Your first USPSA match
Often times, during the shooter briefing, the match director may ask for a show of hands for all new shooters. They may then offer a new shooter briefing to advise on specific safety rules and procedures.
When it is your turn to shoot a stage, always pay attention to the Safety Officer or sometimes referred as the Range Officer (RO), who will be moving with you and holding a shot timer as you shoot the stage.
When you walk up to the shooting line or position, the Range Officer may ask you to face downrange. The range commands may go something like this:
1) Does the shooter understand the course of fire? If so, load and make ready. Once the gun is loaded, all safeties on, and the gun holstered, you must assume the start position, which varies with the stage design and course of fire (COF). Next, the range officer may say.....
2) Is the shooter ready? (you may nod yes or no) If you are ready, the RO may announce.......
3) The shooter is ready, standby....... There will usually be a short delay for the buzzer to start, which means you are now on the clock to engage all targets as described in the COF.
When you have completed the COF, the Range Officer will ask:
1) Is the shooter finished? You may nod yes....
2) The shooter is finished, unload and show me a clear weapon.....the shooter must drop the magazine and retain it, then pull back the slide to allow the RO to look inside the gun to make sure the chamber is empty....then say....
3) Slide down, hammer down, holster your weapon
4) The Range is Safe....
Once the range is declared safe, you may join the scorekeeper and review you hits for the stage, and also note your time.
The range commands may not be exactly as described, but I'm just giving you an idea that the Range Officer will give you clear directions on when to load and unload your gun, so it is best to follow their direction. Never take your empty weapon out of the holster until the RO gives you proper direction.
It is perfectly normal to be nervous for your first few matches if you have never done any action shooting. If this is the case, you may want to go slow and be safe for your first event. After a few matches, you comfort zone will expand, and you will be increasing your speed at every match. Learning to shoot with speed and accuracy is a life long pursuit....have fun and enjoy!