USPSA LOAD OUTS - Recommended setups and gear

Don’t sweat your gun and gear, show up with what you've got and make adjustments from there. Typically, you will find the competitive shooting community to be very welcoming, and most will help or loan you gear when you're figuring it out.

Here's a guide to current options as of late 2025.

Some things to avoid:

  • Amazon gear (often knockoff fake items)
  • Serpa Holsters or similar holsters that require using your trigger finger to release/defeat the retention
  • Mag pouches that have zero ability to adjust and no ability to be securely attached to your belt

Some good budget options:

Holsters: You'll first want to determine if your division will allow you to use a "race" holster or if it requires a Kydex holster. The big difference in these two options are whether it is covered or exposed.

In the competitive world, you want a rigid holster (this allows for a better and more consistent release vs a holster that is less rigid and bends and "fights" you). 

Thick kydex or double-layered kydex is a good option. Holsters with mounting holes that allow you to add an aftermarket holster hanger are good options, as you can add a hanger (allows for adjustment on body, like cant, drop, distance from body, etc) later.

  • blade tech - comes with a basic hanger
  • red hill tactical
  • gx holsters
  • comp tac - comes with a basic hanger

Hanger adjustability is the main focus

  • Boss hanger
  • Henning Group t-x holster hanger

Magazine Pouches: 

  • Ghost USA mag pouches (360 Universal)

Competition Belt: typically a two-piece belt setup consisting of an inner belt and outer belt. The advantage is the inner belt secures your pants and the outer belt secured to that. Nicer outer belts are rigid (so gear doesn't move or flex, being able to leave your gear on the outer belt also ensures that it's always consistent when you put it on.

 

Luxury options:

Holsters: Be aware of the division you'd be competing in, the options listed in this section are options that would be legal in the majority of the divisions but are more luxury options. Some divisions might have more luxurious niche options based off the gun type listed below in the loadout selections. The biggest

BDS

carey concealment

daa

ghost 

gx holsters

 

 

Carry Optics - a high capacity, fast-paced slide-mounted optic division, scored minor

Firearm - must be on the approved production list in USPSA. 9mm is the ideal cartridge

    • CZ Shadow 2 or SP-01 variants in (DA/SA configuration)
    • Walther PDP variants
    • Canik Rival variants
    • Glocks

 

Limited Optics- a high capacity, fast-paced slide-mounted optic division, scored minor

Firearm - This division is dominated by the 2011, but all of the CO options are elligible in this division too. 9mm is the ideal cartridge

    • 2011s (Infinity, Atlas, Master Piece Arms, Mclearn, Viking, Race City, Staccato, etc)
    • CZ tactical sports (9mm) or SA only cz75 variants
    • Laugo Alien with a retro optics mount

Limited

Firearm - This division is dominated by the 2011, but all of the CO options are elligible in this division too. 9mm is the ideal cartridge

    • 2011s (Infinity, Atlas, Mclearn, Viking, Race City, etc)
    • CZ tactical sports (9mm) or SA only cz75 variants
    • Laugo Alien with a retro optics mount

Open - a high capacity, fast-paced slide-mounted optic division, scored MAJOR

Firearm - This division is dominated by the 2011, but any highly modified, compensated/ported pistol could play. 38 SuperComp is the ideal cartridge. 9mm MAJOR is also commonly used.

    • 2011s (Infinity, Atlas, Mclearn, Venom Customs, Rafferty Customs, Master Piece Arms, Limcat)
    • CZ Czechmates 

 

PCC - a high capacity, fast paced optic 9mm carbine division, scored minor

Firearm - This division is dominated by 9mm AR-style carbines. Highly modified carbines are used with optics, lights, lazers, foregrips, etc. The ideal cartridge is 9mm.

    • JP Enterprises - JP5 
    • Mean Arms - Maul upper
    • Any blow-back Pistol Caliber Carbine

Production

 

 

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