The United States Practical Shooting Association is the controlling body for the American region of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (see below). Known as USPSA the American region has a membership of 15,000 with affiliated clubs across the country.

USPSA competitions are dynamic events combining Speed, Accuracy, and Power, shooting courses of fire comprised of a variety of targets, props, positions and movement. This is not shooting static targets on a square range. When combining movement and high-speed shooting the competitors gun handling skills become elevated to higher and higher levels of competency.

Once a competitor reaches a certain level the mechanics of shooting, target acquisition and manipulation become instinctive and the mental game comes into play. This is where the challenge really begins, a game won or lost by thousandths of seconds and mere single digit point spreads.

For many a truly addictive sport comprised of great people, great events, and exhilarating competition.

USPSA is divided into 8 geographic areas known respectively as Area 1, Area 2, etc. Each Area is composed of several States and the affiliated clubs located in those States. Sections are a group of clubs usually within a smaller geographic area many times hosting matches on the same range facility at different times.

USPSA holds several National Championship events in several competition Divisions. Currently the National matches are comprised of Open, Limited, Limited 10, Revolver, Production, Single Stack, and Multi-gun held at various times and locations.

Areas also hold an Area Championship each year and many Sections will hold a major annual match as well. Clubs hold monthly matches and many will run a Trophy Chase to determine who will be eligible for an invitation to the National Championship from each club.

Shooters are typically generous and will participate in Charity matches held throughout the year as well.

USPSA maintains a national competitor ranking system determined by a shooters performance on set courses of fire known as classifiers. Each shooter is ranked against the performance of all the other competitors who have shot the same classifiers to determine the Class that the shooter competes in. Class designations range from D, C, B, A, Master, and Grand Master.

Each competitor also competes in a chosen Division based primarily on the type of gun although some guns may be eligible for multiple divisions. The handgun divisions are Open, Limited, Limited 10, Production, Revolver and Single Stack. Each division has it’s own restrictions on equipment, capacity, and modifications that may be made to the gun.

Possibly more than any, IPSC and USPSA are the foundation of the Action Shooting Sports with IPSC being the founding body. IPSC was created by renowned firearms innovator, author and developer of “The Modern Technique” Jeff Cooper, along with a handful of fellow hand-gunners.

IPSC was created to test and prove the ideas and techniques applied to “Practical” shooting scenarios but over the years has evolved into a sport. Thus was born the conflict between the “gamers” and the “martial-artists”. Largely the gamers have won-out although many law enforcement officers compete and some law enforcement agencies even campaign teams. The Army Marksmanship Unit Action Shooting Team is comprised of some of the best shooters in the world. Many of these shooters competed in USPSA events prior to their service and were recruited by the AMU specifically to shoot on the team and now teach marksmanship to those serving in the Military as well as a civilian Junior Division training program.

Membership in USPSA enables you to achieve a classification within the various divisions, provides member programs and discounts and receive a monthly magazine entitled Front Sight. USPSA also manages the National Range Officers Institute to recruit and train certified Range Officers and membership makes you eligible to become a Certified Range Officer (CRO).

For more information on USPSA and how to join please visit their website at www.uspsa.org.

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