Wrapping Up My First Competition Series: Lessons From the US Concealed Carry League

Joshua Wethington
Dec 5, 2025
5 min read

From March through November, I wrapped up my very first full competition series with the US Concealed Carry League (USCCL), hosted by Ramos Action Shooting at Guncraft in Ruskin, Florida. What started as “let me try this out once” turned into four events, countless new friendships, a deeper understanding of my skill set, and a huge appreciation for what concealed carry competition can actually teach you about yourself.

Across all four events I ran my Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 rotating between the 4" and the 3.6" models and each match gave me something new to learn, both in strengths and in limitations. And honestly? I loved every part of it. Squadding with friends, meeting people in the gun community, getting pushed, laughing, growing, and doing something that actually mirrors how we carry in real life that’s what this league is all about.

What Makes the US Concealed Carry League Different

The USCCL is exactly what it sounds like: a competition league where everyone must shoot from concealment.

Appendix? 3 o'clock? 9 o'clock? Fanny pack? Thigh carry? Purse? All good.

The idea is simple but powerful put everyone on an equal playing field by having them compete with the gear they actually use every day. No gamer rigs. No giant race holsters. No oversized competition guns unless they’re something you actually carry (in which case, I salute you).

This is what makes the league so welcoming for new shooters who want to try competition but feel intimidated by the complexity of USPSA, IDPA, or multi-day match formats. The USCCL strips away all that noise and focuses on practical, realistic shooting.

Small Stages, Realistic Round Counts, and Low Stress

Another thing I appreciate: the accessibility.

No stage exceeds 14 rounds.That aligns with what most people realistically carry whether that’s a 10-round subcompact or a 15 round mid-size.
Six stages total, and we’re usually done by lunchtime.No whole-weekend commitment. No 200 round gear haul. You can roll in between 9:00–11:30 AM, shoot, learn, hang out, and head home.
Low ammo investment.If you’ve ever done a USPSA match, you know how fast the round count adds up. Here? You can complete the day with minimal investment while still getting legitimate, meaningful reps.

It’s hard to overstate how beginner-friendly that is.

How Scoring Works and Why It Matters

The league emphasizes accuracy at speed, reflecting defensive shooting principles.

Alpha / Charlie = clean hits, no penalty
Delta = +5 seconds
Miss / “MIC” = +13 seconds

When you see those numbers, you quickly realize two things:

You don’t need to be a GM-level shooter stacking only Alphas.
But you also can’t be sloppy every bad shot taxes your time hard.

The entire league is time-based. Fastest time wins after penalties are added. It pushes you to find that balance between throttle and control. For concealed carry training? That’s exactly what we want.

The Divisions

The USCCL keeps divisions simple but relevant to concealed carry, which I love. They’re based on barrel length and whether you’re running irons or optics:

Compact Irons (4"–4.5" barrels, iron sights)
Compact Optics (4"–4.5" barrels, equipped with a red dot)
Concealed Carry Irons (≤ 3.99" barrels, iron sights)
Concealed Carry Optics (≤ 3.99" barrels, optics)
JTB — “Just Too Big”
- Barrels ≥ 4.51"
- OR compensated
- OR ported

Since all my guns are ported, I landed in JTB squadding up with the big boys. Honestly? It was a blast.

What I Learned From My First Competition Series

Going into this, I expected to learn something. I didn’t expect it to reshape how I see my own abilities.

I confirmed some strengths fast sight acquisition, good throttle control, and movement that feels natural.
I uncovered weaknesses reloading under pressure, discipline on partials, and managing the mental game when stage plans fall apart.
I grew more comfortable with real concealment draw strokes, speeding up my splits and planning stages on my own.
I learned how much competition reveals about your everyday carry competence.

I also really appreciated that at the end of the league, USCCL gave participation points. Not everyone is chasing a trophy. Some people are chasing growth. Rewarding consistency encourages people to show up, learn, and improve and that’s exactly what this league is about.

Blind stages were another awesome touch. Several stages forced us to think, process, and act on the fly and that’s where defensive-minded competition really shines.

Community: The Best Part of All

As much as I loved the shooting, the real standout was the community.

Every match I squad with friends, meet new people, and walk away with better insight into how others approach stages and self-defense principles. If you’ve ever thought about getting into competition but didn’t want the pressure of a massive match or the uncertainty of your gear, this league is the perfect entry point.

A Big Thank You to the Sponsors Who Support Me, Darius, and the MacBroz

Firearms Radio Network

Sean Herrin and the entire team at FRN have supported our podcast from day one. They amplify voices in the 2A community and give creators like us a platform to share stories and experiences. Couldn’t be more grateful.

Brownells

The first organization that truly believed in me. They’ve fueled my journey in the community, helped equip me for content creation, and opened doors to relationships and learning opportunities. Brownells will always be foundational to who I am in this space.

NDZ Performance

I’ve been a customer for years before NDZ ever sponsored us. Their aftermarket parts, customer service, and genuine support for shooters set them apart. Having their name on our jerseys means a lot.

Monsoon Tactical

My guns are built by them, tuned by them, and pushed further by their innovation. Their porting, their craftsmanship, and their belief in high-performance shooting inspire me every time I step on the range. They’re family.

Tier 1 Concealed

My everyday appendix holster period. Their gear is reliable, safe, and trusted with my life. Their skill behind the gun and their dedication to quality make them one of the best in the business.

Squad Drills

This one is personal.Squad Drills is something I helped build alongside Darius, Dalton, Gammage, and Greg. It’s not just a brand it's a community. A place where people learn, grow, fail, try again, and support one another in firearms, family, faith, and life.I’ll always be a Squad Drills guy at heart.

Looking Ahead to 2026

So that wraps up my first competition series whatever you want to call it: circuit, season, journey. And now? I’m excited for what’s next.

2026 is the year I debut my Staccato in competition. After years of riding with my M&Ps, I’m shifting platforms. The Staccato fits me well, and with more practice I know it will become an extension of my hands just like the M&Ps have been.

More learning. More refining. More competitive reps. More growth.

And if you see me on the range or want to squad up don’t hesitate.Let’s shoot together. Let’s learn together. Let’s beat the course together.Competition is a race against time, sure……but it’s also collaboration. We all share the same target: getting better.

Here’s to 2026. Here’s to improvement. Here’s to pushing the limits and having a damn good time doing it.