The USPSA Nationals for 2025 will be split into two separate events. This decision was made to reduce the number of events from three to two, stacking the divisions based on their reported activities.
The two most popular USPSA divisions—Carry Optics and Limited Optics—were paired with the remaining seven divisions to create the “Factory Gun” and “Race Gun” categories.
How USPSA division activity stacked up for 2024 is shown below in order of popularity.
- Carry Optics – 36%
- Limited Optics – 23%
- Open – 14%
- Pistol-Caliber Carbine – 9%
- Limited – 8%
- Production – 6%
- Single Stack – 2%
- Revolver – 1%
- Limited 10 – 0.6%
The 2025 USPSA SIG Sauer Factory Gun Nationals, presented by Vortex Optics, will kick things off at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, in June. This match is for USPSA members who want to compete in Carry Optics, Single Stack, Revolver or Production divisions. The name “Factory Gun” refers to the off-the-shelf nature of these divisions, which have more restrictions on modifications allowed.
The 2025 USPSA Vortex Optics Race Gun Nationals, presented by Berry’s Bullets, will combine Open, Pistol-Caliber Carbine, Limited, Limited Optics and L10 together in October, when USPSA returns to the Southern Utah Practical Shooters range in Hurricane, Utah. As the name implies, all the Race Gun divisions will be grouped together for competition in October.
Slots for both events are generated according to the Slot Policy, based on performance earned and activity-based criteria. Performance earned slots are awarded to members based on their finish in a division, class or category at the previous year’s USPSA Nationals or their USPSA Area Championship. Up to the top 10 competitors in each division at the previous year’s USPSA Nationals will earn a returning pre-registration invitation for the match in which that division is recognized.
There is one slot awarded per every 10 participants, up to 10 per division for the USPSA Nationals, and one slot per recognized division for each Area Championship in a person’s home area. Similarly, a slot is awarded to the top Class and Category winners in each division from Nationals as well as each Area Championship from the prior year. Recognition is based on Appendix A2 of the USPSA rulebook. A Division and Class must have at least 10 participants in a Division, 10 in a Class and five in a Category to be recognized.
Each USPSA Section and independent club (clubs not associated with a Section) is awarded slots based on reported activities from the previous year. According to current USPSA bylaws, Sections must award slots based on their Section bylaws, which should always consider placements in shooting events. Additionally, club membership and assistance at events may also be considered, but slots may never be awarded by lot. Section bylaws must be submitted to the USPSA Area Director and the National office.
These slots are generated and sent to the individual Performance Earners, Sections and independent clubs each year following a set schedule ahead of pre-registration and Open registration. This schedule was posted on the USPSA website in November 2024.
FACTORY GUN
- Performance, Section and Independent Club slots were sent out on January 17, 2025.
- Pre-registration opened on February 7, 2025.
- Open registration opens on March 21, 2025.
RACE GUN
- Performance, Section and Independent Club slots will be sent out by May 23, 2025.
- Pre-registration opens on June 13, 2025.
- Open registration opens on July 25, 2025.
USPSA members who earned a slot will be able to sign up during the pre-registration period. The slot codes will expire when Open registration begins. The remaining slots, based on unused pre-registration slots, will be available for members to sign up during Open registration.
Due to the high demand for slots this year, a decision was made to offer a limited number of pre-match squads. For members trying to register during Open registration, approximately six squads will be able to compete on the two days leading up to the main match. These squads will have assigned Range Officers, who will move with the squads throughout those two days. The competition will run all day long, which is different from the three-day main match that is broken into three half-day sessions.
If you didn’t earn a slot, you should double-check with your USPSA Section Coordinator on how activity-based slots are being distributed within your Section.
Article from the March/April 2025 issue of USPSA’s magazine.
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