Amount of shooters at competitions.

[D Coots]

I think the younger guys have the advantage in todays world.

One thing I have noticed....they seem to have a lot more available cash to buy toys than I did when I was young. Maybe they are better at managing money??

 

[rjtfroggy]

One thing I have noticed....they seem to have a lot more available cash to buy toys than I did when I was young. Maybe they are better at managing money??

not necessarily true. At 49 I was retired with permanent back disability (2 lumbar surgeries) 6 more since then, I was putting 2 girls through college and paying off a mortgage, and really had no spare money, if I had been working maybe a little different story.
The younger generation has many more priorities compared to us without the fear of their finances, plastic card covers everything. Those that do fear their credit score do realize this is a very expensive game and just can't do it. Other priorities.

 

[JFrank]

One thing I have noticed....they seem to have a lot more available cash to buy toys than I did when I was young. Maybe they are better at managing money??

Maybe so but that’s also relative to the cost of living, the younger guys have the advantage of observing the mistakes of the previous generation just as we did, in addition when we were in our 40’s the internet was in infancy compared to todays ability to reach a global economy with more power in a smart phone than the entire Apollo space program so they are able to capitalize on that. Big advantage !! IMO

 

[Ajwilly96]

I’ve almost got my first F Class gun put together and it’s not cheap but it’s manageable.

My biggest complaint so far is finding local matches. Everything is 2 hours plus to find an event

 

[Alibaba]

Been noticing that the long-range benchrest shoots have started promoting FOOD. Seems many shooters like that. Yet, I just got off the phone with one guy telling me he and two other older shooters are now refusing to go to shoots because of the huge upcharge for food being served at the shoots.

I heartily agree. As an older shooter, I eat breakfast and dinner. To be charged a huge amount and have to wait around to eat at shoots is a double turn-off. The expense, time involved and the unattractive eating schedule is now deterring some of us from participating.

Why the current fetish for eating at shoots?

It’s amazing that’s all you old shooters as you call them always complain about everything and anything that does not agree with your agenda.
It’s terrible!

Al. B

 

[jackieschmidt]

I never eat actual meals at Matches. I usually take a few snacks.
Many of the Matches I attend hand out a lunch menu and cater in food, usually hamburgers or bar-b-que. You pay for a meal only if you order a meal.

This isn’t an old guy thing or a young guy thing.
It’s a common sense thing.

 

[big john 5394]

CaptainMal did you forget that Al paid for your ibs membership and gave every one $50.00 toward there club membership at the end of the year from the match money. i think God would forgive you if missed 5 Sunday mass at of 52 and that your eating habits are not like the rest off us. we are building a shooting family and have the highest attendance of all the ibs matches in long range, so we must be doing something right.

John Granauro

 

[D Coots]

Funny that post 82 says can't afford to shoot and post 83 says plenty of money for younger shooters. Both replied to my post.

 

[JFrank]

Funny that post 82 says can't afford to shoot and post 83 says plenty of money for younger shooters. Both replied to my post.

I was responding to a different post when you quoted me, I didn’t say plenty of money for younger shooters, you suggested that’ go back and read it again. I said they have an advantage over older generation also explained why.

 

[Ccrider]

Still cheaper than, Golf, Race Cars, Snow Mobiles, Boats, RV's, Motorcycles, Women, etc.....even used.

Used Women. Now that’s a thought.

 

[DarkStar]

I have lurked this thread for a while.

I am a multi-discipline shooter - I will try anything once. Here are my OBSERVATIONS and OPINIONS...

1.) XTC - As a military vet I gravitated to this. I really liked the fact that I could use my AR in the same manner and format as my M16/M14. I am familiar with the positions, the distances, the range, and I could wrap my head around the scoring. What I was not familiar with was the absolute plethora of rules and the length that folks will go to to disqualify anyone with a better score. I also had too many modifications (that I gathered from actually using in the military???) that I was unwilling to remove to be able to compete. Easy to see why current service and recently separated vets left quickly.


----- All of these ^^^^^^ practically REQUIRE an NRA membership for scoring. I refuse to send one thin dime to the NRA unless and until I know that it is not going into WLP and the Board's pockets. If I knew there was a way to be a member that monetarily supports only education and competition I would, but until that day arrives......

CMP used to only do Service Rifle, but now also does Match Rifle. You could shoot CMP only events with either rifle type and not shoot NRA matches at all.

