Editing Practical shooting (section)

===Organizations===
In 1976, an international group of enthusiasts, interested in what had become known as "practical shooting", met in [[Columbia, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Columbia Conference Minutes |url=http://www.ipsc.org/ipsc/columbiaconference.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715172429/http://www.ipsc.org/ipsc/columbiaconference.php |archive-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> From that meeting came the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). In 1984, the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) was incorporated as the US Region of IPSC. After many years of established IPSC competition, some shooters, including some of the original founders, became dissatisfied with IPSC, as more specialized equipment was allegedly required to remain competitive. The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) was formed in 1996 with the aim of returning to the defensive pistol roots of practical shooting. Soon after this split, the USPSA devised a series of competition "divisions" with varying limits on type and modification of equipment, including a "Production" division with rules similar to the IDPA's regulations. Today USPSA and IDPA matches are two of the most popular forums of practical handgun shooting in the United States, with more than 25,000 and 11,000 members respectively.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

In 1977 the UKPSA was formed to promote and regulate practical pistol shooting in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], and became England's regional affiliate of the IPSC. The association proved very popular, gaining international respect within the practical shooting community, and hosted many National, European and International competitions. Despite the [[Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997|1997 Firearms Amendment Act]] in the UK, worldwide practical shooting is currently the second most popular international target shooting discipline<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sapsa.co.za/Right_Introduction.htm|title=Introduction to SAPSA|publisher=South African Practical Shooting Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215080621/http://www.sapsa.co.za/Right_Introduction.htm|archive-date=2011-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukpsa.co.uk/disciplines/|title=Disciplines|publisher=UKPSA}}</ref> and now the fastest growing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipscact.org.au/|title=Welcome to IPSCACT.org.au|publisher=IPSC ACT}}</ref> Most pistol shooting in the UK suffered severely after the handgun ban, which wiped out many shooting disciplines by removing the ability to participate. Practical shotgun has gained much popularity since the handgun ban, with numerous graded matches each year, and large entries to the European Practical Shotgun Championships.