Glock Talk banner

Things to tell first time GSSF shooters

3K views 38 replies 22 participants last post by  unclebob 
#1 ·
Make sure that every gun you bring to the range is unloaded. Concealed does not mean concealed in this case.

Do not handle your Glock except when told to by the RO, with the armorer or in the marked safe zone with no ammunition in the area.

Do not bring ammo into the safe zone or load magazines there.

I know that I have posted encouraging people to come out and shoot many times without mentioning these points. I am sure I have forgotten things that people might find helpful, perhaps others would like to expand, clarify or correct this list. I also know that this information is covered much better in the rules, but a lot of people like to get the word from other shooters, not from a book.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jab and qfkeon
#2 ·
Your First GSSF Match, by Danny Ryan

Equipment: Stock pistol, 150 rounds of ammo per entry. While you can shoot with just 2 magazines, 4 are nicer.

Accessories: bug spray, sun screen, hand towel, water, lightweight folding chair, hand cleaner, gear for any weather, money, baseball cap, pen, ear and eye protection (even for spectators).

Procedure: as soon as you receive your registration labels, go to each stage and sign in on the entry sheet. Then go back to the 5 To Glock stage, check off your name and await your turn, and shoot it first, followed by the Glock M and finishing on the Plates. If there is a practice plate rack, take advantage of it.


Stages:

5 To Glock: there are five cardboard targets, normally at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards. You fire two shots per target, 10 shots total. You shoot three strings of fire for a total of 30 rounds.

Glock M: here there are four cardboard targets and one to three metal poppers. You shoot 2 shots per cardboard, leaving up to 3 shots to hit one popper. You shoot three strings of fire.

The Plates: you have 11 rounds to knock down six 8in plates at 11 yards. You do this four times. Steel left standing is 10 points penalty per plate. Don't rush


Scoring:

Your score for each stage is the sum of the times for your strings of fire plus any penalty points. Don't rush because misses are 10 point penalty each. Shots in the 8in circle are zero penalty points. Shots in the 12in circle are 1 penalty point. Shots outside the 12in but still on the cardboard are 3 points penalty. You only have 6 shots at 25 yards, so slow down and get good hits. Engage your targets as they enter your line of sight, either moving right to left or left to right. Do not zig-zag between targets as that takes more precious time.

You will be shooting with Masters, but not against Masters. They are very fast and very accurate. Don't try to shoot as fast as they do.

Tell the Range Officer at each stage that this is your first match. They are always helpful.

Often there are food and merchandise vendors, but bring a snack just in case. Plan to be there four hours. Make friends and have fun. Preliminary results are usually posted by Tuesday night at www.gssfonline.com. The finals, with prize distribution, are posted about 30 days after the prelims, allowing time to resolve any scoring issues. Warning: GSSF Is Addictive!
 
#34 ·
Me either. My first time I joined and did a match was in one day. I just happened to be at the range, heard I could join, I did, used my G26 I was CCWng with my extra mag. Oh you would have thought I had killed somebody's first born when they had to wait for me to reload my mags.
Next time I am still using my G26 (and the preloaded mags) with WWB ammo, and I am going up against G34/17Ls with their top of the line ammo and I assume tuned reloads, and I do not do as well. No problem for me, I am really just going to better myself, but gawd, the attitudes of a couple who look down their noses at my targets. I understand poop heads abound, even fellow 2nd Amendment folks.

Oh, at the end of that term, I get a call, and I have won a free Glock. I asked it it could be a G18, and the range/store person said no. I chose a G26 Gen 4, perfect gun, and the oldest gun in my inventory. GSSF it seems is not consistent, where I shoot, we don't seem to have as much organization as others, as I have read over the years.
 
#5 ·
I realized that there are a lot of shooters coming to matches who have never shot on a supervised range. Some shoot on their own property or on little local ranges with no ROs and they may not understand why the safety procedures are so important when 500 strangers are sharing a range. When I heard a shooter say "I bought this yesterday" it really made me stop and question my assumptions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jab
#6 ·
Don't assume that experienced shooters are safe. I have witnessed law enforcement do an overhand rack of the slide without turning sideways and the muzzle points way past 180. When my wife squads, she always alerts me of new or inexperienced shooters and I try to walk them through the steps slowly without trying to intimidate them. We'll never get a second chance to make a first impression and want them to have a pleasant experience. If their first stage is run by someone who treats them like an idiot, they are not likely to return.
My first match was Dawsonville two years ago. I was fortunate to pick my first stage that was run by the Boones and Smiths. Mrs. Boone walked me through the whole procedure and my experience was fantastic.
So in addition to making it safe for everyone, be nice and helpful.
 
#9 ·
When I shot my first match in 1999 and again three years ago when getting back into it my goal was to not be asked to leave, not endanger anyone and not leave any plates standing.

I succeded at the two important ones.
 
#11 ·
I realized just the other day that I have been encouraging people, here on the forum and in person, to "Grab a Glock and come shoot" and telling them all about how much fun it is and how easy it is and not thinking at all about telling them the basics of safely shooting a match on a range with 500 strangers.

I will make an effort from to cover at least the basics every chance from now on.
 
#13 ·
Before I even went to the first match that I was working (not even shooting), I went to the GSSF Website and read and reread the rules several times.

Unfortunately, many people never even bother to find the information and better inform themselves. They get information from people who may have not have bothered to read the rules and have picked up information by word of mouth.

Many of them are the same people who assume they know everything about firearms and don't need to be reminded ... ( reference WLKJR's comments above ).

This is an area where we cannot be too safe

Safety above all else
...
 
