Is Shooting Sports a Dying Pursuit?

[d2wing]

I grew up in a rural area, shooting and hunting was just part of life. It was as easy as grabbing a rifle or shotgun and going outdoors. The only expense was a few shells. Now days with the urbanization and femininisation of our society, a much higher percent of people don't grow up with hunting and guns as part of there life. It also is a lot more expensive as most people have to drive somewhere, pay a fee, and shoot under carefully controlled conditions as needed. It is not very casual. Also many young people don't want to put in the effort to really hunt. I have met many who do, but many don't care for the challenge of busting through cover, brush and swamps after wild game. It requires determination and effort. Of course some people consider sitting on a plush stand in a fenced and baited area hunting too. Even that requires money and some effort. Our culture has changed but their's still young poeple going where some old guys don't go anymore.

 

[Sam1911]

Sales may be up. Sport may be down.
Car sales going up does not indicate a rise in NASCAR. Or the Saturday night stock car races.

You certainly have a good point, as it relates to cars and motorsports.

However, standing room only at the Sporting Clays ranges, long waiting lists to get into IDPA or USPSA major matches that fill up (by overnight mail) by lunch time on the first day of registration, gun club memberships rising by (in our case) 50 new memberships in a month, and getting into the 1,000 - 1,500 + numbers, and many, many similar factors do seem to indicate a trend.

To say that the draft helped out the shooting sports...ehhhh, maybe. Nothing like FORCING people to do something to get a few sticking with it, perhaps. I don't know if the cumulative effect was beneficial to the shooting sports or not. Not even sure how you'd really quantify that.

As said before, hunting numbers are a false-negative measure as well. Hunting is tied to a life on the land which most Americans no longer have or seek. Again, look to farming statistics for analogues to hunting numbers.

But there are real, visible, measurable (to one degree or another) indicators of great growth in the shooting sports. Heck, back in 2007 Camp Perry saw SIX THOUSAND shooters competing in the National Matches. A SIX, with four zeros! Doesn't sound like "dying" to me!

-Sam

 

[Ed Ames]

In looking at clubs and major matches you've got to watch out for the "bigger slice of a smaller pie" problem.

In the distant past, club and match shooting amounted to 1-2% of all sport shooting. The rest were engaged in less formal hunting and shooting on public and private land. If the less formal shooting sports enthusiasts are pushed out (the lands they shot on developed or zoned to forbid shooting) the entire shooting sports pie shrinks. At the same time, some of those that are pushed out will go to clubs and matches, so it will look from that perspective like the market is getting bigger. Continued logically, at some point 100% of shooting is club and match shooting, and the clubs may be full to the gills, but the total number of shooters still involved in the shooting sports is 3-5% of what it once was.

 

[Sam1911]

Ed, I'll grant you that.

I'll continue on, though and say, a lot of this is unquantifiable. Unless Galup is going to poll around the country and figure out who's shooting what, when, and how much, and then compare those numbers to accurate information on who WAS shooting at some previous time (when most of that, as you pointed out, was informal and hard to quantify), you have to go on indicators of trends that we can actually see and record.

I grew up in hunting families on both sides of my line. LONG time hunters. In some cases even subsitance hunters and even a few commercial hunters back in the day. I was shooting from a young age, and it was all VERY informal. Pretty much every household had a gun or two and they went out and shot from time to time. At least once a year -- as long as they saw a deer.

I didn't know ANYONE, EVER who shot 1,000 rounds in a year. A couple of hundred would have been a lot, not counting .22s I suppose. I didn't know ANYONE, EVER who shot competitively (aside from the occasional "turky shoot" which I think ivolved 3 shells). I know such folks did exist, and there have been competitive shooters for as long as there have been GUNS, but it sure wasn't common back when I was a boy. I thought we shot a lot. And it wasn't once a month. Not close.

And, as I indicated, the "shooting sports" as they involved hunting were so minimal on shooting as to have been more properly referred to as, "standing in a field holding a gun" sports.

These days I can pick 'most any weekend of the year and attend close to 15 matches just within driving distance, and just in ONE discipline, at each of which I'd see 30+ friends, the least of whom are getting in 3,000-5,000 rounds in practice and competition each year. I get notifications/invitations to attend 10+ shooting sports seminars and training sessions each year. And so on.

