Shooters vs Competitors.
- Thread starter ZVP
- Start date
The little things that I might like to see done differently in each of the shooting sports that I compete in are not enough to make me miss out on all of the fun I have at the matches. How many of us can set up multiple stages at the local range or even if you have all of the various types of targets used in IDPA, ICORE, USPSA, SASS and barricades and everything else most don't have their own property to do this on their own? I also go to the range on non match days, and I do have target stands for cardboard and steel plates. Matches and shooting at the range on my own are both fun, but I go to more matches. Mark
maillemaker
New member
I have just started shooting competitively in the N-SSA. I love it. It's a blast. But I'm not really shooting to compete. I shoot for fun. I'm always competing against myself - if I hit the target I'm happy with myself and if I don't sweat it at all.
I just like shooting. I like the personal zen of trying to hold still and do precision work with a firearm at 50 or 100 yards.
Steve
I just like shooting. I like the personal zen of trying to hold still and do precision work with a firearm at 50 or 100 yards.
Steve
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
just setting up to try my hand at Cowboy Action... never shot competitively before... might not do well at Cowboy, but after a couple times, it'll give me the expirience needed to improve my shooting at home...
... I have my own 300 yard rifle / pistol range... it's set up for two shooters, with target backers at 100, 150, 200, 250, & 300 yards... right now one of my favorite things to do is have a buddy over & shoot our way out to 300 yards... I have a 4 seat Kawi Mule as a range tool, which makes long range shooting ( changing & scoring targets ) much more enjoyable...
the Cowboy stuff will keep me in shape shooting quickly, but I prefer slow relaxed accurate firing on the rifle range, to the spray & pray action of just pulling the trigger to hear myself make noise...
I haven't had the time lately, but used to hold an annual shooting competition, with many classes from 22 handgun, to long range big bore rifle...a special trophy was given to the shooter who used the most unusual weapon (s) / cartridge (s) during compeition... this was an attempt to get the antiques & odd calibers in play, rather than everyone shooting a heavy barreled bench rest rifle in every class... I found I really enjoyed those types of shoots
... I have my own 300 yard rifle / pistol range... it's set up for two shooters, with target backers at 100, 150, 200, 250, & 300 yards... right now one of my favorite things to do is have a buddy over & shoot our way out to 300 yards... I have a 4 seat Kawi Mule as a range tool, which makes long range shooting ( changing & scoring targets ) much more enjoyable...
the Cowboy stuff will keep me in shape shooting quickly, but I prefer slow relaxed accurate firing on the rifle range, to the spray & pray action of just pulling the trigger to hear myself make noise...
I haven't had the time lately, but used to hold an annual shooting competition, with many classes from 22 handgun, to long range big bore rifle...a special trophy was given to the shooter who used the most unusual weapon (s) / cartridge (s) during compeition... this was an attempt to get the antiques & odd calibers in play, rather than everyone shooting a heavy barreled bench rest rifle in every class... I found I really enjoyed those types of shoots
I respect the discipline people maintaian when competing and applaud them for it! Competition is really hard because you must remember all the mistakes to avoid, the new corner-cutting tricks to try and still maintain speed and accuracy...
It's not for me as I shoot for relaxiation and pleasure, I just want to let the week's pressure fizzle off and only have shooting on my mind.
Heck yesterday I shot up 3/4 of a flask of powder and didn't realize how much I had shot till I hi the end of a bag of revolver wads! I didn't count the shots but I was just playing with loads (min to max) and their effects on accuracy. Boy I must have relaxed because I didn't even count the number of Cylinders I shot!
while at the range, I shoot alongside some different sorts of competition shooters however I rarely get to shoot with CAS shooters at my club since they have their own range and pretty much stay there. The rules are no solo shooting there so groups usually pratice together. Unless you have a sub-memberahip in the "Possie" the knock overs and frontier town are off limits for general shooting You may shoot as a "guest" of a Posse Member. It kinda seperates the Club. You also must be a SASS member to participate in any competition which is understandable Our Club is open to the Public for a small fee and we Members help police the range and participate as Range Masters. Thank goodness there aren't many "Knotheads" who shoot unsafe and violate safety and simple shooting rules.
It's still relaxing to me!
ZVP
It's not for me as I shoot for relaxiation and pleasure, I just want to let the week's pressure fizzle off and only have shooting on my mind.
