Idea for a Shooting Competition

Of all the things that were worthy of criticism of the show Top Shot as a shooting competition, there was one thing that I think was positive and that was holding a shooting competition where the shooters use a weapon that is NOT THEIR OWN. For quite a long time I have bemoaned the fact that just about all competitive shooting is as much if not more of a GEAR race than a test of skill. Even so-called "production" classes of IDPA/USPSA still allow modifications and customizations of firearms that bring them away (often VERY far away) from absolute out-of-the-box bone-stock configuration. At that point its all about gaming the rules in order to get the most out of your gear that still doesn't violate the letter of the law. It becomes a competition about who can afford to spend the most money to buy their wins. This just doesn't sit well with me.

What I'd like to see if a shooting competition that takes a page from IROC racing where shooters are ISSUED a firearm and ammunition that is NOT THEIRS and is configured EXACTLY like everyone else's in the competition. To counter complaints about some guns being "lemons" compared to other guns or those going first having an advantage over later competitors in terms of wear and tear on the guns, have a staff of gunsmiths on hand to verify that all guns are in identical working order at all times (much as IROC racing has a staff of mechanics onhand to do the same for the race vehicles). At that point there is NO DOUBT whatsoever that it is a competition about shooting skill and not how well you can modify your firearm to perform and still not violate the rules for the class you are in.

Competitors are issued a bone-stock out of the box firearm thats been inspected for function by a team of gunsmiths and issued identically loaded ammunition. Competitors compete in identical street clothes or some other uniform that does not contribute in any way to enhancing their performance. No fancy gear such as shooting gloves/jackets/diopters, etc allowed. The whole point is to minimize as much as possible the advantages bestowed by GEAR (read:money) and maximize the competitions measurement of SKILL. To me, this would be FAR more interesting than the current competitions that become nothing but races over who can get the best sponsorship so they can spend the most money on gear so they can practice more and win more. What I want to see is a competition of pure skill and as little of anything else as possible.

But the point is that in IDPA and USPSA production is that they allow modifications AT ALL and that the firearms being used are OWNED by the shooters. I want to see a competition where the shooters compete with identical guns that they have never touched before and have no modifications of any kind whatsoever. At that point I think it would become a lot more interesting.

I'll be convinced that gear is not a factor in who wins in competitions when you run a competition first with all competitors using their own gear (within the same class limitations such as SSP/production, etc) and then run the same competition over again with bone stock identical issued guns and the results come out the same or nearly the same. Once again, I'm interested to see it and I'm certain I'm not the only one.

I'd also like to to see them mix it up a bit so the competitors don't know what firearm they'll be getting. It could start out that you get a Makarov pistol or next you'll be issued a Destroyer carbine. The idea is to measure marksmanship skill divorced from any other advantage as much as possible.

And so what if they did? Then, instead of showing which shooter has attained maximum proficiency with a firearm, they're showing which shooter picks up and internalizes the quirks of that specific sample gun fastest. Why is that more interesting that absolute proficiency given time and practice with a known firearm?

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Because it is? That may be a matter of personal opinion but figuring out who has the most general skill and adaptability at firearms of ANY type is more interesting than watching a one-trick pony shoot his $5k race gun all day. I would personally find such a competition quite interesting and if I had the money, I'd put t together in a heartbeat.

Even the CMP/NRA service rifle matches allow rifles with heavy stainless barrels, diopter sights, and use shooting gloves and jackets. None of this is what I'd consider shooting a combat service rifle under field conditions.

Issue them identical bone stock rack grade non-NM Springfield 03A3s, M1 Garands, AR15s or M1As and have them all shoot in identical BDUs. Standard USGI iron sights only. USGI spec FMJ ball ammo only. No trigger mods, diopters, gloves, jackets or other crap that would never be issued under actual field conditions. Hell, don't even give em a shooting mat.

Lets see THAT rifle competition.

That would be basic US military rifle qualification. Done all the time.

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Somehow I think signing up with the US military would be an unreasonable barrier to entry for most competitors interested in competing in such an event. Lets try it with civilians only, shall we?