Etiquette

[Erik Cortina]

I don't believe in the "pay back" rule. When I'm in the pits I will provide you with as good a service as I can (my average is 5 seconds) regardless of how you pulled for me. I ask for the same in return, and if I don't get it, I ask for faster service. Sometimes it works out, but sometimes it doesn't.

15-18 seconds allows me to go to the restroom in between shots, which is handy because I will be pissed!

 

[Dgd6mm]

Most 20 shot strings and sighters take 10-15 minutes, do the math. No piss break for you.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Most 20 shot strings and sighters take 10-15 minutes, do the math. No piss break for you.

Actually, I have went to the restroom during record fire before. I was still able to finish up in time.

 

[Immike]

Actually, I have went to the restroom during record fire before. I was still able to finish up in time.

Now there's a sign of old age if I ever heard one. Lol. At least you didn't forget you were shooting.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Actually, I have went to the restroom during record fire before. I was still able to finish up in time.

Now there's a sign of old age if I ever heard one. Lol. At least you didn't forget you were shooting.

Actually, I had one more shot to go and the wind totally reversed (Ben Avery), so I knew it would be a while before it came back and I had plenty of time, so I went to the RR. Hard to imagine, but there are not lines for the RR during record fire!

 

[chkunz]

Historically the majority of NRA High Power Rifle completion was NMC (aka XTC) with some conventional mid range and long range matches and the match directors only had one or two new shooters show up for a match at the most. It was easy to squad one or two new shooters with experienced shooters where they got good match etiquette training; safety, sportsmanship, scoring and pit operations. Also, there have been clinics for new XTC shooters which teach marksmanship as well as the rules and pit operations. F Class has had a significant impact on the sport. Most Mid Range and Long Range matches now have a significant number of F Class shooters and many have had no prior match experience. This is a good thing because we now have a significant number of new folks coming into the shooting sport but most match directors are overwhelmed and have a difficult time managing the situation. Safety is a significant issue under these circumstances. I think it is important for experienced shooters to get involved and help the match directors deal with this issue by volunteering to squad with the new shooter and mentor him in the sport. If you are an experienced shooter volunteer to help run the matches and help at least once a year as a non shooting match official.

 

[TonyR]

Most Mid Range and Long Range matches now have a significant number of F Class shooters and many have had no prior match experience. This is a good thing because we now have a significant number of new folks coming into the shooting sport but most match directors are overwhelmed and have a difficult time managing the situation. Safety is a significant issue under these circumstances. I think it is important for experienced shooters to get involved and help the match directors deal with this issue by volunteering to squad with the new shooter and mentor him in the sport. If you are an experienced shooter volunteer to help run the matches and help at least once a year as a non shooting match official.

+1 on this. We have been having the same influx of new F-Classers. Our experienced shooters are always glad to help the new people. Most new to match shooting are anxious about their scoring and pit duties, but some come to the line without a known zero and the proper come-ups for the distance we are shooting. This is both a safety and etiquette issue because someone has to take the time to get them on paper and/or deal with the fallout if they can't get to the long range distances with that they have. We have made arrangements to help them with all of that if they let us know their limitations ahead of time and it really helps everyone at the match when they do.

 

[Immike]

In the morning when a new shooter signs up for the match I ask a experienced shooter beside them to help them through the day. That gives them one on one training and they blend in pretty quick. We have a scoring demo at the start of any big matches just to be sure they know how important the job is. Most of them don't truly understand until they are accomplished shooters and feel the pain of poor pit service.