Shooting a timed course of fire puts the shooter under stress, makes the adrenalin start to pump, and the heart rate climb. It is the closest thing to real life you can get, and the best way to test yourself and your equipment, short of the field of battle. ("real life" isn't the best term for it, but you all know what I mean)
Trying to do your best, under pressure, will quickly show you what works, and what needs work.
Throw another couple (dozen) shooters into the mix and you have a game. Each is trying to do their best, and certainly shoot better than the others. Each is trying to perfect their equipment and technique so that they can out shoot the other players. The VAST majority are shooting for fun. A smaller group are preparing for the time when “something happens”. A select few make a living at it.
Finally, just because I play a “game” with a firearm doesn’t mean that I think they are “toys” or treat them as such. Each of us is fully aware that this isn’t Nintendo, and that you don’t get to hit the “Reset” button if you screw up. Don’t look down your long nose at me because I may smile while I'm shooting.
Usualy I'm busting on my AR buddy about how its going to jam in like a minute than break and require some expensive space lube to get it going. And I bust on my M1A buddy to get into the 21st century, than they make fun of all my vintage mil surps, etc.
