I'll weigh in because i've been trying for 6 years or more to start shooting the Mid-/Long Range matches offered at the two closest ranges to me.
While i have not "recently purchased my first precision rifle" (my current 700 SPS-V is #3) Overall I consider myself a rank amature at most if not all aspects of this type of shooting. (<= remember this point. I have an oppinion, but even
I don't know if it's worth anything)
what i am currently interested in is F-Class, F-(T/R) to be more exact. this is mainly because that is what is readily available in my area (F-T/R because i'm more comfortable with it's slightly more narrow gear requirements). If other match types were available, and i felt up to the challenges both technical and physical presented by them. I would gladly participate in other types of mid to long range shooting.
If you don't mind i'll quote some of the questions in the Original Post and go through answering each as pertains to me
for instance, do you want to be on a timer, but only shoot from a comfy prone position? or do you want to shoot from trees, creek beds, stairwells and standing but not be rushed?
I know this doesn't help but, actually both types of shoot appeal to me in different ways. shooting something like F-class, at a known distance, from an established, stable, "standardized" firing line/point, fairly constrained time limits would seem to almost be a necessity to keep things moving along.
If on the other hand the match required me to establish my own firing point within a set area using only the enviroment and what i had on my own back, then range and engage a target at UKD. Well i'd still beleive a time limit to be a good thing, but it of course would need to be quite a bit more generous.
do you want to shoot large paper or steel targets? or eggs and tennis balls?
Bias toward paper for KD type matches, steel for the "Challenge" type matches.
eggs, tennis balls, etc.. while they maybe cool to shoot/watch, many such things create an additional "mess" that those organizing and running the match can and mostly should spare themselves from. want a small or odd target for a match? see if you can get the shop to make something from any bits left over from making your main steel targets
how many rounds would you want to shoot per match?
a single day? on something similar to F-class 100rds and that wold be stretching it. I think there is a reason that most matches i've seen stop at 66rds (3 firing periods of 20rds+2sighters), not only is that about what you can fit in time wise before it's time for your shooters to pack up and head home/get a meal. But for the average joe, out of shape American, 66rds is probably going to be his limit without feeling beat up.
Also 100rds per day of shooting is probably the upper limit of what someone "testing the waters" is going to be willing to handload. much less be willing to BUY if they're not yet handloading.
would you still come if it were rifleman format? (i.e. no sighters, no alibis)
Yes, but on this particular point i'm probably
not representative of the majority of "new guys".
what about team/individual? would you be willing to work with someone?
I'll take it either way. though I'll admit i'm not at this time at a point in my own abilities where i'd feel comfortable being on a team, b/c i know i'd be a drag on the other guy.
Don't know if it's been mentioned here or elsewhere but one interesting Idea that I came across sometime back was the idea of a prone "Varmint Silhouette" match, smaller targets ( Prairie Dog, crow, Coyote,
not sure of 4th critter type and at least in the case of the matc i heard discussed, at greater ranges than standard NRA silhouette.
Ok that's enough of my probably useless rambling. good luck whatever you decide to try and get going.
