The decline of metallic sights prone shooting in the US

[243Mendoza]

Permit me to add my 2cents.
I'm a dedicated palmer/Target rifle shooter in Australia and I'm probably amongst the younger age brackets of our sport.

all the issues identified above in terms of declining demographics, participation rates and competition from other disciplines are faced by us in Australia and we are working overcoming them.

There is a real issues of attracting newbies and and young newbies in particular because it is a relatively specialised type of shooting with minimal application to hunting, the military and LE professions. The costs of starting are also expensive (specialised rifles, slings and jackets etc) and the learning curve can be steep. But When I first tried it 26, I was hooked though and drawn by the challenge it presented.

At our club we have successfully added about 6 new sling shooters to our ranks in the past 6-12mths (right across the demographic spectrum) and this is a reletively good result. I think we have been successful because we have sold it as a challenge and we have invested time in supporting and coaching our new shooters.

If you can differentiate the discipline and emphasise the unique challenges and rewards it offers you have a chance of capturing those who looking to do something a bit different. However, the cost and time commitments required are prohibitive in their own right and can usually deter or prevent those who might otherwise take up the sport. Especially guys and girls in the younger age bracket.

My perspective for what it's worth.
Cheers

Good post. Here in the US, newbies have the sink or swim experience. Very few new people get the coaching required.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Good post. Here in the US, newbies have the sink or swim experience. Very few new people get the coaching required.

Adding on to what Steve says, I know guys that would like to give it a try (crossing over from F-Class), but without direct assistance/coaching, there's a pretty huge barrier to entry. I know one guy who gave it a try on his own and it wasn't a very fun experience.

 

[Steveb]

I have shot F-Class Open for over ten years now and been to dozens of matches. We always offer our rifles and equipment to newbies to let them try the sport. However, not once has a sling/TR shooter offered anything back that I know of. That is a real barrier IMHO. If there is no encouragement and the sport is so insular then it becomes an issue and barrier to get involved.

 

[loud_noise]

Adding on to what Steve says, I know guys that would like to give it a try (crossing over from F-Class), but without direct assistance/coaching, there's a pretty huge barrier to entry. I know one guy who gave it a try on his own and it wasn't a very fun experience.

Jay thats unfortunate but not an uncommon experience even here. The attitude has to change if existing sling shooters want people to take after them and cary the discipline on.

Our club is changing the way we introduce our newbies with dedicated morning sessions to introduce both F-class and Target/Palma shooting. The aim is to group them, provide close coaching and an environment where we can help them find their feet. It's time out of our Saturday morning but hell, I love this stuff and coaching someone on to target at 600m and getting them to realise they can do that, consistently, without a scope is rewarding.

The other aim is to generate a cohort of new shooters that a can support each other and build a healthy sense of competition amongst them with people at a similar level. That will usually propel continued involvement.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Adding on to what Steve says, I know guys that would like to give it a try (crossing over from F-Class), but without direct assistance/coaching, there's a pretty huge barrier to entry. I know one guy who gave it a try on his own and it wasn't a very fun experience.

Tactical AR might be the gateway drug. Front rest or bipod allowed. Can use irons or low powered scope.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

Adding on to what Steve says, I know guys that would like to give it a try (crossing over from F-Class), but without direct assistance/coaching, there's a pretty huge barrier to entry. I know one guy who gave it a try on his own and it wasn't a very fun experience.

I should add that my local club has put on, in the past though I think it got skipped this year, a local clinic to introduce shooters to position shooting. I attended for a day way back when I was just getting started in F-Class. I had forgotten about it until I posted this. I think it's geared towards service rifle, but it would probably be worth attending if they are still putting in on. It used to be in February if I remember right.

And, to be fair, most of the sling shooters that shoot around me up here are very cordial, though their outreach/coaching is geared way more towards juniors than towards "guy-from-another-discipline-interested-in-trying-sling-out". No problem with that, but I still think it would be fun to build a sling rifle and give it a go.

 

[Fast14riot]

That's one issue I personally face, coming from scope and rest style shooting to shooting my first SR match last year. I'm only 34, and the hard part has been getting coaching that isn't geared solely for the Grizzlies (CA junior team). I enjoy sling shooting simply for the challenge, especially shooting against scopes and rests in the same class, but never being in the hunt gets tiring after a while. So, that's when I break out the big optics and go shoot a match just to remind myself that I can still get on the podium (and do).

Now, back to my daily dry fire practice...

