why trigger min. weight?

[Taylor Longfellow]

These may be questions that tactical rifle shooters all know but I am new to this sport but not new to rifle shooting sports. Why do matches require minimum trigger weights? Do all tactical rifle matches require this? If this is the case why would anyone invest in an expensive aftermarket trigger?Do they measure both stages in a 2 stage trigger? Also is there any special reasoning with not allowing rear bags or supports?And when a match says that you can use a glove for support does it have to be a true shooting glove or can it be any glove or wrap? When a match says it is ok to use a sling does it have to be a tactical sling or can it be a high power type sling?Is there a minumum caliber and if so why?In a bolt action match can one use a gas gun that has the gas shut off or no gas system on the gun and use it as a straight pull gun like they do in England?Do they have a weight limit on the rifles?Is there any restrictions on the optics that can be used on the rifles?I am going to start shooting this disipiline and would like to get as much info as possible to lessen some of the learning curve.

[StraightShooter]

Holy Crap, thats a lot of questions.

These may be questions that tactical rifle shooters all know but I am new to this sport but not new to rifle shooting sports. Why do matches require minimum trigger weights?I know certain matches state you cannot have a trigger weight less than x amount of lbs/ozs for safety reasons. Tactical shooting involves a lot of movement and dropping a rifle with a light trigger and bad things can happen Do all tactical rifle matches require this?NO If this is the case why would anyone invest in an expensive aftermarket trigger? Overtravel, creep adjustment and being able to adjust it to right above the minimum weightDo they measure both stages in a 2 stage trigger? NoAlso is there any special reasoning with not allowing rear bags or supports? Match directors preference, no bags make things a little more challenging and helps things not turn into a benchrest matchAnd when a match says that you can use a glove for support does it have to be a true shooting glove or can it be any glove or wrap?Usually can be any glove and some let you wrap a rag or shamaugh type somethign or other around your hand if you want When a match says it is ok to use a sling does it have to be a tactical sling or can it be a high power type sling?In tactical bolt rifle matches you can typically use any slingIs there a minumum caliber and if so why?sometimes, too big of calibers can tear up steel and too small of calibers wont make it to longer ranges and spoting hits can become impossibleIn a bolt action match can one use a gas gun that has the gas shut off or no gas system on the gun and use it as a straight pull gun like they do in England? Sometimes, again match directors preferenceDo they have a weight limit on the rifles?Not that I have seenIs there any restrictions on the optics that can be used on the rifles?Yeah, no BSA,ATN,OR TASCO crapI am going to start shooting this disipiline and would like to get as much info as possible to lessen some of the learning curve. Thats what were here for. Welcome.

[Taylor Longfellow]

StraightShooter
Thanks for the info.In tactical matches there is movement with the rifle loaded in battery?Isnt that be more unsafe than a light trigger? But then again in pistol and 3 gun matches we run with load guns in battery with light triggers with no problems.Do most matches spend alot of time shooting prone?If a shooter wraps something around his hand would that not be pretty close to the same thing as a bag? Are the rules and scoring the same from match to match or some what the same?

[rksimple]

StraightShooter
Thanks for the info.In tactical matches there is movement with the rifle loaded in battery? NO. Bolt open and to the rear. Isnt that be more unsafe than a light trigger? But then again in pistol and 3 gun matches we run with load guns in battery with light triggers with no problems. Do most matches spend alot of time shooting prone? Some do, some don't. If a shooter wraps something around his hand would that not be pretty close to the same thing as a bag? Close, but not quite. If one doesn't like the MD's rules, don't show up to the match. Are the rules and scoring the same from match to match or some what the same? Somewhat the same. Some MD's score CBS's more than others, some have stages where some things are worth more than others, etc. If it were all the same it'd get a little boring.

Good luck!

[wildcard]

Does "why" really matter? It is what it is. Just take the time to read through the rules of each match.

BUT you can try pleading your case to the match directors. Tell them:

• You can use a single-shot semi in England
• You can use rear bags at other matches
• 2oz triggers are perfectly safe
• There shouldn't be a limit on calibers and velocity
• There should be more prone

We should be allowed to use everything we bring! Why can't I use a tripod instead of bipod?! Why can't I use shooting sticks when shooting off-hand?! And why on God's green earth can I not use my laser range finder for ranging excercises?!

