Great advice from ny32182 and tarosean. As someone who runs a USPSA club match that sees a LOT of new shooters, I'll add a few observations/points of emphasis:
- USPSA matches are cold ranges. Other than inside the safety area, YOU DON'T TOUCH YOUR GUN. You don't show it to other competitors. You don't check to see if it's empty. You don't practice your draws. You don't even pick it up if it gets knocked out of the holster. The fact that the gun is empty doesn't change any of this.
- The only time the above changes is AFTER you hear the "MAKE READY" command. Not when you're the next shooter. Not when you stand in the start position. Not when the RO talks to you or asks if you have any questions. ONLY after you hear "MAKE READY."
- You don't handle any ammo into the safety area. You don't take live ammo. You don't take loaded magazines. You don't take snap caps. You don't even take empty cases. Those things can be in your bag or on your belt, but you do NOT touch them in the safety area.
- New shooters are most likely to break the 180 during gun manipulation and/or during moments of high stress. If something is going wrong, pay more attention to where the muzzle is pointing. If your gun jams, you have to clear it while keeping the gun pointed downrange. If you are flustered because a texas star is taunting you, you have to shoot it (or give up) with the muzzle pointed downrange. If you feel your adrenaline rise or the flop sweats coming on, that's a signal to FOCUS ON SAFETY.
- It's also easy to break the 180 as you turn corners with walls, barricade, barrels, etc. Leave some room between obstacles and yourself. If you are moving too close to an obstacle, it's easy to want to turn the gun up, down, or sideways to make it "smaller." Just leave yourself room.
- Up isn't a safe direction to point. Down really isn't, either. Don't droop the gun or point it at your chin when you aren't engaging targets. Keep it pointed at the downrange berm/backstop. Lots of new shooters sweep their feet because they point the gun down while they move. That's a DQ. Don't do that.
- The rule is not "finger off the trigger" when not shooting. The rule is "finger outside the trigger guard." Flag your finger out as straight and as high as you can get it so the RO has no question whatsoever about where your finger is.
- The shot timer counts from the beep to the last shot. Not to the time you holster. At the command to holster, do so slowly; there's no reason to holster super fast. Don't reach over with your support hand and sweep that hand with the muzzle (that's a DQ). Don't turn sideways to "chase" the holster and break the 180 (that's a DQ). If anything, you should pivot your strong side hip slightly FORWARD, TOWARDS the gun and downrange.
Those are my observations and advice from RO'ing a few dozen new shooters per year. The hits will be what they will be. The time will be what it will be. Focus on safety until the sport doesn't feel overwhelming. That may take a few matches. That's OK. Stay safe, have fun, and you'll get faster soon enough. Hope that helps.