Welcome to our FORGE Shooting Symposium: Competition, an opportunity to explore three of the most exciting and skill-building disciplines in practical and competitive pistol shooting: USPSA, IDPA, and Steel Challenge. You will train with each instructor for an entire day! CLICK HERE for FORGE Shooting Symposium's basic landing page.
Competitive shooting is much more than simply shooting at targets. It is a structured environment where shooters can develop and test important skills such as accuracy, consistency, safe gun handling, decision-making, movement, focus, and performance under pressure. Each competition provides a unique way to challenge yourself while learning in a safe, organized, and supportive environment.
USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) challenges competitors to combine speed, accuracy, movement, and stage planning while engaging a variety of targets and scenarios.
IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) emphasizes practical shooting skills, accuracy, movement, and the use of equipment and techniques intended to reflect defensive-style situations.
Steel Challenge(Steel Challenge Shooting Association) provides a straightforward and highly engaging test of speed and accuracy. Shooters engage steel targets from prescribed positions, allowing them to focus on fundamentals, consistency, transitions, and developing speed while maintaining control.
Why Train Through Competition? One of the greatest benefits of competitive shooting is that it gives shooters a structured way to practice skills and measure their progress. Rather than simply repeating drills on a range, competition introduces goals, time standards, problem-solving, and performance pressure.
Training through competition can help shooters:
Improve accuracy and consistency by establishing strong fundamentals and learning to make quality shots repeatedly.
Develop safe gun-handling habits through consistent application of range and competition safety procedures.
Build confidence by testing skills in a controlled and organized environment.
Improve focus and concentration while learning to perform skills under pressure.
Develop efficient movement and manipulation skills appropriate to the particular discipline.
Learn to manage performance pressure, an important skill for anyone who wants to perform consistently when it matters.
Identify weaknesses that may not become apparent during casual range practice.
Track measurable progress through scores, times, and match performance.
Learn from other shooters, instructors, range officers, and experienced competitors.
Make training more engaging and purposeful by giving practice a clear objective and measurable outcome.
Most importantly, competition provides an environment where shooters can learn, improve, and challenge themselves while maintaining an emphasis on safety and responsible firearm ownership.
Whether you are completely new to competitive shooting or an experienced competitor looking to expand your skills, this symposium is designed to introduce you to the similarities and differences among USPSA, IDPA, and Steel Challenge—and help you discover which discipline may be the right fit for you.
Come learn the sports, understand the skills, and discover how competition can make your training more purposeful, measurable, and rewarding.
FORGE 2027 will be held at Pickens County Sportsmans Clubrange. We will be working on Ranges B, E and F. We will also have access to the clubhouse. Parking will be designated and we will have helpers to get you settled in.
Please make note that each range will already have a medical protocol, primary and secondary medical responders, and transport vehicles in place.
Friday, September 17th, 2027
Arrive 8:00am
In person REGISTRATION IS FROM 8am-9am on RANGE B
There will be a $20 per day, per person range fee. Please bring $60 CASH on Friday morning. We will collect this at registration.
9:00am Opening statements on Range E. MUST ATTEND 9am
10:00am-1:15pm training
1:15pm-2:15pm LUNCH
2:15pm - 5:30pm training
Saturday, September 18th, 2027:
Arrive 8:30am and report directly to your range
9:00am-12:15pm training
12:15pm-1:15pm LUNCH
1:15pm - 4:30pm training
4:45-6:00pm Door prizes, firearms giveaway, photos on RANGE B
Sunday, September 19th, 2027
Arrive 9:00am and report directly to your range
9:30am-12:45pm training
12:45pm-1:45pm LUNCH
1:45pm - 5:00pm training
Safe travels and thanks for coming!
1st Annual FORGE Shooting Symposium: COMPETITION
September 17, 18 and 19, 2027
Training Day with Brian Hill on RANGE F
Brian is owner and head coach of The Complete Combatantlocated in Jasper, GA, a Heckler & Koch (HK) Brand Ambassador and Endorsed Instructor, sponsored by The Gun Food and Holosun Optics, he is a military trainer and past owner of Fusion Fitness and MMA until 2020 where the social distancing, illness, and job loss of many students from COVID-19 forced us to close the doors.
