Practical Shooting
Timed "run-and-gun" shooting sport — negotiate stages of steel plates and cardboard targets on the clock.
👥1 per team🌤both
What is Practical Shooting?
Practical shooting (IPSC internationally / USPSA in the USA) is a timed action shooting sport in which competitors negotiate stages made up of steel plates and cardboard targets while moving through a course of fire. Score = points scored ÷ time ("hit factor"). Divisions cover handgun, PCC, shotgun and rifle across Open, Standard and Production categories.
Quick facts
Category
Precision Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1 per team
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
1976, Columbia, Missouri (International Practical Shooting Confederation)
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified