The best thing about International Shooting Competition (lots of photos)

[RandyD]

Originally Posted by ChampCarStar

We hope to have our range at LAR&R back to full operation and hosting matches in 2021. Hopefully, we'll see you out there.

I am assuming LAR&R shut down due to Covid?

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by EBR Works

Thank you for this! It's important to foster international relations..

I did the best I could.

Before I got heavily into international competition, I only spoke English.

Now I can get by with my French and German. My Italian and Dutch are a little bit worse.

Being able to speak the language comes in handy with the ladies.

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by RandyD

I am assuming LAR&R shut down due to Covid?

We were shut down as the range is in LA county.

All group activities such as large matches with multiple competitors were canceled for 2020. Our junior program is shuttered at the moment.

Some members that have access still go out there to shoot occasionally, but social distancing and mask wearing is required.

I myself have not been out to the range at LAR&R since February.

[ChampCarStar]

Women's Team from Hungary









The Horvath Twins from Hungary

[ChampCarStar]

Our friends to the North....Canada

[EBR Works]

Originally Posted by ChampCarStar

"Oh Canada" .. I lost my train of thought. What were we talking aboot?

[ChampCarStar]

More Germans

[ChampCarStar]

More Americans

[ChampCarStar]

Of course I miss representing the Red, White, and Blue.

[ChampCarStar]

More Americans

[JohnnyMtn]

Thanks OP for this epic thread. Keep it going if you can. It’s such a breath of fresh air.

Do any of these high performance shooters enjoy regular firearms shooting? As in, do any of these shooters just like to go to the range and shoot steel? Or is it more like, no, you spend all day practicing that shooting regular guns for a pastime is the last thing you want to do.

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by JohnnyMtn

Thanks OP for this epic thread. Keep it going if you can. It’s such a breath of fresh air.

Do any of these high performance shooters enjoy regular firearms shooting? As in, do any of these shooters just like to go to the range and shoot steel? Or is it more like, no, you spend all day practicing that shooting regular guns for a pastime is the last thing you want to do.

We definitely enjoy shooting regular stuff, especially here in the USA.

Typically in the 18 months preceding the Olympics we'll be focused on our shooting to give us the best chance of qualifying for the Olympic Games, but there is such a thing as over training and burnout.

So it's a good idea to just have some fun once in a while without worrying about score or representing your country.

It's harder for some of my friends in other countries with stricter gun control laws. For some of them, they Olympic rifles might be the only rifles they can shoot. But in Switzerland and Austria and the Czech Republic they can shoot the same stuff we enjoy here in the USA.

I would take a break and go to my local indoor range, but each time I would go the guys that work there would always ask why I didn't bring any of the girls with me. lol

[ChampCarStar]

More photos from around the world

[ChampCarStar]

Time for some more photos.

Photo day at TCU

[ChampCarStar]

Some more photos of the lighter side of things.

My old friend Sarah

[ysr_racer]

OP, you're smoking hot, but who's that dork in most of the pictures?

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by ysr_racer

OP, you're smoking hot, but who's that dork in most of the pictures?

Just a person that had a lot of fun.

[MarikinaMan]

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[divingin]

Originally Posted by Surf & Turf

I guess I can't use my Ruger 10/22?....

Odds are, if you want to try your hand at a local match (non-sanctioned), you'd be allowed to shoot it, but you'd have to limit yourself to one round in the gun at any time.

Same is true of free pistol matches (where you're limited to a single shot .22RF pistol; no longer an Olympic sport, BTW) - a guy I know shot a match with a S&W Model 41, loading a single round in each of his magazines.

Most of the local Int'l matches tend to try and get more participation rather than less.

[pzbike]

Best Calguns thread ever!!!

Many years ago I was a backcountry Nordic Ski Patroller. I had the opportunity to go skate ski the Biathlon course, at Soda Springs. No rifle. I skied it high perceived exertion. Hard to imagine squeezing off multiple rounds, accurately, under those conditions. Biathletes are Super Human!!!

