CDTSA Multigun *Complete. Score info and video on POST 127

I was only referencing IDPA and IPSC as examples of successful gun games using one set of rules.
There are other clubs in Alberta besides Lethbridge and Medicine Hat that shoot 3-gun as well.

There is nothing wrong with grass roots, club-only shoots; I'm not suggesting otherwise.
But, if it is to grow beyond grass roots, it is my belief that a common set of rules is one of the attributes needed.
As much as we all hate to have rules with fun activities, it sets a base expectation of what one can compete with and levels the playing field from one competitor to the next, and one competition to the next.

If a fellow gears up for one particular division, say 'limited' at one match, it would be nice to know he isn't thrown into the 'open' division at the next match or next year running against guys that have stuff that clearly out classes his.

Otherwise, why set up and publish courses of fire? Why bother scoring and why bother with a timer?

If people who organize and run this stuff want to just do what they do and keep truckin' that's cool too.
 
I'm not saying you are wrong, but there aren't enough people attending these events to make a big issue of it now. There are some classes at some competitions and I'm sure as things grow, more will be adopted.

Often it's a stretch for many to get the gear required to compete in three gun as it is (this takes 1000's of dollars). Expecting them to have specific gear can become a problem.

It's all relatively new and things will change over time as it allows.
 
Shibby! said:
I'm not saying you are wrong, but there aren't enough people attending these events to make a big issue of it now. There are some classes at some competitions and I'm sure as things grow, more will be adopted.

Often it's a stretch for many to get the gear required to compete in three gun as it is (this takes 1000's of dollars). Expecting them to have specific gear can become a problem.

It's all relatively new and things will change over time as it allows.
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I like the fact that the CDTSA 3-gun matches are pretty wide open, in terms of the types of gear you can use. Someone mentioned maybe bringing in a "Heavy Metal" class (full powered 30 cal rifles, pump only 12 gauges, 45acp pistols), and funny thing is, I have all that stuff in the cabinet already (before I even went and bought a bunch of specific 3-gun gear).

But if I brought it all to the match one day? I'd still want to shoot it all in the wide "Open Class" that everyone else is shooting in. It's fun to see someone run a wheel gun, pump, and K98K, just because they can, and actually do fairly reasonable.

It can be an object lesson in "It's not the gear, it's the guy running it."

Stevo said:
How many shooters are attending matches in Calgary?
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We had 34 in our last match. That really isn't enough to start segmenting it off into separate categories.
 
We had 34 in our last match. That really isn't enough to start segmenting it off into separate categories.
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Sure it is.

We had 30-40 shooters at each the 7 MP3G matches this year, and well over 100 different shooters all together. We have 5 divisions available but the vast majority of shooters are in 2 of them.

There's a spot for pretty much everyone in the 5 divisions.
 
26-34 for Calgary, I think around 30-45 for Medicine hat, and 45-55 for Lethbridge if I remember correctly.

Its becoming where about 5-10 of us are the same guys at most of all the matches though.
 
Shibby! said:
I'm not saying you are wrong, but there aren't enough people attending these events to make a big issue of it now. There are some classes at some competitions and I'm sure as things grow, more will be adopted.

Often it's a stretch for many to get the gear required to compete in three gun as it is (this takes 1000's of dollars). Expecting them to have specific gear can become a problem.

It's all relatively new and things will change over time as it allows.
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Yeah, I hear you.
The cost of gear is for some, prohibitive and quite daunting.

The way I see it is that for the most part you are unlikely to see brand new, just out of the cellophane shooters taking up 3-gun right away.
I think it is guys (and girls) who have been around the block so to speak, maybe have done some action pistol or SR or CQB type stuff that are going to look at their lock-up of junk and say to themselves "holy crap I've got a lot of bang sticks. I better get using this stuff" that I think is the main draw. These are the 'gun guys' that are able or willing to tweek their gear to fit a class - but they are more likely and willing to mod their gear if there is an established rule book that gives backing to the decision they are going to make - especially if after they tweek that gear, they can travel throughout the province to shoot matches at other clubs.
That certainly plays on my decision to take it beyond a club only activity.
It is these 'veteran' shooters that are going to form a backbone of a sport if it is to get off the ground beyond club specific events.

Back to the new shooters who just shot their first match -maybe they have used their one or two guns that they own and used one or two loaners to get through the course of fire. Maybe after shooting one or two matches they are thinking this is something they want to get into. Well, which gear? What to buy next?

Are the new shooters going to invest in an X dollar gun to shoot a few club matches a year?
How about if they can do two at their club and 6 other matches at other venues in that same year?

In my experience of organizing, directing and shooting IPSC, IDPA, and DCRA Service Conditions, showing up with newly bought kit that is either substandard or just woefully outclassed can be a turn off for new and old competitors alike.
 
grelmar said:
I like the fact that the CDTSA 3-gun matches are pretty wide open, in terms of the types of gear you can use. Someone mentioned maybe bringing in a "Heavy Metal" class (full powered 30 cal rifles, pump only 12 gauges, 45acp pistols), and funny thing is, I have all that stuff in the cabinet already (before I even went and bought a bunch of specific 3-gun gear).