[Vu 308]

LOL you can plead but most likely all of it will be ignored. Like Ryan has said..if you don't like the game..you don't have to play.

BUT you can try pleading your case to the match directors. Tell them:
You can use a single-shot semi in England
(we are in the US OF A)
You can use rear bags at other matches
LOL.....I agree on this one but Mark is anti rear bag and I will play by his rules at his house.
2oz triggers are perfectly safe
LOL.
There shouldn't be a limit on calibers and velocity
As long as its not my steel...why not...1/2" AR plate is cheap these days. LOL
There should be more prone
Then it would be boring. =)

We should be allowed to use everything we bring! Why can't I use a tripod instead of bipod?! Why can't I use shooting sticks when shooting off-hand?! And why on God's green earth can I not use my laser range finder for ranging excercises?!

If you used shooting sticks it wouldn't be off hand. It would be from a supported firing postion =) Besides a sling works just as well if you know how to shoot off hand.

Silly wabbit..LRFs are for kids. Ryan needs to put on a ranging class..8 out of 10...that is impressive.

Bottom line is the Tactical/Practical LR Precisoin game is dynamic. Each range presents it's own set of problems. Each match director likes to add his own flavor and own set of problems for the competitors to solve.

Kurt, Twolf, Mark, and all do lil different things to keep you guys (the shooters) on your toes.

But next year...we might let you guys use LRFs..however becareful what you wish for LOL LOL. =)

[Vu 308]

LOL by the way Jason..in our after actions.. I had several people askin to not shoot next to a JP brake ever again.....and they are changing their last names so they dont have to shoot next to Chan.

[Novadesigns]

Bottom line is the Tactical/Practical LR Precisoin game is dynamic. Each range presents it's own set of problems. Each match director likes to add his own flavor and own set of problems for the competitors to solve.

Kurt, Twolf, Mark, and all do lil different things to keep you guys (the shooters) on your toes.

And this is exactly what keeps me coming to the matches. I learn and get better from the challenge. Winning is great, sure. But for me the best part is the experience and seeing my shooting improve over time.

[StraightShooter]

StraightShooter
Thanks for the info.In tactical matches there is movement with the rifle loaded in battery?Sometimes but minimally, for example just repositioning your body in the prone to shoot a target in another direction and you could bump the trigger enough to make it go off. I have also seen someone where the stage started with the rifle loaded and the shooter behind the rifle, on the buzzer the person jumped down,grabbed the rifle and BOOM it went off sending a chunk of lead into neverland. The SOP is to always move when the bolt is to the rear but people often forget or the MD's are lax on the safety issues. Isnt that be more unsafe than a light trigger? Yes, i believe you are confusing minimum and maximum trigger weight, as far as I know there is no restriction saying your trigger cant be over x amount of pounds. But then again in pistol and 3 gun matches we run with load guns in battery with light triggers with no problems.Do most matches spend alot of time shooting prone? The majority is prone for the longer ranges but at closer ranges there is a lot of positional shootingIf a shooter wraps something around his hand would that not be pretty close to the same thing as a bag? It is, but again thats just Match directors preference. Are the rules and scoring the same from match to match or some what the same? They do vary some, for instance some matches use timers and time plays into the score and some do not, there are no standardized paper targets for this type of match like so the scoring and methods change but they are always stipulated before the match

You are more than welcome to come and watch a match to get the feel for it.

[wildcard]

LOL by the way Jason..in our after actions.. I had several people askin to not shoot next to a JP brake ever again.....and they are changing their last names so they dont have to shoot next to Chan.

I'm sad to announce that the 300WM w/ JP brake has officially been retired. It was fun while it lasted. I swear I got a light concussion when I forgot to put on my ears for two of my own shots. I jumped off the line and got that squared away real quick.

[rksimple]

Bottom line is the Tactical/Practical LR Precisoin game is dynamic. Each range presents it's own set of problems. Each match director likes to add his own flavor and own set of problems for the competitors to solve.