 

[Eric Leonard]

I bought an old Brno Model 4 22 rifle with all the sights ,handstops and slings and kinda taught myself to shoot fairly well with it,,and got to shooting steel plates out to 300 yards with it and from standing I think I could hit an 18 inch gong better with the old Brno and the receiver sights than I can with my scoped AR15,,,then I got the bright idea to have Tim turn my 6.5x47 bbl down to .750 at the mzl to mount a set of sights just to shoot for fun,,and fun it is,,I have never shot any kind of match with the sights but if I have someone to spot for me I can do pretty well hitting 2 MOA plate at and past 1,000 yards,and I have gone 5 for 5 on a 1 MOA gong at 1,000 yards from prone off a bipod,

I think I could do well prone and sitting but standing without a sling I am afraid I would really suck,,I really like shooting the sights for fun and all but doubt I will ever be able to afford the expense of actually going to shoot HP matches,,

pic of my "for fun sights rifle"

 

[Erud]

I think I could do well prone and sitting but standing without a sling I am afraid I would really suck,,I really like shooting the sights for fun and all but doubt I will ever be able to afford the expense of actually going to shoot HP matches,,

pic of my "for fun sights rifle"

You are almost there! The rifle and sights are the main expense, and you already have those. You could shoot prone with it right now. If you show up to a prone match and let the match director know ahead of time, I am almost certain that they'd be able to arrange for someone to loan you a coat, mat and glove. I know that's how it would work around here anyways. I keep a full spare set of gear in my truck for just such occasions, I actually loaned it out just last weekend. That would give you a chance to try it out without having to spend any more money up front. If you like it, you can always find good used gear for way better prices than new stuff.

 

[skiutah02]

I've been known to shoot FTR a time or two and am very blessed to not only live in an area with a high concentration of very talented sling shooters, but friendly/helpful ones at that. So when I tried my hand at shooting sling for the first time in June, I received alot of helpful advice. Had a great time even though my arm is still sore....

Even shot a second match in a coat a few weeks later. I can say that the larger target does not make up for all of the "things" that you have to get right to make a good shot happen shooting that way. Its fun, but challenging.

Thanks Erik, Steve, Tom, Russ and Brad!

Drew

 

[Rtheurer]

I've been know to shoot FTR a time or two and am very blessed to not only live in an area with a high concentration of very talented sling shooters, but friendly/helpful ones at that. So when I tried my hand at shooting sling for the first time in June, I received alot of helpful advice. Had a great time even though my arm is still sore....

Even shot a second match in a coat a few weeks later. I can say that the larger target does not make up for all of the "things" that you have to get right to make a good shot happen shooting that way. Its fun, but challenging.

Thanks Erik, Steve, Tom, Russ and Brad!

Drew

Happy to help anytime. Your doing great!!!

 

[SBS]

The influx of new F class shooters has actually allowed many clubs to have viable numbers of shooters for MR and LR prone matches. Without them, the declining number of sling shooters wouldn't justify holding a match or reserving the range just for them.

 

[1lnbrdg]

Our club, usually we have a practice day every Saturday when there aren't matches. $50 per year for membership but just the regular 7 or 10 come for practice.

We call each of these types different Disciplines (Sling/F-Class/Tactical AR). A Discipline is something that you practice until it's "almost" natural. For shooting sling, it takes a lot of practice.

Yes, we have equipment that we are more than happy to share, some of the friendliest people around but few stick with it after trying it.

I don't know, when I 1st tried it, it was just a driving influence on me, had to keep going (it was fun). Still can't figure out why others aren't influenced the same way.

Then again, I know people are different, I haven't ever been on a golf course, couldn't think of anything that would influence me to try it at the moment but when you look, they are all usually very busy on Saturdays.

 

[Erud]

That's a good way of putting it. I think we are just something of an odd breed.

 

[gibrass]

My observation is that sling shooting, in general, in losing shooters. XTC participation is getting less and less, as is MR and LR prone. Most all of the current prone shooters are the older folks, who use to shoot XTC, but health issues has forced them into prone. And deteriorating eyes have made LR irons a real challenge. For many high power sling shooters, it all began with high school ROTC small bore, and maybe for some, college. At least we got indoctrinated into iron sight shooting, equipment was furnished, and some coaching. We were all kids then, but today, most high schools don't even offer ROTC, much less a chance to shoot smallbore and learn the game. Even now, the military trains with scopes. F class shooting is so much easier and simpler for a newbie to start with. Sling shooting is physically more demanding on one's body, not to mention requiring better eyesight if shooting irons over scope. There are many reasons why slingers are declining, and not necessarily just for the iron sight matches.

 

[marty dabney]

I think I could do well prone and sitting but standing without a sling I am afraid I would really suck,,I really like shooting the sights for fun and all but doubt I will ever be able to afford the expense of actually going to shoot HP matches,,


View attachment 1019682

learning to shoot standing can be overcome with a little coaching and some effort. if you've learned how to shoot prone, you can learn standing. I keep an open invitation to anyone who wants to learn XTC/sling shooting with loaner equipment and such