Just Took the USPSA Intro Class (Yolo Sportsmen's) – Here’s What I Learned

[riceman]

Hey BB says video is private????

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Hey BB says video is private????

My apologies, I didn't realize when you schedule a video that it makes it private instead of unlisted. I scheduled it for 5am release this morning!

 

[weaverftw]

My apologies, I didn't realize when you schedule a video that it makes it private instead of unlisted. I scheduled it for 5am release this morning!

Yeah I see it now (lord knows why I’m up at 5 on a Sunday); out of curiosity, did they have you shoot a classifier or give you an idea of where you would end up classifying? I’ve only ever really seen brand masters on video so I have no frame of reference for other classes and wondering where you fall with shooting at that speed (and also how your hits landed, any C/D/Ms)?

Nice job btw I can’t imagine how I’ll look when I try for the first time in a couple weeks under “stress”… the main reason I want to try this other than to have fun is to try to simulate some stress/adrenaline dump to test myself.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Yeah I see it now (lord knows why I’m up at 5 on a Sunday); out of curiosity, did they have you shoot a classifier or give you an idea of where you would end up classifying? I’ve only ever really seen brand masters on video so I have no frame of reference for other classes and wondering where you fall with shooting at that speed (and also how your hits landed, any C/D/Ms)?

Nice job btw I can’t imagine how I’ll look when I try for the first time in a couple weeks under “stress”… the main reason I want to try this other than to have fun is to try to simulate some stress/adrenaline dump to test myself.

Much appreciated! TLDR:

There was something close to a classifier during the intro class, at least from what I've seen so far. This was the four target stage at the end. While it may not be a classifier, my hit factor if I'm doing the math correctly was 5.71 (16 alphas which equal 80 points divided by 14.02 seconds), which should likely be around "B" class based on what I have found. But each stage is different, so this could move down to C if the expected HF is much higher or up to an A or M if the expected HF is lower. This is why I mentioned in the video that if I would have sped it up even dropping some charlies my hit factor would have increased.

My understanding so far: Your Class is determined based on the average of your first 4 classifiers, then based on the best of 6 going forward if I'm understanding correctly. That said, I bombed my first classifier by missing a mandatory reload on one of the sections. This gave me a procedural for every shot I took after missing the mandatory reload, so my first official classifier is likely not very good even though the hits and times were ok. I'll be covering this in my upcoming video based on my first match!

Again, still a newbie here, so if I've explained something incorrectly, my apologies, it's not malicious. This is what I've read, heard about and understand so far.

As for how you'll look doing it the first time, take comfort in the fact that as long as you are being safe, no one is there to criticize you. I had the fastest times on every stage during the intro class and I felt like I was going SUPER slow. There were folks taking twice as long to do the same stage. We all clapped, and were encouraging. I recently heard Ben Stoeger state that his first Class was GM! I would imagine this is the exception and not the rule. I'm hoping to walk in at least at B class, that way I beat Hunter Constantine, who states his first Class was C , but at the end of the day it's not that important. I'm still in the learning phase and my main focus is to be safe, don't get DQ'd, have fun, then after all of those things are in order without having to try hard I'll worry about doing well, going faster and classing up.

Speaking of Hunter Constantine, he has a GREAT video where he shows what the different classes look like in action!

 

[weaverftw]

Much appreciated! TLDR:

There was something close to a classifier during the intro class, at least from what I've seen so far. This was the four target stage at the end. While it may not be a classifier, my hit factor if I'm doing the math correctly was 5.71 (16 alphas which equal 80 points divided by 14.02 seconds), which should likely be around "B" class based on what I have found. But each stage is different, so this could move down to C if the expected HF is much higher or up to an A or M if the expected HF is lower. This is why I mentioned in the video that if I would have sped it up even dropping some charlies my hit factor would have increased.

My understanding so far: Your Class is determined based on the average of your first 4 classifiers, then based on the best of 6 going forward if I'm understanding correctly. That said, I bombed my first classifier by missing a mandatory reload on one of the sections. This gave me a procedural for every shot I took after missing the mandatory reload, so my first official classifier is likely not very good even though the hits and times were ok. I'll be covering this in my upcoming video based on my first match!

Again, still a newbie here, so if I've explained something incorrectly, my apologies, it's not malicious. This is what I've read, heard about and understand so far.

As for how you'll look doing it the first time, take comfort in the fact that as long as you are being safe, no one is there to criticize you. I had the fastest times on every stage during the intro class and I felt like I was going SUPER slow. There were folks taking twice as long to do the same stage. We all clapped, and were encouraging. I recently heard Ben Stoeger state that his first Class was GM! I would imagine this is the exception and not the rule. I'm hoping to walk in at least at B class, that way I beat Hunter Constantine, who states his first Class was C , but at the end of the day it's not that important. I'm still in the learning phase and my main focus is to be safe, don't get DQ'd, have fun, then after all of those things are in order without having to try hard I'll worry about doing well, going faster and classing up.

