Topic: Whats your reason for not shooting competition?

[tgibson]

If you think you think you have a good reason for not shooting completions, you need to read this.
http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=16637&fb_source=message

Adios
TG

[No-One]

My only excuse is time . I decided that when my Daughters reached a certain age that it was their time and not mine anymore . When I have seen them off to college it will be my time again and I will be able to pick up gear and head back to the range . The simple truth of the matter is that I get so much enjoyment out of watching my kids participate in their chosen sports/activities that I do not miss the time I used to spend shooting competitively and hunting

[Jaggy13]

This is the one I hear the most.

I am a tactical shooter and “gun-games” lead to bad habits.

If you really are an “operator” then you already know that you’ll get out of it what you choose too. No more, no less. Consider that the Army Marksmanship Unit AMU fields teams in many shooting sports and tasks those team members with bringing back the best competition proven firearm techniques and teaching it to the the troops. Consider too, that many law enforcement agencies and various elite military groups employ our country’s top action shooters to teach them high-speed shooting skills.

[luvmy45]

Family... that's a valid excuse, especially as they reach the teenage year's and develop their own life outside of mom and dad...I'm hoping the seed has been planted and my kids will want to goto the range as their activity.

The one I hear is:
"I am not good enough or I want to get better before I start.
Nothing beats experience and the only way to gain experience in the shooting sports is to begin. If you understand the basics of trigger control and sight alignment and are mindful of the rules of gun safety then you are ready already!"

Yeah, enough said... It's new years time, get off your butt and go shoot one of the shooting sports, shotgun, pistol, rifle, it doesn't matter, just get off your butts and go do it.

[donm]

Money is also a biggy. Even if you reload it costs a lot to shoot. Big events are big entry fees if you don't think you are good enough to win anything. Big events would be fun to shoot but you can shoot a lot of local matches for what it costs for a big match. I'm coming along slow but sure and I don't think I'm ready for any kind of big match yet. Even to get started in local matches you need the proper gear and that is not real cheap. As you progress you want better guns, better gear, more reloading equipment and supplies. I have given up a lot of other stuff to get what I have so far. Do I think it is worth it? Yes. I have meet a lot of really nice people and I'm having a lot of fun. It makes yo feel good to see yourself progress at something.

[han_cholo]

I've got the gear, ammo, and funds, but my work schedule doesn't allow it right now.  Being low man on the totem pole in a .gov 24/7 operation I'll be working weekends for quite some time.  It doesn't stop me from getting in range training sessions and dry fire practice on my days off.  But I really do miss competing.  Great group of folks to compete with here in The Gem State. 

[Kcboats]

Work eats up my time...especially since I travel all of the time so when I am home I spend it with fam.  Also , to be honest, don't enjoy it...love shooting (whistle pigs, target with buds) just never enjoyed competition.

[RevolverLove]

I don't have a reason not to! The last 18 months I have only shot IDPA and some steel Challenge. I'm starting to branch out into USPSA when I can.
Obviously I'm not afraid of people laughing because I started with a revolver!! Talk about being the red headed kid!

So the only reason I don't shoot every single match every weekend is simply time/scheduling/other activities.

When I'm not in a match I am doing dry fire and live fire at the range so I'm still shooting every week.

I don't own an AR or shotgun yet. But I can my time is coming.

[Jeff]

My cat-like reflexes allow me to shoot like a god.  But I'm too modest to do it in public.  I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. 

[XDMHMMWV]

Lack of range money.
Most especially time.
I can't make millions if I don't put time in at the shop

[ekuo]

Steel Challenge is dirt cheap to shoot.  A .22 pistol, 100-150 rnds of ammo, and a few mags.  Don't even need a holster in rimfire division. 

Oh, we have a match coming up at Nampa in the 21st....  $5/shooter ( free for first time shooters)

[luvmy45]

Jeff... rumor has it your a really good shooter, love you see you out there sometime. :-) Maybe for the 1911 Match??

Steel Challenge can be shot during the week on Monday nights during the spring and summer, and you can do it with 22 pistol or rifle range fees are cheap. $10 to shoot a match. In fact most of the matches it's free for 1st time shooters.

Nobody says you have to do a major match, however, beginner don't compete against the big boys, your in your own division... Don, you came darn close to winning your 3g division on NYD  Local matches are where it is at, and no one is saying you need to do it every weekend... heck once a quarter and you'll be a better shooter, once a month and you'll see huge improvements in your shooting skills.

I understand the work thing, it gets in my way as well, last year it was for the big matches.. but oh well, the local matches are a lot of fun too.

KC, this isn't some fierce competition, if you haven't tried a shooting sport, give one a shot, it's more about how well you do compared to yourself, watching other do it gives you a better idea how to improve, and everyone wants to help others so talking about different ways to shoot it is half the fun!

You don't need high speed low drag gear, everyone should have a good holster, and if you do, 99% of them will work for competition, you all have mag carriers right? if not $15 and you can get an uncle mikes double. The high speed stuff is fine if that's what you want to do, but the XD gear that comes with an XD is plenty good eoungh for IDPA or USPSA.

