Why don't you compete?

M

maynard

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
39   0   0
Location
SW Ontario
Lots of guys on here have precision rifles and do not compete.

Just about every province has it's own Provincial Rifle Association (PRA).
Within each PRA there are many disciplines offered for every level of shooter at distances from 300 yards out to 1000 yards. Some PRA's use several ranges within the province. Here in Ontario we use 5 different ranges across the province. A couple of them are only 400M, one is 600 yards and the other 2 are 1000 yards or 900m.

The ORA usually has some kind of shooting event going on just about every weekend from April to Oct. at one or more of these ranges. Yet our provincial membership sits at less than 300 members.

So if you already have a suitable rifle, why aren't you joining your PRA and getting out to shoot some longer distances? We have more practice dates than we do match dates, so there is plenty of practice time available.
 
Speaking for myself, I'm 66 and try to participate in the local to me F - class matches as they are a bunch of fun.
However, to travel out of province to compete is for me totally impractical from the standpoint of affordability.... my pensions simply cannot sustain a match fee of $ 300 + dollars along with travel expenses involved in attending a major match.
 
Distance for me ... I simply can't afford the 4+ hour drive to the range for a day's shoot, then the hotel rooms, food, etc.. That alone has stopped me from even looking into the registration cost of the shoot itself, or the group dues for a year.
 
I live on Montreal so there are 3 reasons for this:
  1. Valcartier range is 270km (3h 17min)
  2. Ottawa range is 216km (2h 37min)
  3. Farhnam range is 60km (60min) but is restricted to millitary

Around 20-25 years ago, I used to shoot both saturday and sunday at St-Basile-Le-Grand shooting range which is 28km (30min) from downtown Montreal but the shooting range was closed.

Consider yourself very lucky if you have access to a nearby army shooting range.

Alex
 
Kevan, VERY few matches are in that cost range.

Most matches at Homestead range near Calgary are $20 or $25 per day (you pull targets) Kamloops is $70/Weekend (We supply target service), Mission is $70/weekend (You pull targets, I seriously think they need to reduce fees to reflect the self service).

Vokes has a few matches at the $70 range and the Provincials works out to $50/day. ($200 for 4 days including target service)
 
Perhaps people are not very competitive with their shooting. Many prefer to stay at their home range or their back yards and 'compete' with buddies for free... Or another thought, maybe it is too intimidating for some to drag themselves out to a competition. Pardon my ignorance but how to you go about recruiting new members?
 
CyaN1de said:
Kevan, VERY few matches are in that cost range.

Most matches at Homestead range near Calgary are $20 or $25 per day (you pull targets) Kamloops is $70/Weekend (We supply target service), Mission is $70/weekend (You pull targets, I seriously think they need to reduce fees to reflect the self service).

Vokes has a few matches at the $70 range and the Provincials works out to $50/day. ($200 for 4 days including target service)
Click to expand...

And lodging can be as inexpensive as the back of a pickup!
 
I feel fortunate that on Vanc. Isl. we have several ranges within 1-2 hr. drive of any community - although none longer than 600yd. There are RF and HP matches. The VISL has opened the doors to any rifle including hunting rifles and RF and benchrest. There is only a few of the original TR shooters left.
People can and will find justification for not shooting, all due respect to the financially challenged or those with travel considerations.

In the VISL a variety of targets are used to challenge the various disciplines - the TR guys still use the ISSF target scaled appropriately for distances. In many matches I have shot RF on the ISSF target with favourable results against the HP guys.
With the evolution of the league the biggest limiting factor is the motivation of the individual.
 
Hopefully this doesn't get too long winded and gets my point across.

The main reason i don't go to competitions any more is beacause i can't justify the cost in "personal time" and "money" to go and shoot less than a hundred rounds in a given day.

I used to shoot IPSC pistol and attended a long rang clinic in Kamloops once.

If i am shooting on my own at the range or out in the bush i can shoot for as long and with as many different calibers/firearms as i choose to bring.

A long range rifle competition for me equals the following at a minimum:
-4 hour drive minimum
-possible ferry ride
-spending a day at the range and only shooting 2-3 strings

When i go to my own range or head out to the long range option i have locally i am on my own schedule and can shoot as many rounds as i desire.

