Do you compete, why not?

[mortman]

Hi,
I usually post next week to promote Deadwood Boys Action Pistol. But it occurred to me to ask this question of you guys.

Competition really brings out your skills and flaws. It is the best teacher out there. I mean going to the range and banging away ("one shot per second, please") is good for basic handling skills and safe habits.

But, doesn't it get old? How good are you? You don't know until you are shooting against a bunch of other competitors, on the run with the adrenaline pumping!

Once you start this, you will be back. You also get to spend the rest of the day on the range practicing. And once you have competed, you will know what to practice.

I am not here to challenge you guys or start any pissing contest, just want you to explore a different avenue of handgun ownership.

By the way: check it out http://www.deadwoodboys.org/

Hope to see you there someday. We specialize in noobs (first timers); you will be comfortable your first time out.
Thanks,
M.

[Foriegn power]

I do want to head out, but always my budget comes into mind. What is the expense in competing? I wanted to try out the action pistol match? Fill me in on more info on it. I was going to go back in april but something came up, whens the next date?

[iareConfusE]

Expense is what holds me back the most. If competitions were free to enter I'd probably attend more often. Oh and distance/location. I hate driving.

[NorCal Einstein]

I don't compete, but I REALLY want to get introduced to it. The thing stopping me has been my total lack of knowledge to the realm. Gotta find a way in!

[mortman]

drider

Hi,
$20, breakfast and lunch available from a professional cook, and like I said, the range is yours to use the rest of the day. Punch the link.
-M

Sat. July 9

[fullrearview]

I've done IDPA and I love it... The problem for me is, I play so many other sports, I would have to drop at least one of them, or just do it in the off seasons I have.

[Peter.Steele]

I did a 3-gun match last year for the first time. It was some of the most fun I've ever had with a weapon in my hand. Did fairly well, too - I was one of only a few non-LE / non-soldier participants. The top group had times in the 200-300 second range, and I was near the top of the middle group at ~556 seconds. (I was happy with my score, for aesthetic reasons, if nothing else. ) I'd love to do compete more, but there's really nothing in the Madera / Fresno area, so far as I know.

[HighLander51]

Competitive shooting is far cheaper than golf. It only gets expensive when you go every Saturday and Sunday, shoot all different venues, USPSA/IDPA/Steel Challenge & USPSA Multi gun and outlaw 3 gun, then do 4-6 big matches a year. ($250 and up entry).
Figure the average pistol match fee is $30 (DeadWood is below cost), gas, food, 200 rounds of new ammo, you are in for just about $100. Of course that doesn't include start up cost, gun, holster, mag pouches, extra mags, belt, electric ears,etc.

And there are matches all over SoCal, Piru is just one location.

Bakersfield, Apple Valley, Prado, Norco, West End, Pala, Oceanside, Palm Springs, Gopher Flats, and some non-sanctioned club level matches such as Corona.

Shooting from behind a bench, at a static target target, only tells you that the gun runs and locates the point of impact, but it doesn't teach you how to shoot very quickly and accurately.

[shooting4life]

I would like to but at this point cost of ammo and distance from my residence is a major concern. I would like to do icore or some other revolver match. I have the appropriate gun/holster but still need moon clip holders and what not.
Also not knowing anyone that already does it kind of holds me back or stops me from really trying to start.

[Steyrlp10]

I'm a Bullseye competitor, but will be trying IDPA in a few weeks. Of course, I had to turn in a "grocery list" for ammo

I don't mind precision shooting for 2 hours, but learning IDPA makes sense with the reduced police force in my town.

[hkdad]

it's not just about shooting and getting better with your skills. you also meet a lot of awesome people and gain a lot of awesome friends! i've tried a lot of sports, but the shooters community is one of the best if not the best community out there.

[mortman]

hk

what hk said.
-M.

[tbhracing]

Me- Fireman olympics in 2+ weeks.

[jakuda]

I compete in bullseye, and want to focus on that for a while before I venture in to action pistol. In general, whether it's bullseye, IDPA, USPSA, or any competitive activity, people are afraid or not willing to compete because of a combination of:

1) fear of looking like a newbie
2) don't want to commit to time and training to be good for competitions
3) worried that one must spend lots of $$$$ to have fun or be competitive
4) don't know where to even begin to compete
5) related to #4, doesn't know anyone competing so doesn't want to go to competitions alone with no friends around.

however:
1) everyone looks like a newbie their first time. Even the high masters (or grand masters in action shooting)
2) it's not the quantity of practice, but quality of practice
3) 99% of the time, it's your trigger finger that's causing bad scores, not the equipment. People have shot master and high-master scores for years with a $300 22cal Ruger with iron sights.
4) don't be lazy. If you really wanted to compete, you can use Google
5) Competitors are friendly and willing to help a newbie. Are you really afraid of potentially doing something alone?

[unusedusername]

I live in the bay area and I don't like waking up before noon on my days off.

If there were challenges that are both nearby and in evenings then I would be game...