If you carry a handgun for self-defense, it is crucial to practice and train regularly. Anytime you pick up a gun, you input information into your brain’s data bank that could be of use later. However, the simple fact is that nothing can completely prepare you for a fight for your life.

Range time and dry-fire practice certainly help, as long as you take it seriously and conduct proper drills. Training courses taught by knowledgeable instructors are also beneficial, but you must continue to practice what you have learned.

Match designers strive to create realistic scenarios for each shooting stage. Expect low-light situations and barricades.

The closest we can come to a real-world fight is by inducing stress through competition. Any discipline will help; even bullseye pistol will train you to focus on sight alignment and trigger control against pressure brought on by the clock. Obviously, though, competition that closely recreates real gunfight scenarios offers the most benefit.

The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) was created with that goal in mind. Over the years, however, some shooters came to believe the organization lost its way by becoming too focused on the competitive aspect and by opening the door for unrealistic race guns and other equipment. Debating that is for another time, except to say the competitive focus made it a very expensive game that was difficult for casual shooters to play. (USPSA later recognized that shortcoming and added a Production division limited to factory guns to help recruit new shooters.)

The creative use of fake foliage and multiple targets, coupled with stress brought on by the clock, forced the author to focus on marksmanship as well as maneuvering at the 2010 Smith & Wesson IDPA Indoor Championships.

In 1996 a few competitors, including Bill Wilson, Ken Hackathorn, John Sayle and Larry Vickers, decided to start a new competitive discipline more true to the concept of self-defense. They called the resulting organization the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA).

Robert Ray, IDPA membership and advertising director and editor of the association’s Tactical Journal, says the organization was designed for the beginning or average shooter. Match personnel are encouraged to help new shooters through that often-intimidating first competition.

My first IDPA match was a big one, the Indoor Championships at the Smith & Wesson Shooting Sports Center in Springfield, MA. Might as well start at the top.

I always seem to screw up the first stage of any competition, and this was no exception. Even though I calmed down and started shooting better, I didn’t win my division, but I did win top media shooter—which is like out-bowling the President. I didn’t dare look to see how many other writers were shooting!

An attempted robbery at a drive-through ATM is a real-life danger, which is why the scenario was mimicked at the Indoor Championships.

For a new shooter in any discipline, that all-important first match can be a bit scary. You don’t know the lingo, you don’t really understand the way it all works, and it appears like every other shooter is an old pro. IDPA strives to make sure you have some help through all that. After your first match, you will be hooked—I promise. After a few more, you will be the old pro, proudly showing newbies the ropes.

IDPA tries to keep the price of getting started reasonable. The idea is a shooter can start with a gun right out of the box—no custom work needed. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on the newest gadgets, fancy holsters or optical sights. Instead, you can compete with your carry gun.

There are five categories for handguns and equipment, so you compete against shooters using the same type of guns and ammunition. I can all but guarantee there is a division permitting you to shoot with any defensive handgun you currently own, as long as it’s chambered in 9 mm or larger.

Revolvers as well as semi-auto pistols have a place in IDPA competition. Separate divisions exist for each.

IDPA also ranks you by your skill level, so you compete against others with similar ability. That means everybody has a chance to win, even at their very first match. It also means top shooters still have some serious competition. In this way, IDPA is a sport for every level, from beginners to the best shooters in the world. I know, I shot with some of them in my first IDPA match. Being in the same group with top-ranked shooters is a great learning experience. Not only can you watch them shoot, but most are friendly and willing to help coach novices.

Competing in an IDPA match puts you in contact with a lot of people who can help with training. Everyone there is a shooter, and they all know other people who are shooters. This is the perfect networking facility to find anything you need, from more affordable ammo to info on the top shooting schools.

IDPA rules (there are a lot of them) are designed to make sure the guns and holsters are realistic for carry. The guns must be concealed with a garment, which makes you access your pistol and draw it the same way you would on the street. Stages usually require you to shoot from cover. Reloads are also from cover, and you cannot drop any magazine that still contains ammo. These are all well-thought-out rules that may save your life in the real world.

Shooting IDPA lets you use your personal-protection handgun in several different real-life situations. It makes you shoot while the clock is running and others are watching, both of which induce stress.

Not all stages require the shooter to start from a standing position. Imagine a sudden attack while you’re dining in a restaurant—firing from your chair might be the best option.

While that might seem like a bad thing, it is not. If you have to shoot to save your life, you will be experiencing a great deal of stress. Nothing short of actual combat can simulate that pressure exactly, but competitive shooting comes close. Your mind and body learn how to deal with that stress, which might carry over and help keep you alive in a real situation. You also build familiarity with your firearms and accessories, a necessity when you have to fight for your life.

Some contentious types claim this is not training. They argue there is no timer in real life, and that induces an element of distraction. They say since IDPA is a game, it introduces ingredients that skew the situation from what happens in the real world.

Perhaps that’s true. Defensive-pistol training courses might be more realistic. But after the three-day course is over, then what? You need to practice the skills you learned. IDPA competition is a great way to do so and keep your skills sharp.

