Why Don't You Shoot In Local Matches?

[Justin]

The discussion entitled "Why aren't you a Cowboy Action Shooter?" has generated a large amount of discussion, and a fair amount of information, both about the sport, and the reasons behind why some people choose not to participate.

So, let's widen the scope of the discussion to all forms of competitive shooting.

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?

 

[Claude Clay]

stopped most events due to early start times

 

[Deanimator]

I used to.

I've been out of work for more than two years.

Shooting was a luxury. Buying cases of CCI Standard Velocity .22lr AND paying league fees was an INSANE luxury.

I JUST got a job. When things settle down, I will probably start shooting on my old club team again.

 

[gym]

I would imagine for most, that money, and "other responsibilities" are the two biggest reasons. Most folks in the "middle class" have a limited amount of time and cash to spend these days.Priorities like the mortgage, vechicles etc, make spending a couple hundred dollars periodically a difficult pill to swallow, maybe taking the family out to dinner would come first. Single guys with more disposable, incomes are more likelly to be able to have the time and money to do things like this. Also many families may not be interested in spending their time together, shooting. My wife won't go, she used to, but has no interest anymore. I tried everything, she has no interest at all her hands are arthritic. So I either would have to go without her, or not go.Being that she works hard to keep us afloat, I would not feel right, even if I could go, other that the occasional hour or so, to function test, and stay somewhat sharp.
I think that 20 years ago I would have answered this question completelly different. When you are healthy and money is flowing, things are much easier.
I think that no matter who you speak to, these days, if they are retired or can't work or make what they are used to ,or unemployed. Things like gym memberships shooting frequentlly, restaurants, boats, even movies,replaced by "netflix" "blockbuster" and all the things that are not essential, go on the back burner. That's just life right now. Maybe if the economy comes back, more folks will get back in the pool.
I find that most of the guys who I shot with when I was younger 20-50, have either slowed down or stopped. And fixed income after retirement, makes plinking money down on a regular basis, tough.
Also many of us can't keep a schedual because of health reasons, or work.The same would hold true for any hobby or activity in these times.

 

[wally]

Too much standing around, not enough shooting.

Besides practicing once a week won't be competitive. Perhaps after I retire ....

 

[oneounceload]

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

Define "matches"................

That can encompass many types of guns and aspects of shooting

 

[Patriotme]

I work shift work and you need to be there very early. It's always on the other side of town and it's easy to plan on going to the match but it's a lot harder getting up after going to bed about 2am.
It's also hard to sit around for 3-4 hrs (IDPA) and only shoot for a couple of minutes all day. Make it 1 to 1 1/2 hrs for steel plate matches and about 2 minutes of shooting.
I shoot a couple of matches per year and it's fun but it's bit of travelling, a long wait and not a lot of shooting. I will say that most of the shooters are a bit standoffish as well.
Matches are fun but they aren't that fun (especially after working the night before).

 

[straybullet]

Watched a couple of IDPA matches the last few months, just unsure if I want to buy a pistol for it yet. All I have now are .45lc single actions.

 

[Owen]

The two biggest reasons I've heard/witnessed is that "I want to get good before I start going to matches, and people like to spend the weekends with their kids.

 

[texas bulldog]

1. money
2. time

I wish I could claim it was more complicated than that, but it isn't. I supposed if I was interested enough, I'd overcome those. But as it stands, other responsibilities, priorities, and interests trump competing in any sort of firearms matches.

 

[ants]

Yes, I do shoot in local matches. Lots of them. But I understand Justin's question, for the sake of discussion. Here are several learning points that local clubs may consider:

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.

Cost. Club fees, entry fees, membership fees, range fees, extra fees if you're not a member. These costs often add up to be greater than ammo cost. When many clubs allow their own RO's and other officials to shoot for free, that leaves the common member paying the burden for everyone. Keep the cost down, and spread it out evenly.

 

[Owen Sparks]

I used to and may again but as others pointed out, there is too much standing around. The typical IDPA match takes up about five hours all for about 90 seconds of cumblitive trigger time. The wait between turns is well over an hour. I came to the realization that the standing around part was some peoples social life and I have better things to devote my Saturdays to.

 

[yeti]

I shoot in the Wednesday night trap shoots in the spring and summer, though if you have ever seen me shoot trap you might wonder why. And I still don't know why I have to pay the full amount for each round:banghead:... they can just go out and pick up 20 or so of my birds and use them again for the next round... figuring on 2 or 3 'ground kills' per round...

Do participate in a few rifle matches each year, and there are always a bunch of informal, pick-up pistol matches to join (that's what happens when BP, Customs, State, Sheriff, and the locals LEO and nons, all informally use the range for training... those Customs guys cheat like heck...and they need to!).

