Pistol Matches

BERPC conducts monthly pistol matches at the Ultimate Defense Firing Range and Training Center in St. Peters, MO. Matches are usually held on the second Saturday of each month, but the date may vary (check the match calendar, for exact dates). Matches start at 7:30 AM and are over by 9:00 AM. Time is limited, so shooters should be at the facility no later than 7:30 AM. Match fees are $25.

Three types of matches are held: Police Pistol Combat (PPC), IDPA 5x5 Classifier, and Rimfire Silhouette. The match type rotates monthly and is indicated on the match calendar.

Per our insurance requirements, and our arrangement with Ultimate Defense, all shooters must meet the following criteria:

  • Shooters must be BERPC members. Shooters may join BERPC on the day of the match by paying the $10.00 annual dues and signing a waiver. Waivers are available for signing at the range, or they can be downloaded from the BERPC membership page.
  • Shooters must be an Associate, Gold, or Platinum member of Ultimate Defense. Associate memberships are free, but require filling out an Ultimate Defense waiver. The waiver can be filled out the day of the match, but it does take some of the limited time available for the match. Ultimate Defense also allows the waiver to be filed online.

Police Pistol Combat (PPC)

Police Pistol Combat, or PPC, matches are designed to conform to NRA Police Pistol Combat rules, though some variation is permitted to encourage participation. The course of fire for a relay is shown below, and the match consists of two relays (time permitting). Each relay requires 42 rounds, so the round count is for the entire match is 84. Shooters may elect to shoot one or both relays.

The PPC course of fire consists of 5 separate scenarios, each with a specific par time. All magazines are loaded to six (6) rounds. Shooters reload between scenarios, start each scenario from the holster or the “low-ready” position, and are expected to fire all required rounds for the scenario within the par time.

  • Course of Fire:
    • 3 Yards: 6 rounds, weak hand only, 12 seconds
    • 7 Yards: 6 rounds; strong hand only, 12 seconds
    • 7 Yards: 12 rounds (6 rounds, reload, 6 rounds), freestyle (i.e. two-handed), 25 seconds
    • 15 Yards: 12 rounds (6 rounds, reload, 6 rounds), freestyle, 35 seconds
    • 25 Yards: 6 rounds; freestyle, 35 seconds
  • Required Equipment:
    • Duty-type handgun (revolver or semi-automatic pistol) with minimal modifications from stock (red/green dot optics are allowed)
    • A minimum of two (2) magazines or speed loaders – belt-mounted holsters and magazine pouches are recommended, but not required
    • Eye and ear protection

IDPA 5x5 Classifier

The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) 5x5 classifier is a 25-round course of fire used to determine a shooter’s skill level for IDPA matches. BERPC matches are not valid IDPA matches, so no classifications will be filed with the IDPA.

The classifier consists of 5 sets of 5 rounds, and are individually timed. The shooter’s score is the total of the individual times, plus any penalties for shots outside the designated target area. The course of fire for the classifier is shown below, and the match consists of two classifiers (time permitting). Each classifier requires 25 rounds, so the round count is for the entire match is 50. Shooters may elect to shoot one or two classifiers.

  • Course of Fire:
    • All rounds are fired at 10 yards.
    • 5 rounds, freestyle (i.e. two-handed)
    • 5 rounds, strong hand only
    • 5 rounds, reload, 5 rounds, freestyle
    • 5 rounds (4 to the body, 1 to the head), freestyle
  • Required Equipment:
    • Duty-type handgun (revolver or semi-automatic pistol) with minimal modifications from stock (red/green dot optics are allowed)
    • A minimum of two (2) magazines or speed loaders – belt-mounted holsters and magazine pouches are recommended, but not required
    • Eye and ear protection

Rimfire Silhouette

The rimfire silhouette match is for 22LR rimfire handguns only, and consists of four (4) sets of five (5) steel silhouette targets at distances of 10 to 25 yards. Shooters fire up to 10 rounds at each set of targets, attempting to knock the targets down. Each set of targets is timed individually, and scoring is the total time for each of the four target sets, plus a penalty for each target left standing.

  • Course of Fire:
    • 10 yards, 5 “chicken” silhouette targets, maximum of 10 rounds
    • 15 yards, 5 “pig” silhouette targets, maximum of 10 rounds
    • 20 yards, 5 “turkey” silhouette targets, maximum of 10 rounds
    • 25 yards, 5 “ram” silhouette targets, maximum of 10 rounds
  • Required Equipment:
    • 22LR rimfire pistol – iron or optical sights
      • 22LR revolvers are allowed, but the 10 round maximum favors semi-automatics
    • A minimum of one (1) 10-round magazine
    • Eye and ear protection
  • Sample Paper Silhouettes - Paper targets are the same size as the steel targets used in the match.
    Note: The targets have been updated as of 3/7/24. Previous versions printed out slightly smaller due to the border around the targets. The new targets should print properly if the JPGs are opened in photo/image viewer (i.e. double-click the jpg file to open it). These images are very black and use a lot of ink, so it is best to set print options to "draft" quality and monochrome or black & white. The "sized silhouettes" file has measurements for the correctly size silhouettes which can be used to verify the printed silhouettes are the proper size.