Mystic's summerland shoot has peaked my interest by the dates have never been compatible with my schedule.
 
I shoot competetively in many local, provincial and national archery competitions so that leaves little time for rifle matches. Plus I have a wife and two kids that demand much of my time, plus I train three pointing dogs in the off season. So the short answer is...No time. Plus I find it a bit confusing with all the short forms used, RF, HP, TR, VISL, ISSF, etc., etc. I have learned some of them just from being a member here on the boards, but it is still rather confusing at times.
 
CyaN1de said:
Kevan, VERY few matches are in that cost range.

Most matches at Homestead range near Calgary are $20 or $25 per day (you pull targets) Kamloops is $70/Weekend (We supply target service), Mission is $70/weekend (You pull targets, I seriously think they need to reduce fees to reflect the self service).

Vokes has a few matches at the $70 range and the Provincials works out to $50/day. ($200 for 4 days including target service)
Click to expand...

I know what you're saying Richard and I try to attend when its possible.
One match for instance that I've always wished to attend is the big one at Nokomis Sk. cause I lived around Saskatoon for 42 yrs., but by the time I add up the total cost it isn't reasonable.
I've tried selling my body to raise funds, but that isn't working out too well.... :(
 
Haha, yeah for SK trips we usually buddy up to cut fuel costs etc.

Like GSoD said, camping in the back of the truck is a great cost saver. We do it regularly for AB and SK matches even though SK motel is something like $18/night if you can get a room.

Matches such as the Western Canada F-Class Chapionships (and Eastern) run in the $300+ range but one does not necessarily need to attend these to start out.

To the poster who asked about how we get people out to these matches: We give them their first hit of crack for free by lending rifle and ammo, they are on their own dime when they come back for the follow up hits. LOL


I started out shooting only local matches, then moved up to Provincial matches and other matches close by. Extended to inter-provincial and then International shooting. One should not be intimidated to come out and see what it's all about, contact a match director and either come out and watch or come out and participate with what you have.

I did not finish dead last in my first match but even if I had, I still would be where I am today as the experience was fun and the people I met were just plain awesome.
 
Distance to matches is a big one. There are a group of us that carpool but it is still a long way. Borden is 333 km from my place. Going for a one day long range practice starts off with a couple guys from Windsor leaving at 3:30 in the morning. Picking me up at 4:30 then picking up another guy at 5:30-5:45 to get to Borden by 8:30. After shooting all day I don't get home until after 9 pm.

My home range is 17 Km from my door but is only 400m. Winona is 266 Km and again only 400m. Kingston is 556 km and is just to far even for a weekend and only 600 yards.
We do get to Ottawa a couple times a year for some matches but it is 733 km from my door.

I hope intimidation does not keep people away. Really we are just a bunch of guys from all walks of life that like poking holes in targets a long way out there.

As far as recruiting, we do have a booth at the Toronto Sportsman Show. We do have a website with contact information. Some gunshops had poster up. We have tried full page ads in Ontario Outdoors. Plus any promoting we can do here. We might try the press gang routine next but I am not sure how that will work out.
 
3 kids under 6 years old take a lot of my time. Also I'm an active member of my local CAS club so that takes some time as well. Didn't make it to a single shoot last year but am hoping to make it to at least 3 shoots this year, (of course I was last year too :redface:)

When I mention the ORA shoots at my local club I hear a lot of interest but when the time comes for commitment, coming up with 100+ rounds, the match fee, travel and food expenses and the whole day away from home seems to be too much for most people. Hopefully I'll have better luck this year, I love shooting at Borden and hope the right to shoot there continues for many, many years.
 
AlexF said:
I live on Montreal so there are 3 reasons for this:
  1. Valcartier range is 270km (3h 17min)
  2. Ottawa range is 216km (2h 37min)
  3. Farhnam range is 60km (60min) but is restricted to millitary

Around 20-25 years ago, I used to shoot both saturday and sunday at St-Basile-Le-Grand shooting range which is 28km (30min) from downtown Montreal but the shooting range was closed.

Consider yourself very lucky if you have access to a nearby army shooting range.

Alex
Click to expand...

:agree:

Or a question of time VS money...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom