Practical Shooting
Practical Shooting is SSAA’s competitive and dynamic sport catering to handguns, rifles and shotguns, with matches designed and constructed to ensure the principles of safety and sportsmanship are maintained for competitors, officials and spectators.
As one of SSAA’s most popular disciplines, Practical Shooting occupies the rare position of internationally recognised competition, that principally utilises an array of handguns drawn from a holster, and requires competitors to carry all their equipment on a belt.
Moving through courses of fire, participants are confronted with varied targets and scenarios including falling steel poppers, plate racks, moving targets and our unique SSAA cardboard scoring targets. With courses of fire designed to challenge the speed and accuracy of the competitor and the reliability of their equipment, this fast paced and high energy shooting sport is one of the fastest growing and most appealing in the SSAA stable.
Conducted in all weather and suitable for both indoor and outdoor ranges, there is a vast array of firearms and equipment available for competitors to develop their competition readiness.
Practical Shooting Video here
History
SSAA Practical Shooting was first introduced in Western Australia back in 1971 and has maintained its’ popularity across the country for over 50 years. Recognised as the distinctive Australian Practical Shooting Competition, and maintaining a continuous independent Rule book, our competitors include some of the best in the World.
Similar formats around the world include USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) and Competition Sport Pistol (Singapore Shooting Association ) however our incomparable Australian style of stage design and camaraderie is evident in the creative matches we develop to test the skill and focus of thousands of SSAA competitors across each State and Territory.
Catering for all ages, abilities and levels of participation, SSAA Practical Shooting was the first dynamic handgun sport to include the use of .22 rimfire calibre firearms. Expanding the rule book over the years to include shotguns and rifles, our exclusive HSR match (Handgun-Shotgun-Rifle) is finding a new audience with the ever increasing range of lever action, straight pull and traditional rifles and shotguns, popularised by the action packed John Wick™ franchise.
Matches and targets
Practical shooting matches consist of multiple courses of fire carried out over a number of stages. Designed never to be the same, competitors build stages each week with a collection of carboard scoring and steel targets, props, swingers, and shooting ports. Unloaded start positions, magazines on tables and disappearing targets present competitors with never-ending challenges to assess the best way to complete a stage.
Weaving through a designated live firing area, Practical Shooting involves competitors engaging all the targets with an eye on the time, missing the penalty targets, and remembering the stage plan. Each competitor is supervised by an accredited Range Officer and scored individually against the other competitors in the match. Heavily reliant on every person contributing to resetting targets and picking up spent brass is the key to an efficient and fast paced match.
Accuracy, Reliability and Safety are key components of Practical Shooting with State, National and International pathways available for SSAA members. State and National Championships are held each year for handgun and shotgun, with rifle events expanding rapidly.
Handguns
All types of self-loading pistols and revolvers can be used in Practical Handgun Shooting with nine classes of firearms available in the Rule Book. The two fundamentals of simplicity and customisation underpin the myriad of options available for competitors entering into the sport. Handguns are carried and drawn from a holster with ammunition held in magazines or speed loaders on the competitors’ belt. A course of training is required for new entrants into this unique handgun sport to safely achieve holster accreditation.
Open Class
Commonly referred to as the Race Gun division, this is where the Formula One drivers hang out. Red dot optics, oversized controls, muzzle brakes and custom triggers dominate this section. This is the spiritual home of experienced and super competitive individuals that throw everything at the sport. Fast and loud, there are no limits to frame size or customisation, with many open guns chambered in .38 Super calibre to achieve Major Power Factor and intimidate the operator to hang on.
Standard
Well known manufacturers including Staccato™, Beretta™ and Tanfoglio™ produce double action 2011 frame handguns that fit within this class. Factory iron sights and limited modifications appeal to many competitors with a budget in mind. One of the foundation classes that provides a platform for new shooters to learn the safe operation of their equipment and the skills required to get on target. External safety mechanisms being engaged are mandatory, like most classes, with options to install flared magazine wells and weighted magazine base pads.
Production
Dominated by factory handguns in 9mm calibre, this class is for firearms often defined as straight ‘ out of the box ‘. Double Action handgun models include CZ-UB™, Glock™ and Walther™ with the class considered to be true representation of Practical Handgun Shooting. The low cost entry point, reliability of equipment and readily available ammunition, makes the CZ Shadow 2™ one of the most popular handguns in the world. Modifications are essentially restricted to minor polishing of parts and replacement grips with many Productions guns the choice of Police and Security units. A minimum of 100 factory guns must have been produced to qualify for this class.
