What do YOU want in a Match?

[Leo_B]

A pretty smile readily given, a pleasant voice, broad knowledge to have any variety of intelligent conversations, shared interests, that's the start of a good match. Oh, you didn't mean that. Or a fire starter. My bad.

 

[distinguished]

Travel distance.
Reasonable cost, this sport is expensive enough as it is.
A well run match but, not rushed to the point that it becomes more like being at work.
E- targets are a big plus.
Since I have lower back pain, the knees are not what they once were and I have been dealing with the big C, long drawn out days are not fun.
Shooting with good people is always a big plus!

 

[BKA]

As a prone shooter, it's almost impossible to "machine gun" shots downrange. I leave that to the F Class shooters. I feel rushed because when I'm on shot 8 and they have completed their 20 shot string of fire, i'm hovered over as if I'm tying up the process and match "wasting their time". (yes I've been told this)

We get maybe 10% prone shooters and 90% F Class at any given match. So, yes we (prone shooters) tend to be much slower and they are watching the clock wondering WTF are we doing (this includes the match director who has never shot prone, palma, iron sights before)

I'm asking any match director to respect the time we have to complete the string and ask whoever is finished beforehand to wait, without judgement, for us to finish. My feeling of being rushed is not self induced but created by others who want to get home for a late breakfast.

Come shoot prone, in a sling with iron sights, and you'll understand then how rushed we are.

Don't blame the E-target, by allowing this behavior, your match director is not running a tight ship. With your entrance fee, you paid for your minutes and are entitled to use every single one of them, right down to the very last second. The "hover" shooters need to understand these facts and also understand their actions and comments are grounds to be disqualified for unsportsman like conduct.

 

[JLittle]

Frank, for what it’s worth, I know a handful of shooters who frequent Bridgeville and it’s on my list now that I have more time. It's 10 to 12 hrs for me. That kind of distance has to be a good match.
Regards, Jack

 

[Evan]

I am assuming a multi-day match that I need to drive a ways to attend: logistical items frequently make a match easier to attend. If I can drive there in 1 day (12hrs or less), that’s a big deal for cost and comfort. I camp in a tent, so a nice comfy flat spot for a tent with some shade is a luxury. I don’t need as much as a camper with AC, but a little electricity to blow up an air mattress and run my scale for reloading are helpful so that I don’t need to worry about batteries. Also a big plus when enough food is offered that I only need to bring my cooler with snacks and 1 or 2 meals.

 

[Rope2horns]

Here is the setup; -Mid-Range and Long-Range prone matches. Local and Regional level matches. E-targets are in place and work very well. NRA sanctioning with all matches Registered. Conventional Sling and F-Class.

What 'stuff' makes a match somewhere you want to go?
Is it (mostly) all about the shooting? Or...

1. Decently run match? Smooth, no fooling around.
2. Multi-distance matches? 300/500/600 and Palma type?
3. FullBore?
4. Tee-shirts for the Regional level matches?
5. Meals provided at Regional level matches?
6. Prize tables?
7. Decent payout?
8. Reasonable match fees?

So, what are the things you like to see in/at matches?

Looking forward to learning.

Frank

The older I get the more I can't stand #2 .....let's just shoot three relays at the farthest distance and call it a day

My ramblings from a fat old basstid!

 

[323]

We are flying to matches from Alaska and life to short to show up to a piss poor ran match. Our club when I first joined it was a lot of standing around missing the hot time to shoot. Then when I made it on the board I made sure and still do we will always make our hit times. We try to have the rule book readily available for shooters. But we also put out in our safety brief it’s the shooters responsibility to know the current f class/highpower rules. I will say with the use of e targets the MD needs to reiterate if a shot does not register the shooter needs to ask for a provisional after it’s been verified there was no crossfire. I heard about things happening in Lodi this year shots not “registering” or shots ending up on other targets and no one fessing up and they shoot again without asking for a provisional. That kind of stuff I would never go back to a place that ran matches like that.

 

[323]

The older I get the more I can't stand #2 .....let's just shoot three relays at the farthest distance and call it a day

My ramblings from a fat old basstid!