Ok, who's next.. I got an answer for any of it.  You know what I think the biggest obstacle is for shooting competitoin? Ego No one wants to look the fool in front of their internet friends. Get over it, if Jaggy can face plant on a stage and laugh it off, so can you 

[ekuo]

Steel Challenge can be shot during the week on Monday nights during the spring and summer, and you can do it with 22 pistol or rifle range fees are cheap. $10 $5to shoot a match. In fact most of the matches it's free for 1st time shooters.

Fixed it for ya

[ida83704]

.22LRTR Tactical Precision matches are mega dirt cheap to shoot.
$10 entry fee, max round count is 130 rounds of .22 rimfire


from 40  to 250 yards (300 yards optional) with a .22 rifle.

April to October at Parma


Several  Mile shooters are shooting these matches, btw

[Nealio]

No one wants to look the fool in front of their internet friends. Get over it, if Jaggy can face plant on a stage and laugh it off, so can you  

Or grab a handful of shot shells and proceed to sprinkle them all over the ground like he is feeding the ducks

[High Wall]

Years ago I shot high power and some rifle silhouette with the Alaska Rifle Club, then IHMSA in AK, then down here.  Shot lots of trap.  Fees kept increasing as time went on and I realized one day that I didn't like paying fees to shoot all that much.  Plus I don't like being around a lot of people with loaded guns.

[luvmy45]

Well, this ain't AK, match fees are CHEAP here in Idaho. I think the most expensive sport shooting you can do is Sporting Clays, they probably have the highest fee for a round of clays.

I will say, when at an organized shooting event... people with guns don't bother me... we weed out the chaf pretty quick, if someone is acting or doing something stupid with a gun in their hand... their gone, and if they come back and do it again, they would be asked to not come back. Can't do that on public property.

It's not like going out to the George Nurse range or our Pleasant Valley, this is a very controlled environment. And except or IDPA in Parma where we run a hot range, all the other matches are cold, meaning guns are not loaded unless your the shooter.

And we will keep saying this... ITS FREE THE FIRST TIME!!!!

[High Wall]

I will say, when at an organized shooting event... people with guns don't bother me... we weed out the chaf pretty quick, if someone is acting or doing something stupid with a gun in their hand...

It was a jest, hence the gay little winky smiley thing at the end.

And we will keep saying this... ITS FREE THE FIRST TIME!!!!

Yep, same thing the meth dealer says.   (Note the smiley)

[dvc]

kcboats has a valid point...  Some people don't care for competition.  No amount of prodding will get them there and may even push them away.  They do lose the camaraderie, free advice, everything mentioned in this thread, but it isn't in their nature to compete.   Nothing wrong with that.  They are still shooters, still supporting our rights, still supporting the firearms economy.   FWIW, I have been to matches where I felt like an outcast or I wasn't wanted there.     

We have a bunch of good people in the local shooting community.  Competitors and non-competitors.

'scuse me while I fill out my Glock's Only entry form...

dvc

[luvmy45]

It was a jest, hence the gay little winky smiley thing at the end.

Yep, same thing the meth dealer says.   (Note the smiley)

You know, I was going to say the same thing... shooting's just like drugs... the first always one's free

I forgot my emoticon's on my reply...I'm with ya   

[agunforeachhand]

My wife works full time and has school full time, I have 3 young kids most of the time alone. When I don't have them I have to make this stuff called money to pay for this so called "dream"......Someday BK you will see me out there though..........just don't know when 

[SEVERED]

I have shot 20k+ in competition trap and could hold my own. But it got to be where it wasnt any fun anymore, people took it to serious and I called it done and walked away. Now I spend most of my time working on my truck and going to car shows. As for rifle and pistol I dont have enough time to do everything I am doing now so im not going to add anything new right now. I only made it out for whistle pigs three times last year.

[mopeman440]

Tell me about it...time, money, work and living in MH!

 I got three shooters I have to support right now, and hopefully a fourth when she gets older(ie, lots of $$ for ammo and gear). Living in MH restricts us to two to three weekend matches a month($$ and time). The steel challenges in Nampa and Emmett were our thing last summer, and Nicole will still be going with Tuner this summer. We have always gone to the shoot for a cure, it was Nicole's first match and it is what started it for her, and we have a few new shooters going with her this year. This year will be the first year I will not be going. I have also learned how to budget and get the gear we need to shoot. I also learned that the guns sitting in the safe for years weren't doing me any good, so they went bye-bye, and I took the funds and invested them into shooting gear. I have a lot less stuff now, but at least it gets used and we enjoy our time as a family shooting, and that folks is the bottom line for me...

I also have brought out a lot of new shooters out to introduce them to the various shooting sports.

But hey, Nicole and I try to get out with our kids and friends and shoot as much as we can, in the dessert or at the matches.

[dutch1911]

I'm just scurred... 

