The Steel Challenge began as a single match in Southern California. Mike Dalton and Mike Fichman had a dream of producing a shooting competition that was safe, fun, easily understood, and exciting both to do and to watch. The product of that dream, The Steel Challenge, was born in the mid 1980’s as a small local event attended by only a few shooters. It grew over the years to an international competition attracting approximately 250 shooters sharing in a prize table valued at more than $350,000.

As time went on “the Mikes” as they are affectionately known came to realize that they would not be able to grow the sport beyond their own match and range without help. In 2007 they sold the match to  HYPERLINK "http://www.uspsa.org" The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA).  USPSA is able to provide the staff and infrastructure necessary to bring growth to the sport internationally.