The 600yd range we use belongs to Fort Richardson and we stopped doing 300-500-600 because we were running short on time on the weekends, no way we could do this on a week day. So we just do 3x600 now days which now allows us to do it on a week day. We are usually done by 2100 if not sooner.

 

[Scott H]

Be fair, consistent will all rulings that happen during a match and with those that can't be addressed prior to match starting.

A very well known 600 yard match for 3 years in a row now has had the "the good ole boys club get different rulings as compared to out of town shooters.
Electronic targets either having cross fires and no acknowledgement of it or ghost shots happening.

Example

During a rain storm targets were acting up. Good Ole boys club were getting "errant" shots deleted with 2 with free sighters during the match and the out of towners we had to take the shot at value and no sighters, same relay...not fair...not right.. result is multiple out of towners refuse to go back to that match for those reasons .

Fair and even across the board.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I want one person scoring and the rules applied for all shooters.

 

[Pietro panama]

The older I get the more I can't stand #2 .....let's just shoot three relays at the farthest distance and call it a day

My ramblings from a fat old basstid!

Seldom post, but agree with Norm on #2…..would not get out of bed to shoot a triple distance match unless I had a golf cart. I’m a lot older than Norm……older, fatter, slower is my motto.
Slower—-dislike match directors rushing the prep period, especially when equipment change is necessary. Don’t like rushing to do anything.
Bottled water should be furnished at all matches……and COFFEE!
Agree on not harassing sling shooters….if finished early, get off the line and be quiet. Am not a sling shooter, but they are equal participants and should be respected.
Fatter, older, slower basstid.
Pete

 

[Texas Solo]

First, I want it well organized and run proficient. I do not want to be rushed, ever! But a match can run on schedule.
Food trucks are great!
A smart a$$ MD or RO will prevent me from ever returning. No need for the tough guy attitude because you're wearing an RO T-shirt

 

[SBS]

1. A well run match enforcing the rules of the sanctioning organization and common range safety rules.
Everybody likes to be treated the same and no one wants to get shot.

2. Friendly people who want you there and want you to come back again. Shooting is mostly social - only 1
person is going to be the match winner. Most come because they like to shoot and mingle with other
affable shooters. Without them, most matches wouldn't have the numbers to survive.

 

[DR_2297]

Everyone shooting Palma rifles (of course) from sling with 156 grain or less boolits

 

[Alexander-M]

All of the above is nice to have, and in my opinion just about all the matches in which I have participated in the last 10 years have been well run, and the other shooters have always been friendly and helpful.

Now at 80, there are two items that will make the match more enjoyable for me:
1. No more than 60 rounds (for score) per day.
2. Enough space so I don't have to tear down my front rest, rear bag, mat, mirage scope, etc. between relays.

Alex

 

[Jim G]

Some competitors like to shoot at different distances like the Palma course. Some do not and would prefer to shoot everything at 1000 yards.

I would add an opportunity to sight rifles in or practice the day before the match, especially if it a multi day match.

 

[r bose]

Everyone shooting Palma rifles (of course) from sling with 156 grain or less boolits

would my 223 palma gun with 90's be OK?

 

[saunaking]

Interesting conversation...
I would like to see more matches with pair firing, as it is harder to chase your spotter. I also like the way some matches are run where you move 5 targets to your right after each match. That way some targets don't have an advantage because of prevailing winds or differences in the firing points.

I'm also an old fat bastard that LIKES Palma courses that you have to move your equipment and make adjustments.
Cheers

 

[Steve h]

I’m a Fclass shooter that had to stop shooting prone because of neck problems. I applied to the NRA for a variance to shoot off a portable bench which I built. After several months I was granted this variance. The matches I’ve been to, especially my local matches, have been very supportive. When I go to bigger matches out of state, I find more and more older or injured shooters that come up to me and say they’re getting to the same place I’m in. I’m not bragging, but they look in awe at my redneck bench I built; not because of my ingenuity, but because it will offer a chance to keep competing. When you match directors get a call from one of us to see if you can accommodate us, please be a little understanding. You may be here yourself in the future. I promise you would rather shoot prone than off my bench. No advantage.

 

[DR_2297]

would my 223 palma gun with 90's be OK?

According to ICFRA… yup. Truth be told I rather shoot my 223 than my 308 any day.