Competition Improves Competence

If you question the value of shooting competitions as it pertains to overall shooting competence, I encourage you to give it a try. Competition is one of the best ways to improve your skill set and add stress to your shooting. Defensive shootings are high stress events that typically occur in a very short period of time. “Practical” shooting competitions can never replicate a defensive shooting situation (nor are they attempting to), but they provide one of the best opportunities for us to improve our skills while adding pressure to the task at hand. Competitions incorporate a timer (you’re on the clock), pressure from other competitors, pressure from ourselves and force us to think and act quickly under that pressure.

Competition is a great way to test your equipment too. We can learn what works well and what doesn’t. You will learn how to handle weapon malfunctions (they happen far more often at competitions than you might think). You’ll get more comfortable with your gear and, I’ll say it again, learn to deal with a level of stress that you can’t get when shooting by yourself at a static target at you local range.

I can’t encourage this enough. There are lots of shooting competitions out there and typically locations are within reasonable driving distances for most people. As a new competitor, you will find other shooters incredibly friendly and helpful. Go to a local match and tell them you are new…you’ll likely get paired up with an experience competitor, ready to help. Get out and get better!