American Marksman

Judging from the web site, it's mostly in the planning stage.
It might be a long time, if ever, before anything actually occurs.
Wish them well in the attempt, though.
Hope it's not one of those "Send money and we'll let you know" kind of deals.
 
Sportsman Channel and Outdoor Channel.

It is well past the planning stage with several full time employees. The venues are all confirmed as is the calendar. There are over 200 local ranges across the US that have already signed up to host qualifying events. I have been involved for over a year, from initial concept to implementation.

Some of the lack of details is in deference to sponsors, many of whom we are finalizing deals with. This is not some little thing, it has significant industry and financial backing and I believe it is the best way i have seen yet to get all those new gun owners off the couch and actually competing in a fun and lower barrier to entry manner.

It is new and the format changes at each level. The local qualifying is rimfire rifle (30 feet) or pistol (20 feet) on the AM target. 25 rounds on 5 targets, two times, best sheet for score. It is from a stationary firing point and uses a timer with time added for hits other than center hits. At regionals, the rimfire comes back and we add centerfire in 9mm, 12g and .223 on four more courses. But from regionals on, we provide all the guns and ammo. Proper application of the fundamentals is stressed, still no run and gun.

Winners of the 4 categories at each of the 9 regionals gets a shot at the finals, where we will again add some more challenges in. A good all-around shooter who can consistently apply the fundamentals will do very well.

We will have more info, training videos and such coming out over the next few months. Your local range will also have more info on how and when they will run their local qualifying events, which is basically a modified postal match.
 
Thanks for the update.
How long will it be before the web site is brought up to date, too?
Hope there's some local ranges near to us involved.
Will there be a need for volunteers to help set up and run these matches?
 
The website will populate with the list of local ranges on Jan 15th.

The regionals will need staff support. In the majority of cases, those ranges will organize the range staff to run the stages. But we come in with all the stages and targets and build out the stages mid week.
 
Yes, we will be at SHOT. There will be information in the Outdoor Channel booth and we will be meeting with several people as well.
 
We got a very enthusiastic reception from Industry at SHOT. We are in the process of putting together some relationships that will be good for the industry and the shooters alike. We did make a few small rule tweaks in order to make it easier on the local range staff and even signed up some new ranges for local matches.

Registrations are rolling in and the marketing blitz has not really even started.

Those of us in the shooting sports have always been quick to say we want more shooters. This is a great, low impact way for the skilled shooters who are not eligible to get their friends, family, co-workers etc. into competitive shooting. If you all take a few people, the experience they will get at the local and then the regional level is designed to make that entry as easy as possible.

If you would like a view from the top from not only a person who understands TV and marketing, but who has been involved with almost every major action shooting sport at the time of inception, read his response to a naysayer, especially look at his 4th and 5th paragraphs...

http://www.gunnuts.net/2016/01/25/i-was-wrong-about-american-marksman/
 
Having Michael Bane and crew involved really means something.
Even his Wednesday rants, er podcasts, are valuable.
Catch him at downrange.tv.
I rarely miss one.
 
I was listening to the Guntalk show from the Shot Show and there was mention of the series on every hour segment.
That should get some action, Tom has a very large audience.
 
Today is the last day to register. Qualifier has to be shot by the 31st.

The Centerfire guns for The American Marksman regionals are the Ruger American in .223Rem with Burris Optics Company FF E1 2-7, Kel-Tec Sub2000 9mm carbine and the CZP09 9mm pistol. The CZP09 will be equipped with a Crimson Trace laser. These will all be fed with Aguila Ammunition.

The rimfire guns are the Tactical Solutions X-Ring rifle and Pac-Lite Pistol. These will be fed with ELEY Force ammunition.

And yes, LH long guns and shorter LOP versions will be available. The Regionals run End of June through the end of August. Finals at CMP Talladega first week of January.
 
sounds like something only those with copious amounts of time available can take part in.

i have a hard enough time making 2 local IDPA matches a month.
 
sounds like something only those with copious amounts of time available can take part in.
Click to expand...

Huh? It tooks most people 15-20 minutes to shoot their qualifier. 2 days to shoot a major match is actually less than most. I guess if a weekend in a year is copious amounts of time, you must be a really busy person. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top