Its over 35,000 active members [1] and over 500 affiliated clubs make USPSA the largest practical shooting organization in the United States and the second largest region within IPSC after the Russian Federation of Practical Shooting.

[2] It was here that the sport of Practical Shooting was formally established after years of independent efforts around the country to build upon the handgun skills and training for self-defense.

The early days of the sport can be traced back to the 1950s and the quick draw "leather slap" competitions that grew out of America's love affair with the TV westerns of that era.

Its early pioneers developed scenario-based competitions to accurately measure the effectiveness of their own shooting techniques and equipment.

With some competitors annually shooting in excess of 100,000 rounds, no other venue offers a better in-service assessment of a firearm's performance or the brutal gauntlet of high-level competition through which a gun must survive to be declared reliable.

[citation needed] USPSA is a 501c(3) non-profit Delaware corporation and currently headquartered in Sedro Woolley, Washington.

[4] Pistols used in Open division competition are the shooting sport equivalent to the Formula One race car.

There are some differences between the IPSC and USPSA Handgun Open divisions regarding major power factor requirements and maximum magazine length rules.

Although most handguns can be used for Limited, some popular choices are the high capacity 2011 frame STI and SVI pistols.

Competitors can make various modifications such as change sights, grips, slide stops, magazine releases and mainspring housings.

[citation needed] On the other hand, if for instance a 2011 pattern pistol is used in the Standard division, either 124 or 126 mm magazines will usually give the maximum capacity and still fit the box.

[6] Limited-10 is very similar to the Limited division, except that (as the name implies) the competitor can only load a maximum of 10 rounds per magazine.

Although the federal ban sunset in 2004, the Limited-10 division still enjoys some populariry in the few states that has continued to place restrictions on 10 rounds per magazine.

As with Limited, shooters must use a 10 mm caliber or larger bullet in order to score a major power factor.

These are the "duty guns" available from nearly every pistol maker and each of the major manufacturers offers a wide variety of models that meet IPSC or USPSA Production Division requirements.

While capacity is not uniform across model, caliber or manufacture, the playing field is leveled by limiting shooters to 15 rounds per magazine.

Most shooters use a standard outside-the-waistband holster often made of Kydex or plastic, attached to a dropped-and-offset aluminum or steel mount.

Carry Optics was introduced by USPSA in July 2015, and competitors could participate in the division from mid September 2015.

Initially the maximum weight limit was 35 ounces (approximately 992 grams) including an empty magazine, but in 2016 the maximum weight limit was raised to 45 ounces (approximately 1275 grams) including an empty magazine.

Only single-stack model 1911-pattern pistols are allowed in this division, and they must comply with a maximum weight limit, as well as fit fully within a box of specific dimensions.

The minimum caliber in USPSA Rifle is 5.45×39mm, and the ammunition has to make a power factor of 150 kgr·ft/s for minor or 320 kgr·ft/s for major scoring.

In the open division one can have any number of many optical sights and bipods, and there is no size restriction on muzzle brakes.

The Limited/ Tactical division is restricted to iron sights only, tube magazines and the shotgun has to be factory produced of at least 500 units.

Time Plus is a newer scoring method that has seen a rising popularity in Multi Gun matches because of its simplicity.

Minor and major power factor is ignored, and only two hits anywhere on the targets are required (no points or scoring zones).

The NROI is responsible for the training and certification of the Range Officials, firearm safety, good course design and advising the membership on the application of the rules as determined by the board of directors.

USPSA has four different types of Range Officials, which are: In December 2007, USPSA purchased the Steel Challenge and the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) from owners and creators Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman.

[21] The match design of Dalton and Fichman called for simple stages, or courses of fire, made up of just five steel plates.

The steel plates are of differing sizes and placed at various distances and angles to create a variety of challenges.