Thanks OP!!!!

[BB1776]

Yes, best thread ever. Thank you so much for sharing. The joy of this sport is evident in every picture. Thank you for representing our country. It must be killing you not to be doing this right now.

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by pzbike

Best Calguns thread ever!!!

Many years ago I was a backcountry Nordic Ski Patroller. I had the opportunity to go skate ski the Biathlon course, at Soda Springs. No rifle. I skied it high perceived exertion. Hard to imagine squeezing off multiple rounds, accurately, under those conditions. Biathletes are Super Human!!!

Thanks OP!!!!

My pleasure.

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by BB1776

Yes, best thread ever. Thank you so much for sharing. The joy of this sport is evident in every picture. Thank you for representing our country. It must be killing you not to be doing this right now.

You're very welcome.

I had retired at the end of last year, so I wasn't going to be travelling as much but I was going to still do some coaching and shooting locally.

So for the first 3-4 months of the year I did basically zero shooting as I was just trying to get used to my new normal. I had no big desire to go to any shooting range and do any shooting.

I was actually planning on traveling back to Europe just as a tourist to visit some of my friends over there.....most of them being female friends of course.

Then the virus came and the Governor shut everything down. The shooting ranges local to me also shut down for several months.

It's one thing to not want to go out and do something when it's your choice. But when the government took that choice away from me....I wasn't going to have any of it.

Since my local ranges have reopened I kind of went crazy buying non-competition rifles and pistols. I even got a COE and a 03FFL C&R License so I can cash and carry 50+ year old firearms.

And I am staring to dust off my competition stuff and thinking about coming back to competing.

[BB1776]

I’m glad you are thinking about getting back into it. I would if I were you! It looks like a ton of fun. A couple quick questions—

What ammo do you use specifically (.177 and .22) and what specific kinds are used by most shooters?

Also, why do they use such small calibers? Is it because many countries don’t have many options? Have they ever used bigger calibers over longer ranges?

Also, have you won any medals and, if so, let’s see some podium pics!

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by BB1776

I’m glad you are thinking about getting back into it. I would if I were you! It looks like a ton of fun. A couple quick questions—

What ammo do you use specifically (.177 and .22) and what specific kinds are used by most shooters?

Also, why do they use such small calibers? Is it because many countries don’t have many options? Have they ever used bigger calibers over longer ranges?

Also, have you won any medals and, if so, let’s see some podium pics!

We use match grade .22LR (Eley, Lapua, or RWS) for 50 meter rifle and high quality .177 calliber lead pellets for 10 meter air rifle. The brand you use depends on what your rifle may like. The match grade .22LR, until recently, was typically more expensive than a lot of centerfire pistol cartridges.

I talk a little bit about the rifles and ammo in some of my older threads:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1622456

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/....php?t=1636515

The Olympic shooting events used to involve different guns and at different distances.

Shooting has been part of the modern Olympics since the first modern games in 1896. A lot of the events were envisioned as a gathering of the most skilled military officers of the world to test their skills in friendly competition.

Many people don't remember that General George S. Patton competed in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm. He participated in Modern Pentathlon, a combination of shooting, swimming, running, fencing and horseback riding.

So for the shooting events many of the participants would simply use the issued Service Pistol or Rifle of their country's Army.

For a long time the premiere rifle shooting event was 300 Meter rifle (about 328 yards). For this you could use just about any centerfire rifle caliber that was available. The last time 300 meter rifle was contested at the Olympics was 1972 in Munich.

Some of the early events actually had the competitors shooting at live animals. Running Target is an old Olympic Event in which you would shoot at a moving target.

As time went on the sport had to evolve with changing politics and venues. Many shooting events were dropped and replaced with other sports. Shooting just isn't a popular sport that draws viewers the way the other sports do. In fact, a few more shooting events were dropped after the 2016 Rio Olympics to make room for new Olympics events like surfing and rock climbing. I only hope shooting will still be around for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, unless the mayor of LA and the Governor of CA pressure the International Olympic Committee to drop all shooting events.

