Why Don't You Shoot In Local Matches?

[GEM]

Well, I can't shoot the local match this Saturday. Because - we are getting a new couch and chair delivered!! Wahhh! Isn't that a macho reason!

But it's a trade. New couch - new gun. My 1911 is called my living room drapes gun because of marital negotiations.

Did shoot yesterday though, took some newbies to the range and had fun!

 

[JoeMal]

But it's a trade. New couch - new gun. My 1911 is called my living room drapes gun because of marital negotiations.

Those must have been some expensive drapes!

 

[GBExpat]

If you don't shoot at local matches, why not?

If you've never shot a match in your life, what's keeping you from trying one out for the first time?

Same answer for both questions, it just doesn't appeal to me.

 

[Cosmoline]

Interesting responses. Here are some of my reasons:

--I don't like competitions in general
--I have trouble holding to a set schedule due to work demands and travel difficulties.
--I shoot for the enjoyment, not to win a game
--Few of the shooting sports I know of look very interesting to do
--Frankly I'm only a passable shot at best, and do not have the talent to grab trophies in shooting matches. My eyes are losing their acuity too.
--The gear requirements and costs are high, and would run counter to the kind of firearms I prefer.

That said, I would be interested in it if it were less fixed on narrow requirements of speed and accuracy. Some of the shooting games on that reality TV show actually looked pretty fun. I'd also like to see a less competitive competition. The example that comes to mind is randonneur style bike riding. This is a bicycle style that has you going from checkpoints to checkpoints along a certain path with in certain broad time parameters. There are no places for finishing, you either complete the brevet or you don't. I did one of those this winter and really liked it. I plan to do more.

 

[wrs840]

The gear requirements and costs are high...

IDPA really wants you to compete with what you would consider a SD carry-rig, and they specifically exclude competition hot-rodded guns, because they want you to improve with your street-gear, and they also understand that an "arms race" would create a cost-barrier and exclude many potential new participants.

The IDPA group near where I live are a really friendly bunch and from what I've seen, the "competition" is more like bowling buddies gathering to enjoy the match and hone their skills.

 

[Smokin Gator]

"I'd also like to see a less competitive competition. The example that comes to mind is randonneur style bike riding. This is a bicycle style that has you going from checkpoints to checkpoints along a certain path with in certain broad time parameters. There are no places for finishing, you either complete the brevet or you don't. I did one of those this winter and really liked it. I plan to do more."

Sounds like fun. But it also sounds like when they have kids play sports and don't keep score. No one can be a loser. People are often complaining about setting things up like this and what it teaches the kids. It's not really a competition at all.

"I shoot for the enjoyment, not to win a game."

Do you really think that in a match of 100 shooters with maybe 10 divisions, that the only people who enjoyed themselves were the 10 winners. Nearly everyone of the other 90 shooters are enjoying themselves too, I guarantee.

__________________

 

[ms6852]

I have being shooting for more than 45 years and I love it. I do not do competition simply because I feel that it would take the fun out of it. I don't like to have to trick out a gun for several hundreds or thousands of dollars just to make it more accurate. I like the pure skill of the shooter and the weapon with minor modification but not out of the world ridiculous. Some of us old farts can break eggs with a 22 lr at 200 yards free hand...that is shooting.

 

[Justin]

IDPA really wants you to compete with what you would consider a SD carry-rig, and they specifically exclude competition hot-rodded guns, because they want you to improve with your street-gear, and they also understand that an "arms race" would create a cost-barrier and exclude many potential new participants.

The IDPA group near where I live are a really friendly bunch and from what I've seen, the "competition" is more like bowling buddies gathering to enjoy the match and hone their skills.

The same can be said for USPSA as well. There seems to be a misconception that it's all $3K race guns with comps and red dots.

This is not the case. At any given match, most of the shooters are likely to be competing with nearly stock guns in Production Division, or somewhat modded guns in Limited.