Heck yesterday I shot up 3/4 of a flask of powder and didn't realize how much I had shot till I hi the end of a bag of revolver wads! I didn't count the shots but I was just playing with loads (min to max) and their effects on accuracy. Boy I must have relaxed because I didn't even count the number of Cylinders I shot!
while at the range, I shoot alongside some different sorts of competition shooters however I rarely get to shoot with CAS shooters at my club since they have their own range and pretty much stay there. The rules are no solo shooting there so groups usually pratice together. Unless you have a sub-memberahip in the "Possie" the knock overs and frontier town are off limits for general shooting You may shoot as a "guest" of a Posse Member. It kinda seperates the Club. You also must be a SASS member to participate in any competition which is understandable Our Club is open to the Public for a small fee and we Members help police the range and participate as Range Masters. Thank goodness there aren't many "Knotheads" who shoot unsafe and violate safety and simple shooting rules.
It's still relaxing to me!
ZVP
ZVP. The reason SASS/CAS shooters are protective of their ranges is that one yahoo with a 223 can destroy thousands of dollars worth of targets in a very short period of time. Our targets must be smooth faced or the splash back becomes dangerous.
Would I shoot without SASS competition? Yes.
Would I shoot 17-20 pounds of FFg a year without SASS competition? Probably not.
Would I shoot without SASS competition? Yes.
Would I shoot 17-20 pounds of FFg a year without SASS competition? Probably not.
I shoot metallic silhouettes and I'm in a skeet league. It's competitive in that we keep score, but neither matches are full of competitors. Everybody has a good time. I guess that the nature of the two sports is that it doesn't take a gazillion dollar gun to shoot a good score. Sure, there are guys who have multi-thousand dollar shotguns for busting clays, but since I can shoot a high score on any given day with my $150 used Winchester, I don't feel too disadvantaged! Same with the silhouettes.
Heck, even the two or three time a year that I shoot a SASS match, nobody seems too wound up about the game.
But I have to say that most of the time my shooting is pretty casual. I get a whole lot of satisfaction out of tossing a bunch of clay pigeons on a berm and busting 'em into tiny little pieces all by myself.
Heck, even the two or three time a year that I shoot a SASS match, nobody seems too wound up about the game.
But I have to say that most of the time my shooting is pretty casual. I get a whole lot of satisfaction out of tossing a bunch of clay pigeons on a berm and busting 'em into tiny little pieces all by myself.
"the Cowboy stuff will keep me in shape shooting quickly, but I prefer slow relaxed accurate firing on the rifle range, to the spray & pray action of just pulling the trigger to hear myself make noise".
Is this really what you think is happening at cowboy or other action type shooting competitions? Action shooting of any type is certainly not a bullseye match but you won't get very far if you're just pulling the trigger to hear some noise. Mark
Is this really what you think is happening at cowboy or other action type shooting competitions? Action shooting of any type is certainly not a bullseye match but you won't get very far if you're just pulling the trigger to hear some noise. Mark
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
sorry... wasn't refering to really any type of competition by that statement... I have younger friends that buy semi auto high cap handguns, & AK "type" rifles just to go out to the range & blast away as fast as they can...
it was not intended as a slam on Cowboy shooting
it was not intended as a slam on Cowboy shooting
I guess I'm competitive by nature....but don't read that the wrong way. If I were shooting by myself (which I did for years), I'm still trying to shoot tighter groups or shoot more quickly or hit more shots from a farther distance. I'm competing with myself.
I started shooting SASS last December. My first stages were in the 60's. Then, as I got the hang of it, I started to shoot in the 40's. Now, I typically shoot in the high 20's to mid 30's. I practice (a lot of dry fire) to get better -- but that's not to be "World Champion" or anything. It's my personal satisfaction.
I've played guitar since I was 6 years old. I played in bands in HS, college and 8-10 years ago, I played in a fairly good bluegrass group. We played local festivals and restaurants. Alas, the group broke up and now, I hardly ever pull the guitar out to play. Why? Unless I have some goal (like learning a new song for the group or something), there's no motivation to get better. I guess it's my "flawed" personality, but I need a goal or something out there that I want to achieve before I can get motivated to do the practice to get better.
If I were a fisherman, I'd be trying to cast better. If I were a golfer (which I once was), I'd be trying to hit 'em better. If I were a team roper, I'd be trying to rope better. If I were a cake baker, I'd be trying to decorate better cakes. It's not the destination; however, it's the journey that makes it fun.
I started shooting SASS last December. My first stages were in the 60's. Then, as I got the hang of it, I started to shoot in the 40's. Now, I typically shoot in the high 20's to mid 30's. I practice (a lot of dry fire) to get better -- but that's not to be "World Champion" or anything. It's my personal satisfaction.
