SCSA Practical Pistol Matches

Our Practical Pistol Shoots are held at a private ranch on Mount Saint Helena and are open only to members of the Sonoma County Shooting Association. The matches will be held on 3rd Sunday's (the week before our CMP Matches), during the dry months, at 8:30 AM. See our calendar page for specific times & dates.

Practical Pistol Shooting is a sport which challenges an individual's ability to shoot rapidly and accurately with a handgun. We set up a course of fire where shooters fire at a series of cardboard silhouette and steel targets. Each target must be hit twice, and there are also "no-shoot" targets. The shooter has to reload several times and move around the range to get to the various targets. The event is timed and the score is a combination of accuracy and speed. The course of fire will be different every month, and we usually hold an optional side match using either a shotgun or carbine rifle (any pistol caliber or M1 carbine).

Any semi-automatic pistol or double action revolver is allowed. We don't worry about major/minor calibers.

We shoot at steel knock down targets, so small caliber (less than .380 auto or .38 special) may have some problems knocking down the targets.

You can shoot the same gun for multiple runs or shoot multiple guns.

The course of fire is usually around 25 to 35 shots, so you will want at least six speedloaders or four ten round magazines (larger magazines are allowed).

You also need eye & hearing protection and a holster which covers the trigger gaurd. No cross drawing or concealed carry is allowed.

Available in html & pdf formats.

A zone = 5 points, B zone = 4 points, C zone = 3 points, D zone = 2 points.
Steel targets count as 5 points.
Misses & Procedural errors are -10 points.
No Shoots are -10 points and a 10 second time penalty.
Score = Points / Time.

We normally use "Comstock Count" scoring rules: courses of fire have no restrictions on the maximum number of shots that may be fired, no restrictions on the maximum number of times each target may be hit, and no restriction on the amount of time required to complete the course. Each competitor may shoot at the targets until the competitor is satisfied with the hits on the target.

Score Sheets (pdf)

See our scores archive page for match scores.

For club members:

We charge a flat $20/match for as many runs as time allows.

BBQ Lunch is included.

No non-club members at these matches.

None, this is just for fun. Scores are posted to the web and printed in our newsletter.

Lou Hodge     775-266-4513     Lou@SonomaShooting.org