If you show up with a box-stock Glock, you're not going to be put in the same division as the guys with an STI open gun, or the guys with the single-stack 1911, or the guys with the revolvers.

If you're the sort of person who isn't interested in competing against others, there's nothing that says you have to look at the match results or compare yourself to other shooters. When I started, I rarely paid attention to match results at all.


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[9mmforMe]

Money and not having a match close to me that I know of. I'd love to shoot competition though, sounds like great fun.

 

[Sam1911]

I'd also like to see a less competitive competition. The example that comes to mind is randonneur style bike riding.

I'm of two minds about this. (And my experience is mostly in IDPA these days.) On the one hand, yes, as competitors get closer to the tops of their classes/divisions, they do seem to notice scores more keenly and there is a bit more friendly striving to best your closest rival-pal.

But for the majority of the shooters who won't be taking home a plaque, there seems to be very much a sense of shared accomplishment (an esprit de squad if you will), which I think must be similar to the randonneur ride you describe.

We set out together in the morning and with great encouragement, fellowship, and humor, we faced our six, twelve, sixteen or however many challenges/threats as we came to them in our grand march around the range bays. Then, in the afternoon we gather around the clubhouse, pass out some plaques for those who happened to come in with the fastest times, eat some pizza, and swap tales of the little victories and hilarities that occurred from the adventure we've completed together. Walking through the clubhouse after a match, the place is always abuzz with guys retelling how they handled the sudden pop-out target on stage 6, or pantomiming how they took the cover-shot on stage 10 from some goofy position, or jokingly lambasting the M.D. for coming up with the evil whatzit on stage 2 that was so tricky -- all to gales of appreciative laughter from their pals who shared the experience. Veterans all, of a shared campaign to face down the flat cardboard enemy.

I can see how there is less of this in something like bullseye or highpower where the targets are identical and designed to demonstrate a pure, distilled skill, and the matches are solitary, focused, introspective events. But the scenario-based "action" shooting sports provide a totally different vibe, and I think that's why they've become so popular.

 

[Cosmoline]

People are often complaining about setting things up like this and what it teaches the kids. It's not really a competition at all.

Except I'm not a kid, I'm 40, and I'm not interested in having my hind end kicked around for fun. Besides there is competition in a brevet--against yourself and the clock. It's more like trying to get up a very high slope than running a race.

Maybe it comes down to the difference between people who like to shoot in groups and those who shoot alone. I'm absolutely in the second category.

 

[SuperNaut]

Maybe it comes down to the difference between people who like to shoot in groups and those who shoot alone. I'm absolutely in the second category.

You nailed it. I can't stand going to the local "official" ranges anymore. I have great spots out in the desert where there isn't a 2-second rule and I can set up to shoot 360° as well as hundreds of yards. Free brass too...

 

[ShortFatHokie]

Many local matches are run by a small clique of guys who run it as their own private event. If you're not an insider, you're an outsider. That turns off LOTS of potential competitors.

Some local clubs don't communicate well. When do they shoot? What matches do they shoot? Who do you call to find out? The best kept secrets are thousands of local matches held all across America by fine people who just don't know how to communicate.

^^^THIS^^^

 

[kimbernut]

Communication

Communication is a two way street. Many clubs and even the NRA programs are not promoted so that everyone has access to the information needed to participate unless one is serious about getting involved. A little searching on the individuals part on the internet or gun stores will open more doors than you want to open. This forum itself is an excellent source for places to shoot and compete all over America. www.wheretoshoot.org is a great start.
Our club has competitions in handgun, .22BR, CMP, and shotgun every month and yes there are a few there who are there for the "competition" but the yast majority are there for the competition with only themselves- to improve. The best and quickest way to improve as a shooter IMHO is to shoot with shooters better than yourself. The years of knowledge and the willingness to share it is there. Sometimes it takes courteously prying it out and sorting through the BS but I have found no better source.