Considering giving some kind of competition shooting a try

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Jason_W

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Long gun competition to start.

Is there anything out there that isn't a bank-breaker to get into? 3-gun and cowboy action are out for that reason.

High power metallic silhouette looks fairly straight forward. Are there any others I might want to read up on?
 
HP metallic silhouette is a great game but it takes a lot of time/$ to get proficient.

An affordable & convenient alternative is smallbore silhouette:
cheaper ammo and rifles, same metal targets but scaled to the shorter distance. As a rule, clubs will put on many more smallbore than HP matches. It is also convenient to build up skill through a regular deliberate practice regime - and you don't need a 500 meter range to do so.
 
Try surplus military competion. They use Mauser,Moisin's Springfields. That type of rifle lot of clubs are shooting them. Look up local clubs and check their calender or events page. Gus http://scsclub.org/events/gsm-match/ I posted a link to club in my area it will give you some ideas. You could also have your on matches with air rifles or pistols 10meters is the olympic statndard I have one where I shoot thru the garage window to a pellet trap on the fence can shoot in the winter in the heated garage.
 
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What do you have now? If cost is an issue, shoot what you got and change as you get familiar with the discipline.

However, you may find out (as many of us have), the cost of ammo, entry fees, gas, etc., exceeds the cost of equipment. But shoot what you got until you find your passion.
 
there are 3gun type matches that just use 1 gun. or 2 guns. usually rifle only. or rifle and pistol. cuts down on cost quite a bit.
 
I started shooting CMP Service Rifle late last year with an M1 Garand...it's been very enjoyable, fairly relaxed for a competition. My oldest son has also tagged along to a couple matches, shooting my AR15. If you have a rifle that qualifies (M1, M1A/M14, AR15 rifle, 1903 spg, et al). Our club even has some M1 rifles and ammo available for new shooters to use and learn the sport.
 
What kinds of guns do you have? If cost is an issue (i.e. you don't want to go buy more equipment) you're going to probably want to stick with types of shooting that work with firearms you already own.

IDPA and some divisions of USPSA can work very well with whatever gun and gear you normally carry, for instance.

If you've got a fairly military-standard style AR-15, CMP or NRA Highpower competition might be a good fit.

Otherwise, you're probably looking for the less formal sorts of competition as the more specific and "intense" the competition is, the less likely you are to be able to compete with standard "sporting" arms. You won't be shooting 3-position smallbore with your Marlin 60, for instance. :)
 
I have pretty much nothing after a recent move. Just an old 870 bird gun I grew up and a break action .410.

One of the competitions that require only one gun is what I'm potentially looking for. Of course, it may just not be in the cards for the foreseeable future. It takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery of pretty much anything. There's no way I could ever afford to burn 10,000 hours worth of ammunition, even if it was stretched out over 10 years.
 
Well, if all you've got is an 870, head down to your local skeet, trap, and/or sporting clays range and join one of their leagues. No gun to buy, just ammo ammo ammo!

Oh, and if you're concerned about mastering something, and 10,000 hours of work? Just go have fun, ok? Learn something, get a little better each time, make each shot your best shot, and you'll be amazed how fast you improve. It doesn't take 10,000 hours (or even 10,000 rounds, though that will go by faster than you'd believe!) to get better. It just takes one shot at a time.
 
Sam1911 said:
Oh, and if you're concerned about mastering something, and 10,000 hours of work? Just go have fun, ok? Learn something, get a little better each time, make each shot your best shot, and you'll be amazed how fast you improve. It doesn't take 10,000 hours (or even 10,000 rounds, though that will go by faster than you'd believe!) to get better. It just takes one shot at a time.
Click to expand...

I just want to echo this sentiment. I was interested in practical pistol shooting for several years, but kept putting off going to a competition because I felt like I wasn't "ready" in terms of skill. What a stupid thought! All I did was deny myself a couple of years of enjoyment. And delay the more-rapid development that almost inevitably occurs when you start doing something in a competitive environment.

Quit worrying about "mastery." You could devote every second of your remaining life to developing "mastery" of a particular shooting discipline, and it is 99.999% likely that there will remain at least one better participant in the world. And the odds are almost as long against you being the worst in the world when you start competing (some really untalented people get involved).

So where does that leave you? Better than some, worse than some. Competing with some people about your level, and trying to learn from those who are better. And perhaps helping those who aren't as good. Gauging your progress primarily against yourself over time. Taking each shot as its own event, and trying to make the most of it. Then adding up those shots and taking each round/stage/match/game as its own thing. Trying to make good shots and have good days. Trying to achieve that state of "flow," of experiencing something new, of expanding your awareness while you shoot, of seeing your sights (or the target), of exercising visual patience, of pulling the trigger straight to the rear, of following through, of getting the lead right, of keeping your head down, of just reacting and not thinking.... whatever you're trying to work on. Same as virtually everyone else involved in a shooting sport.

Go do it!
 
Great post above.

Reminds me that a few days ago two boys, 5yo and a 6yo, denied themselves the chance of taking some whacks at golf balls. There even was a kid-sized 'spiderman' wood for their use. This was at one of the kid's homes, with a huge expanse of grass and trees, no hazards in sight.

I think the problem was that their fathers and myself were there, enjoying the spring sun and a beer, taking turns hitting balls with a 9 iron.

I think the boys instinctually knew they could not duplicate the men, so they didn't even give it a try.

For the same reasons, many adults go around life thinking it's best not to try something new. Or they'll try it once, struggle, refuse friendly help, and then never show up at the range again.

That's too bad because it's normal to suck at something new, especially something as complex as the shooting games.

So yeah, go for it!
 
twofifty, the golf analogy is a good one. What if people didn't want to play golf until they felt like they had all the same gear as the PGA tour pros and could hit balls like those same pros? Or even if people felt that they had to be among the best players on the course to really belong? Golf courses would all be empty.
 
I went over to the local range one night and watched the IDPA match that was taking place. I'm very interested but have doubts about my skill level so I haven't pursued it as of yet. After looking at the range's upcoming events I see they have IDPA training classes. I'm not waiting any longer and plan to attend this week. Good advise ALTDave.
 
Great!!! Remember, being safe is job one. That's serious business. Everything else about it should be fun.
 
Jason,

The CMP introduced vintage games about a decade or so ago, and many rifle clubs have gotten in on the fun. They were designed for people exactly like you who are just getting started in competition. Some people get real serious about it. Some just go for the fun they have with the guys they see on the competition circuit in a more informal match.


Be easier to recommend a place if we knew where you were, but the ones near me who offer those matches all have a few "club rifles" to loan out for the beginners at the matches. They don't cost much to enter; don't require all kinds of gear; and are fun. Forget about all this mastery stuff. Just go, see if you like it, be friendly and see where it takes you from there.
 
There's a range near me (sacramento, CA area) that holds high power sporting rifle matches. I read up a little and it looks like that might be doable equipment wise with a little penny pinching.
 
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