Rifle Matches -- What Are the Key Reasons We Compete?

[Tim Singleton]

I agree with the guy a few pages back. You can watch all the pro sports you want to on television but ya can’t just walk on and compete with them
No other sport can you show up at a National event and race with the best in the world
Nothing like it!
I have had the pleasure of competing against Tony Boyer, Bart Sauter, Wayne Campbell, Billy Stevens, Brady KnighT
Like racing Dale Earnhardt you could watch him and dream about racing him but ya sure couldn’t just show up and do it

 

[Retired Grunt]

I had cancer with surgery 41/2 years ago and then Back surgery 4 months later. Competing started out as a bucket list thing and now evolved into an event. I compete for the Camaraderie, to improve my skills in Prep and Shooting, gets me out of the house (which my wife likes).

 

[rayporter]

winning, i have competed all my life and just cant quit. most of my youth it was fast horses. top 10 in the world twice. but that dont or wont last forever.

my neighbor and i always shot against each other growing up and gradually the equipment grew to where i could just start going to matches.

it can be a solitary sport as you practice against yourself. where small increments of improvement are very small and hard to judge.

 

[JEFFPPC]

After reading all this it almost sounds like some of you need to make an excuse why you choose to use shooting a rifle as a form of expressing your competitive nature. No other form of competing could save your life, except one of the martial arts, maybe. Let's face it, being a good shot is part of our culture and something of value. What ever it takes to get you out there and shoot, is a good thing for you and our country.

Steven I don't know about others but I do not need any excuse to be competitive. It is my nature. I enjoy pitting my skills against others. That does not mean that we do not enjoy doing the same thing alone because we find it enjoyable. For every hour I spend in shooting competition I spend days preparing, loading, tuning, practicing. I have a good friend who is good at many shooting sports but no longer competes because he gets nothing out of the competition. Now, get him on a basketball court and there's not much blood, no foul. Being a good shot was a part of our culture 100 years ago, now, not so much . Go to a public rifle range a week before deer season, not much good shooting, actually a lot of really poor shooting. Many competitors seldom win but still enjoy competing for all the reasons others have stated. I do not think excuses are need or part of the game.

 

[Steve Donlon]

Steven I don't know about others but I do not need any excuse to be competitive. It is my nature. I enjoy pitting my skills against others. That does not mean that we do not enjoy doing the same thing alone because we find it enjoyable. For every hour I spend in shooting competition I spend days preparing, loading, tuning, practicing. I have a good friend who is good at many shooting sports but no longer competes because he gets nothing out of the competition. Now, get him on a basketball court and there's not much blood, no foul. Being a good shot was a part of our culture 100 years ago, now, not so much . Go to a public rifle range a week before deer season, not much good shooting, actually a lot of really poor shooting. Many competitors seldom win but still enjoy competing for all the reasons others have stated. I do not think excuses are need or part of the game.

I think you missed the point. It was not a negative comment. People that spend so much time trying to be the best shot they can, is by itself, competitive. Being a good shot is part of our culture. Being the best we can, is American. Steve

 

[JEFFPPC]

No argument from me.

 

[Steve Donlon]

No argument from me.

I'm glad you understand because I don't wish to offend anyone and if I said you were full of crap about not making excuses you might be. We all do, one way or the other. To ourselves or to our loved ones, silent or out loud. How could anyone spend so much time and money trying to shoot the smallest group possible by any means available. Turning necks, the bullet a little deeper or shallower, a little more or less powder, a barrel with just the right spin, a chamber made to fit a certain bullet type. It goes on and on. Then the testing. And all the meters to measure distance, wind and everything else. And the guys that drive all over to show what they have learned at matches. You show guys like me what you have learned here and make me a better shooter too. Anyone that does all that or spends that much time trying, is competitive and it sure is fun. My point is no excuses needed, even though, I think, most of us feel that way at some point.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I'm glad you understand because I don't wish to offend anyone and if I said you were full of crap about not making excuses you might be. We all do, one way or the other. To ourselves or to our loved ones, silent or out loud. How could anyone spend so much time and money trying to shoot the smallest group possible by any means available. Turning necks, the bullet a little deeper or shallower, a little more or less powder, a barrel with just the right spin, a chamber made to fit a certain bullet type. It goes on and on. Then the testing. And all the meters to measure distance, wind and everything else. And the guys that drive all over to show what they have learned at matches. You show guys like me what you have learned here and make me a better shooter too. Anyone that does all that or spends that much time trying, is competitive and it sure is fun. My point is no excuses needed, even though, I think, most of us feel that way at some point.

You are correct, no excuses needed but we might be a little bit crazy. I know that even though my wife is supportive of my efforts, she thinks we are all crazy, lol.

 

[Medic505]

she thinks we are all crazy

We all are, that's what makes it interesting, and fun!

 

[JEFFPPC]

We all are, that's what makes it interesting, and fun!

Well, you can spend many thousands,travel thousands, freeze, bake, and never get a shot. Those paper groundhogs and x rings are always there. I still travel some and hunt, but if I had to pick only one, easy choice for me. The x ring. Like I belive Steve said, It is an American tradition.

 

[Whitey]

I'm 64. I can't run as fast as when I was young. Can't ride a motorcycle as fast. Can't hike as far without fatigue. Time has taken its toll on the body.

But with benchrest rifle shooting and precision reloading, it was one activity where I actually saw significant improvement from one season to the next even as I entered my late 50s and then 60s. With my first rifles, I was happy to shoot an inch at 100 yards. Now I'm not happy unless all shots are touching.

The competition was a way to get out into unspoiled country, away from the city, and hang out with some good guys, a few of whom have become close friends for life.

Competitive shooting is a good activity for retirement age guys, as you can continue to advance and improve even as you age.

There are not many other hobbies where that is true.

AMEN BROTHER.