Many people ask, "Why shoot in a competition?" The answers are varied, but often include a desire to take your gun handling and shooting skills to a higher level. You've likely seen ads in gun magazines showing competition shooters in their flashy sponsor jerseys, and you may have watched some YouTube of USPSA, IDPA or similar action pistol or 3-gun matches, and thought "I wonder if I could do that?". The answer is YES! There is simply no substitute for performing actions under pressure when it comes to highly-effective training. Perhaps you are a concealed-carry permit holder who has taken on the responsibility of being an armed citizen. Perhaps you have been shooting on a range at static paper targets and wanting something more "fun" to do with your firearms. Perhaps you are a new handgun owner and are looking for more training to improve your gun handling skills and gain confidence to become a more proficient shooter. All of these are valid reasons to want to participate in the sport of competitive shooting! And let's not forget about one of the biggest reasons of all: IT'S A TON OF FUN!
Why shoot with Eastern Nebraska Practical Shooters (ENPS)? We are a volunteer club of shooting enthusiasts, sanctioned by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), who run a variety of competition shooting events year round at our home range, Eastern Nebraska Gun Club just outside Louisville, Nebraska. Membership in the ENPS is simply a matter of signing up to participate in our events, there is NO membership fee and no hoops to jump through, we welcome all shooters who want to join in the action!
Of course there are gear requirements to get started, and there are safety rules and procedures that you must be familiar with before participating in a match. We are here to help you get started! Our New Shooter's Introduction program is designed to ease your transition into match participation through education and training on the basics of competition matches.
As a new shooter, we have several resources available right here on the ENPS web site to get you started in the education process, we recommend starting with a thorough review of these FIRST:
ENPS Match Safety Procedures
USPSA Action Pistol Matches
USPSA Steel Challenge Matches
Pro-Am Steel Matches
Multi-Gun Matches
ENPS Match Frequently Asked Questions
Once you have a basic understanding of what we do, and how we do it, then it's time to come to a match! We know that attending your first match can be intimidating and even a little unnerving for those who have never done anything like this before. DON'T WORRY! We're going to help you do things right the first time, and answer all of your questions before you start shooting!
ENPS New Shooter Ambassadors - The club's designated New Shooter Ambassadors are available to answer any questions you might have about how to get involved in the sport before coming to your first match. Just use the Contact Us link at the top of the page to "shoot" your questions our way and we'll help with anything you need!
ENPS New Shooter Orientation- If you are a new shooter, you'll attend the "New Shooters Meeting" before the match, which is typically at 8:45 a.m. One of the ENPS staff will gather just the new shooters together to review safety procedures and make sure everyone has their questions answered before we start. Once you're in your squad and have gone to your first stage, be sure to let your squad RO (Range Officer) know that you are a new shooter. The RO will make sure that you are not scheduled to shoot first on the stage so you'll be able to watch other competitors shoot before it's your turn.
After reviewing all of the materials here on the web site and asking any questions you have, we KNOW you'll have a great time at your first match with the confidence that you are prepared for what to expect! Sure, you'll still likely have the "butterflies" in your stomach the first time you hear "Are you ready?"..... "Standbyyyyyyyy"..... "BEEEEPPPP"!!! That's part of the fun! Happy shooting, and be sure to contact us at ENPS with any questions!