GSSF Glock Match Tucson, AZ

GSSF Glock Match Tucson, AZ An overview with pictures Arizona hosts one of  the GSSF's national shooting matches. This year it was held at the Pima Pistol Club on the North side of Tucson, AZ

I attended the event and this was my first competitive shooting match that I participated in. I'll attempt to explain how the event worked and the procedures involved along with the pictures I took during the day

I saw the event on the GSSF schedule of events so I left the day clear and showed up early. As I arrived I saw the volunteer range officials getting their briefings and watched the GSSF staff set up their equipment. As the day went on lots of people showed up so I was glad I arranged to show up early.

I was there from about 8:30 am to Noon and this was enough time to shoot two full courses (one with each of my Glocks) I could have shot them both together (instead of one first and a second later) and been done by 10 or 11 am. Many of the people shooting multiple events knew this stragity and were done before me while shooting multiple courses.

Starting with the basics, I first had to find the range. Pima Pistol Club is one of the best kept secrets in Tucson. It's near Catalina State Park, off north Oracle. I went to our website and printed the map and directions.

	I decided to bring both of my Glocks in case I had a problem with one. I intended to just shoo the larger G22 but was finished so quickly and curious to see how I could do the the slightly smaller G23 so I shot a second course.
	Glock 22 on top Glock 23 below. Both are .40cal models one is just a bit larger than the other. You might see the G22 is newer (Gen 3) and has finger grooves and a light rail.
	Next year I hope to have at least a third perhaps fourth Glock so I assume I'll be shooting even more next year. I'll also have a better range bag and many ore mags to make the event a bit quicker

Once I arrived I went to the registration area and got instructions for the procedures. I then filled out and signed the waver of liability, and signed up for the first course. As a new shooter I went with Amateur - Civilian for my division

GSSF offers the following competition divisions:

• Amateur-Stock Civilian
  (open to amateur competitors only)
• Amateur-Stock Guardian
  (open to amateur competitors only)
• Amateur-Subcompact
  (open to amateur competitors only)
• Amateur-Competition
  (open to amateur competitors only)
• Amateur- and Master-MajorSub
  (open to both master and amateur competitors)
• Master-Unlimited
  (open to both master and amateur competitors)
• Master-Stock
  (open to both master and amateur competitors)

Next I went to sign up for each of the three stages

Stage Descriptions:

Glock the Plates START POSITION: Standing on the centerline of the target array, facing downrange in the “ready” position. (Firearm held in hands with muzzle pointed into berm, no higher than parallel to the ground or lower with competitor’s elbows touching rib cage. Finger(s) must be outside the firearm’s trigger guard.) 4 Strings of Fire: At the signal, engage six (6) steel plates in any order.
Five to Glock START POSITION: Standing on the centerline of the target array, facing downrange in the “ready” position. (Firearm held in hands with muzzle pointed into berm, no higher than parallel to the ground or lower with competitor’s elbows touching rib cage. Finger(s) must be outside the firearm’s trigger guard.) 3 Strings of Fire: At the signal, engage each target with only 2 rounds each, in any order. No stacking allowed.
Glock'M START POSITION: Standing on the centerline of the target array, facing downrange in the “ready” position. (Firearm held in hands with muzzle pointed into berm, no higher than parallel to the ground or lower with competitor’s elbows touching rib cage. Finger(s) must be outside the firearm’s trigger guard.) 3 Strings of Fire: At the signal, engage each D-1 target with only 2 rounds each, in any order and only one pepper popper of the competitor’s choice. (Only one scored pepper popper per string.) No stacking allowed on D-1 targets. You may take extra shots on pepper poppers only without penalty.

After I signed up for the stages I could have shot but I wanted to see how the stages worked and my guns were in the truck. So I watched a few rounds at each stage so I had an idea of how to shoot them.

Once I was comfortable I went to the truck, loaded up and headed to the first event. As in any shooting event there were safety rules to be followed and everyone was following those rules. I waited a few minutes at each stage and in about an hour I had shot each of the three stages in my division. I was done, I had officially competed for the first time. It was fun and entertaining, but I knew I could do better. I decided to try again with my G23 the gun I carry every day with my CCW

Since you can only shoot in each division once per match I chose the Amateur Competition division for my second attempt

Same as before I paid the $25 entry fee (already had my waver on record) and I signed up for the three stages. This time I could use my G23 and G22 mags so I was able to load more up and was able to shoot two stages without reloading. Next match I'll be ready with 4 or 6 more mags and I won't need to reload at all (and waste that time)

I'll know in a few days (via their website) how I did at the match, but I know I went home happy. This was a fun day at the range and I know a lot more about competitive shooting than I did before.

