I shot my first USPSA match today. United States Practial Shooting Association. The matches are timed events requiring a number of reloads, with multiple targets, obstacles, moving targets, reactive targets, good guys that if hit cost you lots of points, bad guys hiding behind good guys without much bad guy showing, and some knockdown steel targets that then trigger a different moving target somewhere else. The participant must move while shooting (or shoot while moving). Well, you can stop momentarily to shoot but you need to walk or jog thru the setup to be able to access all targets.
I needed to buy a holster, five magazines, five magazine pouches and a gunbelt. I did that on Tuesday on the way back from the lake when I went thru St. Cloud, which has a really good sporting goods store. (Scheel's) There is nothing as good as Scheel's in the Twin Cities metro area.
I'm sure I came in about a mile and a half behind last place, but I had ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME! My mentor and guide said I did good (sic) for a first timer. I didn't violate any safety rules, didn't get disqualified, didn't shoot off any toes and I had ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME!
I'd attended a couple of these Wednesday evening matches to observe. These guys (and gals, and kids) are there to have a good time. They were friendly, welcoming, encouraging and helpful and they were obviously haveing ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME!
At one point it was necessary to aim and shoot thru a slit about knee high in a barricade. I can get down to kneeling just fine and right now, but getting back up is a problem if my right hand is occupied keeping a muzzle downrange and unavailable for aid in upward propulsion. I found a way to do it with a very wide bent-kneed stance and I hit every target with my first shot -- which was good because I got it done before I petrified in that position -- then scampered on like a geriatric gazelle with gout.
I had some equipment problems, primarily new magazines not seating (even though my left palm is bruised from smacking them) and failure to close to battery (cycle properly, gun quits working, needs attention). My mentor Roy examined my pistol (1911) afterwards and declared it to be far too dry and mentioned some lubrication points I'd never thought of though they make perfect sense. Oy can fix that with a little Tri-Flo from Mary's sewing machine maintenance supply. She's grinning wherever she is, saying, "way to go, Foreman!"
I don't know about the mags, I'll explore that a little. I've not had that problem with stock mags but I haven't been doing tactical reloads on the run either. It's some combination of me and the mags, probably more operator error than equipment deficiency. These are Kimber, stainless, supposed to be pretty good mags. Roy said yeah, Kimber mags are good. I think they're what he uses.
At one point I'd spent three of the 8 rounds just clearing malfunctions. They were laying on the ground. That was a timed stage with 5 targets, so I'd have to hit every target with one shot or I was outta luck. Not many guys did that tonight, but I hit all five steel targets with the five rounds I had left and I was shooting pretty fast. I think Roy's opinion of me swung north about then. Perhaps some others did as well. The new codger may be a klutz but he obviously can shoot.
I need to practice draw, routine use of safety on 1911, and tactical reloads while on the run. I never had a holster for a 1911 until Tuesday and consequently never had any occasion to bother with the safety. I have some new habits to develop in muscle memory. Well, I did have a 1911 in a holster in the Army, but I never drew it. I couldn't hit the inside of a closet with a 1911 back then. I can now! There are no bullet holes in any of my closets as evidence, but I assure you that I can hit the inside of a closet quite consistently.
Did I mention that I had a good time? A couple of guys asked, "are you hooked?" "Yup" They grinned and shot me thumbs up.
I think this definitely counts as both "social" and "an activity".
Even if it didn't, I had a hell of a good time. I'll be back!