Great video for beginners and seasoned steel challenge shooters! Your description of each stage and their challenges is spot on! The last 45 seconds are full of coaching gems…almost to A class in RFPI at 67! I am totally guilty of being too tense and worrying about time, rather than just shoot the targets. Would be great to see future videos of how you train or techniques you use on those stages.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad people are deriving value from my videos. I'll look to make some videos this year specifically on how I train for stages.
Thanks for this video! Very well put together and informative 👍 I wish I'd seen it before my first match last weekend, but I'm glad I found it before my second! Since you started in B-class, and seeing some times, I'm curious how many matches it took you to go from B to A and A to M? I also am starting from B and want to set reasonable goals/timelines for myself from the start. Thank you!
Congrats on diving into your first couple matches and earning a B-Classification! That's a great question. I can tell you that I shot my first match in May of 2022, and I reached M-class by August of 2023. Without diving into the details of each match, I can't recall how many matches it took to get from B to A and A to M. I was averaging 1-2 matches a month, excluding Dec-Mar. But I was also doing alot of dry fire practice working on my draw speed and target transitions, I did a decent amount of live fire practice as well, shooting alot of USPSA in between also helped keep my skills sharp. I think an individual's progress is going to depend on a lot more than how many matches they are shooting. How much practice is being done, and how effective they are at improving their technique is going to be crucial. For me, in order to not stagnate, I had to develop novel ways to approach my training and learn to be really analytical of my form and performance. Mastering the mental game is probably the most important thing as well. Now, almost a year later, I am 0.2 seconds away from GM. And I plan on making more videos on how I got to where I am now. As well as individual topics like mastering the mental game, more in-depth on individual stages, and key aspects of training for Steel Challenge.
It is a well done video. ... My concern is that I cannot practice on any of the stages at any indoor or outdoor range. I do not own land to set up all 8 stages for practice. Therefore I am at a distinct disadvantage right from the beginning. When I show up, I will get annihilated. To me, that is not having fun. Too many shooters that have this memorized and can do it in their sleep. I wish all of them safety and success.
Although I am a member of a shooting club that allows me to shoot in a bay as I wish, I still don't own or have access to the steel necessary to set up the stages for practice. My practice is at matches, outside of them I work on holster draw and transition speed. And I still manage to win matches and got my GM classification. Don't knock it until you've tried it.
@@offthedraw I get a chance to shoot maybe once or twice a month. Too many of these guys have turned competition into a bloodthirsty crusade. I do not feel like going to match setting myself up for failure. Best wishes for you always.
Each club will set up the stages based on bay quantity and size, and what stage you start on will be determined by what squad you're in. So you'll potentially see them in all sorts of different orders.
@@offthedraw thanks for the response 👍🏼 just reached out to a contact at a localish club to see if I have to be a member of their club to shoot a steel challenge match they are hosting.
Unfortunately I haven't shot any carbine divisions yet, so I can't give you a good answer. I've only shot handgun divisions so far. If I were to speculate, I would say that the farthest target in USPSA is 35 yards. So zeroing to 35 is probably a good place to start.
Hello. I’m currently an A class shooter in Steel Challenge and about the same in USPSA Carry Optics (still getting classified). Quick question how do you balance the different types training between the two sports. Specifically, how do you train for Steel Challenge? Dry fire targets? If so which ones? Does your range leave steel set up? Thank you.
Great question. And to be honest, when it comes to Steel Challenge, I don't do very much to train outside of working on my holster draw and presentation during dry fire. I have been considering getting the Steel Challenge wall decals from Go Fast Don't Suck as a way to help eek over the line into GM (Im currently about 2 seconds away). But beyond that, I find that just working on target transitions during live fire in any capacity is enough for me to make good hits during a Steel Challenge match. Because I am M-class in Steel Challenge but still A-class in USPSA, I devote more of my time to training for USPSA. My main focus lately has been on movement and footwork. I lose a lot of time by not being agile and light on my feet, and my shooting on the move needs some refinement. So that has been where my effort currently is. Although, I recently bought several 10in plates to start bringing to the range with me. (My club has limited options for Steel available at an given time) and I think three 10 in plates, that I can set in different patterns at different ranges, will help improve my game in a more cost effective way than buying an entire Steel Challenge stage set. Also, I should note that the area I live in it's possible to go to a match just about every weekend in the warm months. (Less Steel Challenge), but I average about 1-2 Steel Challenge matches a month and 2-3 USPSA matches a month. I hope this helps answer your question.
