New Shooters verses the cost of doing business

[Forum Boss]

JER,

You raise a very good point. Service rifle is a great discipline for those who want to shoot position with iron sights--reasonable costs, everyone uses basically the same equipment.

What I and others are talking about is quite simply creating an equivalent discipline for those who want to shoot from the bench with optics. From what I've seen at clubs and ranges around the country, there may be 8 guys who prefer to shoot from the bench with a scope to the one who favors position and iron sights.

At my own club we have 40-50 shooters at our informal "run what you brung" 100/200 yard score match shot from the bench. We are lucky to get 10 shooters for high-power, with maybe 3-5 of those guys shooting service rifle.

At other venues, the ratios may be different of course. Some clubs are strongholds of service rifle competition. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if you polled clubs nationwide, that scoped rifle shooters out-number iron sight competitors 5 to 1.

F-Class TR is probably the closest thing that exists to what we are talking about,one-design scope bolt rifle comps), but again it is shot prone and,at least in the US) it is limited to bipod in major matches. And neither of the two permitted calibers, .223 or .308 are really optimal for 100-600. But maybe the performance of a .223 is good enough.

 

[Asa_Yam]

Paul,

Your fundamental assumptions contain two very fatal flaws:

1. People want to compete. This is decidely untrue. The majority have no intention of doing so. The few that do either have the interest, or were heavily sold on the idea. My experience is that less than 10% of first timers at NRA highpower matches return for a second go-around. Less than 5% of the initial crop of shooters can be counted on to attend on a monthly basis.

2. Benchrest is a great sport for beginners. No - it is far from being friendly to new shooters. Equipment "requirements" are excessive. Even by doing away with specialized rifles and loading ammo on the range, you still need wind flags, shooting rests, etc. Also, the cost of gear is often a "red herring" arguement. Even if they owned all the gear, you still need to convince shooters to attend the match.

 

[dreever]

gunamonth,

Dave, hop on I-81 and come on over to Shippensburg starting again in the spring. We shoot fun shoots every Tuesday morning starting at 9:00am usually only half a dozen of us. 200/300/500 meters. Cost is $5.00 for non club members to cover upkeep and the supplied targets. Any rifle, and caliber but no 50BMG's.

Our once a month Matches are on the fourth Saturday of the month we start at 9:00 and we are finished by noon most times. We usually have about twenty shooters, enough for two relays. Entry fee is a cheap ten bucks.

Danny

 

[StephenPerry]

Reever
I have 1 thing to say you, NUTS. Not talking to you R but when you stated maybe I did this and maybe I did that I did everything I said. Also I don't have a highway, I take my lead from the guys I shoot with. I am no better than they are.
The comment Asa made that benchrest is not the place for a beginner has some merit. But only in the sense that a new shooter might not have the resources to buy competitive equipment. BR is tough because it is a toe to toe competition where all ages and genders compete together. Only at the Super Shoot and Clubs that choose to do you see separate awards for Ladies and Juniors.
The statement I made about Moderator learning half of what he knows about BR has some merit. He enjoyed himself at the San Gabriel BR School and wrote us a extremely nice article now in Article Archives. I have put on 2 BR Schools and hope to have one again in 2008. That is what I am talking about doing something, don't talk on the computer about shooting dying. Dying for you not for me.
Stephen Perry