Match-day checklist (printable)
Pack from a list, not from memory — memory is how you arrive at a match without earplugs or a holster. (Both are field-tested mistakes; ask me how I know.) Print this page, throw it in the range bag, and check boxes the night before. It covers USPSA, IDPA, and Steel Challenge club matches; strike what your sport doesn't use.
The gun and the gear
- Firearm, cased or bagged the way your club requires arriving
- Holster and belt (and that the holster is the one your division allows)
- Magazine pouches
- Every magazine you own for that gun — plus one more than you think you need
- Optic: dot turns on, brightness set, spare battery in the bag
- Chamber flag, if your club uses them
Ammo
- Match ammo: the posted round count × 1.5 — reshoots, makeups, and steel that won't fall are real
- Same ammo you practice with — match day is not load-development day
Ears and eyes
- Electronic muffs — with fresh batteries in them
- Foam plugs as the backup pair (the checklist exists because of this line)
- Eye protection, plus a tinted or clear spare for the weather you didn't plan for
Comfort — the underrated stage equipment
- Water — more than feels reasonable
- Food that survives a range bag
- Sunscreen, hat, rain layer
- Folding chair and a towel
- Good shoes for gravel, mud, and a long day on your feet
Paperwork and admin
- Match registration confirmed (usually on PractiScore) and squad checked
- Membership number, if you have one (USPSA/IDPA/SCSA)
- Match fee — some clubs are cash-only
- Photo ID
Small tools and spares
- Multitool or the few drivers your gun actually takes
- Lube, a rag, and tape
- Spare batteries: optic, muffs, timer if you bring one
The night-before ritual
- Pack from this list, checking boxes — not from memory
- Dry-fire five minutes, then put the gun in the bag and leave it there
- Read the match's stage briefings if they're posted
- Set the alarm earlier than feels necessary — walk-through time is worth more than sleep
First match coming up? Here's exactly what to expect — and the app version of this list is the Gear Checklist inside a session, where it remembers your custom items and checks off what's packed. Plan a session in the web app →
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More guides: Your first USPSA match · Which division? · Practice with purpose · All guides →