“A very distinguished group of pistol shooters gathered in Columbia, Missouri, the week of May 24, 1976. The results of that meeting should have far reaching effects on the sport this group practices.  The activity in question was that of practical pistol shooting, and numbers among the forty-five delegates present were some of the best practical shots in the world.”  Rick Miller, Guns and Ammo, October 1976, page 58

What’s come to be known as “the Columbia Conference,” began the tsunami that changed the world the shooting world and, to a large extent, the firearms industry.

The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) was born 50 years ago hence existing for 1/5 the duration of our Republic. The predecessor and parent organization of today’s United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), the influence of IPSC is readily apparent in today’s military forces (most observably in the Special Operations branches) as well as Law Enforcement (directly manifested in many SWAT units’ equipment and tactics).

While pre-dating the influence of polymer/plastic guns and ancillary equipment (with the possible exception of the Snick holster), many of the “custom” modifications preformed on autoloaders and revolvers in the early days of the sport are now de rigueur. Any currently produced 1911 that doesn’t exhibit features developed by “practical” shooting competition is considered “retro” and is attempting to replicate a relic from our past.

Surprisingly, the half-century milestone of influence of this magnitude seems to have largely gone uncelebrated or at least vastly under reported. One magnificent exception to this oversight however took place on June 4-6, 2026 at the Circle WC Ranch in Cuthand, Texas. At the invitation and graciousness of Bill and Joyce Wilson, of Wilson Combat fame, 17 “participants,” and 22 “guests” and “staff” gathered to commemorate IPSC’s 50th birthday with some friendly competitive shooting conducted by Bill.   The “participants” group was comprised of early IPSC competitors and “influencers” from the sport’s fledgling days, including Dan Predovich, Jim McClary and John Thompson, 3 shooters that attended the original Columbia Conference referenced in Rick Miller’s article. By definition, the ”Participant” shooters were “long in the tooth” and divided into two groups: “Under 70” and “Over 70.” Six competitors were under 70 years of age and eleven of us were experienced septuagenarians in the over 70 category.  Equipment permitted for use in the event were single stack 1911 pistols of any caliber with iron sights and barrel length of 5” or less and leather holsters and gear that were available prior to 1985.  There was no power factor so 9mm’s were prevalent. Targets were unique “scorable” steel ovals and silhouettes that had 6” and 7” “perfect-score-zones” marked by perforated cuts that could be scored visually from the shooting line. This negated the time-consuming chore of manually taping cardboard targets, a quick shot of spray-paint prior to the next shooter was all it took. When Bill sent out the course description he addressed how the event would be scored which included, “Shooters can get a reshoot on a string with a firearm malfunction, but not a mental malfunction.” Not-so-ironically most malfunctions were mental and not mechanical. 

The results were as follows:

-Participant under 70 category—1st place, Scott Carnahan; 2nd place, Rob Leatham; 3rd place, Jim Wall; 4th place, Claudio Salassa; 5th place, Jim O’Young.

-Participant over 70 category—1st place, John Shaw; 2nd place, Patrick Sweeney; 3rd place, Bill Wilson; 4th place, Massad Ayoob; 5th place, Jim McClary.

-Guest/Staff category—1st place, Guy Joubert; 2nd place, Ben Hardt; 3rd place, Ernie Freeson; 4th place, Josh Wilson; 5th place, Alan Yoast.

Thus, ended day one.

Day two was less regimented than the previous one, but in many ways more fun from the standpoint that we got to shoot Bill’s guns with Bill’s ammunition!  I don’t know how many various models of guns that Bill manufacturers, but at one point he brought out 12 different models including his new Wilson Combat Bulwark and multiple ammo cans filled with cartridges.  Attendees could shoot as many guns as many times as they chose.  Somehow, mass pandemonium was avoided, but most of the morning session was spent taking advantage of Bill’s generosity.  The next shooting exercise on our agenda was an amazingly simple, but challenging event.  Two steel oval targets were set at about 8 yards and one at about 13 yards.  The shooter stood behind a table on which lay six different handguns; a 1911 with a red dot, a S&W pencil barreled Model 10, a Ruger Vaquero, a Double Action Only Beretta Model 92, a new Wilson Combat Bulwark, and a Wilson EDC with a red dot all in either 9mm or .38 Special.  On signal, the contestant shot 2 rounds at each target (6 total shots) with each handgun (36 total shots).  There was no time limit, it was an accuracy test exasperated by dramatically different trigger actions and weights.  It was one of best pure “trigger-focus” exercises that I’ve ever experienced. 

Afterwards, other shooting exercises took place as well as the demanding “postage stamp drill” for those whose egos were still intact; it was an overall enjoyable day of intense-but-low-stress shooting with old friends.

Perhaps the most amazing factor of the entire event was that Bill and Joyce provided both room and board for the participants in one of their three accommodations that are available on the Circle WC Ranch.  Bill and Joyce live on the ranch full time and their attention to detail and quality is on par with the attention to detail and quality manifested in the guns that Wilson Combat manufactures. Their main “Lodge” building has a two story “great room” from which many of Bill’s “Gun Guys” videos are recorded for their Wilson Combat You Tube channel.  The number and quality of the African trophies on display in that room would make Ruark, Hemingway and Capstick collectively turn green with envy.

We started this reunion on Thursday evening and left on Sunday morning, but in some ways, I think that a few of us were changed just a little.  I was reunited with old friends, saw some incredible shooting prowess demonstrated and reaffirmed that at least some of the work that we did in those early days of the sport that we loved, was time well spent.  Happy 50th birthday IPSC, may your future be worthy of your past.

– Greg Moats