Amount of shooters at competitions.

[dgeesaman]

A few weeks ago there was a thread about how the ranks of shooters was dwindling at competitions and I said cost was a factor, some agreed, some did not. It got me to thinking and I just added up what my 30BR cost me (was just finished), here goes; Used action with stock $1500, barrel with threading and chamber $600, used scope $600, rings $85= $2785 to date.
I also am in the process of building another 6BR, so far $1500 for action $500 total for used stock(includes inlet and bedding) $700 for barrel when finished scope and rings $1400= $4100 total.
Now you tell me that cost is not a factor, I can't see a younger family man being able to afford this game we play. This is why I didn't start until I was 61 retired and family grown and out of college. Just plain couldn't afford it. Last match I shot at average age was probably 69-70.
So I will stick with my original thought- Cost to play.

My $0.02 (or 1/5 of a primer, which was one primer ten years ago)

Several years ago I started shooting powderburners. Rimfire at first, centerfire not long after. A few regular members at my club were short range benchrest guys. What they were able to do was amazing to me.

But they did me a favor - they didn't sugarcoat the cost situation. $25k to get going when you consider reloading gear, the rifle and optic, flags, rest, reamer, several barrels and a few thousand bullets, travel costs. etc. I can't recall if that included hand pulling the bullets, probably did. They said that was needed to just to have a chance at winning. I never pursued SRBR, and even though I've easily spent that much on shooting by now, I still don't think I would have been very happy if all of my personal shooting investment went into becoming a mid-pack SRBR shooter. I'm happily well-equipped for a wide range of recreational shooting events.

I also attended a couple of LRBR clinics and the cost was the same or higher and the nearest ranges are a couple hours away. I enjoy LR shooting but not to the point of spending hours on the road to fire a few dozen rounds.

More recently I've started rimfire BR competition. While SRBR and LRBR might lean toward the "Formula 1" division of shooting, as people move out of CF competitions and into rimfire, their spending habits come with them. I'm not saying rimfire was ever cheap to compete seriously - but with the inrush of centerfire shooters, the demand for high end rimfire stuff has gone up, supply has barely changed, and prices have gone up. Likewise, rimfire shooters are leaving unlimited classes and moving toward factory classes. And so on. Airgunning is getting a lot more action these days - it seems to be the lowest cost shooting competition where shooting skill is central and true precision is still possible.

Anyway, competition in shooting is an economic competition as well as skill. When the top competitors invest well into five figures and nobody else is winning, before long they could be competing alone.

And one other thing, which I can't say better than this:

Locally there is one managed range. I'm old enough to understand the reasons for some of the requirements for membership, but still balk at some of it.
1. NRA Membership
2. Must Compete

I quit the NRA when they sent me a gift (knife made in China). Really aggravated me my contribution was spent that way. Also WLP.

The fact that many shooting competitions are governed by the NRA is a big turn-off for me. Might as well be sponsored by Paypal, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[boltman13]

Here in Western Colorado I am extremely lucky to belong to 3 different Clubs, all with some type of competition, and all with very nice facilities and members. I serve as Match Director at two of the Clubs. I shoot 600 yard F-Open and Freedom BR and run RF F-Class at one Club, shoot non sanctioned 100 and 200 yard Varmint for Score, non-sanctioned RF-BR 50 and 100 all of which I run, and very occasional Reduced Course 100 yd. High Power but handle the NRA reporting at another Club, and shoot RF-BR Silhouette and RF-BR 50 at a third. Most of the rim-fire matches are divided into two or three classes, Custom, Match Grade and Factory so you can compete on a more equal playing field. We try to keep match fees as low as posable and all are one day matches. My equipment is not the most expensive or accurate but I hold my own and just enjoy the competition and fellowship with a great group of guys and gals. I do try to make the Southwest Nationals in Phoenix every year as well and it's my one big multi-day match for the year. We had 20 shooters at our last RF-BR 100 match earlier this month despite the cold. Here in our neck of the woods competition is thriving, especially in RF.