Speaking of Hunter Constantine, he has a GREAT video where he shows what the different classes look like in action!

Thanks for the video link, that is great context. Of course my main goals are the same as yours, safety always #1 with having fun a close second. Working hard to see incremental improvement will be the icing on the cake; I like a good challenge and want to try something new.

I’m very diligent about safety, so not too concerned about flashing anyone, crossing the 180, keeping finger off the trigger, etc, but I’m most worried about tripping or slipping in gravel or something since I’ve never been running/stopping/changing directions etc while handling a gun. I got some nice trail running shoes yesterday to wear for the class and matches, and plan to just take it slow at first. Also hope I don’t forget a mandatory reload or some other procedural thing that tanks my first run lol, that sucks but I bet you will drill that stuff into your head next time and won’t forget again!

Have you thought about what divisions you want to try out? Just Open with your Sand Viper or have you thought about using anything else for Carry Optics or Production? I think I’ll try Production with my CZ 75BD and maybe Carry Optics with the DWX Compact I’m picking up in 8 days if I decide to send it out to CGW to get the slide milled for an EPS Carry (will also go on my CCW permit). I don’t really have anything that would be at home in Open (might use my factory comp Echelon as it doesn’t fit anywhere else but will NOT be competitive lol).

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Thanks for the video link, that is great context. Of course my main goals are the same as yours, safety always #1 with having fun a close second. Working hard to see incremental improvement will be the icing on the cake; I like a good challenge and want to try something new.

I’m very diligent about safety, so not too concerned about flashing anyone, crossing the 180, keeping finger off the trigger, etc, but I’m most worried about tripping or slipping in gravel or something since I’ve never been running/stopping/changing directions etc while handling a gun. I got some nice trail running shoes yesterday to wear for the class and matches, and plan to just take it slow at first. Also hope I don’t forget a mandatory reload or some other procedural thing that tanks my first run lol, that sucks but I bet you will drill that stuff into your head next time and won’t forget again!

Have you thought about what divisions you want to try out? Just Open with your Sand Viper or have you thought about using anything else for Carry Optics or Production? I think I’ll try Production with my CZ 75BD and maybe Carry Optics with the DWX Compact I’m picking up in 8 days if I decide to send it out to CGW to get the slide milled for an EPS Carry (will also go on my CCW permit). I don’t really have anything that would be at home in Open (might use my factory comp Echelon as it doesn’t fit anywhere else but will NOT be competitive lol).

This is a new journey for me as well, and the best part is that it can keep me occupied literally for years, lol. Work on classing up, running other types of competitions like PCSL, IDPA, 3 Gun etc etc! I've been wanting to try this for years and recently saw @Renomay video where he said that essentially you probably already have the right gear to go compete, so here I am.

I too have always been incredibly focused on safety with firearms and it is absolutely second nature. That said, I broke the 180 during this class and had to reshoot the last stage as a result. I was walking backwards and stumbled, boom, broke the 180. Fortunately, for class they give you 3 DQ's before they fail you and that was my only DQ of the class. The solution in most cases seems to be to let the gun trail behind you, which is what I wound up doing in my first match and it worked out great.

The trail running shoes are a huge must, after wearing desert boots for my class I knew I couldn't do that anymore, especially coming off a recently sprained right ankle. I could barely walk for two days afterwards, haha.

I have been integrating a LOT more mag changes into my dry fire drills, that way I'm more conscious of the fact that I may need to be changing mags even when my mind is telling me that I shouldn't be.

As for divisions, I actually brought one of my G34's with me to both the Intro Class & my first match as a back-up gun. I will eventually get around to carry optics, revolver (I have a sweet S&W R8 that I would LOVE to go run!) talk about a challenge, Single Stack (1911 If I want to spend twice as much on ammo for a few extra points lol). I'd assume at some point I may try most divisions down the road. Would love to bring my Beretta 92 out as well, but it has a comp, so it would also be in Open. I figured I spent the small fortune on the Sand Viper, so I might as well use it. I've even heard of some pocket carry divisions, although they may not be in USPSA, but it would be insane to go out there and do this with my G43 for example!

The reason I like the Sand Viper is that I know that if I miss the target, it was absolutely me. It shoots exactly where you aim it every time, especially with the 1.0 MOA SRO I'm running. No like my Glocks don't, just a little extra confidence, likely due to the extra weight.

 

[riceman]

Hey B found the following on YouTube. Very informative and down to earth. I thought his presentation was so good I subscribed and will be checking out more of his stuff.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Hey B found the following on YouTube. Very informative and down to earth. I thought his presentation was so good I subscribed and will be checking out more of his stuff.

Much appreciated, I already follow him and have been watching his videos, very helpful for beginners as well!

 

[ChameBang]

I can't seem to find any intro to USPSA classes down here in LA/OC/IE counties. Anybody know of any?