The Steel Challenge Plate matches are back.  The matches will be held on the second saturday of each month at 10:00 am.

  See the 2007 Calendar of Events page for match dates and times.

       
         
"The most fun you can have with a gun"!!

The Steel Challenge Match...
This is a handgun match that is a great way for those new to shooting competition to get started and for those with a lot of experience to show it off in a tough competition. We have adapted a "Steel Challenge" type of format with stationary steel targets that ring loudly when hit. The match consists of 4 sets of 5 steel plate targets.  The targets are large, 18" x 24" and 12" round, and are not difficult to hit.  The distances to the plates varies with several different courses possible but the average distance is about 12 yards.  Each set of 5 plates is shot once.  The times added together for a total time. The lowest time wins!  One "alibi" run is available to the shooter when he has a less than good run on a stage.  It travels with him and can only be used one time during his turn at the 4 stages.

Want to see how it runs?  Watch one of these videos
May 2007 Steel Plate match video - 7 megs

May 2007 Steel Plate match video - 18 megs

Who do I shoot against?...   
There are three skill based classes to compete in: Novice, Expert, and Master.  Everybody starts out in Novice Class.

Each is based on the total time from your best finish at your last match.  For example, you shoot the stages with 4.7 seconds, 3.4 seconds, 3.6 seconds and 4.2 seconds.   These total times are added to get a total match time... 15.9 seconds in this example.   15.9 seconds would place you in Expert Class.

Novice - at your first match, you will start off in Novice Class.  Novice Class is for shooters with match total times of at least 16 seconds.  Then as you improve and your times get quicker (breaking the 16 second barrier), you get bumped into the next higher class, from Novice Class into the Expert Class. 
Expert Class - match average times between 15.99 seconds and 10 seconds.  Most of the shooters out there move into Expert with a little practice.
Master Class - Match average times faster than 10 seconds.  The Master Class shooters are the best shooters out there.  They have put the hours in practicing to get to where they are.  

Master class competitors may draw from a holster from a surrender (wrists above shoulders) position for a .5 second bonus per run.  Only Master class shooters are permitted to draw from the holster.   Until you develop the skill to get into Master class, you start with the gun in your hand.

There are two divisions to compete in: Auto or Revolver.  
Auto = any center fire semi auto with a caliber of 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Mag., 357 Sig, 40S&W, 44 Special, 45 ACP and 45 Gap.  Action jobs and aftermarket sights and grips are allowed.  Just about any safe modification is allowed. 
Revolver = any centerfire revolver with a caliber of 9mm, 38 Special, 38 Super, 357 Mag., 357 Sig, 40S&W, 44 Special, 45 ACP and 45 Gap with normal handgun sights.  Action jobs and aftermarket sights and grips are allowed.  Just about any safe modification is allowed. 

The shooters in each division compete only against other shooters in their skill class with similar guns.  You may customize the firearm in any way to make it more competitive... so long as it remains safe to operate.  Reloaded ammunition is permitted.    The goal at the steel plate matches held here is to have some fun. 

What guns can I shoot in the match?...
The answer is just about any safe firearm with a pistol caliber.  Pistol caliber carbine rifles may be shot in Auto Division if they have a semi automatic action and in Revolver Division if they have a manual action like a lever or pump action.  Rimfires can also compete with the same guidelines.  Semi auto rimfires shoot in Auto Division and rimfire revolvers shoot in Revolver Division. 

In years past, we discovered that the times between the different types of guns shot in the matches were very close to that of handguns.  A carbine may be more accurate to shoot but it takes a little longer to swing the gun between the targets than a lighter handgun does.  Most shooters will hit their first plate faster with a handgun than with a carbine and get to the third or fourth plate faster.  Rimfires don't have as much recoil so, in theory, you should be able to shoot them faster than a centerfire handgun.  Reality is that it doesn't matter how much or how little recoil the gun produces because each target is shot only once and the time acquiring a sight picture, squeezing the shot off, then move to the next target is the same for every gun.  All in all its not the gun that makes the shooter shoot better or faster or more accurately, its the skill level of the shooter that determines who will win.  Lets have some fun shooting.  Bring what you want to shoot and burn some ammo banging on steel.

Equipment needed...    
You can't miss fast enough to win.  The minimum caliber for revolver and auto is 9 mm / 38 special.  No magnums are allowed as they will damage the steel targets.  If you have a magnum caliber handgun, .357 or .44, shoot 38 or 44 special ammo  for this match.  There is no special equipment required, just a good gun and enough ammo to compete with.  No holsters are required as everybody shoots "from the table".  You may reload if you need to to get all the plates hit.

How does the Steel Challenge match work?....
    You begin standing on the firing line with you handgun loaded, placed in your hand in a firing position, lowered down until it touches the top of a 36" tall table.  The Range Officer will start you with an audible beep from an electronic shot timer.  He is responsible for safety on the range and will be standing within arms-reach of each shooter as they take their turn at the plates.  When you hear the beep, raise your handgun from the table and shoot  the 5 targets in front of you.  He will record your time for each of the strings you shoot.  The shot timer will continue to run until you decide to stop shooting.  When you have finished and showed him your empty handgun, he announces range clear and calls the next shooter to the line.  Fastest time wins!   The Range Officer is responsible for calling missed shots.  In the event that the shooter and the Range Officer disagree on the number of hits or misses, the call will then be made by the "Peanut Gallery".  The Peanut Gallery is everyone in attendance within ear-shot of the run you just made.  A vote is taken and the results from the Peanut Gallery is final. 

