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Rost Martin R1MF comes to Califnoria

Beginner looking to get into pistol competitions near OC

zymomoo

zymomoo

⚠️ New Member | No Deposits ☢️
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I’m in Orange County and interested in getting into pistol competitions. So far, the only local option I’ve found is Prado Running Gun.

Are there any other beginner-friendly matches or clubs around OC? Also, how do I get started with competitive shooting, and what should I know before signing up for my first match? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Check Practiscore. You have quite a few matches depending on the competition. Route 66 has some, Peris has some and if you haven’t had enough drive up to 5 Dogs in Bakersfield.
 
Prado used to be more hoser style. Recently they switched to more challenging stages bc participants were complaining stages were too easy
 
I was in this same boat last year. It's a bit further of a drive, but West End Gun Club has lots of matches monthly and they're cheaper than Route 66. Pretty fun and they're very welcoming to new competitors. Steel Challenge is a great beginner competition and the focus is on speed moreso than accuracy (you still have to hit the target, but as long as you hit the steel you're good). They also have practical pistol matches that are more similar to IDPA/USPSA. Tons of other matches like 2/3 gun too. Route 66 is great too and they're all very friendly, but expect to pay $55 or so for a match. I've heard good things about Prado but haven't ever been. Good luck man!
 
zymomoo said:
I’m in Orange County and interested in getting into pistol competitions. So far, the only local option I’ve found is Prado Running Gun.

Are there any other beginner-friendly matches or clubs around OC? Also, how do I get started with competitive shooting, and what should I know before signing up for my first match? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Around you, it’s SWPL in Sylmar, Prado in Chino, Piru, Pala, and Route 66. SWPL is the hardest match to shoot and subsequent the hardest to get a spot at.

There’s plenty of Intro to USPSA videos on YouTube.

Come with a good attitude, be safe, help your squad tape and reset, and try to learn something. You’ll quickly figure out if you like Dynamic Pistol shooting or not.

Fair warning, you won’t ever want to do any static shooting anymore. It’s just not as fun.
 
Dont Remember GIF


This is all awesome info
 
Evan's Gunworld has monthly indoor night matches that are pretty casual and beginner friendly.
No real divisions, just hit factor but scoring rules are USPSA style iirc.
They list the event on Practiscore.
 
As you get more experience, you’ll eventually figure out how to run the tablet, it’s very simple. The tablet is how you keep track of score. What’s actually challenging is working the timer and understanding when to stop the shooter due to circumstances that call for a reshoot or a disqualification. There are clubs that host NROI Range Officer classes, it’s very helpful to competitors even if you don’t intend to work a Major match as an RO. Knowing the rules is half the game.

This game largely is pretty straightforward, collect Alphas as fast as you can, but there are some nuances that most competitors would not be familiar with unless they’re working tons or matches or a well-seasoned competitor. Just comes with experience.
 
If you’re looking for an intro into comp course, check Forza Defense and Mindset Tactical.

They both hold a class once a month. Forza does theirs at FT3 and Mindset at Prado.
 
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