USPSA Open Nationals
The United States Practical Shooting Association describes their competition as the extreme sport of handgun shooting and it doesn’t get anymore extreme than the race for the Open Division National title. The firearms are “race guns” with virtually no limits on enhancements. That means compensators, red-dot optics, and high-cap magazines with up to 28 rounds. In the hands of the best pro-shooters, it’s the fastest run and gun action you’ll see anywhere as they race for the National title.
The USPSA’s Open Division is the top fuel dragster division of handgun competition with speed holsters and custom, gunsmith built, handguns. Caliber must be 9mm or larger and the majority of the race guns are based on John Browning’s classic 1911 design. But that’s like saying John Force’s funny car is a Mustang… John Browning wouldn’t recognize the guns of the Open Division.
While there are slots at the Nationals for all classes of shooters — D, C, B, A, and Master — It’s the Grand Masters of the sport who are in contention for the Championship. They shoot together as members of the Super Squad, moving through the challenging stages of fire. Their scores are determined by target points, accuracy in double-tapping the center of mass on the official USPSA humanoid targets, and by their speed in completing the stage that typically will require 20 to 26 shots to complete.
The rules require the winner of the National Championship must be a US citizen, but the Open Nationals typically attract international competitors from around the world.
Our Championship Series coverage follows the action of the Super Squad through the final stages of fire, reporting the fastest handgun action on the planet.