 

[Ddtrevlac]

I used to enjoy high-power...started w Garland and went to a factory bushmaster for service rifle. When I shot at Medford Oregon,you competed with kids( then) the Wand and Fox brothers with tricked out ar s and shot twice a week in practice... anyone who shoots high-power at perry has probably seen Ben Fox.
We still have a need for those fun matches,where it's shooting skill not equipment that wins the match...deer hunter matches are a good one...off hand at 100,10rds in ten min...5rds at 50 one at a time w 5sec from command....5rds at 200 prone,load and fire in 1-2min....brings a lot of factors into play,recoil being one of them...ie hunting rifles,mob rule.
Vintage/ antique matches..bring enough ammo so others can try it...those of us that are sometimes in a time warp have ammo for obsolete calibers and usually handload for them...even many sweeds,Mausers,smiles, Springfields..all trapdoors,rollers....who can't have a smile with a 130 yr old td,or a 66 in 50-70??....ok , I'm a

You are supposed to win, automatically, because you bought the equipment, then showed up?

Danny

Tell my Seb Max and Borden/LRB that ! "get to winning!" But truth, humility, humbleness and a lil tenacity are as important as all the trick gear in the world. Wann brothers still beat us all up at Camp White, they're older they shoot F class but last summer one dragged out his ole AR and jacket,put on a show in a vintage/service rifle match, they're still machines.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Many of us who still work in our old age have quite a bit of discretionary income but lack the time away from our business to make more than a few Matches that require an over night stay.

I make quite a few one day Matches, (VFS), a couple of NBRSA Group Matches, The NBRSA Score Nationals, and The Tack Driver.

My dream was always to attend enough World Team Qualifiers to at least have a shot at one of the teams. Not that I could, but there is simply no way you can do it if you can’t make the Matches. Too many responsibilities.

And the fact that I cannot party all night and work all day the way I used to.

 

[D Coots]

I worked in my business my whole life. Finally sold out close to 5 years ago at 71. I had 40 full time employees and operations in 2 States.

The only regret I have is that I didn't make the sale 20 years ago.

Later
Dave

 

[jackieschmidt]

I worked in my business my whole life. Finally sold out close to 5 years ago at 71. I had 40 full time employees and operations in 2 States.

The only regret I have is that I didn't make the sale 20 years ago.

Later
Dave

Dave, we have a couple of companies that are interested in buying our Business. It really comes down to money. What ever we get will be split three ways after the Government gets their share.

We all make too much now to give it away. Plus, who ever buys us would want one of us to stick around for a while. That finger is pointed at me.

 

[D Coots]

You know what my advice would be.

I went through 2 years of negotiations with multiple buyers....about drove me crazier....The big boys were after me for many years to sell my multi-hundred dollar business long before I sold....

If you sell and they want you to stick around you will be the one to dictate availability when contract is signed.

Good luck. Life is short...

 

[Acyr]

Nobody ever died wishing they had worked more hours...

 

[Schippergreg]

Many of us who still work in our old age have quite a bit of discretionary income but lack the time away from our business to make more than a few Matches that require an over night stay.

I make quite a few one day Matches, (VFS), a couple of NBRSA Group Matches, The NBRSA Score Nationals, and The Tack Driver.

My dream was always to attend enough World Team Qualifiers to at least have a shot at one of the teams. Not that I could, but there is simply no way you can do it if you can’t make the Matches. Too many responsibilities.

And the fact that I cannot party all night and work all day the way I used to.

This is as good of a year as any. You just need to make 2 points matches plus the nationals. The 2025 worlds is going to be is St. Louis so you won’t even have to fly halfway around the world if you make the team. Unfortunately every Tom, Dick and Harry is gonna try to make the team too. The guys that make the world team this year are definitely gonna earn that spot.

 

[Txhillbilly]

I'm 59 and have been shooting since I was 6. I've never competed in any matches, just never had the bug for it. Spent my youth racing motorcycle's, but we always found time to go shooting almost every week.
I have friend's that are competitive shooter's and they all have asked me to shoot in matches with them. I just never took them up on the offers. Most of the matches were farther away than I cared to drive to.

I've lived in the DFW area of Texas my whole life and never knew there was an Arlington Sportsman Club until last year. I went to a swap meet there. Met some great people and inquired on how to join. Kind of hard to join since I don't know two member's to sign off for me, I can't attend their meeting's since they are held during hours that I work. But I have learned that I can shoot in some of the competition's that they have monthly. I just have to find one that I can attend, it'll probably be the 22lr Benchrest shoot and maybe then I'll be able to join the club. It's a nice looking place to shoot, plus it's about 30 minutes from my house.

 

[DirtySteve]

@Txhillbilly Attended some matches and you will have two members to sign off on your application in no time.