That's correct. With the exception that occasionally a club with mix a "club stage" in the mix. This stage will follow the same rules and parameters as any of the eight standard stages, but will be a custom layout. It will count towards your score for the match but otherwise does not count towards a classifier score.
I did my first SCSA match yesterday and watching this video ahead of time was a huge help! My only critique is I'd appreciate a separate chapter for each of the stages so that I can easily jump to them (a couple are buried within other chapters). Thanks and keep up the great work!!
Thanks. Those are some long distance shots. Not sure where I would practice it. They have steel challenge on sundays once a month but I hate to look like a total noob. Beyond 35’ I’m not very good😊
Don't even worry about that! Everyone is super encouraging and there will be plenty of people at your skill level. It's all about having fun, and you don't have to be good to start. Plus, the only way you'll improve is by doing.
I’m brand new to this and having not shot any match of any sort this has been very helpful. At least there’s a D classification and not out there waiting for me!
I'm glad this was helpful to you! Good luck at your first match! Make sure and share this with any friends you have that might consider signing up for their first match
This was an awesome video. I wish it had been published last year before I did my first IDPA match. My first match was actually the qualifier for last year and considering it was my very first time, I think I did pretty well. However, i wish I had known about Steel Challenge first because it seems like a better option for a new competition shooter to start from as it looks simpler and less physically intensive.
Is it always wrists above shoulders for start when drawing from a holster? I am a uspsa shooter and only dryfire like 1/4 of the time from that start position.
Yes it is. This ensures a consistent starting position for everyone. Hands at sides allows for more wiggle room for interpretation. Personally, I would suggest starting from that position more when dry firing. Not just for competition. My thought is if you find yourself in a self defense situation you may initially want your hands up. Two reasons; first, showing your hands to the offender may help to deescalate a situation. Secondly, if it doesn't then it's a better position to block any physical strikes from the offender or to push them away to create distance. During my dryfire practice is will practice hand above shoulders 60-70% of the time, and hands at sides 40-30%.
@@offthedraw After you hit the stop plate and you have another run... you leave a round in the chamber and change mags and back in the holster or do you show clear hammer down and get a command to make ready again for each run?
@Bane_Diesel after you hit the stop plate you can immediately change your mag, leave a round in the chamber and reholster without having to wait for a command.
Great video for beginners and seasoned steel challenge shooters! Your description of each stage and their challenges is spot on! The last 45 seconds are full of coaching gems…almost to A class in RFPI at 67! I am totally guilty of being too tense and worrying about time, rather than just shoot the targets. Would be great to see future videos of how you train or techniques you use on those stages.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad people are deriving value from my videos. I'll look to make some videos this year specifically on how I train for stages.
Great stuff, thanks for helping me with a plan for next weekends challenge!
Come back and let me know how you did!
Thanks. I am hoping to try Steel Challenge soon.
I love to hear it. Take the dive, bring a friend if it helps, you won't be dissapointed
Thanks for this video! Very well put together and informative 👍 I wish I'd seen it before my first match last weekend, but I'm glad I found it before my second! Since you started in B-class, and seeing some times, I'm curious how many matches it took you to go from B to A and A to M? I also am starting from B and want to set reasonable goals/timelines for myself from the start. Thank you!
Congrats on diving into your first couple matches and earning a B-Classification!
That's a great question. I can tell you that I shot my first match in May of 2022, and I reached M-class by August of 2023. Without diving into the details of each match, I can't recall how many matches it took to get from B to A and A to M.
