Practical Shooting attempts to measure the ability to shoot rapidly and accurately with a full power handgun, rifle, and/or shotgun. Those three elements - speed, accuracy, and power - form the three sides of the practical shooting triangle. By design, each match will measure a shooter's ability in all three areas. To do this, shooters take on obstacle-laden shooting courses (called stages) requiring anywhere from six to 30+ shots to complete. The scoring system measures points scored per second, then weights the score to compensate for the number of shots fired. If they miss a target, or shoot inaccurately, points are deducted, lowering that all-important points-per-second score.

If shooting has an "extreme" sport, the USPSA-sanctioned Practical Shooting is it. Competitors move, negotiate obstacles, run, speed-reload, and drive their guns through each of several courses as fast as their skills will allow. Although most matches are held outdoors, in all weather, further taxing competitor skill, there are a growing number of indoor ranges conducting USPSA events.

The IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) promotes defensive pistol shooting as a sport, using regular service pistols and full power ammunition to solve simulated real world self-defense scenarios.  The organization now boasts membership of more than 11,000, including members in 19 foreign countries. One of the unique facets of this sport is that it is geared toward the new or average shooter, yet is fun, challenging and rewarding for the experienced shooter. The founders developed the sport so that practical gear and practical guns may be used competitively. An interested person can spend a minimal amount on equipment and still be competitive. The main goal is to test the skill and ability of the individual, not equipment or gamesmanship. “Competition only” equipment is not permitted in this sport.

The firearms are grouped into five (5) divisions: 1) Custom Defensive Pistol (.45ACP semi-automatics only); 2) Enhanced Service Pistol (9mm (9x19) or larger caliber semi-automatics); 3) Stock Service Pistol (9mm (9x19) or larger caliber double action, double action only, or safe action semi-automatics); 4) Enhanced Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers); and 5) Stock Service Revolver (.38 caliber or larger double action revolvers).  Shooters are then classed by like-skill levels with progression from Novice (NV); to Marksman (MM); to Sharpshooter (SS); to Expert (EX); and, finally, to Master (MA).

The IHMSA (International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association) started in 1976 with the purpose of promoting handgun silhouette competition. The object of the competition is to knock down metallic silhouettes (chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams) at various ranges to a maximum of 200 meters. The sport has spread to many countries and matches are shot all over the USA. Many different types of matches are shot and there is always one to suit any member of the family. The matches vary according to handgun type (from .22 to big bore) and shooting position (standing to free style).

Three men are given credit for starting the development of Cow Boy Action shooting in 1979. They are Harper Criegh, Bill Hahn and Gordon Davis. Little did these they know that when they formed the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), their idea of using the firearms of the American Frontier in competition events likened to those of the Old West would grow into events covering tens of thousands of shooters at hundreds of events around the world every weekend. This is a game of fantasy gun fighting during the wild and wooly days of the old west.

Cowboy Action Shooting is basically a three type of gun competition. The firearms are those most typical of the American Frontier from about 1860 to just after the turn of the century. Shooting scenarios are likened to an events akin to those of the old west. Match themes can come from actual incidents, movie scenes or the match designers imagination. Cowboy Action Shooting is not a fast draw style of competition. Shooters' will find movement and plenty of action as they use all three styles of firearms during engagement. This shooting sport was designed for all levels of shooters. Targets are generous in size and placed at such proximity that the challenge competitors face is the speed in which they engage the target.

Pistols used for main match competition are single action types. Separate classes for percussion (cap & ball), black powder cartridge and smokeless cartridge shooting allow broad use and choice of styles. Traditional Class denotes use of fixed or iron sights. Modern Class brings into play single action pistols with adjustable style of sights. Up to eight separate classes provide all shooters' with excellent choices from which to choose. Rifles and carbines are the lever or slide action style of the period. Main match competition requires use of a "pistol" caliber, typically the same as that selected for use in their pistols.

One of the characteristics of this shooting sport is the costuming. Shooters have found this to be one of the most interesting and fun parts of the sport. Clothing and accoutrements from the Old West era, the turn of the century and the silver screen cowboy films provide a wide variety from which to choose. Both shooters' and non-shooters attending these events compete in costume contests. Working class costumes as well as formal or more dressy styles are judged.

PPC shooting is a bull's-eye style shooting sport that uses full size revolvers and pistols firing full power ammunition. Bull's-eye pistol shooting is the granddaddy of all of these shooting sports. It's slow and methodical approach using guns with hair triggers and cartridges with minimal recoil produces incredible accuracy. Bull's-eye is run by many groups and there are some variations but essentially it is the same.