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

[Mark W]

I compete with myself. I tried going to an organized event once. Most of the guys there were very nice and welcoming to a new shooter, but one a$$h9le kept complaining about my muzzle brake. I went back to shooting with friends and competing only with myself.

 

[std7mag]

For me, it's a mixture of things.
Getting to meet new people.
The atmosphere. Most of the shooters i've met have been darn friendly and willingly talk about the sport, along with the willingness to help people new to it.

I'm trying to improve myself.
I shot my first (and so far only) F-Open the other year. First time i had shot to 600 yards. Also first time shooting prone.
My learning curve was HUGE!
But the people there were really helpful!

Now, shooting with Jeff, i'm learning to shoot at things smaller than 1MOA. Much smaller! Lol
And more consistently.

It also helps me with my at home smithing.
Bedding, free floating, scope mounting/bedding, trigger work, etc.
Learning & doing things that most hunters wouldn't do, or pay someone else to do.

 

[1shot]

I recall the Skyvan Boogies back in the late 70's & early 80's with "The Herd". I always wondered whether that was a "D" from USPA. CCS-181

same here. D-16526.
Lloyd

 

[bluealtered]

Well i'll swim up stream here, I don't go to match's because i promised myself when i got back into shooting that no more competitive "hobby's." Before i came here i spent 42 years racing anything with wheels or hulls, no planes because everybody i raced with reminded me that i had in the past wrecked both boats and cars and i would only get to do it once with a plane, ... that one made me think.

Like everybody else i do compete with me every time i go to the range, but i don't go to match's. So far i have been able to keep it just for fun.

 

[JFrank]

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.

I’m with you on this Boss, lots of I’s not a bunch of we’s . Some of these answers sound like job interview answers, lol
I don’t recall telling my wife that I was goin “ fellowshipping“ ( sorry Bro) Hell I seen a flyer at one range talking about a 600 yard match at another range then one thing leads to another etc. next thing I know I’m surrounded by thousands of dollars in equipment

 

[Medic505]

I compete with myself. I tried going to an organized event once. Most of the guys there were very nice and welcoming to a new shooter, but one a$$h9le kept complaining about my muzzle brake. I went back to shooting with friends and competing only with myself.

Before you complain about disparaging remarks about a brake, you should sit in his spot and let him shoot your rifle. Then, you would understand who the real a$$h9le is.

 

[WyleWD]

The honest truth about why I compete, I was brought up on a farm and a hunter .... up until about 1998 or so I could easily find between 150-200 'chucks to shoot at my leisure, plus all the squirrel, rabbits, ducks etc. So between the urban sprawl and the great coyote invasion about the same time, that has taken away hunting grounds and the coyotes took out most of the game, I took up competitive shooting just so I could have a reason to shoot.

I find it much less confounding than golf and the shooters as a whole are more comfortable to be around as most of them are my kinda people. WD

 

[Medic505]

I compete because it gives me an excuse to spend my kids inheritance.

 

[Mark W]

Before you compline about disparaging remarks about a brake, you should sit in his spot and let him shoot your rifle. Then, you would understand who the real a$$h9le is.

So you’re assuming I’ve never sat beside someone shooting a braked rifle? It doesn’t bother me at all. If it’s within the rules of a given event, well it’s within the rules. The whiners should spend their energy petitioning the organizers to change the rules instead of complaining.

 

[bobm]

This is my game of choice. Anyone else?

 

[Steve Donlon]

I compete with myself and friends, that's plenty of interaction while shooting for me. I think the reason people compete is to make training fun. We all know why we shoot. It's to keep our skills sharp so that if ever needed, we will be competent. Like the U.S.M.C. says, every Marine is a rifleman first. Semper Fi.

 

[Joe Maisto]

If you will go to the Competition Forum and look at the Anderson Creek Sportsmen 200- and 300-yd match for Sat Aug 5, you will see a question posed to me by a reader of this website concerning why we compete. I am curious how fellow competitive shooters would answer the poster.

Forum Boss: The questioner specifically asked what level of accuracy is required to be "competitive". I would say that depends on the venue, the guys on the line, and the discipline:

"Just out of curiosity , what is competitive in a shoot such as this? I've never shot a match. Most of my targets breathe."

Jeff,
I competed because it was an entirely different world. Best part of it all was...the people we meet. Think of it my friend...shooting against people from around the GLOBE, and most of them in a position for me to learn something from. As a beginner of which I was, how can I not enjoy it? The years of a learning curve, and when we start to get the hang of it, it is most rewarding to shoot a score smaller than one of the top shooters ( now and then), or to have your name announced over the PA system as such. DR. Manny once said to me... " Joe...pretend you didn't hear your name the first time, so they say it again !"

