Thanks Kombayotch, this will help me a great deal. ....The biggest hurdle I encountered was finding enough range staff to ensure things ran smoothly and to keep shooters focused (it's more of a challenge than one might think to keep the gun talk & story telling for after the event!)
This is a problem at most, if not all matches I've been to. People "previewing" the stage before their squad is there to shoot, or random people stopping by to even spectators. Talking behind the shooters and RO/volunteers is fustrating. When directions need to be given, heard, and processed, as well as times/points recorded, having electronic muffs picking up all the background chatter can cause a lot of problems. The worst I find is when certain squads are still shooting and others are coming either because they are done, or waiting for range to open for their squad to get on. It always invovles people asking questions about course of fire. Something they will hear if they were to wait.
People have different views on this, but mine is not favourable. It causes confusion, further delays, and problems for some shooters. It could go as far as safety problem.
The only event I went to that didn't have this was a BR shoot. Simply because, like golf, it's considered very rude to talk while others are shooting. I wished more people would follow this same logic and respect the shooter, score keepers, and RO's.
For this reason I've thought that events should have spectators keeping a certain distance, and shooters being located where banter and course of fire cannot be heard and seen as easily. Not only will this benefit the shooters concentration, it'll help promote the smooth operation of the event, and add a new dynamic to stages. As mentioned, with PRS, the course of fire isn't disected 6 ways from Sunday prior to the event, so without real world viewing of barricades and target locations, walking up to a line where people have to actively think about position and target acquisition adds great depth to the shoot. You see in events that many shooters struggle to think and shoot at the same time. This is a skill I think that should be considered in scoring and one for many to practice and master. It's a fun challenge. The added distance from shooting location can also add to the physical aspect I'd love to include in events.
From my experience (mostly 3G), everybody raves about the long, physically demanding stages. Few ranges can accomodate this though. Lethbridge has been great at including usaully one stage that requires a lot of running and a lot of control over your gear. I believe last year was rifle, pistol, shotgun, shotgun slugs, back to shotgun, back to pistol. All while traversing down the stage 200y, over barrels, under barricades, over a bridge, and under camo netting. Good times!
It's also good that you got active involvement from hunters. If shooting sports in Canada are to progress in positive directions, it needs to include all forms of shooters. Part of PRS, listed in the rules, is to help the sport by actively helping others. When score is considered second by most, and fun is considered first, there is no reason most people can't pick up a decent rifle and go have fun.
Few questions for those more familiar with PRS:
1) Due to shorter ranges, semi auto's at many events would not be an issue. At these events are they scored together with the bolt action shooters?
2) Is it ever an issue seeing hits from a smaller caliber rifle at distance (ie, 223 at 400-600y?) I will be doing this in spring, but I've never had the chance to shoot my AR to 500y yet..
3) How much involvement are there in the "tough" classes. Not sure the formal class word, but in some events (MGM?) you have a class for guys/women who carry EVERYTHING on person, at all times, throughout the event. Including food, water, all ammunition, bags, etc. I figure that would be fun for those who want to put themselves through torture and compete to be the elite of the group.
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