If you’re anything like me, you were lucky enough to play sports all throughout your youth. For many of us that carries into your high school years and even sometimes into the collegiate or professional realm. However, once we reach that point in time when we cross the proverbial line that signifies the end of our playing days of football, basketball, soccer, etc., we may feel lost and asking ourselves, “what’s next?”.
How to Keep Motivation Within Competitive Shooting
Healthy competition plays a crucial role in our lives by fostering personal growth, driving innovation, and inspiring us to reach our full potential. It pushes individuals to set goals, work harder, and constantly improve themselves. By engaging in healthy competition, we challenge our limits, discover hidden talents, and learn valuable lessons about resilience, determination, and sportsmanship. Moreover, competition encourages us to step out of our comfort zones, embrace new challenges, and develop a mindset focused on continuous growth and self-improvement. Ultimately, healthy competition promotes excellence, encourages personal development, and brings out the best in us, shaping us into stronger, more capable individuals.
Regardless of if you ended your athletic career in Little League or making the big bucks in the pros, we reach a point in time were we have to move on. For me it came after playing collegiate sports. I suddenly found myself with no team, no support, no moral, and most importantly a lack of purpose. Competition was part of my DNA and I needed something to fill the void.
I did what came natural and looked to my hobbies. Working in the shooting industry, I would look to get out for a range day any time possible. I enjoyed the fact that I could see my training pay off and myself getting better and better with each training session. First match I ever shot was one a friend dragged me along to. I went in with no expectations and was hooked after the first stage. I dove in head first, worked on belt setups, mag carrier configurations, watched countless informational videos and shot every match I could.
I felt rejuvenated. Finally had a way to channel my competitive nature in a way that not only gives me real world practical training, but also has helped me build lifelong relationships with likeminded people.
There are many different matches to cater to the training style an individual prefers. Some matches cater to people who want to prioritize speed such as USPSA. Others cater to accuracy and stage planning, a prime example would be IDPA. Furthermore, others mirror tactical situations where competitors wear plate carriers and other tactical gear such as 2 Gun. The examples go on and on, but each shooter is different and will find what they like best. In fact, the majority of shooters and competitors will shoot multiple disciplines. Most all organizations as well offer the ability to travel for matches and shoot higher level events such as championships.
What Ammo Should I Use For Shooting Comps?
Ammunition is a major factor as well in the competitive shooting industry.
9mm is the most commonly used caliber in the competitive shooting scene, however shooters can find matches that will accept nearly any caliber depending on what classification they’d like to shoot in.
Those shooting
115 grain Full Metal Jacket 9mm may want to re-think their shooting preferences. While
115 grain 9mm tends to be the most affordable option out there, what it lacks in cost it tends to make up for in added recoil and “snappiness”. Many
9mm shooters will orient to a
124 or a
147 grain as these tend to keep the muzzle flatter making for faster follow up shots.
PMC 124 grain FMJ 9mm is a staple in the community because it offers the performance of a hand pressed ammo with low felt recoil and exceptional accuracy at an affordable price point and exceptional availability.
9mm ammo:
PMC/
Magtech/
S&B
Looking for other pistol caliber? Check our pistol ammo section to see what's available!
When we talk about competition ammo, it is important to note that it is not cheap. It can be two-times the price or more of the same caliber that would be commonly used to simply target shoot or train with. Shooters should consider this as well as availability when making their selection.
If you enjoy shooting and strive to use your competitiveness for your betterment, consider shooting matches in the near future. Everyone can find a match format that fits what they like to do or how they would like to train. With so many options out there, and a plethora of growing organizations the only question is when will you begin?
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Gun Club, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotgunclub.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotgunclub.com for more rifle ammo options.
