It's offhand. Targets are 10,12 round and 18x24 squares steel Targets. It's running 6 or 8 stages 5 targets. You run each stage 5 times except one that's 4. Only your 4 best times count on each stage and best 3 of 4 for the one stage which also has a movement involved and it's the only one with it.

Distances go to 105 feet. Closest about 21' on roundabout I think.

Shot count is technically 195 with no makeups on an 8 stage match but having 300 on hand is a good idea. 150 for a 6 having 250-300 is also a safe idea. You can take all the shots you need each time until you shoot the stop plate then the time and if any miss penalties are recorded for the run

 

All I can add is bring at least 5 magazines, 6 is better. Have fun, watch the other shooters,ask questions and repeat.
Good luck and good shooting.
Steven

 

So, you shoot each stage hitting all targets, with as many shots as it takes. The quickest time is the goal?
10 shot magazines?

 

Depending on your gun it's as many bullets as it holds.

You've got it right. 5 stages, 5 targets each, as many shot as it takes but you must hit the stop plate last.

Maximum time could be 30 seconds if you miss the stop plate all together. There is a 5 second penalty for any target not hit. You have as many shots as it takes you even if you want to reload.

Most clubs will set you up in a mentor's squad the first time so that an experienced shooter can answer all your questions.

 

Think of it as drag racing with firearms. Go fast, don't miss. It's fun!

Someone, I don't remember where or who, stated that it was all for a minute of shooting if one is good. We shoot 5 stages per match. Assuming 3 seconds per string which is just OK, that's 15 seconds of shooting per stage (5 x 3) and do that 5x for 1 minute and 15 seconds. Shoot faster and one gets under a minute. I drive an hour to shoot for about a minute. But it's lots of fun with good folks! They couldn't keep me away!

If you want to dig here's everything. The rulkes will tell you what can be used, what gear is required, yada, yada. Or go to a match, spectate, and ask questions. Let the match director know why you're there for best help.

Welcome to SCSA - Steel Challenge

Youtube is also your friend. There are at least hundreds if not thousands of Steel Challenge videos.

A quick superficial intro:

Not our local match, just a local match to see how things work in practice:

This shooter is pretty fast. About like a SR-71 is pretty fast.

 

That young lady is going to be a force. I think she just broke a world record.

 

So far ive only found one club hosting SC matches in NC. Does anyone know of a match directory?

 

The link I posted will give you all the SC matches wherever you find yourself. Exceptions... no outlaw matches will be found. You really don't want them though and here's why. It's intended to be like IDPA or USPSA or any other sport, basketball, football, tennis. If you take your firearm to Florida and you have been shooting outlaw matches in NC when you go to a sanctioned match they could do things contrary to the way the outlaw matches have been run. Sanctioned matches are the same wherever you go. Yes, it can make a difference, especially when one is handling firearms. If the outlaw match has been run with lax firearm handling rules and you go to a sanctioned match what you previously knew was OK could get you DQed or someone downrange shot.

There is also Practiscore which gives matches. You need to get comfy with Practiscore. It lists matches and scores shot, all sorts of stuff you're going to want.
OK, Practiscore it is for a link. I hope this works. If it does it shows 2 matches. But if you're near another state plug that in on the left. There are also other matches that I was unfamiliar with that can be part of the filter. I saw Rimfire Challenge, there may be more.

Click on a match listed for more information

https://practiscore.com/search/matches?refinementList%5Bstate%5D%5B0%5D=North%20Carolina&refinementList%5Btype%5D%5B0%5D=Steel%20Challenge%3A%20Blank

Again, I hope this works. If it does these are the clubs that run sanctioned matches. If it doesn't work just type in South Carolina at the top of the page to get the list. Yeah, it didn't work. Change Fairfield, ME to South Carolina or maybe it'll read your location, IDK.

