Thought on July 23 Clash of Metal

My family and I do not normally shoot handgun matches. We are Rifle people and have travelled all over America shooting standing Rifle Matches. To further our skills and to get out of our comfort zone we went to Magnolia last Saturday and shot the Clash of Metal event. We did not have perfect holsters and mag holders but put together what we had as well as we could.

The Match was a great family atmosphere Match. The experienced shooters guided us through the Match procedures. Cliff loaned me equipment so that I could shoot also. The speed of the match is fast. The perceived need for speed brings out weaknesses in my techniques that I need to work on. Our Glock and the Glock we borrowed ran like sewing machines. I do not remember any competitor having a single equipment malfunction during the match. There was no elitism exhibited at this Match even from the most highly skilled shooters. Everyone was helpful and friendly.

I see the steps to be made in participating in Competitive Handgun Matches if a person has never done this before:
(1) First start with Clash of Metal.
(2) Then Outlaw Steel(or steel challenge events).
(3) The ICORE if you local club will let you shoot semi-autos for fun.
(4) Then USPSA or IPSC.

My suggestion is jump right if you are interested in Handgun Competition. Do not go to watch these matches. You do not have to have fancy stuff. Go to shoot!

Thanks to everyone who helped us at this Match.

You've got the order just right. Steel is a great place to start, because everybody loves to hear that feedback from your hits. It's what got me started, and now I am hooked. We have plenty of people that come out to the various matches every month, who don't have high dollar equipment and just run what they've got and they have a blast. I have yet to experience any elitists or experienced shooters with a poor attitude at any of the local matches. Everybody is willing to help and wants to see their fellow shooters succeed.