That said, you don't have to be an NRA member to compete in an NRA XTC match. They will still record your score. They did for my son when he started shooting XTC at age 12 and him not an NRA member. Now, should you shoot a score eligible to be an NRA National Record, you'd be SOL to have that score count.

I've seen folks point out that certain rifle parts/modifications take them out of Service Rifle and put them into the Match Rifle category. Time someone decides they want to really pursue XTC with a Service Rifle (and usually to go Distinguished and/or get a President's Hundred), they'll figure out what need to be done to have the rifle conform.

 

[CaptainMal]

It’s amazing that’s all you old shooters as you call them always complain about everything and anything that does not agree with your agenda.
It’s terrible!

Al. B

You are probably right. Yesterday's phone conversation with one old shooter included opinions voiced earlier by three more - all old guys.

There has been an increase in the number of shooters. Us "old guys" do not count for much any more and the younger shooters can pretty much do without us. Guess it's the way of the world.

Another issue is pricing. I have been retired now for 24 years. That issue of a "fixed income" is real for many of us. As pricing goes up we must make decisions based on financial priorities. Each has to make a decision whether it is still worth it to continue shooting as we had for so many years.

As we phase out the new shooters with more income will hopefully fill in. Guess that is the right priority as the numbers seem to show it.

 

[drop_point]

For me its time and money. I work mostly weekends so that I can avoid childcare for three little ones...in our area, they want around $2000 give or take for the lot of them per month. That isn't feasible.

Right now, there is a monthly PRS style match about an hour away. If I show up to that, I'm spending on gas, entry fee, and expensive handloads. The total cost of the match is going to be over $100, and then everybody wants you to grab grub afterward, so add another $30. Add in the vacation day I'll have to take to be off it *costs* me over $500.

Other than that match, I'm looking at driving 2-5 hours depending on which matches. The most common match I'd be able to make is an F-Class four hours away. That means leaving at 0300, taking a vacation day, and spending a total of about $200 out of pocket plus the cost of the vacation day.

To top it off, I've had some health issues results in thousands of dollars of medical bills this summer. Combine that with the inflation we are all feeling, its hard to prioritize hobbies. Family comes first.

Perhaps when primers are back to normal prices and I don't have to hunt for powder and bullets at crazy inflated prices, I will get back into shooting more competitively more consistent. I do miss it and have a rifle project going right now so that I can.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

This thread has been interesting.I just went on Medicare,fixed income,and have horses...ie multiple...and to put a custom rifle togather would be tough. One of my issues is I enjoy relics as well as modern firearms,and thinking the magnums have more recoil to be fun. It's very satisfying to fire one round from a tc 50 on a gong at 200 and see the expression of the ar shooters...all shooting offhand.
Redwood gun club where I was a member has a new sport. Due to Kali laws on ammo the have formed a group using air rifles...pcps mostly...out to 100 yds. It's a work in progress,and I wish them well.
I'm in Lewis county ky,and find no range close,but the old guy shoot..I have a duce again, a rem 722. 1950....so I'll fit right in with that and a rem vs700 in 22-250. But I'm like many now, component cost makes it 20 rds or so and I'm good.

 

[Downeast]

I'm trying to get a few folks together to shoot on Saturday. Everybody has an excuse. Wives, kids, life! Geez!
300 yard F class either from a bench prone, or whatever. Then if they want to shoot something else no big deal. Bring what you got. In the past everyone chipped in $15 to cover the cost of target frames, steel, and paper targets and some kind of food. We usually cook something afterwards so we can all sit around and BS. Chicken bog or something simple. So far we have 4 showing up.

 

[hpshooter]

Used Women. Now that’s a thought.

Experience counts!

 

[Mlow]

You are probably right. Yesterday's phone conversation with one old shooter included opinions voiced earlier by three more - all old guys.

There has been an increase in the number of shooters. Us "old guys" do not count for much any more and the younger shooters can pretty much do without us. Guess it's the way of the world.

Another issue is pricing. I have been retired now for 24 years. That issue of a "fixed income" is real for many of us. As pricing goes up we must make decisions based on financial priorities. Each has to make a decision whether it is still worth it to continue shooting as we had for so many years.

As we phase out the new shooters with more income will hopefully fill in. Guess that is the right priority as the numbers seem to show it.