I've played guitar since I was 6 years old. I played in bands in HS, college and 8-10 years ago, I played in a fairly good bluegrass group. We played local festivals and restaurants. Alas, the group broke up and now, I hardly ever pull the guitar out to play. Why? Unless I have some goal (like learning a new song for the group or something), there's no motivation to get better. I guess it's my "flawed" personality, but I need a goal or something out there that I want to achieve before I can get motivated to do the practice to get better.
If I were a fisherman, I'd be trying to cast better. If I were a golfer (which I once was), I'd be trying to hit 'em better. If I were a team roper, I'd be trying to rope better. If I were a cake baker, I'd be trying to decorate better cakes. It's not the destination; however, it's the journey that makes it fun.
A lot of people don't understand this shooting competive thing. We do not
go out to beat someone, but to better ourselves. Of all the people I know
"and that's a lot" who shoot at Friendship at the Nationals, I do not know
anybody who gets their kicks from beating someone else. We are there to
compete with ourselves. To make ourselves better. I've been going for 18 years now and that's the way it is. The ones you might say who I am shooting against for score would bend over backwards to help me. They would
give me their last few balls so I could finish a match. I would do the same. we
are all there to help each other. Sportsmanship at it's best. That's the kind of
people that I shoot with. We are all together in shooting even so we are from
all walks of life, and different parts of the country. I wish all of you could
experince this kind of sportsmanship. This is really all the kind I know. After
all we are adults.
A
l
o
t
go out to beat someone, but to better ourselves. Of all the people I know
"and that's a lot" who shoot at Friendship at the Nationals, I do not know
anybody who gets their kicks from beating someone else. We are there to
compete with ourselves. To make ourselves better. I've been going for 18 years now and that's the way it is. The ones you might say who I am shooting against for score would bend over backwards to help me. They would
give me their last few balls so I could finish a match. I would do the same. we
are all there to help each other. Sportsmanship at it's best. That's the kind of
people that I shoot with. We are all together in shooting even so we are from
all walks of life, and different parts of the country. I wish all of you could
experince this kind of sportsmanship. This is really all the kind I know. After
all we are adults.
A
l
o
t
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Fingers McGee
New member
+1. I can't count the number of times I've been beaten by my own powder/patch/ball/cartridge/gun that I gave to someone else to use. And I've done the same to others. It's all part of the game to me.
FM
I can remember 3 matches where I was helped by a fellow competitor and I repaid them by shooting the pants off of them. First one my Navy issued 45 developed a crack at the corner of the ejection port and locked up. A Navy commander loaned me his gun and I won the match with it. Told him I liked his gun, buy it he said, I did.
Second one my S&W M41 pistol developed a problem in the trigger mechanism and my buddy loaned me his 22, I took my barrel and put it on his lower to keep my sights and did the same thing, he had target grips on his gun and mine were standard, he preferred the smaller so we swapped, I still use those grips today 40 years later.
Third one I ran out of ammo at a challenge match and was going to drop out but my main competitor, (a local cop), gave me some of his reloads so I could finish the match. I never lost another round and I still use that load for reloading myself, 4.6 gr of bullseye behind a 230 gr Lead bullet. I gave him some of my empty brass as thanks.
I have coached new shooters from a competitive team because they obviously needed help to the disgust of my fellow team members till I pointed out they were experienced these guys were green and we were all on the same side wearing the same uniform and wouldn't they nave appreciated the help when they were starting. My whole team jumped in and those boys got an intensive workout before the match.
Shared my lube, my sight black, my stapler, coaching advice if wanted. Rifle and pistol, bullseye and PPC, didn't make any difference. Besides you never know when that shooter might have your back for you when you need it most. If you don't enjoy shooting you have no business on the line and I find most shooters to be very compatible people.
Some snobs and some slobs but nobody is perfect, charity never hurt anybody and it often comes back favorably to you.
Second one my S&W M41 pistol developed a problem in the trigger mechanism and my buddy loaned me his 22, I took my barrel and put it on his lower to keep my sights and did the same thing, he had target grips on his gun and mine were standard, he preferred the smaller so we swapped, I still use those grips today 40 years later.
Third one I ran out of ammo at a challenge match and was going to drop out but my main competitor, (a local cop), gave me some of his reloads so I could finish the match. I never lost another round and I still use that load for reloading myself, 4.6 gr of bullseye behind a 230 gr Lead bullet. I gave him some of my empty brass as thanks.
