Talladega CMP Adds Schedules F-Class Match 11 March 2017

[Berger.Fan222]

I'm happy to see that Talladega CMP has added the first regular F-Class match of 2017 to their calendar for 11 March.

I am disappointed to see that they have raised the entry to $50. At $35, the cost was already the most expensive I know of in the SE US, but I suppose they want to recover the costs of adding the visible target faces and handling all the issues and failures of the electronic target system.

I hope they have at long last put the electronic scoring problems to rest and that the matches operate smoothly. I've already talked to several shooters who have made the trip in the past, but who are less enthusiastic about a fee hike before the purported improvements are really proven in a few flawless matches. Who wants to pay a fee increase to be mocked by range personnel for missing when the target makes a scoring error?

Fortunately, there are plenty of much less expensive matches to choose from in the region. I wish Talladega the best. Most likely, we'll stop by and shoot simulated matches when we pass by on I-20. For $30, one can shoot the whole day and fit in a practice 3x300 AND 3x600 and do lots of load testing. But I really plan to wait for a year or more of consistent reports of flawless operation before supporting the most expensive local match in the SE.

 

[Snuggie]

Bar 3 Range in Laurel Ms is $40 ! That's after I drive three hours and get a hotel room. I'll pass thank you.....

 

[r bose]

No doubt you will pay for the convince of not pulling pit duty. Electronic targets are not cheap and need to be paid for/maintained, but hopefully regular targets will still be used at most ranges so regular people can still afford to shoot.

As a side note, the CMP charges 50 dollars for a 35 shot M-1 Garand match all shot at 200 yards. I've never attended. My local range charges 5 dollars to cover supplies for the same match. No scores are turned in after a garand match so no NRA fee.

Hopefully shooting doesn't follow the path of golf when most courses started requiring cart rental and pricey green fees. Prices went from $20 to 75 or $100 and then, I stopped playing golf.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

No doubt you will pay for the convince of not pulling pit duty. Electronic targets are not cheap and need to be paid for/maintained, but hopefully regular targets will still be used at most ranges so regular people can still afford to shoot.

As a side note, the CMP charges 50 dollars for a 35 shot M-1 Garand match all shot at 200 yards. I've never attended. My local range charges 5 dollars to cover supplies for the same match. No scores are turned in after a garand match so no NRA fee.

Hopefully shooting doesn't follow the path of golf when most courses started requiring cart rental and pricey green fees. Prices went from $20 to 75 or $100 and then, I stopped playing golf.

Nice analogy. Other factors being equal, I would gladly pay $50 total for a match that did not require pit service, assuming the electronic targets were accurate and dependable. But 3 of 4 F-Class matches at the CMP had problems with the electronic targets in 2016, and it is going to take more than one test match to convince me that the problems are resolved. We heard those same promises after a botched High Power match in late 2015 followed by claims that the electronic problems had been fixed.

Another issue for me is that my shooting buddies are more turned off by the fee increase than I am. Not being able to split travel and lodging costs 2-3 ways increases those much more than the $30 or so match fee difference. For me, matches are not just a shooting experience, they are a social experience, and my inclination is to attend matches with some friends both to share expenses and the experience.

The final issue for me is the poor treatment by CMP staff. How eager would you be to go back to a golf course that claimed the greens were in great shape and when they clearly were major problems and ascribed the issues to golfer error? A 42% price hike does not communicate humility or commitment to change that bad staff attitude.

In summary, there are lots of well run matches that are more reasonable priced and where my friends and I have simply been treated better. CMP is a great facility, but we'll hold out a year or so until we hear reports of consistent and significant improvement.

 

[SDDasher]

Bar 3 Range in Laurel Ms is $40 ! That's after I drive three hours and get a hotel room. I'll pass thank you.....

Rumor is that bar 3 is going to electronic targets so get ready for an increase there as well....

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Rumor is that bar 3 is going to electronic targets so get ready for an increase there as well....

Different brand I hope. I also don't mind a slightly higher cost for 1000 yard matches, a covered firing line, and no pit duty. But first and foremost, the scoring system has to work reliably.

 

[rardoin]

Rumor is that bar 3 is going to electronic targets so get ready for an increase there as well....

I saw a release saying they had 10 targets installed. I don't recall where I read that but I think it may have been on this forum.

edit- http://forum.accurateshooter.com/th...mississippi-goes-electronic-10-lanes.3918585/

second edit- ordered and a few weeks out, but NOT installed yet...my error

 

[r bose]

Rumor is that bar 3 is going to electronic targets so get ready for an increase there as well....