The match directors and course designers for IDPA matches are encouraged to build each stage as a realistic, fight-for-your-life scenario. In fact, Ray told me IDPA stage designers often use reports from the “Armed Citizen” column in American Rifleman as inspiration for setting up the courses-of-fire.

Expect plenty of “no-shoot” targets as well as bad guys hiding behind cover or hostages. Every stage is different and you never know what to expect—just like in real life.

Most lifesaving shootouts require only one or two rounds, and some stages are that simple. Of course, this is a shooting game and a competition more than anything else, so a typical stage is a bit longer, but they never require more than 18 rounds. This appeals to a lot of today’s shooters, as the resulting low-round count for the match is a blessing with today’s ammo shortages and high prices.

One other thing: IDPA is a shooting competition, not an athletic event. While you will be required to move, there will not be a lot of running, jumping and climbing as in some other shooting competitions.

The association currently has 16,000 members, including 1,600 foreign members. An astounding 83 percent of members have carry permits, which is amazing when you consider the states that won’t issue permits or foreign members living in countries where no such permits exist. It is a fast-growing sport; two out of the first three months of 2010 have broken records for new IDPA members, and the third month fell short of breaking the record by only 11 members.

IDPA is a safe, challenging sport designed for concealed-carry permit holders. Its nature appeals to the multitudes of new gun owners who have accepted responsibility for personal protection by purchasing a gun. If you carry a handgun for self-defense, or if you just love to pull a trigger, perhaps it’s time you checked out IDPA.

Gear Up Practically

The gun I carry most often is a 1911 in .45 ACP. If IDPA is about using your carry gun, then it stands to reason I would shoot the same.

The 1911 with which I am most in love at the moment is the Smith & Wesson Performance Center SW1911. Being a left-handed shooter, one big reason I chose the pistol was its ambidextrous thumb safety. I also like the flared magazine well, serrations on the front and rear of the slide and the fact it has one of the best triggers I have encountered on any pistol.

The gun came with adjustable sights. However, I replaced the black post in front with a fiber-optic sight. After the low-light Indoor Championships match, that sight was destined to be swapped for one from XS Sight Systems containing tritium. Shooting IDPA identified a real problem with my carry gun: I could not see the sights, even the fiber-optic sights, in low light. Who knows, finding and fixing that problem might save my life one day.

I love good leather, but I have come to realize Kydex makes a lot of sense for both concealed carry and IDPA competition. My Kydex holster and magazine holders are from Comp-Tac. The leather belt I had been using was too limber, so I ordered the company’s Kydex-reinforced belt. It turned out to be so comfortable, I use it for everyday concealed carry.

With a few boxes of Federal American Eagle 230-grain FMJ, I’m ready to shoot. IDPA is pretty low-maintenance competition. In addition to eye and ear protection, all you need is a gun, a few spare magazines, a holster and some mag pouches. I bet you already have the limited equipment it takes to get started.

This is a good, close-range pistol speed drill that works on a lot of skills, including focus, sight picture, cadence, transition, precision and reloading speed.

The Tri-Lambda uses nine USPSA targets. Three are arranged side-by-side at 3 to 5 yards. On the left are three more targets at a 45-degree angle to the first trio and three more are on the right, also at a 45-degree angle to the center. One target in each of the two side banks will have a “hostage” covering all but a few inches of the center “A” zone or set up to force a head shot.

Scoring is simple. One-half second is added for each point dropped—shots out of the “A” zone of a USPSA target or center bullseye on any other target. A miss adds 20 seconds. If you shoot a hostage, it’s 20 seconds, plus 20 more for the miss.

The goal is to get shooters away from the idea of a fast double-tap and into what Lamb likes to call a “controlled pair.” While a lot of double-tap shooters see the sights for the first shot and hope and pray for a hit with the second, the concept of a controlled pair involves the shooter seeing a clear sight picture for both shots. When this is executed correctly, it will sound like six continuous shots. In other words, the transitions between targets will take about the same amount of time as the splits between shots.

Lamb likes to use the term “drive the gun,” which means pushing the gun to the target. But, it also means you are in control—in the driver’s seat—and that you should always have your pistol doing what you want it to do. You drive it from target to target on a prescribed path and at a prescribed speed. You are driving the gun, but you must also focus on small areas of all the targets. So, while going fast is desirable, it’s only a good thing when you have total control.

At the buzzer, the shooter will draw his pistol and fire two shots at each center target, then reload and shoot two shots at the right or left targets as they prefer. Last, reload and fire two shots each at the remaining targets.
Most first timers complete the drill in about 15 seconds. With practice, times usually drop to 10 seconds. The best do it in less than eight seconds. Remember, that’s after penalties are added, so you must shoot it clean and fast.

To view a video of Lamb shooting the Tri-Lambda in 7.69 seconds, go to vikingtactics.com.

If you shoot a lot, steel targets also wind up being cost-effective. I just priced some new IDPA cardboard targets. In lots of 100, they run about 65 cents each, plus shipping. For about the price of 600 IDPA targets, you can own a six-plate dueling tree. Six hundred cardboard targets will not get a serious shooter through a season, but my Action Targets dueling tree is more than five years old and still going strong.

