thanks all for the comments.
we had an aritcale posted in the local paper.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/...astest-trigger/
Home › Local › Bartlett / Cordova
Gunslingers aim for fastest trigger
Arlington shooting event rewards speed, accuracy
By Cassandra Kimberly (Contact)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
When Bill Grewe moved to Memphis in 1980, he sold his motorcycle, but that didn't stop him from racing.
"I don't race motorcycles like I used to," he said. "I race guns."
Friday, Saturday and today, at least 158 competitors from the Mid-South and United States have gathered at the Memphis Sports Shooting Association in Arlington for the 2007 Section Championships, racing for the title of fastest gunslinger.
The competition, which is a part of the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), isn't a normal point-and-shoot competition. It's an extreme shooting sport, said Grewe, who served as match director.
Shooters must run through 10 different obstacle courses or "stages" choosing the quickest path to accurately hit all of their targets for points. A winner is determined by their "hit factor" or how many points scored per second.
Crossing swinging bridges, dodging trap doors and aiming at quick-moving targets while in motion is part of the competition.
Unlike other extreme sports, however, any age and skill level can compete, said Grewe. Competitors are divided into age divisions, the types of firearms used, gender and even experience level during the matches.
"We really try to level the playing field so that everyone could come out here and have fun," he said.
Adding to the excitement is that no course is ever the same, said Missouri resident Emanuel Bragg, who has participated in 500 competitions since he started shooting 10 years ago. The unpredictability triggers an adrenaline rush.
"It's like the bottom or the ninth, two outs and you're at bat," he said. "It's like that every time."
Though the sport can seem dangerous, organizers and competitors follow a strict set of safety rules including prohibiting ammunition and firearms from being handled at the same time without supervision.
"It's a safety-driven sport," said Grewe. "We all know we are playing with something that can hurt you."
Later this afternoon, competitors will not only go home with a combined $25,000 in prizes, they will go home with an "itch" that can only be satisfied with another competition.
"The game" keeps people coming back for more, said New York resident Joe Procopio.
"It becomes like a disease," he said. "You need to do more and more of it."
-- Cassandra Kimberly: 529-2786