Kurt, Twolf, Mark, and all do lil different things to keep you guys (the shooters) on your toes.

Thats what makes this discipline so interesting to me. I can go to Sacto and shoot LR paper with immediate feedback. Then head to Vegas and get some speed, steel and mover practice. Then have Bill make us shoot out of a dumpster, or portapotty, or out of a trailer being pulled behind a quad. The diversity encountered between all these matches makes for a discipline that doesn't seem to get boring.

[Taylor Longfellow]

WOW- I hope you would reread my first post--
"These may be questions that tactical rifle shooters all know but I am NEW to this sport but not new to rifle shooting sports." "I am going to start shooting this disipiline and would like to get as much info as possible to lessen some of the learning curve."
I asked questions hoping to get some good info,instead I got (except from one poster)was ridiculing remarks.I only mentioned how they shoot an AR-15 in England as straight pull REPEATER to see if it can be done in tactical matches here. I did not mention any piticulare match but was inquireing about all matches in general about some rules that I saw for several matches. Yes I know if I dont like the way the match is set up or run I do not have to attend, but that is not and should not be the reply when asked a question.I asked if prone shooting is done often as I hardly ever shoot prone and my need to work on it,instead the reply was " There should be more prone
Then it would be boring. =)" I also asked if"Is there a minumum caliber and if so why?" with the remark" There shouldn't be a limit on calibers and velocity
As long as its not my steel...why not...1/2" AR plate is cheap these days. LOL"
As far as rear bags go I dont use them but wanted to know what options people were using. Vu, I would have expected something different from you;to answer questions that had been posed by a new shooter,not the posts that you and a couple of other posters sent. I hope this is not how new shooters are treated when they ask questions.You have made it perfectly clear that no help will be given but only ridicule. I am sure I will find the answers elsewhere.
I still hope to see you all at matches shortly ( when I get the rest of my gear squared away).
Taylor
Thank you StraightShooter for the offer and I will.

[rksimple]

I'm sad to announce that the 300WM w/ JP brake has officially been retired. It was fun while it lasted. I swear I got a light concussion when I forgot to put on my ears for two of my own shots. I jumped off the line and got that squared away real quick.

Say it ain't so!

[wildcard]

In all seriousness.. we can type all day and wouln't be able to convey 90% of the message we want. You just have to dive in and experience it to get a real understanding. Read the rules and play by them.. questioning "why" isn't really going to get you anywhere.

The other thing is.. these questions have been asked and answered many times before. Partially our fault for not having a "sticky" and partially yours for not using the "search" function.

[rksimple]

WOW- I hope you would reread my first post--
"These may be questions that tactical rifle shooters all know but I am NEW to this sport but not new to rifle shooting sports." "I am going to start shooting this disipiline and would like to get as much info as possible to lessen some of the learning curve."
I asked questions hoping to get some good info,instead I got (except from one poster)was ridiculing remarks.I only mentioned how they shoot an AR-15 in England as straight pull REPEATER to see if it can be done in tactical matches here. I did not mention any piticulare match but was inquireing about all matches in general about some rules that I saw for several matches. Yes I know if I dont like the way the match is set up or run I do not have to attend, but that is not and should not be the reply when asked a question.I asked if prone shooting is done often as I hardly ever shoot prone and my need to work on it,instead the reply was " There should be more prone
Then it would be boring. =)" I also asked if"Is there a minumum caliber and if so why?" with the remark" There shouldn't be a limit on calibers and velocity
As long as its not my steel...why not...1/2" AR plate is cheap these days. LOL"
As far as rear bags go I dont use them but wanted to know what options people were using. Vu, I would have expected something different from you;to answer questions that had been posed by a new shooter,not the posts that you and a couple of other posters sent. I hope this is not how new shooters are treated when they ask questions.You have made it perfectly clear that no help will be given but only ridicule. I am sure I will find the answers elsewhere.
I still hope to see you all at matches shortly ( when I get the rest of my gear squared away).
Taylor
Thank you StraightShooter for the offer and I will.

Sorry if we all came off a little harsh, but if you'd searched a little, you would have seen we've talked about all of this ad nauseum. Its a sore subject for many, especially match directors.