Steel Challenge Match Fees...
     You may enter the match for $5 per run, auto or revolver division.  You may enter the same gun as many times as you want.   You may enter as many guns as you want.   The match moves pretty fast.  The fastest times in each class will determine the winners with awards going to those who did the best in each class.  

Members can practice all month long...  
The four courses of fire are set up permenantly on the upper steel plate ranges (ranges #1 and #2).  If you are a member of the range, you may come out and practice on the plates to get ready for the next match.  I have several electronic shot timers at the range for you to use in your practice sessions.  If you aren't a member of the range....  JOIN! or come as the guest of a member.  The match is open to everyone.  You do not have to be a member to participate in the match.   Spectators are welcome.  If you come out to watch a match to see what this "speed shooting competition" is all about, you will be mad at yourself if you didn't bring your gun and ammo to shoot with.  This is fun!  If you shoot one match you will be addicted before you finish the first set of plates.  Practice. Practice. Practice.  When you finally bust into Master Class, you have something to be very proud of.  You are then a very accomplished shootist.  The competition between the Master Class shooters is usually pretty tight,  sometimes as little as 0.01 seconds separates first and second places.

When is it?...
The steel plate matches are held on the Saturday before the IPSC each month and begins at 10:00.  IPSC is held every 2nd Sunday at 12:00 noon.  We will be running 2 firing lines at one time.    All the shooters will rotate through the four stages as fast as they can shoot.  Most of us  shoot a couple different guns at this match.   If you like to shoot and want to shoot a lot, this is the way to have a blast doing it. 

        See the "Guns and Gear" link on the main web page to see what the guys are using and what works.  For more information, call the range at 205-744-2600.

These other match formats will pop up here from time to time. 
They are a blast to shoot...

The Falling Forty Steel Plate Match...
We have recently adopted a new match format that consists of a set time limit (or Par Time) and 40 falling steel plates.  The match runs as follows...
     We set up 40 steel plates in a large array on range #2.  We have full sized pepper poppers, half sized pepper poppers, round plates, square plates, plates on plate racks and plates on plate stands.  It's a whole bunch of plates.  Some are placed behind each other so you would have to knock the front plate down to get to the next plate.  Several strategies are possible in the order to engage the plates.  See the photo below.  When called to the firing line, the shooter brings at least 40 rounds of ammo, loaded in his magazines with no more than 10 rounds in each magazine.  On the command to load and make ready, the shooter loads the gun, charges the chamber, and gets a firing grip on the gun, placing the muzzle of the gun on the table in front of him.  The Range Officer will ask the shooter "are you ready?"  The shooter should indicate yes.  The Range Officer gives the command to "stand by", and a few seconds later hits the start button on the electronic timer.  When the shooter hears the start beep, he brings the gun up and engages as many steel plates as he can in the time allotted for his skill level.  By varying the time allotted, giving those with less experience more time to shoot at the plates, every one now competes against each other.  The shooters who have demonstrated a higher skill level are handicapped with less time to shoot at the plates. 
     We have held a few of these matches so far and have worked out the following "par times". 

Open guns (guns with optics such as an electronic red dot sight) compete with Open guns and Limited guns (guns with iron sights) shoot against limited guns.  Carbines may load 30 rounds in the magazines.  How do you move up in class?  Shoot down 25 plates in your par time for your class and the next match you shoot you will have to enter in the next higher skill class.  It is very fair, a lot of fun, and the fastest way to spend some time shooting.  40 seconds seems like a long time until you spend it trying to hit as many plates as you can while the clock is running.  Most of us shoot two guns for twice the fun and chances to win and enter each gun twice.  The entry fee is only $5 a run and you may enter as many times as you want. 
     As part of this match, we will hold either a man-on-man shoot off or a speed shoot off.  The man-on-man is described below.  The speed shoot off works like this...  we set up one of the steel challenge large plates at about 10 yards.  We put a fresh coat of paint on it so we can count the hits on it and repaint it between the shooters.  Each shooter will try to hit the plate with 5 bullets faster than any one else.  Fastest time with 5 hits on the plate wins the pot.  We usually each put a dollar in a hat with a winner take all prize.  Last month, I won it with my Glock 17L in 1.33 seconds.  Competition is tough with just a few hundredths of a second separating each shooter.

Falling Plates...
The falling plate match is similar to the Steel Challenge format except that we use the Falling Steel Plate racks on Range 5.  You get 4 runs on a plate rack with your worst run dropped.  The three best times are added together to get your score.   The divisions and classes are the same as the Steel Challenge format.  Match fee is $5 per gun with most guys entering two guns twice. 

King Of The Hill...
     We started holding a "King of the Hill" Man-on-Man competition as part of this match.  It is a two out of three / double elimination, man - on - man Speed Shoot.  Two guys go to the line side by side, in front of each is a plate rack with 5 plates.  Between the plate racks is a "Cross-over Popper" (a double steel plate target with two downsized pepper poppers on a common base.  The popper hit first will be on the bottom of the two poppers).  On the start signal, both shooters engage the plates on the rack in front of them.  Once the plates are down on their rack, they engage their popper.  The shooter with his popper on the bottom wins.  This has to be the most fun you can have with a gun shooting steel plates.   There is no entry fee for the king of the hill match.

Match Results: Click on links on the left to see the match results.

Send mail to foprange@bellsouth.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: May 12, 2007