NRA Basic Shooting Pistol Course

Steel Challengeis pure speed -- five steel plates per stage, you shoot each stage five times and drop the slowest run, lowest total time wins. There's no movement, no complex stage planning, just you and the plates. It's a great format for beginners because the stages are standardized (the same layouts appear at every match worldwide) and the pressure is low. SEIPS runs Steel Challenge matches in the Pocatello area. USPSA is the parent organization for Steel Challenge nationally -- checkuspsa.orgfor sanctioned match listings. NRL22is precision rifle competition shot with .22 LR rimfire rifles. Stages simulate positions from the larger-caliber precision rifle world -- prone, barricade, awkward positions -- but with the cost and noise of a .22. SEIPS runs monthly NRL22 andP.R.O. (Precision Rifle Open)matches atOregon Trail Shooting Rangein Pocatello. Entry is $25 plus a $5 range fee for non-members, $35 for families. Matches typically wrap up by 2-3pm depending on turnout. If you want to get into long-range precision shooting without burning through centerfire ammunition at $1+ per round, NRL22 is the most affordable path in. Pocatello Trap Clubruns multiple events through the year, including registeredPITA(Pacific International Trapshooting Association)events with cash prizes on Lewis Class rules. They also run informal fun shoots -- the December fun shoot runs with meat prizes and guarantee cards. Entry-level stuff, genuinely friendly atmosphere. Trap is worth mentioning even if you're primarily a pistol shooter. It builds trigger discipline and sight picture habits that transfer. And it's a good excuse to own a shotgun.

Cowboy Fast Draw Associationevents show up on the Idaho calendar periodically -- the Aces of Eight match in October 2025 ran out ofMountain Air Barnon Highway 21 in Boise. Single-action revolvers, shotgun primer wax loads, balloon targets. It's a completely different world from USPSA and IDPA, but it has a dedicated following and the events are welcoming to newcomers. If you ever wanted to know how fast you could draw compared to someone in a leather vest, here's your chance.

For USPSA or IDPA club matches: For Steel Challenge: Any pistol setup as USPSA, or a rimfire pistol in .22 LR or .22 WMR.

Show up early. Every match has a shooter's briefing -- mandatory, usually 15-30 minutes before the first shot. Missing it is bad form and some matches will turn you away. Introduce yourself as a first-timer. Every club has regulars who remember being new and will walk you through the stage. Keep your gun unloaded and holstered in the safe area until a Range Officer tells you to load. If you're not sure where the safe area is -- ask before you touch your gun.

Once you've got club matches figured out, the next step is Level II and Level III USPSA matches -- regionals and area championships. Idaho sits in USPSA Area 1, which covers a large chunk of the Northwest and has 10 major matches annually. Check the full major match calendar atuspsa.org/matches/major. For 2026, USPSA nationals announcements include: Hurricane, Utah is a reasonable drive from southern Idaho. If you're shooting regularly and want a national-level experience, the Factory Gun Nationals is a good goal -- the division is designed for production-spec handguns, which is what most people run anyway.

Match schedules change. Ranges close for weather. Shows up at the wrong time and you're standing in an empty parking lot feeling like an idiot. Here's how to stay current. The bottom line:Idaho has year-round competitive shooting if you know where to look -- USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, NRL22, trap, and more. Show up, introduce yourself as a new shooter, and you'll figure the rest out in one match. Last Updated: February 24, 2026