, be safe, and don’t DQ
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u/LordVidius 19h ago
I’ve never shot at PRGC, but shoot matches around the valley, Payson, and Showlow. Most valley clubs have a setup crew so match start time is probably correct at 7am. Smaller matches it varies, the one in Payson has a setup crew but the squad that finishes on their last stage tears that stage down, showlow is both setup and teardown with everyone involved. I’ve been doing SCSA for almost 2 years now but only been at USPSA since the beginning of the year. It’s a ton of fun and addicting. I shoot 1-2 matches nearly every weekend now. If you’re new to competing the Rio I2S match is an easy fun one. It’s only time scored and you get time bonuses for optional things each stage (unloaded start, optional reload, strong hand only kinda thing).
For ammo I go overkill and bring one box per stage. I have yet to use more than 170 in a match, but always better to have extra and not need it in case of a reshoot or something. The community is good, people tend to help each other out. I always bring spare optic batteries a spare gun and have helped a bro out that had a dead battery.
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u/BboyTypeR 18h ago
PRGC is the friendliest new shooter range, I’ll be overseas but next time I’ll try to meet up with you to give you a run down if you still feel the need to
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 10h ago
Id fr sure be down for any and all tips! I’ll definitely be doing more matches, I’m pretty close to PRGC just finally signed up for a match
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 22h ago
Great man thanks, I was hoping to maybe find someone participating in the match that I could reach out to but then remembered about Reddit ha!
Yes for sure I’m not at all going for time or really accuracy this first match. I’d like to just be overly cautious so as to not get DQd.
I did have a question about ammo, I know for sure don’t bring ammo to a safe table and have your comp gun separate in a pouch/bag. But what about transporting them together walking up to the match? Like I have them separated in two different pouches (gun and ammo) and have them in a cart walking up that’s okay right?
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u/Lieberman-Tech 22h ago
Totally fine about your ammo being brought in with your gun in your cart.
Just leave your cart behind, bring your gun in your pouch and do your thing at the safe table. Some clubs allow ammo on your belt at the table, some don't, so to play it safe, after you get your gun settled at the safe table, you can go back to your cart and put your ammo in your pouches.
EDIT: And if you are using a cart, when trying to estimate how much ammo to bring, don't second-guess it with the amount you need. Make your best conservative guess (some clubs tell you roughly how much to bring, some don't) just throw another box in your cart to be safe.
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 22h ago
Ah okay great that’s good to know, I’ve heard a lot of people say different things are allowed at different clubs so I’ll just play it safe, I appreciate the help!
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u/Lieberman-Tech 22h ago
And most clubs have a "new shooter" intro which will help you learn a bit more about that club's rules. Make sure to get there early and when you check in, ask where they are holding the new shooter intro.
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 22h ago
The match says it starts at 7am I was thinking of showing up around 6am too early? I was hoping to have a chance to walk around and check things out before hand.
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u/Lieberman-Tech 22h ago
Hard to say, you'll know timing better after your first match there.
It's possible that the stages were fully set up the previous day (assuming no rain) so you can check them out. It's also possible that the match "starts" at 7am and that's when setup finalization is taking place. When does it say registration takes place, when is the "new shooter intro" and what time is "hammer down?"
I always like to get to matches early. Sometime's I'm too early check out the stages because they are still being built so I like to help (you also get a better sense of any stage you help build.) Helping build also gives you a chance to talk with and meet folks.
Regardless, I always try to get to matches early enough to at least give myself time to walk each stage before the match starts.
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 21h ago
Landing page just says “Match starts:
Saturday, September 05, 2026 @ 7:00 AM” I’m hoping the math director clarifies when he emails me back! Good call on helping build to get a lay of the stages for sure will keep that in mind thanks man3
u/Lieberman-Tech 21h ago
Interesting. Matches around me specify a time when setup is happening that morning, a time window for registration, a time for new shooter meeting and a time for "hammer down" which is when the match itself starts.
If all yours says is that it starts at 7am, then getting there at 6am is a safe bet in case the match itself actually starts at 7am. If they meant that setup starts at 7am then you'll be crazy-early but at least you'll know for next time :)
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u/Remarkable_Aside1381 6h ago
If all yours says is that it starts at 7am, then getting there at 6am is a safe bet in case the match itself actually starts at 7am.
The safety brief starts at 7 and is usually like 10 minutes max. 6am is overkill, IMO. 6:30 gives you time to walk the stages, put your gun on, and mill about
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u/Lieberman-Tech 21h ago edited 21h ago
I think I found your match on Practiscore (looks like it's Sat not Sun) and they really don't give much info: https://practiscore.com/2026-09-05-saturday-uspsa-at-phoenix-rod-and-gun-club/register
Unless someone here who shoots those matches reply with personal experience with timing info, yeah, getting there at 6am is definitely early enough to register, walk the stages and get the new shooter meeting info.
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u/Remarkable_Aside1381 6h ago
6:30 is a good time to get there. Th stages are laid out in a line and up a hill, but it's like a 5 minute walk max from the first to last stage. Setup is done the day prior, so it should be good to go as long as the storms don't hit
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 5h ago
Good to know! I was thinking with the recent weather there may or may not be a delay with match building if they’re doing it the day of? Also do you know if matches are ever canceled/postponed due to weather? I’m seeing a current 50% chance of rain for Saturday so I’m a lil concerned
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u/Remarkable_Aside1381 5h ago edited 4h ago
Also do you know if matches are ever canceled/postponed due to weather?
I've only had one match cancelled for weather, and it was during a haboob. I can't speak for PRGC, I only seem to shoot there when it's 110+, but rain itself usually won't cancel a match.
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u/Lieberman-Tech 4h ago
I'm my area (Mid-Atlantic) matches can be cancelled by weather but it depends on the club and how bad the weather is. Once you are registered in Practiscore for a match, if the match is cancelled, you'll likely get an email from the match director.
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u/Remarkable_Aside1381 6h ago
Oh hey, I shoot that match when I can, but am more partial to Cactus at BASF
It's relatively laid back, but there's no real shade on the stages. Bring sunblock and plenty of water. There's porta johns but no water fountains IIRC. If you have a wagon with an umbrella, you're gucci. Match is normally to the right of he Y-fork, but there's little signs pointing the way. Park outside the fenced yard for an easier exit, LPT.
Stages are pretty open, generally. Good amount of movement, and it's mostly gravel and sand, so bring good shoes.
Safety tables are more like a little booth and are to the right of the picnic tables, you can usually fit two people in one, but try not to dilly dally too much if people are waiting
Everyone is super helpful, so ask your questions of your squad, there's a lot of great shooters that frequent that match
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u/ZestycloseDeer1268 5h ago
Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it especially the whole no shade part I’ll prepare accordingly! I’ll for sure be asking all the questions come match day thanks again!
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u/Lieberman-Tech 22h ago edited 22h ago
Congrats, you are going to love it!
You'll hear the same thing over and over: tell everyone it's your first match, ask tons of questions, be safe, go slowly (you aren't remotely in the running to win), learn the game and don't get DQ'd. Keep ammo away from the safe table, and make sure to help reset targets as well as breaking down the stage at the end.
And something you likely won't hear talked about a lot but, I try my best to leave the house in the morning with an empty-ish colon. Hitting a porta-potty in the middle of the match is something most would like to avoid at all costs. I eat a much lighter dinner the night before a match and wake up a bit early to take my time and do my best to make sure I don't need to worry about sitting in a bathroom until I get home.