1st off Define old guys at 69 some days I am a very old guy I think that for most shooters it is about choices match fees are the cheapest of expenses and the fees at your range and mine have been the same with or without a meal and for mos of us it’s not about the meal it’s about the fellowship.Unfortunately some just like to complain. Look at your own posts in one breath it’s how much the matches have grown Why do you think that is.

 

[1K6BRA]

John Lennon had this quote in one of his songs that has always stuck with me “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”…. exactly.

 

[quest450]

Mike, it could be just a coincidence but the attendance at Manatee at least doubled since Capt Mal took his toys and chose not to play in the sandbox with us......yeah definitely just a coincidence

 

[Leeinmichigan]

I have lurked this thread for a while.

I am a multi-discipline shooter - I will try anything once. Here are my OBSERVATIONS and OPINIONS...

1.) XTC - As a military vet I gravitated to this. I really liked the fact that I could use my AR in the same manner and format as my M16/M14. I am familiar with the positions, the distances, the range, and I could wrap my head around the scoring. What I was not familiar with was the absolute plethora of rules and the length that folks will go to to disqualify anyone with a better score. I also had too many modifications (that I gathered from actually using in the military???) that I was unwilling to remove to be able to compete. Easy to see why current service and recently separated vets left quickly.

2.) Silhouette - Who doesn't like interactive targets for score? I fricking love this except for two very major game-stoppers. I am NOT going to buy a period correct 50-123 Thumblicker with a scope that is pretty much useless for anything else and costs more than a NF. That being said, I am not going to waste my primers on a non-scoring event. I will still attend and pay in (even add some extra!) to tune in my hunting rifle before the season. These guys are great, I just can't afford the buy-in.

3.) SR Benchrest - Quite probably the biggest group of whiners, complainers, rule-mongers, and gear whores I have ever had the pleasure to be around. I fully and truly understand all of the above, but I can't be a participant. I know this will draw flame and ire - but I have yet to attend a SR Benchrest (over 20 of them, I really tried...) that wasn't a penis measuring event dominated by 5 or 6 guys that expected you to be just like them. All of the in/out rotation happens around this core group. New people come in and can't compete, they have salty mentors, and they leave. God freaking forbid you show up with anything over 6mm (unless it is a 30BR), and if it has a muzzle break it is better to just leave.

4.) LR Benchrest - Read SR Benchrest and reduce by 50%. There are better folks here, but the events are few and far between. There just isn't a ton of places with a 1000yd range set up. It is a lot more friendly for starter cartridges like 6.5CM, 308 and the like.

----- All of these ^^^^^^ practically REQUIRE an NRA membership for scoring. I refuse to send one thin dime to the NRA unless and until I know that it is not going into WLP and the Board's pockets. If I knew there was a way to be a member that monetarily supports only education and competition I would, but until that day arrives...... And these competitions take forever and a day. I don't like waiting an hour or more between strings for alibis and complaints, and I refuse to give an entire weekend to any single event. Maybe when I retire and the kids have moved out.

5.) PRS - I cannot imagine a friendlier and more open group of people to shoot with. I have shot PRS with an AR, a 30-06 hunting rifle, and a $3500 custom. None of that mattered except as conversation behind the line. There are a few ultra-focused individuals during competition, but I have yet to meet someone that wasn't willing to give tips and pointers after the match. It is, however, a gear-driven discipline where you sometimes are left wanting - the guy next to you having a tripod versus you stacking bags or contorting yourself into an odd firing position being an example. And it is pretty darn physical. But I can use the rifle I bought or built without complaints and snide comments.

6.) 3 Gun - I started this pretty early, but I was priced right out of the market. When I first began there was a fair chance that with practice and dedication you could score well. Now it seems to be a popularity contest. When Team Sig, Team Beretta, Team Vortex, and Team.... show up to every event and clean house because they have no budget and unlimited ammo and get to shoot every day, you find out that you are just there to support their budget. It is fun to watch, but not nearly as fun to be in competition with 20 people for 10th, 11th, 12th place and so on.

7.) F-Class - I would really like to try this, but I cannot drive 500 plus miles every weekend.

So there you have it. My take as a short-time (~10 years) participant in shooting sports. Take i

Some individuals are not cut out for competition.., and they can use all types of personal reasoning why (including cost, desire to win, drive, family, etc.). As I always say, “to each their own”. They can always go to their your local range and punch holes into paper (with no one around to criticize). Before you ask, I’m 68.