Today we have reached part 4 of our series concerning competitive shooting. So far, we’ve covered holsters, gun range commands, and what you need to know before entering your first match. Today we’re revisiting the topic of what you need to know before going into your first competitive match by talking about some of the essentials that will make your first match more enjoyable.
- Eye Protection: This is a must and falls within the safety category, but is worth singling out. It is REQUIRED for both shooters, and bystanders in every type of match we’ve ever been to. You do not have to go out any buy the most expensive set of eyes with interchangeable lenses, fancy coatings, etc. You only need to buy glasses that are comfortable, have good coverage, and have ear pieces that are fairly flat so they don’t interfere with your ear muffs too much. We also suggest that you get a pair of ANSI rated sunglasses.
- Ear Protection: Speaking of ear muffs, you definitely need ear muffs as they’re required, too. You can get:
- Orange foam earplugs as they’re great for suppressing sound.
- Standard ear muffs that are great for pistol competitions.
- Electronic ear muffs.
- Custom molded ear plugs – these are the holy grail of ear muffs as they’re very comfortable and work great!
So, so far we’ve covered the essentials for a pistol match: eyes, ears, pistol, SAFE holster, ammo, magazines, and an open mind.
You may also want to have the following: a water bottle, food, backpack, sunblock, a backup gun, extra ammo, and a hat.