I was averaging 1-2 matches a month, excluding Dec-Mar. But I was also doing alot of dry fire practice working on my draw speed and target transitions, I did a decent amount of live fire practice as well, shooting alot of USPSA in between also helped keep my skills sharp. I think an individual's progress is going to depend on a lot more than how many matches they are shooting. How much practice is being done, and how effective they are at improving their technique is going to be crucial. For me, in order to not stagnate, I had to develop novel ways to approach my training and learn to be really analytical of my form and performance. Mastering the mental game is probably the most important thing as well.
Now, almost a year later, I am 0.2 seconds away from GM. And I plan on making more videos on how I got to where I am now. As well as individual topics like mastering the mental game, more in-depth on individual stages, and key aspects of training for Steel Challenge.
Great content!
Thank you! Please share with anyone you know who might want to get involved in the sport!
It is a well done video. ... My concern is that I cannot practice on any of the stages at any indoor or outdoor range. I do not own land to set up all 8 stages for practice. Therefore I am at a distinct disadvantage right from the beginning. When I show up, I will get annihilated. To me, that is not having fun. Too many shooters that have this memorized and can do it in their sleep. I wish all of them safety and success.
Although I am a member of a shooting club that allows me to shoot in a bay as I wish, I still don't own or have access to the steel necessary to set up the stages for practice.
My practice is at matches, outside of them I work on holster draw and transition speed. And I still manage to win matches and got my GM classification.
Don't knock it until you've tried it.
@@offthedraw I get a chance to shoot maybe once or twice a month. Too many of these guys have turned competition into a bloodthirsty crusade. I do not feel like going to match setting myself up for failure. Best wishes for you always.
Cool video, thanks for putting this out. Do you shoot the stages in this order, or can they be mixed up?
Each club will set up the stages based on bay quantity and size, and what stage you start on will be determined by what squad you're in. So you'll potentially see them in all sorts of different orders.
@@offthedraw thanks for the response 👍🏼 just reached out to a contact at a localish club to see if I have to be a member of their club to shoot a steel challenge match they are hosting.
For rifling shooting with red dot...what is the best zero distance to set to?
Unfortunately I haven't shot any carbine divisions yet, so I can't give you a good answer. I've only shot handgun divisions so far.
If I were to speculate, I would say that the farthest target in USPSA is 35 yards. So zeroing to 35 is probably a good place to start.
Nice
Hello. I’m currently an A class shooter in Steel Challenge and about the same in USPSA Carry Optics (still getting classified). Quick question how do you balance the different types training between the two sports. Specifically, how do you train for Steel Challenge? Dry fire targets? If so which ones? Does your range leave steel set up? Thank you.
Great question. And to be honest, when it comes to Steel Challenge, I don't do very much to train outside of working on my holster draw and presentation during dry fire. I have been considering getting the Steel Challenge wall decals from Go Fast Don't Suck as a way to help eek over the line into GM (Im currently about 2 seconds away). But beyond that, I find that just working on target transitions during live fire in any capacity is enough for me to make good hits during a Steel Challenge match.
Because I am M-class in Steel Challenge but still A-class in USPSA, I devote more of my time to training for USPSA. My main focus lately has been on movement and footwork. I lose a lot of time by not being agile and light on my feet, and my shooting on the move needs some refinement. So that has been where my effort currently is.
Although, I recently bought several 10in plates to start bringing to the range with me. (My club has limited options for Steel available at an given time) and I think three 10 in plates, that I can set in different patterns at different ranges, will help improve my game in a more cost effective way than buying an entire Steel Challenge stage set.
Also, I should note that the area I live in it's possible to go to a match just about every weekend in the warm months. (Less Steel Challenge), but I average about 1-2 Steel Challenge matches a month and 2-3 USPSA matches a month.
I hope this helps answer your question.
@@offthedraw Thank you. It does. And thank you for the very detailed response. It is much appreciated!