Perhaps it simply depends on how you define someone as being an active participant in the shooting sports. Or whether you're gauging merely raw numbers of folks who occasionally pull a trigger or you're actually qualifying folks' access and desire to really earnestly compete (at least with themselves).

But, then there's that big hairy gorilla in the corner (at least that's how I like to think of it ) of well over A MILLION NICS checks going through most months now. A huge spike over ANYTHING ever seen before. So, yeah, maybe a handful of those purchasers are going out for the olympic team, and another handful will never, ever fire a shot. But somewhere in between are a WHOLE lot of folks who will shoot. If we accept that they are participating in "the shooting sports" -- with at least as much validity as were those of us who came up busting clods in the local gravel pits with a .22 -- then you can't possibly say that shooting sports are dying out.

The demographics have changed a lot. The popular styles of competition and/or activities folks want to do with their guns has changed. But the "pie" isn't getting smaller. IMHO.

-Sam

 

[Ed Ames]

Well, the flip side of what I said is that, as a nation and a world, we're still on the "expanding pie" side of the equation when it comes to total population. So it's possible that shooting sports is a shrinking slice of an expanding pie, while formalized shooting sports are a growing slice of that slice.

Or maybe it's past my lunchtime.

 

[Sam1911]

Well, yes. That is certainly possible. It's a little bigger than my brain to figure out whether that's a net positive or negative. There's more of "US," which is good. But there's more MORE of "THEM," which puts us deeper into the minority...

If any of our guesses are even close to correct!

I'll admit to getting happier all the time with the shooting sports community I find available to me. Until I left the rural area I grew up in, I didn't know anyone who owned one of those military black rifles, like an AR-15. I didn't know anyone with an M1A/M14. Heck, I'd never shot -- or even seen -- a Garand! (Well, probably once in a gun shop rack.)

I didn't know any private citizen type folks who owned handguns, except for a few Ruger Mk 1s and 2s like we had. Never shot a 1911 or a wheel-gun.

It just feels like a totally different world, to me. And I'm pretty happy about it!

-Sam

 

[cougar1717]

This is a complex issue with more than a few variables. It depends on how you classify the gun owning public. We all can surmise that gun ownership has gone way up due to the current political climate and it is easily substantiated with the amount of NICS checks. Involvement in shooting sports, hunting, and mall ninjary are all separate issues and should be examined separately, but have common factors.
I don't compete in any sort of competitions to speak of, but I can tell that the number of hunters has declined. In Missouri, hunting licenses are very reasonable ($17 for the first "any deer" tag for residents, yearly fishing is around $12). I think a lot of it has to do with urbanization and a culture that through music, tv, and movies has equated a gun with something that kills people.
Also, consumer tastes have changed. Many 60+ year olds consider wild game like turkey, rabbit, squirrel, deer, possum, etc. almost like delicacies, bringing back fond memories of days gone by when their dad took them out hunting as a child. Kids today grow up on McDonalds and video games, increasingly without a dad or older male in the household. This has left a lot of boys without any sort of example about what masculinity is. They have no examples in the home of honor, respect, and meekneess (power under control). Is it any wonder that we're seeing the prevalence of "tactical" things as young men try to recreate what a "man" is by emulating a movie?

 

[jcwit]

To say that the draft helped out the shooting sports...ehhhh, maybe. Nothing like FORCING people to do something to get a few sticking with it, perhaps.

You're missing the point I was trying to bring out about the difference between folks thinking prior to the 1960's. What I referred to as patriotism, many did not want to enlist but were more than willing to serve their country. Not in a "forced" way. This was all lost during the V/N war and all demostrations and media bias against it. I know, I was stationed in Washington, D.C. when the idiot burned himself to death on the Pentagon steps. But whether I like it or not this is the world were are left with

However, standing room only at the Sporting Clays ranges, long waiting lists to get into IDPA or USPSA major matches that fill up (by overnight mail) by lunch time on the first day of registration, gun club memberships rising by (in our case) 50 new memberships in a month, and getting into the 1,000 - 1,500 + numbers, and many, many similar factors do seem to indicate a trend.

