Action Shooting International Debuts In Canada

Canuck44

Canuck44

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Action Shooting International Debuts In Canada

Competitive pistol shooters in Canada have a new option for their weekends at the range.

Action Shooting International ™ draws on the excitement of semi-pro practical pistol shooting, but does it in a way that's geared toward the average gun owner.

Conceived two years ago by Canadian and American shooting experts Bob Bonenfant and Sandy Wylie, ASI took off in the American Northwest. American indoor clubs have led the way, spilling over into outdoor venues as weather allows. For getting new (and old) shooters off the couch and into shooting, you couldn't ask for a better program – and the American shooting press has started to take notice too.

“The American clubs did a lot to prove out the concept,” says Bonenfant. “Now we're ready to bring this home to Canada.”

He's searching for pilot clubs in Canada now.

WHY ASI? ASI offers a turnkey program. Dynamic courses (prepared in advance), simple scoring, and simpler rules make administration easy – and keep costs low.

Gone are the complex rules that plague other shooting sports. Gone also is the “American-centric” attitude, and the high costs to participate. (All shooters pay the same membership rates, and are treated equally, no matter where they live.)
“All five owners spent more than a decade in semi-pro practical shooting – Bob, Sandy, and I twice that,” says ASI President Robin Taylor. “We've taken the best of that high-intensity world, and simplified it so the average guy feels comfortable.”

Indoor ranges enjoy great success with the program, attracting unusually large numbers of women and new shooters. The big selling point? Attitude. These might be shooting competitions, but ASI refers to them as “events.”

“We cultivate a relaxed, supportive attitude at our events,” says Taylor, “like a bowling league.”

Getting involved couldn't be easier. Once someone gets a program set up, all you need is a handgun with two magazines (or speed loaders) and two boxes of ammo. Holsters are not needed, but can be used with local range approval.
To learn more, check out www.asi-ca.org, or e-mail Bonenfant at bob@asi-ca.org.
 
I find IDPA relaxing/straightforward and without the drama that plagues that other pistol shooting sport. I'm not convinced ASI is needed when a IDPA club match can accomplish the same thing. Or I'm I missing something?
 
Thanks Bob, this is exactly what's needed for those many folks out there who don't want (or are nervous) to compete; or have to buy a bunch of gear. And for the rest of us, a bit more trigger time never hurts...

I can think of several guys and girls in town who would like to bang away and learn something but find even IDPA intimidating or time consuming...be good to get them into it and then see where they want to go from there.

Congrats to you and Sandy on pulling this together.
 
I like the simplicity, but if one of the principals is to treat caliber and magazine capacity as irrelevant why can .22 only be used on match directors approval and why is it scored separately?
 
albertacoyotecaller said:
Is a holster course required?
Click to expand...
Not a requirement.

How About Holsters?
Holsters are optional. Shooters who’ve been cleared to use a holster by the host range can start with a loaded gun in the holster, but most shooters start each stage with their pistol on a table, on the ground, or other position specified in the stage briefing.

www.asi-ca.org
 
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albertacoyotecaller said:
This kind of sounds like IDPA "light" version. What's different?
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The primary difference between the two sports are the rules. ASI is structured to allow shooters to compete against themselves on their own terms using a simple less involved rule set. eg. A stage calls for shooting three targets on the move. The shooter, who may have no experience shooting on the move is free to shoot the targets standing still with no penalty. His/her score for the stage is hi/hers alone and the shooters can progress in shooting at a level and speed they choose. Stages are strait forward, always less than 18 rounds and are designed to test shooting skills not athleticism.

What the above does is it eliminates the need for equipment divisions for instance, removes the intimidation factor for new shooters and sets up a more relaxed atmosphere. Our goal was to establish a entry level sport that went one step beyond shooting at bullseye type targets for the casual shooter and a sport that allows shooters to enjoy their handguns in essentially a bowling league atmosphere.

For gun clubs it is a way to go more folks out playing with their handguns in a safe controlled environment.

IDPA light. No not really. There are some similarities to both IDPA and IPSC but the equipment and shooting rule sets are completely different as is our core target market. ASI will be of interest to the committed IDPA/IPSC shooter but more likely only in the context of additional trigger time. Check it out. It may be exactly what you are looking for to attract more handgun shooting in the Peace River area. You wil like the ease of administrating the sport at the club level

Trust me it is a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Take Care

Bob
Contact: bob@asi-ca.org
250 635 0654
 
armycat said:
I like the simplicity, but if one of the principals is to treat caliber and magazine capacity as irrelevant why can .22 only be used on match directors approval and why is it scored separately?
Click to expand...

Two primary reasons. First, scoring .22LR under certain circumstances can be painfully slow to score when large IDPA, IPSC or USPSA targets are used. We felt it best to leave it up to the Match Directors to decide how to treat .22LR handguns at their events. They can either allow them for a match or exclude them for certain matches. The 2nd reason was to simply differentiate the center fire vs rim fire results. I suspect their will be clubs that may well choose to hold only rim fire events and they are certainly allowed to do so under the umbrella of ASI. It just gives clubs more opportunity to expand and attract more activity to their clubs for the enjoyment of their members.

Take Care

Bob
Contact: bob@asi-ca.org
250 635 0654
 
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StoneHorse said:
I find IDPA relaxing/straightforward and without the drama that plagues that other pistol shooting sport. I'm not convinced ASI is needed when a IDPA club match can accomplish the same thing. Or I'm I missing something?
Click to expand...

Well thank-you for your comments regarding IDPA...and I agree the atmosphere is relaxing but it is competitive.

ASI is but in a much different way. ASI is more geared to folks who just want to go play at their own level without the self imposed fears that come with participating in more competitive environments. The stages for the more advanced shooter among us are pretty straight forward. This is done on purpose. For the new shooters just starting out or for those not accustom to action shooting they do provide a challenge and a path to self improvement, self improvement that can be measured and assessed by the individuals. Beyond that the sport is geared to having fun in a relaxed setting. For most it will be a day out with their friends to do some shooting.

Take Care

Bob
Contact: bob@asi-ca.org
250 635 0654
 
Hmm, interesting. Going to look more into this. Allowing 22 LR, simplified rules, removing the intimidation factor and competing against oneself may be just the ticket.
 
Canuck44 said:
Two primary reasons. First, scoring .22LR under certain circumstances can be painfully slow when large IDPA, IPSC or USPSA targets are used. We felt it best to leave it up to the Match Directors to decide how to treat .22LR handguns at their events. They can either allow them for a match or exclude them for certain matches. The 2nd reason was to simply differentiate the center fire vs rim fire results. I suspect their will be clubs that may well choose to hold only rim fire events and they are certainly allowed to do so under the umbrella of ASI. It just gives clubs more opportunity to expand and attract more activity to their clubs for the enjoyment of their members.

Take Care

Bob
Contact: bob@asi-ca.org
250 635 0654
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I like anything where rim fire can be included. I think this increases the chances of getting new shooters, younger shooters and shooters with limit free money to participate. I think rim fire encourages participation where divisions and power factors can discourage participation.
 
Hi; there is always room to get newer shooter into a structure event, or older not so quick person. Age will limit us all one day. But I am not going to give up the gun. Having shot cowboy action for thirty years, some IDPA, and now a bit of IPSC. I have been going back to silhouettes, but a new game sorta sounds good to me. There is a indoor range looking for a event to attract more patrons this could work. GUN, shoot, scored ,easy to run, why not.
 
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