Yeah...great sport...great people. Even better ( or as good) as catching Walleye ! That too can be a challenge .

 

[rr2030]

I am by nature a competitive person. When I don't perform at my best, I beat myself up over the mistakes I made, for days. That being said; I have been a competitive shooter for 52 years, with sublime certainty I have been in a few thousand matches of various disciplines over the years. I have never shot against another competitor.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Well been at for years .
Love being on the Range with Big Guys .
Made a lot of goals in 40 years of Shooting . That is High Master in Long Range and more .
Now my Top Reason keep going.
#2 The look on some Guys Faces !
I now shot F/Open do to age .Last weekend I shot a Big State 1000. Yard Match . I Won one Stage with a 198-9 out of a 200 Master Class .
The look on those Faces !!! That Guy is 74 years old , did you see His Rifle a Remington Action ????
I do Love doing it ...
It’s the Indian not the Arrow .

 

[xswanted]

One main reason for me.....to get better where it applies for my personal use.

I coyote hunt from October through March every year. Anything I can do to extend my effective range or help me to keep from missing during the season I’ll try in the off season.

I recently have started to try out PRS just because of the odd positions and I’m looking forward to applying it to coyotes this winter.


The company of other shooters as well as learning about the on hands application of equipment is a close second. A guy can read all he wants about “x” piece of equipment but it takes all of 36 seconds to see it in action and you have a way better opinion of what “x” piece of equipment is capable of.

I used to really enjoy the competitiveness of shooting sports but I’ve begun to get to the point where knowing I could have a shot at winning (Or evening placing very well) is better than actually winning. However it is fun to bring a trophy home to my almost 4 year old every now and again!

 

[kindabitey]

I do it mainly as a measure of my own ability. I've never won a match, but have certainly never lost one, as I learn quite a bit each and every time. I've met a ton of
great folks as well as some grouchy ones, and a couple of a-holes. All in all, it's a good time.

 

[bennett ford]

In my first year of college, I discovered ROTC small bore competition. I have often described it as the final nail in my academic coffin. However, it began a lifelong passion. That was over sixty years ago and it has been a hell of a ride. Highs, Lows, people I've met, life lessons, you name it, nothing other then my fifty six year long marriage has had the personal impact.

I hope the game continues in some form for the generations to come. My fellow competitors make it all worth while.

When I finish this post, I'll finish loading ammo for tomorrow's F-Class match

 

[jackieschmidt]

Through my 73 years, I have competed in several endeavors that could have killed me. All through the 1970’s I competed in APBA Boat Racing, I raced Super Stock mainly, but had outlaw engines for open formats. I went over several times, and personally saw 5 men die.

I gave that up and got into something really safe,.....Drag Bikes. I finally ended up with a High Gear Only Harley Nitro Bike. It was capable of mid “eights” at about 160 mph, back in 1985 I went off of it at the old Houston International Drag Way, and to sum up the experience, it just didn’t kill me. But it came close.

I got into car showing in the 90’s, never really enjoyed it, I guess I am too much of a hot rodder.

I discovered Benchrest in 1995 when I met Glenn Newick at a Gun Show, and jumped into the deep end of the pool. My Machinist skills and facilities on hand, (I own a Machine Shop), were a natural match for this type of activity.

To me, actually shooting the Rifle is just the final accumulation of the process. I love tinkering, and have a bad habit of periodically wanting to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes I come up with something that is really worthwhile.

I like shooting in Competition, especially Varmint for Score. I used to hate to loose, but realize that my shooting skills simply do not match my building skills. I concentrate my efforts into removing as many variables from the accuracy equation as possible with my Components, and then hope I can keep the “going stupid at the Bench” down to a minimum.

I like helping other shooters. I help Friends who do not have the facilities I have on hand, and don’t mind helping with various projects that would be impossible without the machinery at my disposal. I rarely do anything for money, I have a day job for that.

Often I will do something for someone “just because”. You just have to catch me in the right mood.

 

[kindabitey]

The most positive thing I can think of, is if something should happen where I'm unable (age, injury or both) to shoot PRS, I can shoot bench rest or F-class. Beyond that, there's
always some type of rimfire comp I can do.

 

[jelenko]

I've already posted why I shoot in 'XTC' matches.

My purpose for this post is just to note that, from personal experience with people I've met and talked with at matches, there are kinda three things that motivate people

Fellowship
Win the match - i.e., doesn't matter what the score is, just win the match.
Compete against self - reaching for personal bests.
​

It appears to me that all of us have each of these to more or less extent. For others like myself, fellowship is not a strong motivator - but I do enjoy meeting people I know and like.

I would also take this opportunity to say that, for me, my score in a match essentially confirms my level of skill. It's similar to practice is like studying for an exam and the match is the exam.