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I'm afraid I might suck.

 

[BLB68]

No money.

 

[yeti]

I'm afraid I might suck.

I stayed away from the weekly trap matches for the same reason, and take it from the "World's Worst Wingshot" being afraid you might suck is actually much worse than finding out that you do suck! Just don't fall for those low score buys the beer matches... don't ask how I know...

 

[Smoovbiscuit]

I don't really have any match grade guns.

My 22 is a single shot pre serial number remington target master with no scope. Shotgun is a 20 gauge sears and roebuck break barrel, rifles Mosin Nagant 91/30 and winchester model 94, handguns Ruger p95 and S&W model 60 3".

Would love to get into competitions if I had a proper gun. Maybe someday.

 

[Joe Demko]

Money. Nothing more. I used to fool around with bullseye shooting back in the 90's, but ammo is a lot more expensive these days and my dad gave away all my reloading stuff the last time they moved.

 

[Deanimator]

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.

That's the reason why I considered IDPA, then rejected it.

Our club has an active IDPA program. Unfortunately, the guy who runs it is NOT a good ambassador for his discipline. A friend and I who shoot bullseye competitively went to see what they did. The first thing out of the guy's mouth was smart remarks about bullseye shooters, then anger when he received a response in kind.

I shoot because I enjoy it. If somebody is determined to make his discipline NOT enjoyable, I can get all of the shooting in I want doing something else.

I tolerate petulant three year olds. Petulant sixty three year olds, not so much.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

I would love to get into some kind of match, but being in college severely limits my resources. Also, I don't even know where to start to find a group that competes, or which type of competition to try. It all costs time and money, neither of which do I have in abundance, so there ya go. I'll have to look into it over the next year, and maybe this summer or next year after graduation I can try my hand...

 

[braceyourself07]

I am a relatively new shooter and started participating in local matches last October. The indoor range I go to has a 25yd pistol bullseye competition every other Saturday for $10 and I find it's a great time to meet the other 'regulars'. I was hesitant at first because I simply did not know much about it or about the people who shot at the competition. As a new shooter, I think it takes a certain amount of mojo-gathering in order to take the first step and participate, especially if you go by yourself. I was afraid of the same things many people had mentioned--competitions not being announced, cliques, my own skill, etc... My first time I was 2nd to last and was glad that all of my rounds just hit the paper let alone the bullseye... but I had a great time (and discovered that they had free breakfast--even if it was just a big pile of sausage biscuits).

But once I started participating, I got to know some of the regular guys and they turned out to be very welcoming. There have been a couple of enthusiastic new shooters who have joined the 'regulars' since then and it's a lot of fun trading stories about when I was the new guy and what had helped me out. Many of the new shooters ask a lot of questions and are apprehensive about the competition itself since they don't know what the competitive pressure is like. Simply getting questions answered by the staff or other range members helped my apprehension... I'm the kind of guy that likes to know every detail before getting into something.

After participating for a while, one of the other guys invited me to shoot IDPA with him. I have since been to my first IDPA competition and am looking forward to the next time this month.

So if you have the time/ammo and are trying to decide on whether or not to participate--just do it. Don't be hard on yourself if you don't do well, and take the competitive banter with a grain of salt. You'll have a good time and it gets better and better.


Mike

 

[Tinpig]

I only get to the range about once a week...much less often in Dec, Jan, and Feb. When I'm there I like to shoot my rifles and handguns on my own and on my own schedule. I go weekdays and usually have the range to myself.

To me shooting and working on my accuracy, skills, and handloads is fun for its own sake. At 67 I don't really need competition, regimentation, and hanging out with the guys.

Tinpig

 

[jcwit]

Years ago during the '60's & '70's I shot blackpowder competition, was fairly good at it, usually finished in the top 3 places.

I now no longer like the pressure of competition, find it hard to make trips to the range justifiable with gas now at $3.75 a gal., range is 30 miles 1 way, so that comes to around $8.00 a trip, not counting ammo and other expenses. Frankly, someone on a VA Disability does not have case to throw around in todays world, not complaining, just stating a fact.

However the bigest factor is the pressure of competition, I take enough meds to keep my blood pressure down.

 

[DeepSouth]

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

I know of no matches within a 2 hour drive of me. If there were something to do within an hour or so I would participate when shift work allowed me to.

 

[SaxonPig]

Because I suck at competitive shooting and I hate to embarrass myself in public.

Also, I have a history of experiencing equipment breakage in match shooting. If I want a gun to break all I have to do is sign up for a match.