The Vision X Night Match Classic is one of the more unique events in our region and, honestly, across the country. We came out to see it firsthand, and what we found was an action shooting match run entirely at night, lit up by Vision X lighting. This is a timed match where competitors work through stages, guns up, and get scored on how fast they can shoot the targets. The best times on the stages score you and place you in a standing against every other competitor on the range. Better yet, all the proceeds go to a good cause. In this recap we will walk through what makes this match special, how the range gets lit, and where the whole event is headed.

What Is the Vision X Night Match Classic?

At its core, the Vision X Night Match Classic is a timed action shooting match. Competitors are called up, guns ready, and the clock runs while they move through a stage engaging targets. Your times on the stages determine your score, and your score sets your standing against the rest of the field. It is competitive, but it is also laid back, and that combination is exactly what draws people out year after year. Proceeds from the match benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, so every competitor who signs up is contributing to something bigger than the match itself. What we appreciated most is how welcoming the event is. Some competitors were shooting their very first match. They came out, got safety checked before the match happened, and were ready to go. Then you have shooters who have been at it for a couple of years, and even veterans who have been shooting for twenty years. That range of experience, from brand new to seasoned, is rare to see at a single match, and it keeps the atmosphere friendly.

The History Behind the Match

The Night Match Classic did not appear out of nowhere. It was inspired by a former midnight 3-gun match that used to run down in Bend, Oregon every year. As the organizer told it, that match literally ended the year he was finally ready to go down and shoot it. Rather than let that concept disappear, he decided to build something similar closer to home. There had already been a local USPSA match every December on a Tuesday night, but it carried division restrictions. If you wanted to bring out certain weapon lights, lasers, or headlamps, you would end up in specific divisions. The idea behind the Night Match Classic was to give everybody the chance to come out on the range, run whatever equipment they wanted, and shoot it just like they would have at that old midnight 3-gun match. That freedom to run your own setup is a big part of the fun, and it is why the event has developed such a loyal following.

Lighting the Range With Vision X

You cannot run a night shooting match without serious lighting, and this is where Vision X came into the picture. The organizer talked to Nick Irwin from Vision X and got all the lights and drivers needed to light the bays. They started with lit bays and dark bays, then kept expanding from there, adding strobes into the mix over time. The result is a range that transforms after dark into something you have to see to believe. The lighting is not just for show. There are lights on the score shack, lights on the steel targets, and lights in places on the range that in years past they were never able to illuminate. Drivers are placed everywhere to power all of it. If you have ever shopped Vision X gear like their LED Light Bars or their VL Off-Road Series driving lights, you already know the kind of output that makes an event like this possible.

If you are the kind of shooter or off-road enthusiast who wants that same performance on your own rig, there are plenty of options out there. We often point people toward a solid off-road LED light bar when they want serious downrange output, or a complete off-road driving light kit when they want everything in one package. And if you are not sure where to start, we put together a guide to help you find the right lighting upgrade for your setup.

A Major Range Wiring Upgrade

One of the biggest behind the scenes improvements this year was the power situation. SeaTac Electric came in and wired the entire range with 110 power. In the past, the lighting ran off wiring stretched overhead from the conex, which meant extension cords running across the range. That is no longer the case. Now the whole thing is plumbed in, with drivers positioned everywhere and clean, permanent power feeding the setup. This upgrade matters more than it might sound. Removing the overhead extension cords makes the range safer, more reliable, and far easier to expand. When your power is hardwired instead of daisy chained across the property, you can add more lighting without worrying about overloading a temporary run. It is the kind of infrastructure improvement that sets the event up to keep growing.

New Targets in the Mix

Lighting was not the only new element this year. Target USA provided some new targets that have only been used in a few matches so far. The organizers tested them out in this match to vary the stages a little bit. The idea is to throw some competitors for a loop and keep things fresh, and if they work well they are expected to be included in future matches too. Little touches like new targets are part of what keeps a match interesting for repeat competitors. When you have veterans who have been shooting for twenty years alongside first timers, adding a fresh challenge to the stages levels the playing field a bit and keeps everyone thinking on their feet.

Growing the Match and the Charity

The most exciting part of the Night Match Classic is where it is headed. This year the organizers added an extra day to the match so they could bring in an additional sixty competitors on top of what they ran last year. The projection is straightforward, double the competitors compared to last year, which in turn would double the donation to Toys for Tots. When growing the match directly grows the charity contribution, it becomes very easy to root for a bigger turnout. The long term dream is even bigger. The organizer described wanting this eventually to go huge, like a desert midnight type match run in the middle of summer. Every year they add more lighting, more people get involved, and the inertia of the match carries it into something more evolved the following year. Competitors keep coming back because it is for charity, because there is such a wide variety of shooters, and because it is just a fun, laid back match where everybody can come out and light up the bays with their own lights and lasers.

More Than Just a Match

What really stood out to us is how the event pulls everyone in, not just the registered competitors. They get spectators involved with a side match and a demo bay where people can come out and shoot guns for free. It is a low pressure way to try it out, watch action shooting up close, and decide if they want to get into the sport themselves. That inclusiveness is a big reason the match has the momentum it does. Combine the charity mission, the wide range of shooters from first timers to twenty year veterans, the impressive Vision X lighting, and the improved range infrastructure, and you have an event that is clearly built to last. We came away impressed with how much thought goes into every part of it, from safety checks to score shack lighting to the Toys for Tots goal. If the projections hold, next year should be even bigger.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vision X Night Match Classic?

It is a timed action shooting match where competitors go through stages and are scored on speed, similar in spirit to a former midnight 3-gun match that used to run in Bend, Oregon.

Who benefits from the event?

Proceeds from the match go to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

Who can compete in the match?

The match welcomes a wide range of shooters, from brand new competitors who are safety checked before the match to seasoned veterans with twenty years of experience.

How is the range lit for the night match?

Vision X provided lights and drivers used to light bays and dark bays, with strobes added over time, and SeaTac Electric wired the range with 110 power so lighting no longer runs off overhead extension cords from the conex.

How has the match grown over time?

An extra day was added to accommodate sixty additional competitors compared to the previous year, with organizers aiming to double the field and in turn double the donation to Toys for Tots.