The SCSA (Steel Challenge Shooting Association) Steel Challenge is a competitive shooting event that focuses on speed and accuracy with handguns and rifles, now offering 14 Divisions including the newest division of Limited Optics. This shooting sport consists of various stages that challenge competitors to shoot at steel targets in a timed format. The main goal is to hit all the targets in any order with the Stop Plate being the last shot to stop your time (5 steel targets per stage) in the shortest time possible while maintaining accuracy.

There are eight official stages in the Steel Challenge, each designed to test different shooting skills:

1. Speed Option: Shooters must engage five steel targets arranged in a straight line, firing one shot at each target. This stage focuses on speed and accuracy, as the competitor must transition quickly between targets.

2. Pendulum: This stage features five targets set in a specific configuration that allows competitors to shoot targets in a particular sequence. The focus here is on strategy, as shooters decide the best route to optimize their shooting run. Typically shooters find this stage one of the most challenging.

3. Roundabout: In this stage, participants shoot at five steel targets arranged in a circular formation, requiring them to engage each target in a prescribed order. The layout challenges competitors to navigate their shots efficiently.

4. Accelerator: This stage incorporates a target transition from one set of three targets to another set of two targets, allowing shooters to develop their speed while managing target engagement.

5. Five to Go: This stage challenges the shooter to hit five targets positioned at various distances in a compact setup. The diverging distances necessitate careful aiming and quick adjustments.

6. Smoke and Hope: Here, competitors engage five targets spaced closely together. The rapid shooting required tests the shooter's ability to maintain focus and accuracy under pressure.

7. Outer Limits: Featuring a combination of three close and two distant targets, this stage challenges competitors’ shooting prowess, requiring more complex calculations in target acquisition. This is the only stage which requires movement during the “course of fire” engaging the first 2 targets on your weak side, then transitioning to the middle box and engaging the remaining 2 targets and the Stop plate. Participants must start on their week side, meaning if your right handed, you start on the left side and finish in the middle box and if your left handed you start in the right side and finish in the middle.

8. Showdown: This final stage presents five targets that competitors must hit in a pre-determined sequence, demanding not only speed but also precision with a focus on trigger control.

Each stage is designed to be engaging and encourages shooters of all skill levels to improve their proficiency. The uniformity of rules and stage designs allows for consistent competition at SCSA events, appealing to both amateurs and seasoned shooters alike. Participants are evaluated based on their best times across all stages, with the fastest total time determining the overall winner. All stages require 5 strings except for Outer Limits which is only 4. Participants overall per stage time is recorded allowing the participants to drop their worst time!