Regarding
@Forum Boss posting, I think this will only matter to people that are shooting in the Sanctioned matches, withing the sanctioning bodies.
Trying to grow the sport outside of the sanctioning bodies (IE local matches) to me would be where we can focus more attention to be able to grow.
Even local unsanctioned matches are extremely competitive. But luckily, not to the point that the competitors are unwelcoming.
I enjoy the local matches for the shooting and comradery.
("We are having a get together for lunch. Oh, by the way, there will be shooting there, also.")
But we have to remember.
Not all of us have the aspirations of becoming National Match Shooters.
The limiting factors for me are
1)Time
2)Expense
Working 50-60 hours a week, time is extremely short to be able to do the load development, and then just reloading, along with rifle maintenance to shoot as often as I would like.
Add to that the days taken to go shoot the matches.
The Honey Do List doesn't get any shorter when we are spending the day shooting.
As to expense.
I showed up at both a F-Open match, and a short range Benchrest match with my hunting rifles.
With the advice that "if I wanted to be competitive, I needed to buy a KNOWN winning Benchrest rifle in 6BR".
YEAAAHHHHH.... THAT ain't about to happen!!
So I decided that with me liking the sport enough, I would build my own BR rifle. Stuck still with the price on getting a stock.
One of the drawbacks for me is that even though I may rebarrel a rifle with a sporter contour barrel, it puts me in the custom class.
I can take a factory barreled action, change the trigger, stock, and optics (10-50X60 Sightron SIII in this case) have the rifle weigh 14lbs, and still be "factory".
But screw another sporter barrel on it, and instantly be shooting against rifles with a 1.25" barrel designed specifically for Benchrest competition.