For those of you who’ve ever wondered about participating in the fast-paced and exciting world of the United States Practical Shooting Association, you've come to the right place. Sightmark sat down with experienced USPSA shooter Chris Spence answers common questions asked by beginners and those new to the sport.
A few years ago, Chris realized that he was his own first line of defense, and that whatever protection the law promised, no matter the response time, would not be as fast as his own finger on the trigger. Since then, he’s dedicated himself to the discipline of practical shooting in the USPSA to protect himself and his family. Today, he is constantly learning new things about both his own capabilities and the realities of running and gunning at a practical level. As he’ll tell you, participating in the USPSA is a continual learning experience. In this first part of a two-part interview, Chris talks about his preferences for various gear.
What specific clothing and gear do you recommend for USPSA competitions, considering factors like comfort, protection, and performance?
Choice of clothing is often dictated by the format and conditions of the match; however, it must follow one cardinal rule: it should not impact your ability to safely operate your firearm. Weather conditions play a role in your choice of apparel, requiring competitors to select items that provide UV protection or use layered clothing for colder climates. In warmer climates, competitors wear shorts to allow for greater mobility and comfort and switch to long cargo pants or jeans if or when the seasons require them to.
Footwear is often an afterthought, although it is arguably the most important item of clothing. Range terrain can vary from sand, grass, turf, or crushed rock, and footwear that is both comfortable and cleated is recommended. I personally wear athletic footwear designed for trail running.
The IDPA match format is designed to simulate defensive use of firearms and requires the use of a concealment garment. For the handgun competitor, this means that any t-shirt would be sufficient for an inside-the-waistband holster, but an additional (untucked) shirt is needed for an outside-the-waistband holster.
Can you describe your ideal battle belt setup for USPSA matches, including essential items and how they're organized?
The battle belt is an important part of a competitor’s gear because it holds the holster, magazine pouches, and other gear items that a competitor might feel to be essential such as an IFAK (individual first aid kit), liquid grip enhancer, or magnets.
It often consists of a two-part, complementary inner belt, which is laced through the belt loops of the pants, and a reinforced outer belt which holds the weight of the gear.
I have two belt setups: one for a handgun with a holster, and the other for a pistol caliber carbine. Both use the standard two-belt system, onto which I have mounted magazine pouches canted rearward to facilitate faster reloads, and a magnet which I use to stow a magazine during stages with unloaded starts.
As a right-handed competitor, my holster is mounted in an outside-the-waistband configuration and positioned at the 2 o’clock position, which is optimal for my anatomy. I also have a magnet mounted at the 12 o’clock position and four magazine pouches spaced 2 inches apart and mounted between the 10 and 8 o’clock positions.
Based on your experience, what pistol and pistol caliber carbine (PCC) platforms do you recommend for USPSA competition, and why?
The Latin words “Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas” (accuracy, power, speed) are displayed on the USPSA logo and appropriately describe the goal of the game format. Every choice of gear is driven by the desire to improve in one or more of these three core elements.
A competitor’s choice of handgun determines the division in which he competes: a 1911 would compete in the Single Stack Division, a Glock 19 would qualify for the Production Division, a 2011 with an extended barrel and compensator would fall into the Open category, and any handgun with a slide-mounted optic would fall into the Carry/ Limited Optics Division.
I compete in the Limited Optics Division with a Beretta M9 handgun. I chose this because, in my pursuit of Accuracy, Power, and Speed, the metal frame of the pistol reduces felt recoil more than a polymer-framed pistol, allowing the sights to return to the point of aim sooner. The three most popular handguns in the circuit are the CZ Shadow 2, Sig P320 AXG, and Staccato P, each of which has a heavy metal frame, and as the adage goes, “heavier is better.”
Pistol Caliber Carbine is a relatively new Division to USPSA, and as the name indicates, it is the division in which a carbine/rifle that is chambered in 9mm or .45ACP participates. Most carbines used in competition are AR-styled receivers configured to operate on blowback (vs. the gas system of other AR-styled receiver sets), and a smaller subset operates on the proprietary Ruger design (PC9 Carbine). I built my competition carbine from AR-styled receivers from different manufacturers, affectionately referred to as a Franken-PCC. The three most popular PCCs in the circuit are Davinci DG-9, JP5, and MEAN Arms, the latter two of which have signature roller-delayed and bearing-delayed technologies to improve performance.
The author poses with his carbine and battle belt setup.
What type of ammunition do you prefer for USPSA, and how does your choice impact performance and accuracy?
Most common handgun calibers such as 9mm, .45ACP, .357, .38, .40, and those like them are permitted in the USPSA. The Division in which you choose to compete will narrow the options, and there’s also the benefit/limitation of USPSA’s Power Factor (PF) rules.
Power Factor scores are used to balance the game, ensuring that the most powerful guns cannot have an unfair advantage over their competitors. USPSA has two categories of PF: Minor and Major, where the minimum threshold for each is 125 and 165, respectively. Since shooters with less powerful ammo (Minor PF) are expected to score better since their ammo is inherently more accurate, shooters with more powerful ammo (Major PF) and thus greater recoil have a scoring advantage.
Power Factor (PF) is calculated by multiplying the velocity of the round by the weight of the projectile and dividing by 1,000. My competition ammunition is 9mm, with a bullet weight of 124gr and an average velocity of 1,050 ft/s. The calculation of the PF for my ammunition would be (124*1050)/1000 = 130PF, which qualifies it as Minor PF.
Ballistics is a science unto itself, and one I have been studying to better understand the capabilities of my gear. Competitors will often experiment with different bullet weights, the quantity of powder in the cartridge, and even the brand of powder to develop a recipe that provides them with ammunition with specific performance characteristics.
Can you discuss the importance of optics in USPSA and recommend suitable options for both pistols and PCCs?
There are four USPSA Divisions that allow the use of firearm-mounted optics: Carry Optics, Limited Optics, Open, and Pistol Caliber Carbine. In Carry and Limited Optics Divisions, the optics are mounted on the slide, which reciprocates during recoil, making tracking of the dot more complicated.
The choice of the red dot system is subjective to each person’s preference; however, there are some universally preferred specifications:
- Mounting Option: Direct to slide/frame
- Dot Size: 2-4 MOA
- Window Size: Larger is better
- Durability: MUST hold zero
Additionally, there are some extra features competitors look for in a quality optic, such as:
- Always On/ “Shake Awake”
- Brightness Adjustment
- Optimal battery life
- Easy windage and elevation access without special tools
- Easily accessible battery that does not require dismounting from the optic
- Traditionally Open Emitters, but Closed options are available on the market
My recommendation for a PCC optic is the Sightmark Volta Solar RDS, which I chose because of its built-in riser. This allows the ideal height for optic-eye alignment. In addition to the physical design of the housing, I appreciate the crisp 2 MOA red dot with easy-to-access brightness settings so I can adjust for ambient conditions. Most important to me as a competitor is the closed emitter, which allows my optic to run in all conditions regardless of the weather.
The author's Sig P320 EDC with a Mini Shot A-Spec M2 red dot.
My recommendation for an optic on a handgun is one of two Sightmark options: the Mini Shot M-Spec M1 FMS or the Mini Shot M-Spec M2 Solar. I like the former for two primary reasons: the 3 MOA dot with brightness adjustment and easy-to-access battery compartment with a single 1632 battery, which I’ve only had to change once in two years. The latter has become my favorite and a perfect pairing with my PCC optic because it too is a closed emitter design, which runs on a 1620 battery and side-accessible battery compartment.
Stay tuned for part 2.