The Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA), under the USPSA banner, has officially announced a rare and exciting opportunity: they are accepting submissions for two brand new official Steel Challenge stages. This marks a significant moment in the sport’s history and offers shooters and stage designers across the country a chance to leave their mark on one of the most structured and widely practiced competitive shooting disciplines.
What's Happening?
According to the official USPSA announcement on July 2, 2025, the SCSA is actively seeking stage proposals from the shooting community. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to bring innovation and renewed energy into Steel Challenge. The two new stages selected from submissions will be added to the official list of sanctioned Steel Challenge stages — the first change of its kind in over a decade.
Submission Deadline: July 31, 2025
Stage Requirements: Must include five steel plates per stage, one being a stop plate, with a minimum distance of 18 feet between targets. Additional safety, spacing, and flow guidelines can be found in the official SCSA rules. Limiting the plates to either [3x 12″ + 2x 18″x24″ rectangles] or [4×12″ + 1x 18″x24″]
Who Can Submit: Anyone — shooters, match directors, and enthusiasts alike, but you must be an active member
Designs must be submitted as PDF files and emailed to zack@uspsa.org. Those selected will join classics like Smoke & Hope and Roundabout as permanent fixtures in Steel Challenge competition.
Timeline for Selection and Incorporation:
Submission Period Closes: July 31, 2025
Finalist candidate stages will be presented to membership for feedback and input no later than end-of-month September.
Selected stages will become provisional stages: January 2026, ahead of the 2026 shooting season
Historical Context: The Last Time Stages Were Added
The Steel Challenge stage list has remained almost unchanged for over a decade, with the last major addition being in 2011, when “Outer Limits” was introduced as an official classifier stage. Prior to that, the original eight stages established by Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman in the 1980s formed the core foundation of the sport. In the years since, stages like “Speed Option” and “Showdown” were introduced, but such updates have been few and far between.
This is only the second time since the sport’s founding that new stages are being formally accepted into the core stage list — a testament to both the tradition and consistency that defines Steel Challenge.
Why It Matters
A Chance to Influence the Sport: This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for passionate shooters to contribute creatively to the structure of the game.
Fresh Strategy and Variety: With shooters becoming increasingly fast and efficient, new stage designs offer fresh challenges and balance.
Community Engagement: By opening the door to public submissions, the USPSA and SCSA are fostering innovation from the grassroots of the sport.
Want to Submit?
Here’s how to get started:
- Download and review the current SCSA rulebook
- Design your stage using proper dimensions, spacing, and plate sizes. Limiting the plates to either [3x 12″ + 2x 18″x24″ rectangles] or [4×12″ + 1x 18″x24″]
- Include a name and detailed layout with target distances
- Email your PDF to: zack@uspsa.org by July 31, 2025
Final Thoughts
Steel Challenge’s structured format has made it one of the most accessible and fastest-growing disciplines in practical shooting. The opportunity to add two new stages is not just rare — it’s historic. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a fresh face to the sport, your idea might become the next classic that future generations will memorize, master, and love.
Stay tuned to GunCraver.com for updates, submission tips, and our own community-designed concepts in the weeks to come.
