For Immediate Release: June 7, 2005
Contact: Dave Thomas, Executive Director
Office: 360-855-2245 Cell: 360-708-6828 dave@uspsa.org
USPSA Hits All-Time Membership Record
New Divisions, Marketing Credited With Success
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash., – The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) established a new membership record in June, counting 15,054 current members.The association has posted small but steady gains for two years, establishing new membership highs three times in the last 13 months.Why the growth?Changes in 2001 opened USPSA to shooters using simpler equipment – most notably Production Division. There the stock Glock struggles to dominate in a sea of stock CZs, Sigs, Berettas and others. Those same relatively open rules dealing with equipment have allowed for easy portability between USPSA and other shooting disciplines. Associate memberships intended for families have swelled USPSA’s ranks recently. (Associate members carry all of the rights of a full membership, but do not receive USPSA’s “Front Sight” magazine.) In June, USPSA counted 919 “associate” members.

“We’re also doing a much better job with retention,” says USPSA Executive Director Dave Thomas. “Our stable rules body and flexible format keep people coming back year after year.”

USPSA competitors burn thousands of rounds per year, most reload, and many buy multiple firearms annually. 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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