So technically any Steel Challenge competition is an "all classifier" match?
That's correct. With the exception that occasionally a club with mix a "club stage" in the mix. This stage will follow the same rules and parameters as any of the eight standard stages, but will be a custom layout. It will count towards your score for the match but otherwise does not count towards a classifier score.
I’ll be headed to a PM steel challenge tomorrow. Emotional recap watching this video
You should report back and tell us how it was. Also what the video left out that you would have liked to know beforehand
I did my first SCSA match yesterday and watching this video ahead of time was a huge help! My only critique is I'd appreciate a separate chapter for each of the stages so that I can easily jump to them (a couple are buried within other chapters). Thanks and keep up the great work!!
Congrats on your first match! And thanks for the feedback! I think I'll make a separate video for each pretty soon.
Thanks. Those are some long distance shots. Not sure where I would practice it. They have steel challenge on sundays once a month but I hate to look like a total noob. Beyond 35’ I’m not very good😊
Don't even worry about that! Everyone is super encouraging and there will be plenty of people at your skill level. It's all about having fun, and you don't have to be good to start. Plus, the only way you'll improve is by doing.
slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Absolutely my man, keep it smooth.
Great video! I'll need to check out your USPSA series as a new competitor as well.
This video needs more hits!
Great video
I’m brand new to this and having not shot any match of any sort this has been very helpful. At least there’s a D classification and not out there waiting for me!
I'm glad this was helpful to you! Good luck at your first match! Make sure and share this with any friends you have that might consider signing up for their first match
Really high quality and useful presentation. Nice work.
Thank you!
@@offthedraw oh, and good shooting. ;-) You’ve got Smoke and Hope really figured out.
This was an awesome video. I wish it had been published last year before I did my first IDPA match. My first match was actually the qualifier for last year and considering it was my very first time, I think I did pretty well. However, i wish I had known about Steel Challenge first because it seems like a better option for a new competition shooter to start from as it looks simpler and less physically intensive.
Is it always wrists above shoulders for start when drawing from a holster? I am a uspsa shooter and only dryfire like 1/4 of the time from that start position.
Yes it is. This ensures a consistent starting position for everyone. Hands at sides allows for more wiggle room for interpretation. Personally, I would suggest starting from that position more when dry firing. Not just for competition. My thought is if you find yourself in a self defense situation you may initially want your hands up. Two reasons; first, showing your hands to the offender may help to deescalate a situation. Secondly, if it doesn't then it's a better position to block any physical strikes from the offender or to push them away to create distance.
During my dryfire practice is will practice hand above shoulders 60-70% of the time, and hands at sides 40-30%.
@@offthedraw After you hit the stop plate and you have another run... you leave a round in the chamber and change mags and back in the holster or do you show clear hammer down and get a command to make ready again for each run?
@Bane_Diesel after you hit the stop plate you can immediately change your mag, leave a round in the chamber and reholster without having to wait for a command.
@@offthedraw thanks for all the help 👍 my surrender draw is significantly slower.
5 star video
Love to hear it. Thanks dude.
Thank you for this well done video. I will shoot this competition in August 2024. Can’t wait. Your video is very helpful.
Glad to hear it! Good luck at your first competition!
Thank you for this very clear and informative video. Shooting my first Steel Challenge this weekend.
Glad to hear it! I hope your first match went well! Come back and let us know what classification you got.
Ended up missing it. Still planning to go to my first one soon.
This is an excellent tutorial/tips and tricks thanks for making this I'll be watching it a few times
Thank you! Pleaae share with other new shooters! Also, definitely subscribe because I have more videos coming
@@offthedraw oh yeah I already shared it with my buddies hoping steel challenge will appeal to them also. Keep up the great work!!
Where do you reload your magazines after shooting a stage?
You can reload magazines anywhere outside of safety tables. Handling ammo is totally fine as long as your gun is holstered or bagged.
@@offthedraw thanks
I made it! I’ll comment more when done!