However, there is a danger in shooting steel, particularly at close range. Whether you’re a cowboy action buff or a USPSA competitor, you are likely familiar with or have experienced splashback. Steel targets can deflect small
bullet fragments back at shooters and bystanders.

Leaving a Mark

Even though the author hung a target less than 2 feet from a steel plate, frangible bullet particles bouncing off the steel did little more than sandblast the paper.

Usually splashback is just an annoyance, but it can be hazardous. I was at a range once with a few other shooters, trying to photograph a new pistol tracer round an ammo company was selling as a training aid. We were shooting a steel target that was full of deep pockmarks from the soft steel being pounded by cartridges too powerful for it to handle. A large piece of bullet splashed back from 18 yards, hitting my cousin in the leg. It penetrated his new blue jeans and his large, muscular leg with enough force to crack his femur.

Granted, that was an extreme case, caused by a bad confluence of problems. The hollow-base construction of the bullet caused it to break into large pieces, and we should not have been shooting at a damaged target.
However, splashback can happen even with proven bullet designs and steel that’s in good condition.

A few weeks back, I was practicing for a match using 9 mm hardball ammo. One of the bullet jackets flattened on impact with the steel target and became a miniature buzz-saw blade flying through the air. The splashback caught the side of my ribs, slicing my chest with its high-speed, razor-sharp edge. The result was a bloody shirt, a small scar and a lesson: I was shooting too close to the steel.

Distance is the best remedy for splashback, since bullet particles do not, as a rule, fly very far. But, the key to a lot of action shooting is having targets up close and personal. It helps to angle the steel so the top is tipped forward to direct the bullet down, but that’s not possible with every target style.

From Dust to Dust

Frangible ammo is safe to use on steel targets at close distances, which makes it a good choice for self-defense training and tactical-shooting competition.

One of the best approaches is to do what the International Cartridge Corporation (ICC) Lead-Free Championship was designed to showcase: Use frangible bullets for training on steel targets at CQB distances. The Lead-Free Championship is hosted by ICC at its Reynoldsville, PA, facility as a way of showing gratitude to active-duty and retired military, law enforcement, EMS and emergency-room personnel, as well as firefighters and other first responders. Competitors must fall into one of these categories. All firearms are provided by ICC—no advantages to those with tricked-out raceguns here—and the entire match is shot exclusively with frangible ammo.

The frangible bullets used by ICC in its Green Elite TR and Green Elite NT pistol training rounds—as well as those designed by other manufacturers for safe, up-close work on steel—are usually made by a variation of a process called sintering. This method heats a powdered material to just below its melting point until its particles adhere to each other. Frangible bullets are generally a composite of powdered copper and tin formed under extremely high pressure and heat. They have no jacket, and the powdered metal breaks into dust upon impact with any harder material, such as a target’s steel. Other frangible bullets are made from a matrix of powdered copper and nylon. These are injection molded and also completely disintegrate upon impact.

Some frangible bullets—usually for rifle cartridges—use powdered-metal cores inside a jacket. Examples are the Barnes M/LE RRLP (Reduced Ricochet, Limited Penetration)—which ICC loads in .223 Rem., .308 Win. and 7.62×39 mm for its Green Elite JOT (Jacketed Open Tip) line—and the bullets used by Dynamic Research Technologies in its line of rifle ammo. Jacketed frangible bullets are capable of extreme accuracy. They also offer increased durability over totally frangible bullets, which makes them less likely to become damaged during loading or handling. However, the jacket material can cause splashback at close range, and they are best reserved for steel targets that are at least 50 yards away.

Most frangible pistol bullets are made of compressed and sintered, powdered metal. They lack jackets, which allow them to completely disintegrate upon impact with hard surfaces like steel.

With totally frangible or copper/nylon bullets, you can shoot steel targets at close range without the worry of splashback. How close? Well, I have seen demonstrations where a guy wearing sneakers stood on a plate and emptied a pistol into the steel between his feet. Nobody recommends trying that—for a lot of reasons. However, most agree you are safe shooting steel as close as 15 feet with these bullets.

Saving Paper

I am a hands-on kind of guy, so I decided to conduct my own test. I placed a couple of different steel targets in front of the backstop in my backyard range and put paper targets 5 feet in front of them. First, I tested the ICC Green Elite NT and HP Duty pistol ammo, shooting 10 rounds each of 9 mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP at the steel. After 30 rounds smashing against steel, there was no evidence of splashback; the paper targets remained unmarked.

Next, I loaded 10 rounds of Green Elite NT .223 Rem. ammo in an AR-15 and shot at the steel. Even with the higher velocity of bullets launched from a rifle, the paper was not touched.

Conventional jacketed bullets can break into large, sharp fragments when they contact steel targets, sometimes flying toward the shooter and bystanders. Such splashback can usually be controlled by distance and target placement, but frangible bullets help minimize the danger.

When I switched to conventional jacketed bullets, there was some splashback that tore holes in the paper. Notably, there was far less splashback with an angled target than with one hung straight up and down on the frame, demonstrating that target placement and orientation can control splashback to a degree. But again, not all steel targets give you the option of placing them at an angle on the frame, and even then it changes presentation to the shooter.

