My first match in three years...

Going to an indoor GSSF match tomorrow. Used to go every month in 2018. Then I went to graveyard shifts.

But, I switched back to swings a month ago and was down at the old LGS/range and saw that they had a match coming up. So, dusted off my old G35 and cranked out 100 rounds of mild target loads in .40 S&W.

Shooting the G35 in Unlimited division due to it having a Timney trigger installed. Also shooting my Gen 4 G23 in Stock class. It just has Dawson Precision sights.

I looked at the score sheet from the last match and there were only four people in Unlimited and only one guy in Stock. The guy who won Unlimited did so with a perfect 500 score. The lowest score was a 465, which is not bad at all.

The same guy who won Unlimited also won Stock with a 496, which is the highest score I've ever gotten.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1n62NNkfxtLlm9daPIkLddjaOKFwmupwQVBc_qq9uF9M/edit#gid=0

The last time I competed there, there were at least 7-10 people in each division, with most in the Stock division.

Only having one guy competing is just weird.

Not sure why there is no one shooting; the range has plenty of ammo at average prices. Covid is all but gone in the area.

Wonder how many people are just discouraged by going against someone that just dominates every match with no one having hope of ever winning. I know I have no chance of winning, but I am going since I enjoy the people and the conversation. Plus, you get cool prizes for just competing.

I know the guy who wins every time, and he is a great guy and not at all boastful or a chest-thumper; he is just an amazing shooter.

So not sure if his presence has anything to do with it, or if it's just the lack of primers and increased cost of competing.

Last time I competed, a box of 50 Federal Brass .40 S&W was around $16. Now it's around $30.

You need 50 rounds per pistol, per division. I need 100 rounds each time, once a month. If I didn't reload, I would spend an extra $30 a month to compete. That doesn't seem like that big of a deal compared to the camaraderie and fun I get from hanging out with gun folks for a couple of hours.

Theories as to why no one is showing up, and have you seen the same thing at your matches?

Match was a success in that no one got hurt, angry, and all had a good time!

I did really well in Unlimited with my G35 and the Timney trigger. I shot it first and only missed a perfect 500 by two shots that were less than half an inch outside the 10-ring...



So, happy with a 496 after 3 years of not competing.

The G23, however, was not bueno. We shot the course that you had to shoot ten rounds with your weak hand, and my weak hand is attached to an arm that was heavily damaged in an auto accident, so it doesn't straighten. With the G35 and the 2.5 lb Timney trigger, I had little problem. With the G23 and the 5 lb trigger, I pulled nearly every shot out of the ten and got an overall score of 475.

Still, had a great time and it was nice seeing familiar faces.

Figured out why so few shooters.

Due to Covid, not enough people showed up earlier this year, so the range couldn't afford to pay the Glock affiliation fees, so no goodies and no free gun giveaways. Hence, people just didn't want to spend precious ammo with no chance of a free gun or free goodies.

So, no match next month, since the last Saturday is Christmas. But, they are doing one in January and it will be an official Glock match. I'll be back for that one.