Find a local club - Steel Challenge

 

I've only ever shot 1 steel challenge match - IIRC, it was sponsored by Ruger, and maybe even the East Coast Championship. It was a well-attended 2-day match with handguns on the first day, rifles, the 2nd. I used my iron-sighted 4" S&W 617 revolver on the first day, and was in the overall lead by the end of day 1. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off on the 2nd day. More to the point, though, don't discount a revolver if you've got one. Nearly everyone ran a Ruger Mk semi-auto (many of them tricked out), and nearly all of them had a reliability issue at least once. All those issues were free time to me

So far ive only found one club hosting SC matches in NC. Does anyone know of a match directory?

I just Googled a bit and came up with CCGC - same?

Central Carolina Gun Club - Steel Challenge

 

I've only ever shot 1 steel challenge match - IIRC, it was sponsored by Ruger, and maybe even the East Coast Championship. It was a well-attended 2-day match with handguns on the first day, rifles, the 2nd. I used my iron-sighted 4" S&W 617 revolver on the first day, and was in the overall lead by the end of day 1. Unfortunately, the wheels fell off on the 2nd day. More to the point, though, don't discount a revolver if you've got one. Nearly everyone ran a Ruger Mk semi-auto (many of them tricked out), and nearly all of them had a reliability issue at least once. All those issues were free time to me



I just Googled a bit and came up with CCGC - same?

Central Carolina Gun Club - Steel Challenge

Search PGC (Palmetto Gun Club) in practiscore. We run Steel Challenge on the forth Sunday of the month. Range is located in Summerville, SC about 30 min outside of Charleston,SC. And while the club is private, no membership is needed to participate in Matches, all are welcome.

 

Yes, the ccgc was the one i found also. I did find another club in SC, mcrc, i've shot silhouette matches there.

 

I was wondering the same thing thanks guys a lot of good info

 

I'm going to start getting involved in RSC this year. One question I have for the group is what do they recommend for carrying gear? I've seen some videos where it seems like folks are carrying their stuff in wagons. Any recommendations on how to proceed?

 

Like AzShooter said, a pull cart makes going from one stage to the next much easier.

 

Get a cheap wagon from Home Depot if you want to carry all your gear. That's the simplest method if you are shooting multiple guns. If you are just shooting one gun all you need is a holster and bag to carry extra Mags and ammo. First match out people will help you figure it all out.
Remember to have fun. Go fast and if that doesn't work Go faster. Lol.

 

I use a beach type collapsible cart. Lots of folks use tricycle baby carts. I think they probably push over rought terrain better with their larger wheels. But maybe they don't carry as much.

Probably the best way to carry gear is found at the link below.

for a mere $11,888 it can be yours. Forklift included.

 

I live in south Central Texas, above San Antonio, and have found a match in Bulverde Texas coming up this month.
I own several 22/45 Lites but wonder if the "spaghetti barrel" will heat up and lead after rapid fire use? I do have one 22/45 Hunter that has a normal 4"SS barrel that should not lead. I have shot several other types of pistol competition but never steel challenge. The info given here is great but I always want more info. A comment was made that the other competitors shot Ruger MK's but all had some problem? Could you expand on that comment? Thanks in advance. Jim

 

I rolled the dice and bought this cart. Seems like it'll get the job done. For the most part, it's just going to have a pistol and a rifle in it, along with the shooting bag and the mags.

Amazon.com: Overmont Collapsible Wagon Cart with Wheels - All-terrian 3.2in Wide Wheels - Foldable 150L Large Capacity with Side Pockets for Camping Sports Garden Grocery Shopping - 265lbs Load : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

Good cart. That will work fine.

 

That will definitely get the job done. They're all pretty much the same except for tire design.