Finally, I set fresh paper targets directly off to the sides of the steel so they would catch particles that deflected to the left and right of the target. After more shooting with the Green Elite NT pistol rounds, the paper was peppered with hundreds of small marks, but most did not penetrate it.

Dan Smith, ICC’s vice president of operations, often demonstrates shooting at steel from a few inches away with his company’s frangible training rounds. He told me it feels like a windy day at the beach, as the muzzle blast blows the particles back at him. I suspect the paper targets had the same experience during my test. It looked more like they had been sandblasted than shot. But when I tested FMJ ammo with the same target placement, the paper was shredded, and some of the holes were pretty big.

Plenty More Pluses

Besides minimizing splashback, frangible bullets eliminate another potential downside of some steel targets—ricochet—an issue in today’s increasingly crowded countryside. Since frangible bullets disintegrate into thousands of tiny particles upon impact with steel, you need not worry about them flying into parts unknown.

As the ICC Lead-Free Championship suggests, frangible bullets do not contain lead. Some ranges mandate shooters use lead-free bullets, and frangible ammo meets that requirement. The Green Elite NT line from ICC, along with some frangible ammo from other manufacturers, is also loaded with lead-free primers. These loads can be used on any of the indoor ranges that require ammo to be completely lead-free.

Another positive aspect of frangible bullets is they are less damaging to steel targets, which helps extend their lifespan. After investing $1,000 in a new plate rack, you want it to last as long as possible, right? The key to shooting steel targets with rifle ammo—even when using frangible bullets—is to keep the impact velocity low. With commercial targets made of rifle-rated AR500 or AR550 steel, impact velocity should be well below 3,000 fps. Even when shooting frangible bullets, I found my AR500 steel targets would have a dimple I could feel with my finger if the bullet impacted at 2,900 fps. When I lowered the impact velocity to 2,700 fps, there was no damage. If you are going to train at close quarters with your rifle, consider using reduced-velocity loads like those available from ICC.

Accuracy with frangible loads, like any other ammunition, is subject to the whims and intracacies of the firearms being used. Frangible bullets can be bore sensitive, because sintered bullets cannot obturate in the bore and swell to fill an oversized condition. However, I tested handloaded sintered bullets in several AR-15s and got five, five-shot groups that averaged right at a 1 MOA, with the best group being .7 inch. I have done less-formal
testing with my handguns, but I have found that most frangible pistol ammo rivals conventional ammo in accuracy.

Jacketed, frangible bullets like the Barnes RRLP can produce sub-MOA accuracy, a necessary quality for long-range, precision-shooting practice. Because of potential splashback from the jacket, this style of bullet should be reserved for steel targets set at 50 yards or farther.

But what does it matter? Frangible ammo is designed for close-range work on steel targets. So what if your gun shoots 1.5 MOA instead of .5 MOA. Will that make you miss at 5 yards?

For the longer-range work, try jacketed frangible bullets like the Barnes M/LE RRLP or MPG (Multi-Purpose Green). They are extremely accurate and lead free. Plus, their frangible properties greatly reduce the risk of a ricochet and make them less damaging to steel targets.

One slight downside to frangible bullets is they tend to be light for their caliber. Point of impact with frangible loads may be a little different than with other ammo used for training or personal protection. I haven’t found it to be a big issue for close-range training. At those kind of distances, point-of-impact shift is likely minimal. You could change the settings on adjustable sights or optics if it bothers you, but be sure to return to the zero you use for your self-defense loads—and check it—when you are finished with your practice session. While most frangible loads aren’t ideal for self-defense, there are options for this task.

Steel targets can challenge your skills and add realism to your training. But using self-defense ammuntion or FMJs only increases the chances of splashback toward both you and bystanders. Why not avoid the problem entirely with today’s generation of frangible ammo, which keeps shooting safe?

When the steel is close, go with frangible. Or you can always bring lots of Band-Aids.

Shoot 30 stages of fire with a 12-gauge shotgun over the course of four brutally hot and humid Kentucky days, and one is bound to walk away with a few impressions. I did that and more after stepping to the line for the 2010 International Practical Shooting Confederation Pan American Shotgun Championship. Quite simply, I learned more about shooting and loading a shotgun in those four days than I had in my entire life.

Nearly 100 competitors representing 13 countries battled for individual and team honors during the championship, called Pan Am for short, held July 29 to Aug. 1, at the Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park City, KY. Some of the best shooters tested their practical shotgun skills at the IPSC Level IV event.

With a minimum of 365 rounds required to complete the Pan Am’s 30 stages, having shells readily available was a paramount consideration.

A Level IV match is set up with a defined number of short, medium and long courses of fire. For every six stages, the breakdown is three short, two medium and one long course. With a shoulder-numbing 30 stages of shotgun, the breakdown for the Pan Am was 15 short, 10 medium and five long courses of fire.

“IPSC utilizes this format to keep the shooting based on firearms skills and not athletic ability,” said match co-director Larry Houck. “We took that to the maximum with the Pan American.”

