Want To Start Competitive Shooting

[jpendergrass1]

Hello all,

I am an avid gun user, as most of you obviously are. I am currently living in Orlando, FL getting my masters in audio and sound engineering and I live alone and I really do not do too much when not going to school. Back in South Carolina, my father and I were members of a shooting range that had multiple competitions but he and I never competed in them. We had some land and we would do "exhibition shooting." And by that I mean we launched sporting clays and would try to shoot them in the air. Pretty fun if you have not tried it. Obviously, living in the city of Orlando, I do not believe my apartment complex will take too kindly to me setting up a thrower in the parking lot and firing my handgun in the air.

I have decided to take up a hobby, competitive shooting. I am joining the local gun club, Orlando Gun Club, and they have shooting competitions (bowling pin shoots, low level light, etc) and this intrigues me. What I do not know is what all I need to be doing. The gun I have with me is my SD9VE and I have ordered the Apex Trigger kit to make the trigger better for accurate shooting. Is this a gun that I can use in these competitions? Am I required to draw the weapon from a holster before shooting? Really, I am completely in the dark here and have no idea what I would be getting myself into.

I would really appreciate any insight you guys to provide. Maybe suggest some other things to do and all that.

Thanks,

 

[ACP230]

You can start with what you have in bowling pin and should not need a
holster. I'd use heavier bullets because they move the pins better.
I shot .45 ACP and .41 Magnum guns in bowling pin shooting.
I saw some 9mm shooters do well and they all seemed to be using
147 grain rounds.

Hard to say about the low light matches. The club probably has it's own
way to set up those. Having a good holster is never a bad idea IMO.

 

[H Richard]

Most bowling pin match's (club level) will have several categories for shooters. Revolvers, major caliber, minor caliber, Rim Fire, etc. The pins may be placed in different locations on the table, (rim fire on the back edge) etc. Shooting in your own class or category you will be competing against only others with similar handguns. A 45 acp and/or 44 Special with a NY Reload (2nd gun) will usually be in the top shooters fastest runs. Lots of FUN. Go for it.

 

[m657]

I shot cowboy style for years without really realizing there is considerable difference in shooting as a 'competitor' vs shooting as a 'participant'.

Typically it doesn't matter what kind of gun(s) you start with, before long there's plenty of justification to get others. This is not a bad thing.

Some kinds of shooting I really enjoyed, such as bowling pins, but found I was so wretched at it even 'participating' was impractical.

Other kinds, such as "Steel Challenge" I found after a few years, instead of just one favored gun, branching out into other models gave entirely different perspective on just what the 'Challenge" really was.

ICORE presents a demanding mix of both paper and steel targets. I much prefer the steel portion of the match. Minute differences in sights may make as much difference in performance as the obvious 'trigger' and 'action' tuning does.

It's all a satisfying hobby with considerable variation regardless of what you use or what style match you choose.

good luck!