You set yours up as you wish, obviously. In mine I have a fairly large range bag that holds my shooting glasses, ear pro, "Lead Off" wipes, all sorts of stuff in the "possibles" end pouches. Inside on the sides it has firearm sheathes, and the rest is partitioned off where I keep loaded and spent mags, ammo in boxes, a nylon bag for tools, lube, spare batteries, things like that. The contents of the tool bag has never been used for my firearms while at the range, but at home it's where I get my fresh batteries to keep the ones in the bag fresh. The tools have been used at the range for others when they need a quick fix. On the outside on carabiners are mag loaders. Not in the range bag: A small cooler with water and energy snacks, a gooseneck wrecking bar for tearing down stages, and work gloves, a small tripod stool, and now with the Steel Challenge rule changes this year, a separate rifle case.

I wouldn't be in a huge hurry to outfit it. Go slow and figure out what you need and want to lug around. I carry far too much, but when I try to cut back I remember the times the items have been used and that stays my hand.

 

My philosophy has always been to travel light, not lugging around anything I don’t have to
for a steel challenge match, I carry a water bottle, my pistol in a holster or rifle in a case ( my club requires guns transported to the various stages in a case) and my cargo pocket full of ammo and magazines. Dragging a big cart from stage to stage is excessive to me.

 

My advice go to a shot as I did and your going to want to shot. It's fun and very fast paced. I really enjoy shooting, don't go to win, but to shot and enjoy, and watch the pro shooters.

 

Some good advice I was given when I first started going to matches was to just think of it as competing against yourself. Since official steel challenge stages are always the same, it an apples to apples comparison, so keeping track of your scores is a great way to track progress. I've had days when I finished towards the bottom of my divisions but had a bunch of personal bests, so what might look like a disappointing day by the final scores can still be a good day of improvement for you and keep you motivated. It can be addictive though - I was going to 1 match a month when I started in Jan '23, now it's usually 5-6 a month! Best of luck, have fun & let us know how you do!

 

The competing against yourself mindset never made sense to me. Of course you are competing against the other contestants. That is the whole point of having scores posted by showing across the course. Embrace that, enjoy that, and go kick some tail! If you get yours handed to you, learn from the better shooters, train, and improve your performance. When you get better, help other shooters also improve. That is the fun of it.

 

When I first tried Steel Challenge I was amazed at just how fast some of those guys and gals were and how slow I was. And at the time I was a reasonably experienced shooter.

Decided to see if I was getting better each week as we are lucky in that we have a weekly SC match and can practice during the week. I actually made a spreadsheet with all eight stages and kept track of what division was shot and if I was getting better as the weeks rolled on.

Sure enough, the graphs showed improvement over time and I was always looking to beat "that guy" that was just a few seconds ahead of me each week.

Eventually I was beating him and moved to the next guy up the list as a reasonable goal in the future.

Fast forward to the current day and now I'm one of the guys those newer shooters are targeting!!

Don't go into Steel Challenge and expect to nail it right off the bat. There is a shooting style and rhythm that you'll develop and one day it will come together. Well, except for Outer Limits which trips everybody up. Arrrrgh.

But I digress. Steel Challenge is best shot with friends. The competition between buddies is much better than competing against somebody you don't know.

AD

 

Today I shot my best Steel Challenge so far with RFRO
Nice to do it in my last match of the summer.

Temp was only 102 but it's starting to get hot.

 

That's the way to end the season, on a high note! I never considered anyone stopping shooting for the summer. We stop for the winter. How different, but of course it is! Makes sense.

I think it's unbearable when it gets to the high 80s.

 

It's going to be 118 this Sunday. I avoid it when it gets that hot.

Here are my two favorite guns for Steel Challenge:

Don't count out the revolvers

 

That revolver with the c-more is awesome. I have not seen one set up that way.

 

I don't remember ever seeing a revolver being used for SC but all I shoot are local matches so the data sample is small. But why not?

We do have a gent who regularly shoots a revolver in USPSA Action Pistol. In fact I've never seen him shoot a semi-auto.

 

I regularly shoot revolver in both IDPA and USPSA but have not seen one used in Steel Challenge and definitely not one with a C-more railway attached. That photo does have me thinking a bit though.