I have coached new shooters from a competitive team because they obviously needed help to the disgust of my fellow team members till I pointed out they were experienced these guys were green and we were all on the same side wearing the same uniform and wouldn't they nave appreciated the help when they were starting. My whole team jumped in and those boys got an intensive workout before the match.
Shared my lube, my sight black, my stapler, coaching advice if wanted. Rifle and pistol, bullseye and PPC, didn't make any difference. Besides you never know when that shooter might have your back for you when you need it most. If you don't enjoy shooting you have no business on the line and I find most shooters to be very compatible people.
Some snobs and some slobs but nobody is perfect, charity never hurt anybody and it often comes back favorably to you.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!
Me, I would technically label myself as a "pleasure shooter" because I seldomly participate in any competitions due to the nature of my jobs (OTR driver/oilfield) and most of my shooting for fun and practice orient around tin cans, old pie plates, and other junk that can be made into quick impromptu targets.
But then, I shoot and hunt to sustain myself when living out in the middle of nowhere, and that could be labeled as competition, because you are literally competing against the elements. Don't hunt, you'll starve to death. Miss your shots, you'll go more hungry and lose energy to hunt. You'll be surprised just how much the thoughts of food preoccupies your mind when there is none around you.
If I have time though, I would LOVE to participate in N-SSA. I have attended numerous reenactments and N-SSA matches but never had the time to compete and donate to that sport.
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It's all in your head
Any serious competition shooter knows it's all in your head. After all you're trying to get the best score for "you" and the only shot that matters is the one your taking at the present time. That being said; by nature, competition is a personal challenge.
If you're doing it right, you're all alone at the time - no matter how many people are around you!
Any serious competition shooter knows it's all in your head. After all you're trying to get the best score for "you" and the only shot that matters is the one your taking at the present time. That being said; by nature, competition is a personal challenge.
If you're doing it right, you're all alone at the time - no matter how many people are around you!
Totally agreed save the targets!
I can understand keeping the H/V bullets off the CAS range as they would destroy the knockovers. However there are other reasons people don't try CAS.
In our club it's a rare occasion that an outsider gets invited to "try" his or her hand at shooting after a match . However I can only guess that's the nature of this ONE little clique and NOT all CSA compeditors act like that! I watched one fella go through nearly a year of kissin-up , picking up brass and donating hours of time and FINALLY they allowed him to "try" his hand at an after match pratice. I suppose it worked because now they let him play... It was a high price tho!
To tell the truth it has ruined the opnions of several members of the Club who would like to "try" and see if they could do the sport. It's unfortunate that this small group has pretty well locked the door on newbies and are hurting the sport.
This again is an isolated incident but traveling to another Possies club is out of the question to all but a couple members since the next closest range is miles and miles way. I know it's kept me out.
nThe trouble is these are really nice people otherwise but when it comes to being allowed on "this" range they change.
I just shoot my BP revolvers and single actions on the reguar Pistol Range. I would like to try and if I ever get out of area I will definately ask permission somewhere else!
I'd never try to damage targets or otherwise do wrong.
Just like everywhere, it is possible for certain cliques to get in control and sometimes it happens where you shade-up. It's unfortunate...
ZVP
I can understand keeping the H/V bullets off the CAS range as they would destroy the knockovers. However there are other reasons people don't try CAS.
In our club it's a rare occasion that an outsider gets invited to "try" his or her hand at shooting after a match . However I can only guess that's the nature of this ONE little clique and NOT all CSA compeditors act like that! I watched one fella go through nearly a year of kissin-up , picking up brass and donating hours of time and FINALLY they allowed him to "try" his hand at an after match pratice. I suppose it worked because now they let him play... It was a high price tho!
To tell the truth it has ruined the opnions of several members of the Club who would like to "try" and see if they could do the sport. It's unfortunate that this small group has pretty well locked the door on newbies and are hurting the sport.
This again is an isolated incident but traveling to another Possies club is out of the question to all but a couple members since the next closest range is miles and miles way. I know it's kept me out.
nThe trouble is these are really nice people otherwise but when it comes to being allowed on "this" range they change.
I just shoot my BP revolvers and single actions on the reguar Pistol Range. I would like to try and if I ever get out of area I will definately ask permission somewhere else!
I'd never try to damage targets or otherwise do wrong.
Just like everywhere, it is possible for certain cliques to get in control and sometimes it happens where you shade-up. It's unfortunate...
ZVP