I've won a few medals regionally and at nationals. I have a silver medal from an international competition in Dublin, Ireland. But this thread really isn't about me.

[Scalgun]

I have wood.

[ChampCarStar]

Even with all the COVID-19 restrictions, it's nice to see the NCAA rifle season underway.

[ChampCarStar]

It's been a while.

Here's some more to brighten everyone's day!

Hail West Virginia.

[ChampCarStar]

Happy Christmas!!!

from Switzerland

[johnnyh75]

Very awesome thank you for sharing and representing the USA

[sbo80]

I've missed this thread before now, well done. Seems I missed my calling, but nice to see so many young people into any shooting sports at all.

Originally Posted by pzbike

I skied it high perceived exertion. Hard to imagine squeezing off multiple rounds, accurately, under those conditions. Biathletes are Super Human!!!

I recommend watching the Paralympics biathlon. Those people take it to a whole other level - most roll in a wheelchair all day, but they pull themselves around the course with their arms only, basically on a sled, and then hold up a rifle to shoot.

[splithoof]

What age are most of these young ladies?....I can figure that the USAR shooter is at least 18, but the rest?

[socal m1 shooter]

Great thread, OP, many thanks...

Do you ever shoot service rifle? Or just them expensive Walthers?

[ChampCarStar]

Most of these shooters are 18 to 23. A lot of them are college kids that shoot for NCAA rifle teams.

A lot of foreign shooters come to the USA to get an education and shoot in the NCAA. West Virginia is known for having very good shooters from Europe come and shoot for their program.

You start to see fewer shooters, male and female, once they get out of college. Up to that point most shooting is paid for by parents or school they attend. Then comes graduation and having to get a job and join the real world.

But there is an entire junior division in the ISSF and we have shooters as young as 13 years old participating in international events.

[ChampCarStar]

Originally Posted by socal m1 shooter

Great thread, OP, many thanks...

Do you ever shoot service rifle? Or just them expensive Walthers?

SocalM1Shooter, I do indeed.

Just wasn't able to get out to any big Service Rifle matches in 2020.

[socal m1 shooter]

Originally Posted by ChampCarStar

SocalM1Shooter, I do indeed.

Just wasn't able to get out to any big Service Rifle matches in 2020.

That is cool, you have a lot of pics, if you have some more showing proper service rifle positions, do us a kindness and post what seems good to you.

[splithoof]

Originally Posted by ChampCarStar

Most of these shooters are 18 to 23. A lot of them are college kids that shoot for NCAA rifle teams.

A lot of foreign shooters come to the USA to get an education and shoot in the NCAA. West Virginia is known for having very good shooters from Europe come and shoot for their program.

You start to see fewer shooters, male and female, once they get out of college. Up to that point most shooting is paid for by parents or school they attend. Then comes graduation and having to get a job and join the real world.

But there is an entire junior division in the ISSF and we have shooters as young as 13 years old participating in international events.

Makes total sense.
As I get older, they all look younger.

Hitting those small targets, especially after physical exertion, is really hard. That young folks have most of the talent is to be expected. I’m sure that a number of them continue in their shooting endeavors, becoming coaches, sponsors, etc.
I’d also bet that most all are upstanding citizens throughout life as well.
Thank you for reminding us that there is still hope in future generations!

[Subotai]

Freedom boner!

[smoothy8500]

Originally Posted by ChampCarStar

SocalM1Shooter, I do indeed.

Just wasn't able to get out to any big Service Rifle matches in 2020.

Santa Margarita Gun Club is doing monthly XTC and prone midrange matches on MCB Camp Pendleton.

https://www.smgunclub.org/wordpress/...dates-2021.pdf
https://www.smgunclub.org/

[rdfact]

This has been a great thread.
However I have been patiently awaiting the thread where ChampCarStar tells us he was a former race car driver too.