justsomeguy
Regular
- Location
- Calgary-ish
Time, distance, kids, skill 
Why don't you compete?
- Thread starter maynard
- Start date
Knowing going in that it was just going to be a learning experience I found the cost to do the shoots in Ottawa (roughly $250 for a 2 day shoot, IIRC) was expensive. Combine that with 2 kids under 2 and it was hard to justify.
I've had enough opportunity to practice at Connaught last year (at half price as a first year shooter) that I'm feeling more comfortable and will likely participate in 3-4 shoots this year (Victoria Day, Eastern Canadian F-Class Championships, Borden shoot in Aug/Sept, and the Kingston Fall Match).
Perhaps a discount for first year shooters through their provincial associations would encourage more people to get involved earlier?
I've had enough opportunity to practice at Connaught last year (at half price as a first year shooter) that I'm feeling more comfortable and will likely participate in 3-4 shoots this year (Victoria Day, Eastern Canadian F-Class Championships, Borden shoot in Aug/Sept, and the Kingston Fall Match).
Perhaps a discount for first year shooters through their provincial associations would encourage more people to get involved earlier?
Zero interest in competition.
I've been shooting for 40+ years, and shot a bit in handgun bullseye competition in the first half of that time. It was kinda fun. I did a few bowling pin matches, tried a couple of handgun silhouette matches, went to a few Cowboy Action matches. I shot an Action Shotgun match of some sort once. They were all okay...nothing I'd want to commit to.
For the last ten years I shot on my own property, rimfire and centerfire rifle, lots of blackpowder, and a bit of shotgun noisemaking. 100 yards at most, usually alone, sometimes with one or two family members or close friends.
Now I'm working on some 300- and 500-yard targets, also at home. I'm really looking forward to it...just me and a few choice friends...and no competition, beyond arguing about who has to go downrange to hang targets.
I've been shooting for 40+ years, and shot a bit in handgun bullseye competition in the first half of that time. It was kinda fun. I did a few bowling pin matches, tried a couple of handgun silhouette matches, went to a few Cowboy Action matches. I shot an Action Shotgun match of some sort once. They were all okay...nothing I'd want to commit to.
For the last ten years I shot on my own property, rimfire and centerfire rifle, lots of blackpowder, and a bit of shotgun noisemaking. 100 yards at most, usually alone, sometimes with one or two family members or close friends.
Now I'm working on some 300- and 500-yard targets, also at home. I'm really looking forward to it...just me and a few choice friends...and no competition, beyond arguing about who has to go downrange to hang targets.
Ya for me as well. Went to a couple of the F-class events but I like to take my time and enjoy myself. I do NOT like to heat up my barrel some other guys and to me there is nothing better than hanging out it some gravel pits and banging away with some of my closest buddies telling big fish stories. The competition stuff just doesnt do it for me.
1. No place to practice.
2. Last time I wanted to try heavy varmint, my stock rifle didn't meet the regulations.
3. Work schedule and competition schedules never aligned.
If anyone knows of some longer ranges that are available for open use in the Saskatoon area, please let me know.
2. Last time I wanted to try heavy varmint, my stock rifle didn't meet the regulations.
3. Work schedule and competition schedules never aligned.
If anyone knows of some longer ranges that are available for open use in the Saskatoon area, please let me know.
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
At $250 for 2 days of shooting, I wouldn't go either.
Thats highway robbery right there and it has been brought up MANY times that Connaught is just too expensive to shoot but apparently no one listens.
Since they fill up the range with older, well off TR shooters it probably doesn't matter at this point. Give it another 5yrs or so when numbers start dwindling........but I digress.
KDX, I hate people as well, but only the stupid variety. LOL
4 Reasons:
1. Local range is short, and all the serious competition is 3-6 hours from home.
2. Asshats, Mall Ninjas, and people with judgemental attitudes. Shootings a hobby I enjoy and these people make it less than enjoyable.
3. If I did compete, I'd end up dumping $5k into a rifle and reloading gear, which my wife would later beat me with. Maybe F class I could get away with.
4. Find QUALITY instructors. Do they know their stuff, want to devote the time, and are they good teachers? These are special people and they're not commonly found.
If anyone can refer me to a quality instructor in the Lethbridge area, I'd certainly look into it further. I can actually hit s**t with a rifle, damn IPSC handgun shooting was tougher than it looks in the movies
1. Local range is short, and all the serious competition is 3-6 hours from home.
2. Asshats, Mall Ninjas, and people with judgemental attitudes. Shootings a hobby I enjoy and these people make it less than enjoyable.
3. If I did compete, I'd end up dumping $5k into a rifle and reloading gear, which my wife would later beat me with. Maybe F class I could get away with.
4. Find QUALITY instructors. Do they know their stuff, want to devote the time, and are they good teachers? These are special people and they're not commonly found.
If anyone can refer me to a quality instructor in the Lethbridge area, I'd certainly look into it further. I can actually hit s**t with a rifle, damn IPSC handgun shooting was tougher than it looks in the movies
Nokomis is one of the longest, if not the longest ranges in Canada....about 1.5hrs from Toontown. Contact Kodiak99317 here on CGN
I had a blast (literally) shooting my 6BR and 6.5-08 to 1200yds while Kodiak99317 pulled target, and shot our 22cal's out to 900yds at a rock the size of a cigarette package.
I shot a lot of competative archer. It was becoming like a job and lost it's appeal. I just figured firearms would be the same.Now, I just shoot fireamrs with a couple of friends and we really enjoy it( out to atleast 1000 yards). Long-range varmiting is a lot of fun too.
giant yetti
Regular
- Location
- Mighty Peace
how the hell do I get into it? northern alberta. I have time and a bit of money, but I have no clue where to go. some posters at local sporting goods shops might help gather us "ignorant by default" types who would like to get into it...
now accepting pm invites to shooting competitions...
now accepting pm invites to shooting competitions...