	Starting with the basics, I first had to find the range. Pima Pistol Club is one of the best kept secrets in Tucson. It's near Catalina State Park, off north Oracle. I went to our website and printed the map and directions.
	Following the map and directions you'll go off the paved roads and down a rugged but drivable dirt road
	At the top of the hill loosing down at the Pima Pistol Club in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains on the north side of Tucson, AZ
	Upon arriving at the range you see the Welcome sign that lets you know you found the right spot
	The event used the special use areas of Pima Pistol Club's range (on the south end) and the pistol range ont he north end. The main range was still open to the public while the GSSF Glock match was going on
	The registration booth where the temporary computers, office, etc were set up. I was able to join GSSF and register for the events here with a credit card
	There was a tale with all the forms for the event in the shade under the roof at the rest area near the ranges. The liability wavers and registration forms were here as well as safety rule and basic information for new shooters (like myself)
	Once registered the next step is to sign up at each sage. If you were shooting more than one division, you could sign up multiple times.
Glock the Plates
	This stage was set up at the pistol range at PPC.
	Looking down at the plates this one looked easy, but wasn't as simple as you'd think (of course)
	A shooter getting ready to start a string (String = one session of the stage) The Range officer would hold the timer up to the shooters ear so the starting buzzer could be heard through the shooters ear protection
	Pima Pistol club is fairly accessible and of course GSSF is open to all shooters so it was not surprising to see some shooters in wheelchairs at the event. The Range Officer and shooter ready to shoot.
	Ready .. BEEP - and the shooter shoots the string as quickly as possible. Scoring on this stage was on the number of plates dropped, number of rounds used and time taken to complete the string.
	Once the shooter completed the string the plates were easily / safely reset by pulling the nylon strap from behind the firing line
Glock'M
	This one was difficult to photograph and took the longest to understand. Although once I watched a few shooters and asked a few questions to the range officers I figured out the rules and understood some simple strategy.
	Looking over a shooters shoulder at the Glock M stage. As all of the stages two positions were set up to help keep people moving through the stages.
	Getting ready to shoot, the range officer holds the timer up to the shooters ear to let him hear the buzzer. While shooting two range officers watch the shooter, gun and targets to validate the honesty of the scoring.
	After each string the shooter was instructed to place the gun on the table and was then observed by a range officer to ensure safety.
	At the end of each string the shooter and range officer would head out to the targets to score the stage. The targets were all of a standard size and scored the same on each stage.The guys waiting in line to shoot were designated to help tape up the targets so that the range officers and shooters could concentrate on scoring.
Five to Glock
	A look down this stage. It's a straight forward skills test. Shoot each target twice during each string
	Picture of a picture being taken of a shooter at the Five to Glock event.
	As with the other events the shooters would walk down range to score with a range officer while the next shooters in line would help out by taping the targets after scoring
	There is an official Glock Armorer (Gunsmith) at the event to repair and diagnose issues. If a string or stage gave a shooter an obvious problem the shooter was sent to the Armorer to decide if the issue was caused by a malfunction in equipment. If the Armorer decided it was a mechanical issue the shooter was given a re-shoot.
	The Glock Armorer had a complete set of parts to help out shooters. I had an issue with my magazines and the Armor took them apart and installed new followers (at no charge) I thought this was above and beyond what I would have expected. He's a real friendly guy, I stopped a few times to listen o the advice he was offering to other shooters as well

All and all this was a great day at the range and very informative and entertaining. I will go again next year for sure and I might check out a few more shooting events during the year while I wait for this one again.

I learned a lot about pistol matches and discovered why some of the gear / accessories I've seen over the years would be handy to have. Such as a few dozen magazines and the nice range bags

At the end of the day I used 200 rounds of .40cal ammo ($40), I joined GSSF ($25) and paid for two matches ($50). So I spent about $120 for the day.

I'm now a member of GSSF and I'm now eligible for the low cost Glock for members this year (another perk of membership) and I'll be included in their mailings, updates etc. I'll even get a new hat in the mail.

I didn't get this article up on the web in time for many people to plan to attend this event this year. But if you are in Southern or central AZ and are interested in this stay tuned about this time next year and make room in your calendar to attend at least one day.