To successfully complete the Pan Am, a round count of 365 was required; 285 birdshot, 45 slugs and 35 buckshot. That number, of course, is only possible if you’re talented enough to avoid missing a single shot. Needless to say, I burned through much more than the prescribed round count.

Shooters used a variety of reloading methods to keep their shotguns running. The techniques were as diverse as the means to carry spare ammo, which included belt carriers and even forearm bands.

“We tested every shotgun skill,” said match director Linda Chico. “Pretty much everything you can do with a shotgun, somewhere that skill was tested.”

Needless to say, the Pan Am required competitors to be competent in all aspects of shotgun shooting. However, it was how the stages of fire were presented that set this match apart, from lightning-fast short courses where competitors shredded steel at close range, to chest-pumping climbs over natural terrain to engage stationary and aerial targets.

In short-course design, none were more explosive than stage 5. Set in the woods, eight steel plates were set in a half-circle array requiring competitors to rotate approximately 130 degrees, with targets set 10 to 15 yards from the shooting box. Competitors began with eight rounds loaded in the gun, standing erect and relaxed anywhere in the 9-square-foot shooting box and positioned directly behind a large tree that broke the course into two shooting lanes, one on either side of the tree. The shotgun was held in the ready condition with the muzzle pointed downrange and butt placed along the shooter’s strong-side hip. With the safety engaged and the finger outside the trigger guard, competitors mounted at the audible timer. Reading the stage description took longer than it took Team FNH USA’s Mark Hanish to complete it with a blistering run of 2.68 seconds—with all targets neutralized and no penalties.

Conversely, stage 3, “Blue Ridge Parkway,” which featured the highest round count of the match, was a woods-walk course littered with 18 steel plates, six steel poppers and two aerial clay pigeons, for 26 total targets and a possible 160 points.

To ease the reloading process, many shooters utilized an external, extended feed guide, which helped to quickly load rounds into the magazine tube.

U.S. Open Team member Clint Upchurch ran his Saiga, customized by Robert Wright of R&R Targets, to a time of 29 seconds flat. Finland’s Roger Karp took an extremely impressive stage win in the Standard Manual Division with a time of 37.15 seconds—using a pump gun to outrun the field of semi-automatics by a full second.

For many Americans, the systematic approach, a staple of IPSC shooting throughout the world, is a bit foreign, as most top U.S. shotgunners hail from the 3-gun world, where outlaw matches provide stage designs that are anything but systematic. While many of the Pan Am’s stages at first glance appeared simple, the courses of fire proved a worthy challenge for the best practical shotgunners in the world.

I used all stock equipment. I ran a Remington 1100 Tac4 featuring an eight-round tubular magazine, oversized bolt handle and fiber-optic front sight. Federal Premium Target Handicap No. 7 1⁄2, Federal Power-Shok 2 3⁄4-inch, 9-pellet 00 buckshot and Remington 2 3⁄4-inch Slugger rifled slugs were sent downrange. I probably burned more than 500 rounds through the weekend with only one failure to feed due to a shamefully dirty chamber—remedied with a bore snake and some Rem Oil.

Though a relative newcomer to the practical shotgun scene, the Saiga system’s box magazine offers a big advantage when high round counts are the order of the day.

Luckily, I was squadded with experienced shooters, and all around us were the absolute best practical shotgun shooters in the world. When I needed more shell caddies, a squad member was quick to hand one out. From help with stage breakdowns, to loading tips, to sharing a cold beverage at the end of the day, the willingness to help fellow team or squad members was amazing.

This was hands-down the coolest match I’ve ever shot in outside of 3-gun, period. That said, it had a lot of similarities to 3-gun I don’t think you normally get in a standard pistol match, even though it was a single-gun format.

“I thought the match was phenomenal,” said Joe Satterfield. “A 30-stage match of any kind is a rarity, but with shotgun it is unheard of. This match was definitely a mental and physical marathon. I was fortunate to have recognized that ahead of time and prepared for it.”

Satterfield’s preparedness was evident. The veteran 3-gun competitor, who normally uses a semi-automatic shotgun in competition, seemingly came out of nowhere with a pump gun to turn in the top American score for the match (third-place overall), thereby leading the U.S. Standard Manual team to a first-place finish.

“I came in and shot pump because I knew there was a spot on the U.S. Standard Manual Team, and I really wanted the opportunity to represent the United States,” said Satterfield, a law enforcement officer from Georgia. “Most people don’t realize, because I shoot tactical division in 3-gun, but I have a lot of real-world time with a pump shotgun. I started shooting a semi-auto in competition because the field is usually deeper. At this match though, there were many more international shooters and international teams in Standard Manual, and I wanted the opportunity to shoot the pump. I have trained literally hundreds of law enforcement officers to use a pump shotgun…I am very comfortable with that type of shotgun.”

By requiring the use of cover, the Pan Am course furthered its practical credentials. Though it was a shotgun-only competition, it felt like a 3-gun tournament.

And while Satterfield shot a very even, consistent match, he gave a tremendous amount of credit to his teammates, two of whom are often regarded among the best pump shotgunners in the country—Patrick Kelley and Trapr Swonson. Along with Jansen Jones, the four men came together in remarkable fashion, with encouragement and applause on display throughout the event.