More than like for the same reason its happening here. Ranges closing down. Just recently one of the largest ranges in central is closing down, however they do hope to reopen with less hours and higher fees.

 

[Sam1911]

More than like for the same reason its happening here. Ranges closing down. Just recently one of the largest ranges in central is closing down, however they do hope to reopen with less hours and higher fees.

Wow. Remind me not to come to Indiana! Almost EVERY range I regularly visit in a year (probably 15-20) has expanded significantly or added facilities of some sort in the last couple of years. The one I know of that is being incrementally shut down, is also in the process of rebuilding on a brand new range across the road from the old one.

Never thought the shooting was better here in the East than in the Mid-West, but I guess it must be so!

-Sam

 

[jcwit]

The lead-heads will get there! As will the developers. Don't forget the old range close to Lyman is no longer in operation, so yes it is happening in the East.

 

[CZ223]

I think certain shooting sports may be on the decline

but overall, no. In fact I think there has been a resurgence in the last few years. Cowboy action shooting has lured non shooters into a shooting sport. IDPA has attracted normal shooters who would have never participated in some of the more "race gun" type events. Having been involved in one type of competiton or another for the past twenty years I have noticed something. Kids that get involved in shooting early on, generally leave the sport while in college, dating etc. only to return later when then are a little more settled, often with their own kids. Take as many kids shooting as possible.

 

[jcwit]

I sincerlly hope you are correct CZ223.

 

[alemonkey]

Kids that get involved in shooting early on, generally leave the sport while in college, dating etc. only to return later when then are a little more settled, often with their own kids.

I'm living proof of that. I never really left shooting, but after college I barely touched a gun for several years. It was a combination of not enough time and not enough money. Time is still at a premium but at least I'm past the ramen noodle stage of my life and can afford to shoot.

 

[mp510]

The lead-heads will get there! As will the developers. Don't forget the old range close to Lyman is no longer in operation, so yes it is happening in the East.

If you are referring to Blue Trail-- they are still very much open. They had to reduce some things (200 yd high power), but they are still in business.

 

[9MMare]

Well, it would be nice to know where "on Earth" you're talking about Onward Allusion, but here in my area, I see lots of young people in their 20's & 30's at the range and in action/IDPA shooting. (I also see the older gents and love watching them and chatting).

But long-term...I think you may be right.

 

[MinnMooney]

Every shooting range that I checked on in 2007 had waiting lists before you could become a member. I think shooting out your back door is taking a gradual hit but that's just due to urban sprawl and all of the friggin' "city folk" buying 2nd homes and cabins in the woods. Then they complain about a shot that they hear at 1 A.M. Country folk know that the shot is just some problem 'coon or skunk meeting his maker.

 

[jcwit]

If you are referring to Blue Trail-- they are still very much open. They had to reduce some things (200 yd high power), but they are still in business.

Glad to see that its still open, but going backward is not moving forward, sorry to say.

 

[NinjaFeint]

Back in the days when the draft was a viable option and the populous was patriotic the above statement made sense and the military had no problem with draftees. The military taught our people not only firearm training but some responsability and respect for not only others but for themselves. Our socity has changed sorry to say and with it many of our long time past times. We are no longer a n urban culture, and in loosing that we are loosing many of the outdoor sports. The shooting sports being one of them. I am an actice member of two local clubs and on the whole the membership is 45/50 plus by far. I also give mytime as an asst. range officer for reginal bulls eye matches in early summer and again the competitors are in the 45/50 age group. Like it or not that is the way it it.

I'm 26 so let's do this.

1. I received firearm training from friends, and helpful folks at the ranges I have frequented.

2. I was taught responsibility, respect for others and myself from my parents. It's actually the parents aged 45-50 who never taught these youth you complain about.

3. I think you mean we are no longer a rural culture because urban culture would not fit what you said. I cannot dispute this but from what I see these people are making it to the range. Also, we have a Cabela's five minutes from our largest city in CT and it is always busy. Additionally, we have had new gun stores opening in urban areas and our biggest local keeps getting bigger. I know this is not empirical evidence but it is as strong as any you presented.