Production Optic
Essentially populated with Optic Ready models of the Production class handguns and also restricted to no modifications, manufacturers now produce slide cut models ready to accept red dot sights for faster target acquisition and longer shots. With an optic mandatory on firearms in this class and a maximum barrel length of 135mm, many State and National Champions occupy this space. Older shooters and those looking for the ‘ red dot advantage “ are discovering a new world of optics on their favourite handgun. Just remember the spare batteries !
Classic
Appealing to the purists who enjoy the look and feel of a classic one-piece 1911 design, these single stack magazine handguns are limited to 8 shots for Major Power factor and 10 shots for Minor power factor. Popular manufacturers include Colt™, Springfield Armory™, Kimber™ and BUL Armory™. Produced with Iron sights and limited shots they demand a fresh approach to stage tactics and smooth magazine changes. This proven design first created by John Browning has endured for over 100 years.
Revolver Standard
Smith & Wesson™, Ruger™ and Colt™ are names synonymous with the eternal ‘wheely gun ‘ along with the latest models from German manufacturer Korth™. Available with eight and ten shot capacities, revolvers employ a rotating cylinder to feed new rounds into the chamber after each trigger pull. Requiring patience, dexterity and the fine art of getting a good grip, revolvers are fast, fun and cool to watch. Singe action and double action models are permitted.
Revolver Open
The ‘ Guns of the Wild West ‘ are not what they used to be. Modern revolvers are available in many new tactical configurations with moon clips and speed loaders the order of the day. Popular makes include ‘ Performance Centre™ ‘ models from Smith and Wesson™ with slab frames and an array of barrel lengths. Calibres include .38/.357, 9mm and .22LR topped off with red dot optics, replacement grips and tricked up triggers. Revolver enthusiasts have endless options to get on target and reload at lightning speed.
Rimfire Standard
Introduced to cater for junior competitors aged 12+ this class is perfectly suited to develop young wrists and easily manage light recoil. Reliable models include Browning Buckmark™, Ruger™ Mark IV 45/22™ and Walther P22™. Cheap lead nosed ammunition is safe and loads of fun, with handguns in this class scored as Small Pistol Power factor. In recent years the popularity of the CZ Kadet Kit™ has exploded in providing the option for competitors to change the top slide of their traditional 9mm handgun and facilitate a cheaper practice option on the same platform.
Rimfire Open
Very popular with steel plate competitors, rimfire handguns in this class can adopt any number of the latest optics, thumb rests, compensators and extended magazine releases. Custom guns from Volquartsen™ are popular for those with big budgets, however the ground breaking manufacturer Glock™ also produces the Model 44™ in .22 Rimfire. Low recoil and fast target engagement produces unbelievable speeds in many cases for those that have practised enough on steel plate stages.
Shotguns
Practical Shotgun is extremely popular in the world of dynamic long arm shooting with targets including clay discs and ‘ Texas Stars ‘. Slick reloads from custom ammunition carriers is a pleasure to watch when it is done right. Specific shotshell loads for steel and paper targets need to be engaged in the right order, and often test the memory once the start signal has gone goes off. Populated in other countries with slide action and self-loading firearms including Remington™, Mossberg™ and Benelli™, legislation in Australia sees most athletes competing with the best of the available lever-action, straight-pull and break barrel action types. Standard and Open classes embrace the fundamentals of ease of entry into the sport as well as enabling competitors to accessorise their favourite shotgun with optics, extended charging handles and speed loaders. A course of training is required for new entrants to ensure strict safety protocols are maintained.
Rifles
Practical Rifle embraces all action types suitable for the discipline and includes three classes, Standard, Open and Small Rifle. The Australian made centrefire slide actions produced by Wedgetail Industries™ and Taipan™ have become extremely popular in recent times. With the match Ideally suited to traditional pistol calibre lever-action and pump action rifles due to ranger danger area limitations, rifle shooting can be conducted out to 500m. Centrefire and rimfire rifles are permitted and subject to local safety training requirements, competitors can also participate in SSAA HSR matches.
Steel Challenge
Steel Challenge is a sub discipline of Practical Shooting, it has its own page here.
Steel Challenge Rule Book Jan 2025
SSAA National Discipline Chairman
Paul Fitzgerald - practicalshooting@disciplines....
