FEATURE | STEEL MASTERING STEEL CHALLENGE STAGES: ACCELERATOR A One plate is the key to fast scores on this stage. BY CHRIS CHRISTIAN, FIELD EDITOR ccelerator (SC-105) is not the fastest stage in Steel Challenge. The quickest peak time is 8.5 seconds, shared by Rimfire Rifle Open (RFRO) and Pistol Caliber Carbine Open (PCCO). The most generous is 13 seconds for Iron Sight Revolver (ISR). How close shooters can get to those times hinges on how well they can handle one single plate. Target No. 3 is a 12-inch round plate set at 20 yards. It's the most challenging target on the stage and accounts for more heartbreak than the other four combined. Many shooters will normally set their natural point of aim on it. The important consideration here is where in the target order a shooter chooses to engage it. There are a number of options. One engagement option is a straight No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and Stop. Targets No. 1 and No. 2 are close and quick, and the transition to No. 3 is not a long traverse. From there, No. 4 is a big target and just a wrist flip away, before reversing back to the Stop plate. The advantage to this order is that if the No. 3 plate is missed on the initial transition, it can be picked up on the way back to the Stop plate. 36 NOVEMBER 2021 | SSUSA.ORG PHOTO BY CHRIS CHRISTIANhttp://www.SSUSA.ORG