4. Patriotism is not blindly supporting everything your country does just because it is your country, that would be jingoism. There is nothing more patriotic in America than disagreeing, protesting or generally expressing free thought. A lot of people who may be considered un-patriotic are actually doing the most patriotic thing, trying to make our country better (misguided or not). Plenty of patriotic people around, you just may not agree with them. This is why the 1st Amendment is the 1st Amendment.

5. At the two ranges I frequent there are plenty of young people and they are always packed. These young people are not all shooting tactical and some are more serious collectors than the old folk there.

So that's how it is, like it or not.

 

[jcwit]

So that's how it is, like it or not.

At least I understand that thats your opinion.

 

[coloradokevin]

Shooting sports may be declining, but the sport of buying black rifles, loading them up with accessories, and running around with them in the house wearing Jockey shorts when nobody else is home, is alive and well.

I was thinking some version of this myself.

To my way of thinking, I believe that marksmanship may be a dying "sport". I do realize that there are a lot of young adults out there who are interested in buying black rifles, and I see nothing wrong with this (don't get me wrong, older adults like them too).

On the other hand, this "next" generation is not being raised around guns the way the way that my generation was, and my generation was not raised around guns to the extent that my parent's generation was. With that in mind, I believe that there are fewer and fewer people growing up these days who receive any type of firearms training in childhood. As such, a lot of shooters today don't seem to possess the firearms education that people did in the past.

I'll agree with some of the other posters in saying that most gunsmiths I know of today are old timers, as are the majority of the folks who seem to be reloading and such.

So, if you haven't done so already, please find someone new who is interested in shooting, and take them out to the range for the first time! If there isn't someone there to teach the next generation of shooters, then there simply won't be a next generation of shooters!

 

[NinjaFeint]

At least I understand that thats your opinion.

Just as this let me know what your's was.

Like it or not that is the way it it.

 

[lefteyedom]

Shooting in America has become a rich man sport.
There was a time when a kid with a 22 rifle could shoot tin cans without needing a range membership.

 

[jcwit]

How true, how true, ninja

 

[Sam1911]

Shooting in America has become a rich man sport.
There was a time when a kid with a 22 rifle could shoot tin cans without needing a range membership.

Oh good grief. My kids started shooting at 3 years old. I'm no rich man. I'm a member of a terrific gun club / range and a membership is $55 a year. Less than the cost of one dinner out.

A rich man's sport? Not hardly.

-Sam

 

[NinjaFeint]

I was thinking some version of this myself.

To my way of thinking, I believe that marksmanship may be a dying "sport". I do realize that there are a lot of young adults out there who are interested in buying black rifles, and I see nothing wrong with this (don't get me wrong, older adults like them too).

On the other hand, this "next" generation is not being raised around guns the way the way that my generation was, and my generation was not raised around guns to the extent that my parent's generation was. With that in mind, I believe that there are fewer and fewer people growing up these days who receive any type of firearms training in childhood. As such, a lot of shooters today don't seem to possess the firearms education that people did in the past.

I'll agree with some of the other posters in saying that most gunsmiths I know of today are old timers, as are the majority of the folks who seem to be reloading and such.

So, if you haven't done so already, please find someone new who is interested in shooting, and take them out to the range for the first time! If there isn't someone there to teach the next generation of shooters, then there simply won't be a next generation of shooters!

I believe you and the poster you quoted are referring to "Mall Ninjas". Let me assure you they come at all ages. I would say the most common is around 35 where I am. Nothing gets a man in camo, a tactical vest and rocking his "tactical" AR rifle (or .22lr lookalike) pumped for the range like convincing his ten year old he is Rambo once he gets there.

Now for black plastic pistols it is another story. For one thing, they are reliable, affordable and available. I had the hardest time locating a 3rd gen Smith but no problem finding an M&P, XD, Glock, HK or SR9. Not that any of those are bad guns (Glock owner) but it's hard to get around them. Not everyone can afford a decent 1911 or BHP.

I do agree marksmanship is dying and it seems to be across all age bands. Everyone is so caught up in their defensive shooting practice they forgot it can be fun and competitive as well.