I also heard from reliable sources 10 electronic targets were bought for Bar 3 Range. So how is that gonna work? 15 manual and 10 electronic targets shot simultaneously so you pay for the convenience of not pulling targets if you choose? Different entry fees I'm assuming? I'm capable of pulling targets and would prefer to do so and pay a lower fee. That's my vote

 

[SDDasher]

I also heard from reliable sources 10 electronic targets were bought for Bar 3 Range. So how is that gonna work? 15 manual and 10 electronic targets shot simultaneously so you pay for the convenience of not pulling targets if you choose? Different entry fees I'm assuming? I'm capable of pulling targets and would prefer to do so and pay a lower fee. That's my vote

Good point Bob. It will be interesting to see how/if they run things this year. Ten electronic targets would accommodate forty shooters easily; finishing four relays in half the time or less than a traditional match.
I can't imagine they would attempt to shoot both simultaneously. That defeats the positive gains in time saved pulling targets/changing pits.

 

[lal357]

I'm happy to see that Talladega CMP has added the first regular F-Class match of 2017 to their calendar for 11 March.

I am disappointed to see that they have raised the entry to $50. At $35, the cost was already the most expensive I know of in the SE US, but I suppose they want to recover the costs of adding the visible target faces and handling all the issues and failures of the electronic target system.

I hope they have at long last put the electronic scoring problems to rest and that the matches operate smoothly. I've already talked to several shooters who have made the trip in the past, but who are less enthusiastic about a fee hike before the purported improvements are really proven in a few flawless matches. Who wants to pay a fee increase to be mocked by range personnel for missing when the target makes a scoring error?

Fortunately, there are plenty of much less expensive matches to choose from in the region. I wish Talladega the best. Most likely, we'll stop by and shoot simulated matches when we pass by on I-20. For $30, one can shoot the whole day and fit in a practice 3x300 AND 3x600 and do lots of load testing. But I really plan to wait for a year or more of consistent reports of flawless operation before supporting the most expensive local match in the SE.

probably a drive for you but reese bottom holds some 600 yard prone matches in linden ,AL. nice people only have 5 targets with pits but they run a very nice match i'm looking forward to shooting their first match in march. cost is 15.00 5 for targets and 10 gets paid back to the shooters pay out depends on how many shoot in that class usually around 20 shooters total. they shoot ftr,open,sling and bench for people who cant lay down for one reason or another .great shooters and people

 

[lal357]

hey berger fan 222 i also read that ft benning is going to have some f class matches this year i'm hoping to make it to the march or april match depending on what else i have going on that weekend

 

[Berger.Fan222]

probably a drive for you but reese bottom holds some 600 yard prone matches in linden ,AL. nice people only have 5 targets with pits but they run a very nice match i'm looking forward to shooting their first match in march. cost is 15.00 5 for targets and 10 gets paid back to the shooters pay out depends on how many shoot in that class usually around 20 shooters total. they shoot ftr,open,sling and bench for people who cant lay down for one reason or another .great shooters and people

http://www.reesebottom.com/events/

 

[SDDasher]

Where on the CMP Talledaga website can you find info on the March match?
That is one confusing website. Is "F-Class" even in CMP's vocabulary?

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Where on the CMP Talledaga website can you find info on the March match?
That is one confusing website. Is "F-Class" even in CMP's vocabulary?

https://calendar.google.com/calenda...HBkYm5ydmNAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ

https://calendar.google.com/calenda...merica/Chicago&sf=true&output=xml#eventpage_6

 

[SDDasher]

https://calendar.google.com/calenda...HBkYm5ydmNAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ

https://calendar.google.com/calenda...merica/Chicago&sf=true&output=xml#eventpage_6

Thank you for the link. Interesting it will only be a three relay match at two different KD's. I get wanting to assure everyone has a "zero" but this is the only match I'm aware of requiring an entire relay to guarantee that. Seems you give everyone five shots to be on target or remove your gear from the line. That guarantees a good zero "before " paying $50 to shoot a match.JMHO

 

[eric32]

hey berger fan 222 i also read that ft benning is going to have some f class matches this year i'm hoping to make it to the march or april match depending on what else i have going on that weekend

I have attended the frist match of the year with 3 or 4 more matches to follow. If you need any info please contact me. I would like more shooters to attend.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Thank you for the link. Interesting it will only be a three relay match at two different KD's. I get wanting to assure everyone has a "zero" but this is the only match I'm aware of requiring an entire relay to guarantee that. Seems you give everyone five shots to be on target or remove your gear from the line. That guarantees a good zero "before " paying $50 to shoot a match.JMHO

Chattanooga, just up in TN, has a 300/500/500 format.

Dunno the motive, but I don't really mind. Different distances are easier to shoot when the firing line stays the same and you are shooting at different targets.

The matches we attended in 2016 were 300/600/600 also. I think there was some talk of doing a 3x600, but no one seemed to mind the 300/600/600 format in the discussions I heard. I like the chance to shoot different ranges in the same day.

 

[lal357]

I have attended the frist match of the year with 3 or 4 more matches to follow. If you need any info please contact me. I would like more shooters to attend.

I should be shooting ft. Benning on April 1st I have committed to something else on March 4th otherwise I'd be at that one too

 

[eric32]

I should be shooting ft. Benning on April 1st I have committed to something else on March 4th otherwise I'd be at that one too

Awesome

 

[lal357]

Awesome