In June of 2025, Brian was appointed to the NRA Education & Training Committee 2025-2026. Brian is also a PHLsterSponsored Instructor, and is a Certified Red Dot Instructorand an Endorsed Instructor with Scott Jedlinski of Modern Samurai Project. Brian Hill is a RangemasterCertified Master Instructor with Tom Givens of Rangemaster. He also presents at AGAG National Conferences, The Quest, The Mingle, Rifle Renaissance and The Guardian Conferences. Brian is a 4th degree Black belt in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Karate, a 3rd degree Black belt in Taekwondo and a certified MMA Conditioning Coach. Brian Hill is a former deputy with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department Reserve and and he has been a full time instructor since he was 18 and he personally trains everyday.
Brian began his journey in IDPA in 2016 to improve his defensive skills. He has won overall in local matches and usually place at the top of his division. As a lifelong martial arts competitor, he brings a unique perspective to preparing the shooter to perform at their highest level, execute stage plans seamlessly, and call shots in real time.
Topic: IDPA:Brian will focus on "everything IDPA":
Developing the 5x5 classifier
Recognizing patterns in stages
Scoring
IDPA rules
Terminology
Understanding risk versus reward in performance mode
Competitive shooting is rewarding and fun, allowing the shooter to consistently improve their skills through pressure testing.
250–300 rounds
Training Day with Derek Giddings RANGE E
Derek Giddings is from Woodstock, Georgia and is a long standing member of Heckler & Koch’s Pro Shooting Team. He has competed for almost 20 years in disciplines ranging from USPSA, IDPA, 3 Gun, 2 Gun, Multigun, PCSL, Action Pistol, Run & Gun Biathlons, Subgun Matches, The Tactical Games, and more! He is State Champion Title holder in USPSA, IDPA, and 3 Gun in multiple states. Specifically in USPSA he has won State Championship titles in USPSA’s Production Division as well as their PCC Division and has over 100 USPSA match wins at clubs throughout the country. He used USPSA to develop his skills for other shooting disciplines and knows what it takes to progress in the sport. He is credited with helping several junior/young adult shooters progress to Master Class status in an incredibly short period of time and is known for regularly helping competitors at local matches.
Topic: USPSA:Derek will take students through the entire process of things to consider in order to advance in USPSA.
Gear considerations for the different USPSA divisions
Scoring
Understanding hit factor vs time plus scoring
Movement
Strategy
Stage breakdown
Live fire instruction tailored to the individual students shooting ability
250–300 rounds
Training Day with Tim Reedy RANGE B
In 2010, Tim Reedy startedTDR.Trainingto provide top-quality firearms and self-defense training to all law-abiding students. Tim has taken over 1,400 hours of firearms training from many of the top instructors in the nation, and has been building his experience, skills, and knowledge since 1995. Tim is a certified IDPA Safety Officer, Texas License to Carry Instructor, NRA CCW Instructor, Rangemaster-certified Professional Pistolcraft Instructor, a Massad Ayoob Group Deadly Force Instructor, and a Citizens Safety Academy-certified Gateway Instructor. Joining IDPA shortly after its inception, Tim’s IDPA number is A01570. He runs a monthly match in Bandera, and regularly competes in local, Regional and State Championship matches.
Tim is a fairly recent convert to Steel Challenge, beginning to compete in 2022 (Member number TY133045). He took over ownership and match director duties for Bandera Steel Challenge in 2023, and has been shooting matches regularly since then. Due to the simple rule set, wide range of acceptable gear, and no need for stage taping and resets, Tim sees Steel Challenge as one of the best “Gateway” competitions to get shooters started in shooting matches, as well as allowing advanced competitors to push their skills to the limit. Utilizing skills honed in Steel Challenge, Tim earned an Advanced Rating at the Elite Rogers Shooting School in 2025, shooting from concealment. Rogers uses seven pop-up / disappearing steel plates at 7–20 yards, very similar to a Steel Challenge stage but with smaller plates. However, Rogers plates are exposed for only .5 to .75 seconds.