“The biggest factor in my match was that I managed to stay really consistent for 30 stages with only about four that I did not shoot as well as I wanted,” Satterfield said. “I got two stage wins but was really only trying to stay consistent. Patrick Kelley, Jansen Jones and Team Captain Swonson were the best teammates a guy could have, and we all really tried to help each other perform well in our quest to win team gold for the U.S.”

Although normally fierce competitors against each other in national USPSA or 3-gun events, the U.S. team members came together and worked for a common goal. The result: a clean American sweep across all the team categories.

“Standing on that podium, wearing a red, white and blue jersey, and having gold medals hung around my teammates’ necks—knowing I contributed to that is one of the most emotionally rewarding things that will ever happen to me as a shooter,” Satterfield said. “I love to shoot for money and prizes, but shooting for national pride—well, I know a little bit of how Olympians must feel.”

With the Pan Am’s fast-paced action, there were plenty of smoking chambers, hot barrels and reloads.

In the Standard Division, the U.S. captured a team title led by Carl Carbon, Robert Romero, Taran Butler and Kurt Miller. Also competing in Standard, the U.S. Ladies team took first place, led by Tasha Hanish, Dianna Liedorff and junior shooter Katie Harris.

In the individual standings, however, Europeans came in and stole the show. Finland’s Karp bested Italy’s Paolo Zambai by 0.178 percentage points to win the Standard Manual division, with Satterfield coming in third place. While the Americans won the team title, four of the top five finishers were from foreign shores, with U.S. shooters placing five in the top 10.

The U.S. Standard Team fared better individually, taking a team title, but owning the leader board from second through seventh place, including Butler, Chris Sechiatano, Romero, Carbon, Miller and Jeremy Parker. However, the title went to Italy’s Roberto Vezzoli, who outlasted Butler by 0.758 percentage points.

The European dominance of individual awards extended to the Ladies title as well, with Great Britain’s Vanessa Duffy besting America’s top female, Tasha Hanish. In the Junior category, Britain’s Josephine Adam defeated Harris, who battled shotgun reliability throughout the match.

Ultimately, many of the finest shotgunners in the world hail from outside the U.S. “The USA only ‘plays’ the game,” Kelley said. “The international community is the game.”

The notable exception was the Open division, where U.S. competitors swept the first 12 spots on the leader board, taking the team title and thoroughly dominating a small international field that offered up little real competition. Mike Voigt further cemented his status of one of the two (along with Smith & Wesson’s Jerry Miculek) best Open shooters in multi-gun by beating second place James Darst by nearly 100 match points. Clint Upchurch and Robert Wright ran their Saigas to third and fourth place finishes, respectively. Voigt, Darst, Upchurch and Wright also made up the U.S. Open Team that combined for 5237.2855 points, easily topping the Brazilian team that combined for 3252.4342.

By successfully hosting a Level IV match—by all accounts the Pan American was a complete home run— USPSA is now primed to receive a Level V world shoot in the near future. An international rifle, shotgun, pistol or 3-gun shoot are all possible.

Lee: Despite not being in the show for very long, my overall experience was good. I met 15 incredibly talented people from all over the country who shared my passion for shooting. This definitely was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I do not regret doing. My only regret is not having time to prepare myself by practicing with guns that I was not familiar with.

SI: What was your reaction to being picked last when the red and blue teams were originally formed?

Lee: I certainly wasn’t excited at being picked last. The rational part of me was thinking, “These people don’t know what I do.” So I just sucked it up and hoped that I could prove myself to these people.

SI: What was your shooting experience prior to Top Shot? When did you start shooting? Who took you to the range for the first time and how old were you?

Lee: I am a competitive IPSC/USPSA shooter. This is my 20th year competing in the Open Division. My Dad brought me to the shooting range with him a few weeks before my 13th birthday.

SI: Given that experience, how do you think you performed in the team challenges? Do you think you are a better shooter than your performance on the show indicated?

Lee: Well, having not hit a single thing on the team challenge definitely crushed my soul. I went into this competition thinking that as long as I follow the fundamentals of shooting (sight alignment, trigger control, etc.), it wouldn’t matter what gun was presented to us. I’m used to shooting with a camera behind me and crowds of people watching, so I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal, but when you go to the line with guns that you barely have time to practice with or none at all (first challenge), that throws you off quite a bit.

I know I am a better shooter than what my performance on the show indicated. You don’t win two IPSC world championships by missing all your targets. I don’t mind losing or failing, because I know that only makes me a better competitor, but to failboat two challenges in front of millions of people is very disheartening.

SI: Did the paintball aspect of the team challenge effect the way you performed? Were you tired or anxious when you got the Colt Official Police revolver?

Lee: The physical aspect of the paintball challenge did not affect me at all. I am used to going on full sprints and stopping abruptly and engage targets. The only thing I stressed about was the debate in my head whether to shoot the Colt revolver single-action or double-action. Earlier at practice, I tried it both ways and found that I shot better in double action. How? I will never know but I think it was that inner argument that brought about my missing those targets. As any competitive shooter would attest, once those voices in your head start arguing, you’re pretty much toast.

