ROAD MAP
Understand our long-term vision.
// HOW WE GOT HERE
In early 2021, multi-time national champion Max Leograndis had a unique opportunity to direct and produce his first major event: the Practical 2-Gun Championship.
Because we weren’t tied to any existing organization, we could pull the best features from different formats together and re-imagine what the ultimate practical shooting sport could be. A hit-factor scored 2-Gun match with simple modern divisions where every stage tested competitors’ skills with both a handgun and carbine - the two most ubiquitous platforms in the shooting world today.
With only four months between the match announcement and its start date, we were able to put together a modernized rulebook with features like admissible video evidence and creative, non-restrictive divisions that mimicked real world gear, and design a brand new target with more optionality due to the new K-Zone.
With huge participation and enjoyment from the competitors, including a large number of participants who were from the tactical or professional world, and a lot of “new-to-competition” shooters, the Practical 2-Gun Championship was an extreme success for our team. It acted as proof that there was demand for something newer and better. Something that focused on a positive culture shift within shooting sports - bringing everyone together from all different backgrounds.
As the format matured, it became clear that the modern and competitor-focused vision of PCSL was desperately needed in other types of events like pistol only, rifle only, and even 3-gun.
After the huge success of the first Practical 2-Gun Championship in 2021, we adopted the name PCSL and began planning a full set of major events for the 2022 match year. We ran the PCSL Carbine Championship in March which was combined with a night match called “PCSL Carbine After Dark”. We ran the PCSL PCC Championship in August. And we closed out the year with a huge double header - the 2022 PCSL 2-Gun Championship followed by Hard as Hell 3-Gun: Resurrection under provisional PCSL 3-Gun rules.
With every event came more invaluable experience and more clarity on what a modern practical shooting format needed in order to be optimized. These first two years were absolutely key for us to grow our team and fine-tune the details of the new game that we had created.
Getting through 2023, and preparing for the future
Unfortunate circumstances mid-year caused us to lose the opportunity to host events at the Cobalt range in St. George, UT. This created a last minute scramble to find a new home for the yearly 2-Gun Championship. We were very fortunate to host the event at PrairieFire Nevada shortly after their grand opening, and hope to foster a great long term relationship with them and their amazing facility.
As we enter 2024, the PCSL team will be shifting its focus to fostering the growth of a large community of PCSL clubs and shooters who are simply looking for a better way to be involved in practical shooting sports. Read the 2024 road map below to get a full picture of what we have planned.
// Q1 2024
Full rulebook update, including core changes in the way PCSL divisions are recognized
There are two fighting mindsets when it comes to divisions within practical shooting.
One says that it is most important to allow shooters to compete in divisions specifically tailored to their gear of choice. This may help competitors feel more welcome and competitive using their preferred equipment, leading to more satisfaction in participating. The issue is that the higher you go in match level, the lower the relative participation will be in the less popular divisions. This competitive dilution leads to diminished integrity of championship titles, and encourages top shooters to pick and choose divisions with lower levels of relative competition just for the sake of earning more wins.
The other mindset says that number of divisions should be kept at a minimum so that everyone is forced to compete against each other and the most talented shooters will earn the most prestigious titles. Especially at a national level championship, we believe that concentration of competition should be prioritized so that the integrity and meaning behind a title is preserved.
In order to find a balance between these two philosophies, PCSL will introduce two official division types - “Core” and “Recognized”.
Core Divisions will be the integral divisions of PCSL. They will have the greatest participation numbers, the highest amount of classification data, and they will be available to shoot all the way up to a Level 4 National Championship match. These are the divisions that shooters interested in earning regional or national titles in will have to shoot.