In Alberta most if not all the Alberta Provincial Rifle Association shoots are in the Calgary area, the Homestead Shooting Centre is at least a 7 hour drive from my place. It is way too far to go for a day trip and the expense of driving that far and having to stay overnight makes it not feasible.
I live in BC, it is a 6.5hr drive and I do it 2-3 times a year. Leave on Friday after work, get there in time to set up camp and down several R&C's, go to bed, get up at 6AM hung over, shoot for 2 days, leave Sunday after the match and get home around 8-9PM local time.
See this thread http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=700723how the hell do I get into it? northern alberta. I have time and a bit of money, but I have no clue where to go. some posters at local sporting goods shops might help gather us "ignorant by default" types who would like to get into it...
now accepting pm invites to shooting competitions...
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
I would love to compete , I think it would help a person excel in their chosen discipline, can't really make heads or tails of all the categories yet either.
Like others have said that access to a suitable range for practice isn't always a practical option.Playing around in a nearby gravel pit gives me the best practice time but without the structure of a properly equipped range and mentoring I feel it would be difficult to get to the level that one could get to a competition and not feel overwhelmed.
Time is another huge factor, when a person is committed to their job from mon-fri and needs the weekend to do day to day tasks it is difficult to pull yourself away from the daily grind, you gotta come home and looks at what you didn't do but should have.
I am single with no kids and can't find time, I could only imagine how hectic it would be for family people to squeeze this in with everything else.
Would I like someone to teach me to punch holes in the X ring at 1000 yards, you betcha! Am I able to find the time?Maybe when I retire in 2040!!!!!!
Like others have said that access to a suitable range for practice isn't always a practical option.Playing around in a nearby gravel pit gives me the best practice time but without the structure of a properly equipped range and mentoring I feel it would be difficult to get to the level that one could get to a competition and not feel overwhelmed.
Time is another huge factor, when a person is committed to their job from mon-fri and needs the weekend to do day to day tasks it is difficult to pull yourself away from the daily grind, you gotta come home and looks at what you didn't do but should have.
I am single with no kids and can't find time, I could only imagine how hectic it would be for family people to squeeze this in with everything else.
Would I like someone to teach me to punch holes in the X ring at 1000 yards, you betcha! Am I able to find the time?Maybe when I retire in 2040!!!!!!
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- Location
- Halifax, NS
Load development is taking me forever! (mainly my fault for buying 8 types of bullets)
Life (training) gets in the way
No good places around here to practice past 100 yards (and believe me, I've look down every gd logging road)
Other than that, I have no excuses. I plan on showing up to the Campbell River shoots once I get outta Winterpeg.... If I'm around long wnough, I'll try to get into the BC provincial stuff, even if it means taking the big boat across the strait.
Life (training) gets in the way
No good places around here to practice past 100 yards (and believe me, I've look down every gd logging road)
Other than that, I have no excuses. I plan on showing up to the Campbell River shoots once I get outta Winterpeg.... If I'm around long wnough, I'll try to get into the BC provincial stuff, even if it means taking the big boat across the strait.
where to start?
Lack of publicity...a lot of shooters are unaware of the great resources near them.
It is intimidating to try to take part or start out.
There needs to be more access so F class is more open to hunting rifles or tactical styles.
In my opinion TR and F-TR are much harder to "sell" because they have little relevance...look at the success of 3D archery...it relates to something off the range.
TR was much bigger when the government supplied the ammo.
TR shooters seem to treat F class as outsiders, not "real" target shooters, but they put up with them as target pullers.
The average age of the TR shooters is quite advanced, there is some intimidation and "fud" factor impression to younger shooters.
The process of paired shooters and having the target move and be marked for each shot is foreign to the gravel pit shooters. Remote cameras and plotting your own hits for practice might simplify things.
The ranges are limited to 8mm and no brakes allowed. They require spending half the time pulling targets or miles away from the range spotting passing cars on farm roads. Winnipeg's range requires spotters 3 miles away to order cease fire if a car drives by.
The dcra website is not updated and gives little information or rules. It gives the impression it is very concerned with being politically correct...implying F class is "less" than TR, and distancing itself from "sniping"...http://www.dcra.ca/F_Class.htm.
Cost, time, distance, regimented practice times, very little publicity.
Lack of publicity...a lot of shooters are unaware of the great resources near them.
It is intimidating to try to take part or start out.
There needs to be more access so F class is more open to hunting rifles or tactical styles.
In my opinion TR and F-TR are much harder to "sell" because they have little relevance...look at the success of 3D archery...it relates to something off the range.
TR was much bigger when the government supplied the ammo.
TR shooters seem to treat F class as outsiders, not "real" target shooters, but they put up with them as target pullers.
The average age of the TR shooters is quite advanced, there is some intimidation and "fud" factor impression to younger shooters.
The process of paired shooters and having the target move and be marked for each shot is foreign to the gravel pit shooters. Remote cameras and plotting your own hits for practice might simplify things.
The ranges are limited to 8mm and no brakes allowed. They require spending half the time pulling targets or miles away from the range spotting passing cars on farm roads. Winnipeg's range requires spotters 3 miles away to order cease fire if a car drives by.
The dcra website is not updated and gives little information or rules. It gives the impression it is very concerned with being politically correct...implying F class is "less" than TR, and distancing itself from "sniping"...http://www.dcra.ca/F_Class.htm.
Cost, time, distance, regimented practice times, very little publicity.