SI: In that light, why do you think you were nominated?

Lee: Simply, I didn’t perform. I’m supposed to be a pistol shooter and I didn’t hit a thing.

SI: Had you ever fired full-auto firearms before the Thompson?

Lee: Never. I’ve seen the Thompson in movies and I’ve always wanted to shoot one because it just looks so cool.

SI: Changing the subject a bit. Being one of two women on the show, did you see any difference in the way you (and Maggie) were treated by the men? What were some of the differences in terms of accommodations, living space, conversations, etc. between you and Maggie and you and the male participants?

Lee: The guys treated us very well. They were all gentlemen and were like brothers. Maggie and I shared a room in an extended part of the house. As for conversations, etc., it was like family.

SI: What are your thoughts on the significance of Top Shot when it comes to exposing the public to shooting and allowing the normal person to see firearms in a different light?

Lee: When I first saw Top Shot, it made me happy. I love to promote shooting as a sport and emphasizing that guns aren’t things you should be afraid of. I like how Top Shot encourages shooting. I’ve heard so much feedback from people who never shot before wanting to go try shooting because it looked like FUN on TV. There are many schools of thought when it comes to shooting, and I’m more into the sporting aspect of it. It’s a great skill to have!

SI: Would you do this whole thing over again? Why or why not?

Lee: Only if I was cast with this Season’s Cast. I can’t imagine being with any other group of people. We have a lot of GREAT people from the military who definitely represented their respective branches very well. I can honestly say that I am glad we have these people protecting our country.

SI: Finally, who is your pick to win this season? Why?

Lee: Gosh, that’s hard. Of course I’m rooting for Maggie but there are so many talented and well-rounded shooters this season that it is difficult to pick!

Leading the way in competition-grade polymer pistols is the father of the Wondernine, Glock. The company’s pistols are currently the most common on IDPA and USPSA Production Division firing lines. This represents a huge field of shooters, and Glock has created such support there is a cottage industry dedicated to aftermarket competition parts for its pistols. The obvious choices from Glock are the Glock 34 and 35—chambered in 9 mm and .40 S&W respectively. Glock’s competitive shooting team uses the Glock 34 for USPSA Production, IDPA Stock and Enhanced Service Pistol, Bianchi Cup Production, Steel Challenge and pretty much any other sport that calls for a soft-shooting, accurate 9 mm. But with Glock, your choices aren’t limited to “competition” guns. If something a little more practical is your flavor, the Glock 19 or Glock 17 (or 23 and 22 if you prefer .40 S&W) are excellent choices for competition. For .45-caliber fans, Glock offers the Glock 21 and G21SF, both great for IDPA’s Custom Defensive Pistol division.

If Glocks aren’t your cup of tea, have no fear. Rapidly gaining ground are Smith & Wesson’s M&P pistols. Used in competition by Smith & Wesson’s shooting team, the M&P has built an impressive record in USPSA Production and IDPA competition. There are two M&P pistols designed with competitive shooters in mind—the Pro Series M&P9 in 9 mm and the M&P9 JG, also in 9 mm. The Pro Series M&P9 features a 5-inch barrel. The longer sight radius makes the gun easier to shoot accurately and the resultant added heft reduces felt recoil. The JG in M&P9 JG stands for Julie Golob, the captain of Smith & Wesson’s shooting squad and designer of this special-edition pistol. For each JG pistol sold, the company donates a portion of the proceeds to help breast cancer research. The pistol comes from the factory with a 4.25-inch barrel, Warren Tactical rear sight and a competition trigger job.

Another popular choice for polymer competition guns is the Springfield Armory XD and XD(M), which, like the Glock, have spawned a small industry of custom shops dedicated to hot-rodding these carry guns into serious competition pistols. These are competition-ready pistols from the factory, with their match barrels and Heinie sights. The 4.5-inch barrel is great for action pistol competition, and the classic XD is available with a 5-inch barrel.

Glock, Smith & Wesson and Springfield are not the only players in the competition game when it comes to polymer pistols. While they certainly represent the “big three” in terms of market saturation, if none of their guns fit your niche, but you still want the advantages a polymer pistol has to offer, there are plenty of guns out there for you. Heckler & Koch’s P30L in 9 mm would make an excellent IDPA gun, offering HK’s legendary accuracy on an easy-shooting polymer frame. Possibly the best deals on the market right now are from FNH USA—the FNP, FNX and FNP-45 are top-quality pistols that don’t cost a ridiculous amount of money. Used by FNH USA’s competition shooting team in USPSA and 3-gun competition, these guns feature the ability to be carried cocked-and-locked or traditional double-action, with the first shot being DA and the rest being from a short, single-action pull. Also available is Ruger’s SR9, a 9 mm featuring adjustable sights and a thinner grip than found on a 1911, making it one of the easiest to shoot double-stack pistols on the market. The SR9 is a great buy for a new shooter as it has a 4-inch barrel that’s good both for competition and concealed carry.