[onemountain]

My wife works full time and has school full time, I have 3 young kids most of the time alone. When I don't have them I have to make this stuff called money to pay for this so called "dream"......Someday BK you will see me out there though..........just don't know when 

This. Too poor to do it. And the working full time and attending college thing too. If someone were willing to provide ammo and a handgun (not interested in rifle competition) and fundamental instruction for me, then I would gladly try to shoehorn time into my schedule for the embarrassment of coming in dead last in everything shooting related I do  I'm in no way entitled to those things, but at least that'll make it all the sweeter when I can finally earns the means to get them myself.

I'm the competitive type, but would utterly suck in shooting competition, and may well be looked down by a few the jerks that seem to permeate everything. However that's a price I'm willing to pay in full for comaraderie and learning. But even bulk .22lr ammo strains my miniscule budget. Not to mention gas to get around.

Maybe someday I'll get into competition shooting, but it just isn't practical for me right now. Of course, with my damned left shoulder/arm f*cked up right now even shooting my Remmy 597. Even with my inexperience and lack of instruction, I love shooting. I really do. It's fun and challenging and yet one of the most relaxing things I've ever discovered. But I'm not going to live beyond my means to pursue it.

Oh well, right? Life ain't perfect, and so I'm damned thankful for what I do have. No sense dwelling on that which I don't. 

[tgibson]

Ok....this went totally haywire. I didn't think I was going to get a bunch MORE excuses. It was more for entertainment/enjoyment/information than anything. If you don't want to shoot, its fine....just say so....

[High Wall]

Ok....this went totally haywire. I didn't think I was going to get a bunch MORE excuses. It was more for entertainment/enjoyment/information than anything. If you don't want to shoot, its fine....just say so....

I don't want to shoot competitively anymore.


 

[tgibson]

I don't want to shoot competitively anymore.


 

 

[Jesse Tischauser]

The only reason I don't shoot on any given day is that there aren't matches everyday.

[chubbyhubby]

Ok ok I geddit. I've got a 22 conversion for my glock so I want to come play. Steel challenge you say? And if I get a 10/22 for my burfday I can shoot lrtr? Ok that's what I'll ask for then. My beer budget doesn't allow sending too many quarters and half-dollars downrange, but I ain't got no excuse for a box of nickels. Currently work every Saturday, but I can change my schedule. Obviously Saturdays are the big competition days, but someone said Monday nights during the summer? So basically what are the top two days I need off so I can come play with the big dogs?

PS Thanks for starting this conversation. Excuses are like adenoids, we all got em and they all stink.

[chubbyhubby]

Adenoids, WTF. I meant assholes obviously. Damn auto correct. Haha

[charlz]

PS Thanks for starting this conversation. Excuses are like adenoids, we all got em and they all stink.

Adenoids, WTF. I meant assholes obviously. Damn auto correct. Haha

Which is even funnier because your adenoids go away after your teen age years so almost no one has them

[dswickard]

So where are the "Steel Challenges" for 22 and who do we contact for more Info?

Not adverse to getting into competition (or skills improvement) shooting, even for my 9mm, but the locations and first contacts are the stopping points for many a shy person.

[ekuo]

Hi guys,
Our regular Monday evening Steel Challenge matches are currently in hibernation mode for the winter, ad will start the up in the spring.  That said, we hold Steel Challenge on some weekends when the weather is nice. 

The Monday night matches start at 1800 hrs at the NamPa outdoor range. We won't start until mid April or so until it stays lighter longer in the evenings. 

We'll post match info in the Steel Challenge sun forum when we get closer to April.

[ekuo]

Not adverse to getting into competition (or skills improvement) shooting, even for my 9mm, but the locations and first contacts are the stopping points for many a shy person.

Well heck, then consider this an open invitation to come shoot with us at ANY of the matches in the valley.  We have two matches this Saturday in fact: a USPSA Practice pistol match at Nampa and a Long-range Tactical Rifle match at Parma.  Next weekend we'll have an IDPA match at Nampa.

I am the contact for the pistol match at Nampa.  Ida83704 or JMack are the contacts for the LRTR match.  Or come on over to the Shooting Sports subforum, check out the monthly match schedule threads in USPSA / IDPA / Steel Challenge / Miscellaneous subforums, and just show up!  If you have questions, post them!  You'll probably drown in the information overload that everyone will give you if you tell us that you want to start shooting matches.  

Had a guy last month show up at a match intending to just watch.  I wish I noticed him earlier, but didn't until we were shooting our 2nd stage. The conversation went something like:

Me:  "Hi!"
Him:  "Hi, I heard about your match and came by to check it out"
Me: "Did you bring your gun?"  
Him:  "Yes, its in the truck"
Me:  "GO GET IT!"

I think he's shot three matches since then...

We were all new at one point.   Come join us, and I mean that.  

 

[tgibson]

I can honestly say, you will never find a more outgoing, welcoming crowd in any adult sport, than the action shooting sports.  Like Ekuo said, you'll be overwhelmed with info here as well as on the range.  Lots of people willing to give you info/tips when you ask...and when you don't
Adios,
TG