Practical Handgunners Bring Sold-Out Match to Quincy
Handgun Nationals Oversold
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash., – You’ve seen it on television: the fast-shooting, fast-moving match called The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Handgun championship.
This year, USPSA brings their entire handgun nationals to PASA Park just outside Quincy, Ill. The event will bring more than 700 competitors from around the world, plus an unknown number of staff, volunteers, vendors and onlookers into the Quincy area. USPSA is conducting five national championship events in two segments,
allowing competitors to shoot in two “divisions” defined by the equipment used. Response has been so good, the match is totally sold out. For the first time in USPSA history, the matches are meaningfully oversold!
“We’ll probably be turning people away at the door,” says USPSA coordinator Kim Welke. “People from all over the world are trying to get into these matches.”The USPSA nationals’ prestige is recognized worldwide, but this year, the U.S. match is the last major contest prior to World Shoot XIV (the Olympics of Practical Shooting, held every three years). The U.S. team, and team members from other nations will use this match as a springboard, preparing for the Worlds in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Exciting Format
For gun and sports enthusiasts, USPSA offers action. USPSA shooters draw, negotiate obstacles, and dash through brightly-painted courses of fire as fast as safety and accuracy will let them (see www.hosercam.com). It’s an exciting game that has fascinated combat handgunners since Jeff Cooper formalized the rules in the 1970s. This year the USPSA Handgun nationals will be broken into two sub-matches. In the first match, the Limited, Production, and Revolver titles will be decided (July 17-20), while the second match will decide the Open and Limited-10 titles (July 20-23).
Specators Welcome
If you’re in the Barry area, you won’t have to wait for the TV specials to come out on cable. Contact the USPSA office at the numbers above, and they will direct you to the range. Spectators are welcome. Bring your cameras, just leave the flash attachment at home.
A Growing Sport
USPSA’s five divisions provide ways for most any defensive handgun owner to participate, regardless of equipment type. Whether they own a single-stack 1911, or box-stock Glock, custom racing pistol or double-action revolver, USPSA has a place for them.
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