But if I brought it all to the match one day? I'd still want to shoot it all in the wide "Open Class" that everyone else is shooting in. It's fun to see someone run a wheel gun, pump, and K98K, just because they can, and actually do fairly reasonable.

It can be an object lesson in "It's not the gear, it's the guy running it."



We had 34 in our last match. That really isn't enough to start segmenting it off into separate categories.
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BOOM!
+1 for Grelmar.
This is a big reason why things are done they way they are....(I dont think everyone should be IDPA/IPSC to play)
And yes, limited class is going byebye
I want to swap it out with heavy metal class unless someone that suggest a different class that appeals to the people that actually come and shoot these matches.
 
For some of us its just the fun factor rather than winning or losing. We like the local club(atmosphere) matches and don't really care about following a bunch of rules. Shot IPSC back in the day and found there was just too many classes and too many rules. You had to almost buy your way to the top. Our organizers have enough work to do putting these matches on without the hassle of a bunch of different classes to worry about too. As for our shooters being turned off at being outclassed. I doubt it. We get more shooters every match. Being an old timer, I enjoy watching the new young fellows improving at every match and league nights. If they really start getting serious, then they can get into IPSC. I hear Cowboy is even getting very IPSCish lately taking some of the fun and comeradrie out of it. That's the beauty of our club matches. The emphases is on having a great time and less on winning or having the best gear. Sure there will always be a few shooters who concentrate on winning but the rest of us are just there to enjoy and socialize.
 
That's all well and good.
As I said, I have zero issues with club matches and the format is what it is.
The discussion turned to growing the sport outside of the CDTSA and helping to develop 3-gun in Alberta / Southern Alberta across several different clubs. If something like that was to happen, I feel it stands to reason a single set of rules would develop.

I find it kinda funny that there is a fairly vocal group that say they hate rules, don't want to follow them and that it is all about fun and fun only. And yet there is still a set of rules, scores and times are kept....

If it is just fun shoots you are after, one could do away with a prescribed course of fire, scoring and timer and just have an informal "3-gun day" for members.
Break into squads, set up a course of fire on the fly and shoot it. Rinse and repeat. You'd do a hell of a lot more shooting and there would be way less work for the match director and volunteers.

Just my two nickels on it, take it for what it's worth.

JoKa said:
This is a big reason why things are done they way they are....unless someone that suggest a different class that appeals to the people that actually come and shoot these matches.
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Point taken. I'll excuse myself from this thread now.
Good luck with it guys.
 
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Two requests for this thread and others like it:

1. Put the (rough) location of the match in the title. We don't know every club abbreviation across Canada.
2. Put a link to the website that has all the info in the first post.
 
Thanks for the tip.
I will start to new thread for the new season. Will also include the info you suggested.

Cdtsa is Calgary district target shooters association
Cdtsa.com
Located on the city limits of Calgary (Shepherd location)
And
A couple km from Milo Alberta

(two locations)
 
Great, I hope to make it out next year! I managed to shoot 3gun matches in Denver CO, Minot ND, Saskatoon SK, Prince Albert SK, Spruce Grove AB, and Lone Butte BC this summer.

Kind of irked at myself for ignoring this thread due to not recognizing the location from the subject.
 
Having something like a 'standard' division is probably the easiest for new shooters. Irons or red dot on an ar, irons everywhere else is pretty cheap; have the focus to be a 'fun' division. Heavy metal would be cool. Good excuse for those of us that need an excuse to buy a 1911. Maybe a 'primitive' division for wheel guns and bolt actions. Make it a little more advantageous at Milo for the bolts and have 500 yard targets.

There is demand for higher more competitive classes. If people start lining up with cash in hand it's a good idea to take their money... Just saying ;) Its good for the sport, it's good for the club both in revenue and new members. More revenue means a bigger budget for lots of steel and other range improvements. And besides, creating a succesful and rewarding event, well, is rewarding in itself.

I think there does need to be a theme put forward. Idpa is about defensive pistol. Engage targets in a tactical priority, slice pies, shoot from cover, etc. Ipsc is speed and shoot your stages free style as fast as possible. So the question is, what is the ctdsa theme/philosophy?

I like the wild rose shoots. I haven't shot any Lethbridge or medicine hat, they are in my future. The thing I like about wras is that our soldiers go to it. It's a.priveldge shooting with them, and it makes it feel I'm doing something legit shooting with them. Last ipsc match I went to, members of cps were there and a couple tac team guys. When real life professionals show up, it adds value to the event. Something to keep in mind.
 
Yes, there will probably be the creation of more classes when we move out to milo and different optics and setups have a stronger advantage.

Also, I like the idea of a "primitive" class. Good idea, I will send out a mass email to those who signed up and put it to a vote. "Primitive or heavy metal". Any others we should add to the list of considerations? (to replace "limited" class)
 
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FWIW, the MP3G Stock division (all iron sights, no brakes or comps on pistol or shotgun) is our third most popular division, by a very large margin. For example, if there's 3 guys in Stock, there's 29 in Pro-Stock, the only difference being Pro-Stock allows a single optic on the rifle.

Heavy Metal and Pro-Heavy Metal are even less popular than Stock.
 
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