Not meaning to drift this thread about IDPA and USPSA but since steel challenges were mentioned, how many "strings" do you take at each stage? I seem to recall the couple I did you got like 5 tries.
If that is correct, with ammo being the way it is, could one just shoot three strings? That would be a 40% reduction in ammo consumption. It would also make the match move faster.
Done all the time at the beginning and end of the season at evening matches for outlaw steel. At a sanctioned SCSA that would take a rule change.