#15 ·
overhand rack of the slide without turning sideways and the muzzle points way past 180
I think you mean while turning the muzzle sideways? Anyway this seems to be quite common lately people are bringing the gun into their body turning it about 160 -180°, grabbing the top of the slide to be able to rack a round out of the chamber. I've never really liked the movement but If it's not breaking the 180 or sweeping them self or anybody else it seems to be legal even though a bad idea. My guess would be lack of grip strength to rack the slide in another position and or just a bad habit they have picked up
 
#16 ·
I have seen people break the plane, the muzzle pointing toward their left elbow as they try to put controlled pressure on the slide, kind of pulling the frame forward into the slide in their left hand. The tiny Glock slide lock doesn't help, reaching for it with your thumb naturally makes you want to twist the gun in your grip to the left even more.

Gives me the willies when I see it.

I have gotten to where I pick up the ejected round after the slide is down and the gun is bagged. If I lose one, there are more in the bag.

One thing I have a problem with is the dropping of the slide and striker before bagging the gun. I arrive with the gun empty and locked back, I comply with the Glock rules after that and usually take it home that way because it means less handling of the gun, but transporting an empty firearm that is not locked back is like putting ketchup on a steak or sassing your mom.
 
#17 ·
Breath, have fun. I notice that when I have shot the outdoor and even more so the indoor matches, people tend to get too worked up about other people watching them. I know it's hard to not want to shoot or look good when shooting, but if you are worried about other shooters around you, you will not be able to relax and shoot a good string.
 
#19 ·
I just got invited by a couple LEO friends last night to join them at the upcoming event in St Augustine, FL. i'm gonna pore over the rules, and try really hard to be safe and not make a tool out of myself. I've never shot competitively, and i'm excited and nervous.
 
#20 ·
It really is not difficult, you should have a great time. I have never met a RO who was not helpful and courteous. Some go way beyond the call of duty into almost being a coach for new shooters.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tadbart
#21 ·
The more I think about trying to get into this, the better off I feel about it. IF, or when, a match comes near me, I'm going to attempt to be there for it.

Thanks for the posts ya'll
 
#22 ·
I plan on attending the next match in my area ( my 1st match ) as a spectator. No rush to start competing. I want to see how things are done. Then when I do decide to compete, I think I will be far less nervous and can focus a little better on shooting well.
 
#23 ·
All great points on the issues of:
Safety first last and always
READ all the rules at least once and be sure you fully understand the procedures
WATCH several experienced shooters run the stage before x in and shooting yourself
When shooting focus on sights and trigger control not speed.
Way too many people become a sloppy mess ignoring fundamental technique in an effort to shoot fast.
I too at many places have seen people turn the wrist when clearing a pistol resulting in the muzzle toward elbow or close to breaking 180.
It is one of my pet peeves. It adds zero ease of manipulation compared to keeping the wrist straight and gun down range - can not quite figure out how why people do this?
 
#24 ·
To all the first timers who have yet to shoot a match: Two years ago I too was reluctant and a little nervous about my first match. After about 5 matches I ended up doing RO duties on a regular basis.
Needless to say, it is very laid back and most of the ROs are great and very helpful. Don't be embarrassed to admit that it your first time.
If you come, plan to shoot and don't waste an opportunity to jump in with both feet. The only thing you will regret is not doing it sooner.
Downside is that you will get hooked and spend more money, but have a blast doing it. I now have a great group of friends that I have met through the matches and that is more rewarding than seeing Random Pistol by your name. The main reason we RO at some matches is just to hang out with these friends.
 
#26 ·
I hope so. Look for the old fat guy shooting slowly.
 
#29 ·
I shot my first indoor GSSF match in January and first outdoor match at Griffin, GA in February. I wish I got into this sport sooner. The outdoor matches in particular are a great place for beginners to shoot. The experience of shooting outdoors can't be beat. The best thing I've found is how friendly and supportive everyone is at the match. Not just the range officers, but fellow competitors, too.

As far as shooting the outdoor matches goes, you can't miss fast enough to win. It's much better to take your time and ensure hits in the center of each target, rather than burn through a stage. I'm still at the point where my time penalties are more than my actual stage times.
 
#30 ·
Like what has already been said. Get your stickers and then sign in at each stage. I like shooting in a different order than what Danny said. You can shoot any stage you want first.

It helps to have four mags but not required. But you will need to have someone loading mags while you are shooting. Either use a stripper mag and load all your mags with 10 rounds. Or load 11 and after the first string of fire, using your thumb, strip one round out of the magazine. Don’t shoot your string of fire then rack the slide back and eject the round and load another mag with 11.

Tell the RO it is your first time, you can pull your mags out of the bag but don’t touch your gun until told to do so. When finished shooting putting the slide forward and pulling the trigger is just another safety check to make sure that the gun is unloaded. Sometimes it is hard to tell if there is still a round in the chamber or not. Rules are rules. If you want to do a dry fire before loading the firearm. Pull your slide back and show the RO it is unloaded. Some may or may not ask for you to do so. I like pulling the slide back 3 or 4 times.

Don’t double tap the further the target gets slow down even more. Slow is fast. Watch other shooter and see how they engage the targets. Just make sure that they know what they are doing. They also could be first time shooters.

If you want to go and watch a match first, make sure you take your guns and ammo. You will end up shooting the match.

As long as you safely put rounds down range no one cares other than you if you hit the target or not. Just make sure you had a good time doing it.

When waiting to shoot it helps to help paste targets. The more people that help past the better. It just makes everything go faster and smoother. Just make sure they scored the target first.

When you get on the tree keep track of where you are and have everything ready to go when your name is called to shoot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jab
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top