Topic: “Steel Challenge? Kilt it!” In this class we will cover the following topics.
Steel Challenge equipment and game rules
Shooting 4 official SC stages
The benefits of Steel Challenge
The terminology and process of shooting the match
Commonalities with other types of competition
Mental aspects
Pre-competition routines
Strategies to maximize performance
Common Optimized Shooting Orders
Dominant and non-dominant hand practice
250–300 rounds
SUPER IMPORTANT! If you are already a USPSA member, you are covered for Steel Challenge membership. If not, please consider joining SCSA.org BEFORE the symposium. If you do this, you will have the option of earning an official SC classification during Tim's training day. At the event, Tim will get your USPSA / SC member number and upload the qualification.
GEAR LIST: Below is a list of everything you will need for all 3 LIVE FIRE training days COMBINED.
IDPA requires concealment and mags behind hip bone, while USPSA and Steel Challenge do not require concealment.
Competition style holsters are also good for USPSA and Steel Challenge, but are not legal in IDPA.
If they compete they will know, if they don’t we will show them how to set up their gear.
LOCAL GUESTS, YOU WILL NEED TO BRING A CHAIR. IF YOU HAVE ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL CHAIRS THEN PLEASE BRING THEM FOR OUR OUT OF TOWN GUESTS.
NON-LOCAL GUESTS, if you are flying in then please let me know and we will have a chair available for you!
There will be a $20 per day, per person range fee. Please bring $60 CASH on Friday morning. We will collect this at registration.
900 rounds of factory loaded 9mm ammunition. Order from The Gun Food!Of course, The Gun Food has a student package for you so you don't have to travel w all that weight. $255.99 for all of your FORGE 9mm freedom seeds. This includes delivery to US the week of the event. Deadline is September 10th, 2027. Please make note that the price is "ever changing". It may be $255.99 or it may be more depending on what the market holds at that time.
We will provide BOTTLED WATER ON THE RANGE.
Bring a sack lunch each day and snacks
Pistol w/holster that will not collapse when drawn (strong side, inside, outside waistband or appendix is fine)
Both IRON sights and RED DOT sights are welcome
Holsters that collapse (leather, soft, etc.) when drawn will NOT be allowed on our range. NO SERPA HOLSTERS will be allowed on our range. Please make note that if you show up with any of the above, we will ask you to CHANGE so you can comply with our range rules. If you do not have a back up gun then you can CHANGE to a HK VP9 and use a strong side Kydex holster that we will provide free of charge. Ammo not included
NO SERPA HOLSTERS or collapsible LEATHER holsters. THIS IS WHY!
At least two spare magazines (the more the merrier)
"Back up” gun if you got it. If not, we will have a HK VP9 waiting for you to use
Proper OUTDOOR weather attire
A LARGE plastic bag to use as a barrier between your range gear and the ground (this is a life savor if the ground is wet). Consider bringing 2 bags so one can cover up your gear if raining
REMEMBER, we are happy to reserve a VP9 with a Holosun pistol optic and holster for you to shoot all weekend for FREE. CLICK HEREfor details.
More to Know:
NO GUN HANDLING! Arrive with your firearm bagged/cased OR holstered. Each Coach will get you set up for their block. DO NOTHING until asked. If you handle your firearm at ANY TIME other than in a training session, on the line with your Coach, you will be asked to "empty, show clear and holster up". You will not be able to participate in any live fire classes from that point on. You will be invited to stay in your class, watch and learn. If you see anyone break this rule, please tell Brian or Shelley immediately and we will address. Thank you.
You will sign 2/3 waivers and fill out a registration form on Friday morning.
Please make sure the GEAR LIST is complete
We will have a Medical Protocol IN PLACE for each range. We will provide "need to know" information the morning of Day 1 .
This is a rain or shine event so be prepared.
Photos and videos will be taken.
DO NOT contact the instructor with questions regarding their block. All questions will go through Shelley Hill.
