Practical Pistol Show 172 - Turkey Day PPS

This guide details techniques for competitive shooting in USPSA matches, drawing from an experienced hobbyist's second match. It covers improving draw speed from concealment, aggressive movement between stages, shot confidence to avoid make-up shots, and proper grip/recoil management. The advice emphasizes learning from competition to identify and address weaknesses for overall performance enhancement.

This video documents the seventh USPSA competition for a shooter aiming for 'A' class or above within 12 months. The shooter focuses on improving transition speed, footwork, and split times, drawing on feedback from previous competitions. Key takeaways include the importance of stage planning, efficient holster draws (adopting the 'scoop' method), and managing firearm safeties. The shooter also discusses specific firearm preferences and challenges with the CZ Shadow 2, particularly its safety placement and magazine design.

Reno May, an M-class USPSA shooter, emphasizes that you don't need fancy gear to start competing. He advocates using your everyday concealed carry setup, highlighting that competitions offer invaluable practical training and a 'gear shakeout' opportunity. This approach lowers the barrier to entry and helps refine carry systems under stress.

This video documents a USPSA Limited Optics classifier match featuring the CZ Shadow 2. The shooter focuses on improving footwork, transitions, and maintaining a sense of urgency throughout the stages. Key takeaways include the importance of aiming for specific points within the A-zone for accuracy, the impact of ammunition reliability (specifically light primer strikes with Belom 124gr), and the challenges of achieving a desired classification, ultimately resulting in a C-class rating. The shooter emphasizes continuous training and learning from mistakes to improve performance.

This video documents the 2026 Arkansas State IDPA Championship, highlighting the shooter's experiences, mistakes, and lessons learned throughout the match. The shooter, using a MAC 9 DS, discusses challenges with grip, safety engagement, round count, and the impact of weather conditions like rain. Key takeaways include the importance of pre-stage planning, consistent grip, proper safety management, and adapting to environmental factors in competitive shooting.

This video explains the strategy behind practical shooting competitions, focusing on hit factor scoring (points divided by time). Instructor Joel Park advises most shooters to aim for Alpha and close Charlie hits without shooting so slowly that they sacrifice speed. He emphasizes that raw speed without accuracy, or perfect accuracy without speed, can both lead to losing. For advanced shooters, the strategy involves fine-tuning based on target difficulty and distance, but for the majority, focusing on consistent, fast A/C hits is key.

This video demonstrates a critical malfunction where the magazine drops during recoil, a common issue in competitive shooting. Ben Stoeger, a professional competitive shooter, highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing such failures. The guide provides steps to troubleshoot this specific problem, emphasizing safety and proper firearm handling.

This video demonstrates a critical safety incident: an uncommanded discharge of a Sig Sauer P320 during the re-holstering process. Expert analysis from Ben Stoeger highlights the visual evidence of the discharge originating from the holster, emphasizing the importance of constant vigilance and proper technique even when the firearm is supposedly "safe" in its holster. The incident underscores the need for thorough firearm inspection and immediate post-incident assessment.

Ben Stoeger, a professional shooting instructor, explains common misconceptions about red dot sights. He emphasizes that true proficiency comes from focusing on the target, not the dot itself. The guide details training methods, like occluding the optic, to develop this crucial skill, comparing it to the lifelong refinement needed for trigger control.

This comprehensive dry fire program, led by World Champion shooter Ben Stoeger, focuses on refining fundamental handgun skills. It includes a structured warm-up, detailed drills for draw stroke mechanics, efficient reloads (including strong and weak hand only), and positional shooting from kneeling. The program emphasizes precision and control, progressing to dynamic movements and transitions essential for competitive shooting.