Thanks everyone for the kind words, and thanks SW282 for posting this.
I agree that IHMSA is worthwhile practice for handgun hunting. I am not a member of IHMSA, but most of the matches are open to the public. The people I have met at the matches have been most welcoming and helpful. Less like competitors and more like friends.
This was my first big bore match and visit to Little River Gun Club. I have visited Cherokee gun club several times to attend a match.
The matches nearest me are field pistol and smallbore. Field pistol is most likely to replicate hunting and challenge the hunters marksmanship. Firing straight walled cartridges from barrels less than 10 inches while standing at targets at distances of 25 to 100 yards is tough, the kind of tough that makes you a better shooter. I am still a long way from a 40 in that class.
I would encourage everyone to at least drop in at a match, see some guns and shooting, and if nothing else mingle with some folks serious about shooting handguns accurately.
Thanks again, Matthew Nash