our sport faces is an entry level or the lack of one. I realize that it is very difficult to run a true factory class, been there, done that but still, I have always thought we could all benefit by having some sort of entry level for folks to get started and or give it a try. Of course, there is nothing that prevents folks from just showing up and shooting what they brung. Ain't a lot of fun though.
Joe Haller use to run a true factory class in which he had a strict claiming rule. I suppose that could be troublesome as well. Mebby why what we got is what we got?
Pete
Pete, I think I briefly met you down at Kettlefoot this past summer at the Nationals. Weren't you with Keith for the Champs of Champs or whatever they called those matches? Anyway, good to meet you.
My issue with what you mentioned is not so much the need for separating these matches by class, but why don't people just shoot what they have? Why can't you bring your CZ, Anschutz, Winchester, Remington or whatever you have and shoot the thing? Nothing against it in the rules if you use the proper rests.
Not smart enough to come up with psychological reasons people act the way they do, but can't understand why someone would be afraid to shoot what they have against custom rifles. Did it for years and had a blast. Told this story to someone once, but it pretty much defines how I feel about this "entry level class" dilemma. Was at the Mid Atlantic Regionals down at Kettlefoot a couple of years ago. My buddy calls me and asks how I'm doing. Tell him I've got Fred Sears on one side of me, Chuck Morrell on the other. One leads the ARA standings, the other leads the PSL standings. Both are trying to figure out what ammo to use when they go to St Louis. And I'm sitting there shooting a gun that costs $400! But, you know what, I finished ahead of people who used custom guns! Just not Fred or Chuck
Point is, people get intimidated I suppose. But personally don't understand why. Would be nice if people weren't so focused on the whole "I want to win or I won't compete" thing. First match I ever shot in was the Indoor Nationals. Took the peep sights off a gun, stuck on a scope and away I went. My buddy brought his Winchester, I took an Anschutz. No tuners, no nothing. And we had a blast! Just don't understand people that won't go try this out with what they have on hand.
One nice thing that Bill Hinegardner used to do when he ran matches. And this goes back to what Keith mentioned earlier...Went to matches and would be sitting there waiting until I could shoot my gun in 13.5. Bill would ask why wasn't I shooting and I'd say it's because my gun is too heavy or didn't qualify due to whatever reason. Was shooting a Win 52C at that match... Anyway, Bill told me to get the gun up to the line and shoot the darn thing. No need to sit there and just watch. And no, my scores didn't count, but at least I got to shoot a little and had some fun for a few minutes instead of just sitting there on my hands. Loved that the guys at those matches tried to include me. Made me want to come back.
Compare to recently...me and a couple of friends went to a match. We couldn't shoot three gun, just 10 shot and UL. But we asked if we could just draw benches and set up our stuff. No issues with that. Next we asked if we could just hang a practice target and mess around while the other people shot their matches. No issues with that. It was fun! We didn't just have to sit there and waste time. Made the trip over to the match worth it. No, we didn't get up and down or go back and forth from the bench. Just sat there and shot a few shots when we felt like it. And nothing counted towards anything.
Yet, someone got butt hurt about it. Maybe it's against the rules? I don't know. But we're not allowed to do that anymore. We sit for two hours and watch four or five people say "Look at me, I shoot sporter! I shoot three gun. Yay me!" Personally don't care if they do. It's neat that there are classes in IR and there is a rich history of sporter and three gun. But for newcomers, and the majority of the rest of us in this game, it can get boring just sitting there waiting to shoot a few cards for score. But again, if that's what the people want, then it's fine. I don't make the rules so can't complain. But when the debate of what to do to get people into this comes along, I'd recommend that maybe do as Keith mentioned. Let the people who come at least shoot their guns. It wouldn't be scored for record, but at least it gives them a reason to come to a match and see what it's about.
But again, I don't know. Maybe its just the simple fact that this is expensive and that's what keeps most away from getting into it.
JMO
Kenny
