Steel Challenge Practice

The best answer here is to watch one of the many YouTube videos  i.e.:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1x2luFcVSA 

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_d4Nx_mzDo

The two main differences are: everyone starts from the low ready, no holsters, and to keep everything moving we don’t paint between shooters

LPRG will hold Steel Challenge Practice on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.  The event starts at 5PM and concludes at 8:30PM. All shooters must arrive before 8PM. You need to arrive before 7:45PM if you have not had the LPRG Steel Safety Briefing.

In addition to the waiver you will have to attend a short safety briefing.  Before COVID we held group classes in our classroom.  Now we have to do them outside in small groups.  Always bring your completed Safety Briefing card, or you may have to repeat the class.

You must be at least 21 years of age.  

If younger than 21 see the LPRG age 

You must have shooting experience with the firearm you will be shooting.  

You should be able to put 5 of 6 shots into the 8 ring or better at 10 yards.

Have read and understand the SCSA Competition Rules.  Available online at https://scsa.org/rules

In addition to the waiver you will have to attend a short safety briefing.  Before COVID we held group classes in our classroom.  Now we have to do them outside in small groups.  

Always bring your completed Safety Briefing card, or you may have to repeat the class.

You can show up and pay onsite at the cashier. The fee is $25 for unlimited stages that evening. LPRG club members get a $5 discount. The cashier will open approximately 30 minutes before the event. You can prepay on Practiscore (practiscore.com), but we are unable to give LPRG club members their discount. There are three separate waivers you will have to read and sign: LPRG Waiver, Steel Challenge Waiver and Safety Glasses Waiver. To save time you should read and sign the all these waivers online at https://lprg.org

At a minimum you will need a mask (COVID), eye and ear protection, your unloaded firearm in its own separate case, magazines and ammunition.  We recommend:

•  5 magazines
• Electronic ear protection
• Wrap around Ansi Z87 impact resistant safety glasses with side shields are recommended on all our Ranges, but are required for Steel Challenge.  If you don’t have any, we sell them at our cost for your protection.
•  A chair
• Most people shoot about 250 rounds.

Only centerfire pistol calibers 380, 9mm, 38, 40, 41, 44, 45.   

Pistol caliber carbines that meet this power factor (see Ammunition) are allowed. 

Additionally, all .22 Long Rifle caliber rimfire pistols/rifles are allowed.

If there are less than 3 people waiting to shoot the stage you can shoot all five strings.  We will get someone to assist in reloading your magazines.  If other shooters are waiting, we will ask you to stop shooting once your magazines are empty even if you have not shot all five strings.  You can sign up again, reload your magazines and shoot again.  We have to do our best to keep the lines moving.  We try to make sure no shooter is at the bench for longer than 5 minutes.

We set up at least three stages plus a plate rack or spinner. 

When it is busy, we set up an additional stage. 

For variety we set up different stages each month.

There will be no multiple projectile or Magnum loads allowed. 

All rounds are limited to a maximum of 1300fps and may not exceed a power factor of 180 (with the exception of 200 for 45 acp).  

High power pistol ammunition is defined as any ammunition where the product of muzzle velocity (in fps) multiplied by bullet weight (in grains) exceeds 180,000 (PF 180).  

Competitors whose ammunition exceeds the maximum velocity and/or the maximum PF will be disqualified from the match(es) where the non-compliant ammunition was used. In the Rimfire event, .22 Long Rifle ammunition must be used (no powderless cases or subsonic ammo allowed).  You should know your ammo power factor no matter whether it is factory or reloaded.  We reserve the right to pull your bullet and chronograph your rounds to ensure safety.  The Match Director/RSO may ask for a three-round sample of the competitor’s ammunition at any time. The average of three rounds fired through the competitor’s firearm over a designated chronograph shall determine whether the competitor’s ammunition has met the standard.

Decide what stage you want to shoot.  Hope & Smoke and Roundabout are easier, but also popular.  In front of each stage is a sign-up sheet.  Add your name to the bottom of the list.  (Please only sign up at one stage at a time.)  If there are a lot of shooters in line, more than 4, check the lines at a different stage. 

Once your name is called you should bring your unloaded cased firearm and 5 loaded magazines to the shooting bench.  

This is a good time to ask the Range Officer (RO) any questions that you may have and if you are new to this let RO know so they can walk you thru the process.

The RO will tell you to MAKE READY.  You should uncase your firearm, make sure it is pointed down range and finger clear of the trigger.  Show the RO that it is clear, then insert a loaded magazine and chamber a round.  You will point the firearm at the cone, finger OFF of the trigger.  The RO will ask you ARE YOU READY.  You respond, then they will say STAND BY, followed a few seconds later by the beep from the timer. 

Once you hear the beep, point at your first target, put your finger on the trigger and begin shooting.  After you hit all the targets return to the low ready.  The RO will give you your time. 

If you want to record your time, set your loaded firearm on the bench pointed downrange with safety engaged if so equipped.  Record your time and reacquire your firearm. 

The RO will then instruct you to PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT STRING, insert a fresh magazine if desired.  You will continue shooting until you finish all five strings.  If at any time the RO issues a STOP command, stay calm, immediately cease firing, stop moving and wait for further instructions. 

After the fifth string the RO will ask you IF YOU ARE FINISHED, UNLOAD AND SHOW CLEAR.  Once clear has been verified the RO will ask IF CLEAR, HAMMER DOWN, CASE (handguns) or IF CLEAR, HAMMER DOWN, FLAG (PCC), IF CLEAR, SAFETY ON, CASE (22) or IF CLEAR, CYLINDER CLOSED’ CASE (revolvers).  Once the action is complete the RO will confirm with BENCH IS CLEAR. 

You will then take the appropriate action, gather your belongings and clear the bench for the next shooter. 

You can reshoot the same stage or move on to a different one.