Recognized Divisions will allow a far broader spectrum of options for competitors to participate in at the local and section level. They will serve many purposes:
allowing match directors to choose which divisions best suit their local shooting community while still running un-modified official PCSL rules
allowing ban states to run officially recognized 10 (or other) round versions of other divisions
act as provisional divisions - allowing official collecting of participation data and classifier data, with the potential to upgrade to a core division if there is high demand within the community
Release of Official PCSL Classifiers
We’ve designed a set of 6 classifiers that we believe offer a very accurate rating of a shooter’s performance within PCSL. These six classifiers are more complex than the typical USPSA or IDPA classifiers, while only being marginally more work to put on the ground. That said, a single PCSL classifier setup can be run by any 2-Gun, Pistol, or Rifle division with no changes made to suit the different divisions. The written stage briefs may have a slightly different procedure, and the start position may be altered, but typically you will simply shoot the portion of the stage corresponding to the firearm platforms you’re classifying with.
Additionally, the 6 classifiers are split into two distinct categories that test different skills - Dynamic and Fundamental.
Dynamic classifiers are essentially mini freestyle stages. They focus on testing a blend of stage skills including shooting on the move, technical positioning, efficient position entry and exit, agility, and fast shooting and transitions at closer ranges.
Fundamental classifiers are more defined in their procedures, and force shooters to execute well on technical skills like specific weapon manipulations, reloads, strong and support side shooting, and difficult marksmanship tests like longer range shots and fast follow up shots at distance.
Introduce an official letter-rank style classification system for 2-Gun
2-Gun classifications will come first, as we have sufficient data for the classifiers to set HHFs. Pistol and Rifle classifications will be introduced later in the year, after clubs have the chance to run our classifiers and submit data.
Begin production of informational and instructional content
We know that there is a need for quality informational content to help clubs get started with putting on their own PCSL matches. Production of informational content like this will be ongoing for the foreseeable future, but we’re starting with a set of videos that will show precisely how to build and run shooters through the classifiers, and may also include tips for how to perform your best on them as well!
PractiScore 2.0 release is imminent with the addition of a PCSL module with K-Zone support
// Q2 2024
Introduction of club affiliation system & PCSL match levels 1-4
PCSL will never force clubs to affiliate in order to use the ruleset, format, targets, or divisions.
PCSL matches that wish to remain totally independent from the PCSL organization will be referred to as “Level 0” matches.
Level 1 matches will have the least restrictions, and will be able to run all the “recognized” divisions, or even introduce totally new divisions that the club wants to run for its own shooter base. Level 4 matches will be run as “core” divisions only. Level 2 and 3 matches will have their own specific requirements but be differentiated in functional ways to achieve our goals.
More details will be available as we enter Q2.
Introduction of competitor memberships
More details will be available as we enter Q2.
Begin development of an ELO-based ranking system
We are extremely excited about this in particular. We believe we have a winning formula planned that beautifully synergizes the traditional letter-ranked classifier system with the predictive skill based self correcting system that ELO offers. These two systems will not clash with each other. In fact, we believe that having a standard set of classifier stages is an integral part of a modern ranking system like ELO.
More details will be available as we enter Q2.
// Q3 2024
Develop PCSL Range Officer educational content
We understand how important this is for the long term success of the format.
Our plan is to start with an online module available for PCSL members, as well as schedule our first in-person PCSL RO and Stage Design class in 2024.
More details will be available as we enter Q3.
Introduce an official letter-rank style classification system for Pistol and Carbine
When we have enough data from participating clubs to accurately classify shooters in PCSL Pistol and PCSL Carbine formats, we will begin rolling out classifications for those match types.
Begin planning select Level 3 & 4 PCSL major events for 2025
If your range or club is interested in hosting a regional or national championship level PCSL event in 2025, talk to us about it around this time. More details will be available as we enter Q3.
// Q4 2024
Run the PCSL 2-Gun Nationals & crown the first ever PCSL 2-Gun National Champions
Registration for this event will open up in Q1 after details are finalized with the venue.
Finalize level 3 & 4 events planned for 2025
Moving forward, we want to offer as much time as possible for competitors to plan around major PCSL events.