Practical shooting is an exciting and enjoyable sport where you develop advanced handgun skills and have a bunch of fun. I shot handguns for 20 years before beginning practical pistol competition. That's when I really started learning how to shoot.

As a group, IPSC shooters are arguably the best in the world. (IPSC is the world practical shooting organization, and USPSA is the US branch of IPSC) But many thousands of Americans participate each year at a variety of levels – folks that just love to come and shoot, those that like the social aspects, those that are honing their skills for occupational or competitive reasons, many who teach shooting, and all those in between.  

You don't have to spend much money to compete. You don't have to understand all of the rules and advanced techniques either.This introduction is designed to give the shooter new to IPSC (Ip-sick) a broad picture of the sport, the basics of shooting technique, and to be a primer on safety.   Welcome aboard!

This Web-based primer cannot substitute for proper instruction from a qualified instructor.   Before you practice any techniques discussed here, or begin to compete, get some safety training.   Safety is YOUR responsibility. Remember If you shoot yourself or someone else, it's YOUR fault.

Resist the temptation to rush out and spend - you will likely regret it. Too often beginners make wrong assumptions about equipment that they need. Study what experienced shooters are using for a specific division and ask them about their guns and gear - they're happy to help new shooters. Get a number of opinions and ask where the best buys are before you do any significant spending. Often, at the range, you can borrow another shooter's gun to try a few rounds before you decide to buy something similar.

You need a reliable and safe handgun, minimum caliber 38 spl./9mm. All of the critical safeties must work. If your gun has an extra-wide trigger, it may not extend outside the trigger guard.

A safe holster on a belt is required – as holstered, the muzzle of the gun must point down to the ground within three feet of you when standing naturally relaxed, the trigger must be covered, and the gun belt must be secured at waist level.   The heel of the butt of the handgun may not be below the top of the belt. (certain special exceptions to these rules may apply for sworn law enforcement and active duty military competitors who may compete with duty gear.)

You'll need several magazines or speed loaders (3 to 8 depending upon capacity and division, and belt carriers for them - you should be able to start with 36+ rounds as 32 round stages are common. Bring 200+ rounds of ammunition – a local match typically consists of between 125 and 175 rounds. And you always need more than the total round count.

Reliability & accuracy

Perhaps the most important thing is that your gun must run. If you're seeing more than one jam in say, five-hundred rounds, (you have shot it that many times haven't you?) you should try to solve it.   While most malfunctions are related to magazine issues and faulty ammo, sometimes a professional gunsmith is needed. To be competitive, your gun must shoot to point of aim with the ammo you use at a match.