Any one of these polymer pistols can be a great choice for competition, but the most important quality is your personal comfort with your handgun. All the technology in the world won’t help you win if you’re not at ease with the pistol. Thankfully, there are plenty of options and aftermarket modifications to ensure you find the right gun.

What is Action Shooting?

Action shooting is a generic term that encompasses a wide range of shooting games, but the most widely recognized flavors are USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, Bianchi Cup and 3-Gun. Each sport has its differences, yet it’s more than possible for the average concealed-carry permit holder to buy one set of gear and compete in everything. If you carry a 1911, a Glock, an XD or any number of modern pistols in a service caliber and can get a good outside-the-waistband holster and several spare magazines, you’re ready to go. IDPA and USPSA are the most common, and their divisions are reflected in Steel Challenge as well. For 3-gun, just add your home-defense carbine and shotgun to the mix, and you’re ready to go. Here’s a look at the divisions in IDPA and USPSA.

IDPA – International Defensive Pistol Association

IDPA was founded in the early 1990s by competitive shooters with the intent to get back to the roots of practical shooting, namely to sharpen the shooter’s skills with realistic carry guns and gear. While in its nearly two decades of existence many things about it have changed, the insistence on no race guns, use of concealment gear and limiting the number of magazines to two (plus one in the gun) keeps IDPA grounded in its traditions of defensive shooting. IDPA has five competitive divisions, one for every gun you might be carrying:

• Custom Defensive Pistol: The flagship division of IDPA, this division is limited to pistols chambered in .45 ACP only. Originally intended for 1911-style pistols (as evidenced by the capacity limit of 8+1), today’s IDPA matches will find 1911s competing alongside Glock 21s, Smith & Wesson M&P45s and other polymer pistols chambered in the venerable .45 ACP.
• Enhanced Service Pistol (also known as “The Browning Hi Power Division”): While any pistol legal for Stock Service Pistol is also legal for Enhanced Service Pistol, the division rules have it set up for single-action pistols in 9 mm, .38 Super and .40 S&W. Your Glock 17 can certainly run here, but if IDPA had a race-gun division, it would be ESP. This is where you’ll find 1911s in 9 mm and .40 S&W set up to run as fast as possible. In an interesting rule interpretation, which has increased the popular of Enhanced Service Pistol, the Springfield Armory XD pistols are classified in this division by IDPA—meaning that your 9 mm XD will be at home right here, and just as competitive as the 1911s.
• Stock Service Pistol: Here are your stock guns. Glocks, SIGs, Berettas, M&Ps, Ruger SR9s—this is the division for the most popular carry guns on the planet.
• Enhanced Service Revolver: Not a lot of carry guns will fit in this category, unless you happen to carry a Smith & Wesson Model 625 revolver in .45 ACP.
• Stock Service Revolver: The most common carry gun in the galaxy before the Wondernine Revolution was the 6 shot, .38 Spl. revolver. These guns live and breathe in IDPA’s Stock Service Revolver division, which, with the exception of the dedicated revolver sports, is the most popular place for the wheelguns to play.

If you carry a 1911, a Smith & Wesson Model 10, or a Glock 19, IDPA has a place for your guns.

USPSA – United States Practical Shooting Association

USPSA is the American sanctioning body of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), originally founded by Col. Jeff Cooper to focus on teaching the fundamentals of defensive shooting. In the time since its founding, USPSA/IPSC has retained two divisions that are suitable for your every day carry gear.

• USPSA Single Stack: Not recognized by IPSC at the international level, USPSA absorbed Single Stack after it existed as an independent match for some time. This is the place to run your 1911. The division rules specify practical holsters and magazine pouches, and limit the modifications allowed. If you’re a fan of the 1911 and carry one, this is your division.
• Production: Here there be monsters! Production is one of USPSA’s most popular divisions owing to the fact that you can buy a stock Ruger SR9, a good holster and several extra magazines and have everything you need to compete. Because of the popularity of Production division, you’ll also see lots of the top professional shooters from Glock, Smith & Wesson, FNH-USA and other companies competing here. Modern double-stack handguns rule this division, and it’s the best place to bring your carry gear.

Additionally, USPSA has a third division good for carry guns called Limited-10. While it’s not used as such right now, it has tremendous potential to provide a competitive home for the world of Glocks and other defensive guns chambered in .40 S&W and .45 ACP that aren’t competitive in Production.  USPSA is different from IDPA in that it doesn’t require concealing garments and has higher round counts, but you can’t go wrong shooting either discipline. In fact, you should shoot both! The more trigger time you get, the better prepared you’ll be.

Everything Else

Steel Challenge has divisions that mirror each of IDPA’s and USPSA’s divisions, so your gear will compete across the board there. For example, if you have a Kimber 1911 you carry every day, five Blackhawk CQC Single Stack magazine pouches, an outside-the-waistband holster from Safariland and a good belt, you’re ready to compete in IDPA’s Custom Defensive Pistol and USPSA Single Stack. Carry a Glock 19? IDPA Stock Service Pistol and USPSA Production will be great places for you to practice and train. Whatever you carry, competitive shooting has a place for your guns and gear, and you’ll certainly benefit from the additional trigger time. Who knows, you might even have some fun!