So glad to be a member at a great range like Silverdale. There are always exciting new ways to enjoy our shooting sports going on at the competition ranges. Today was another great example. OPSL put on another great five stage IPSC shotgun match. Even the rain that fell didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the competitors or the Range safety staff. What better way to spend a Saturday morning shooting IPSC with great friends on a great range at Silverdale.
Silverdale Gun Club IPSC shotgun Match
- Thread starter ERICK TUIN
- Start date
How so?
So I can learn how to make the match environment better for people, I truly want to know.
As the one of the match directors of the shotgun matches at Silverdale, would love to know what is making people hesitate from coming out to shoot.
My goal in running the matches there is to grow the sport and get as many people interested in long gun action shooting as possible.
Its experiencing rapid growth internationally, and seeing as the majority of the guns are non restricted and reasonably priced compared to handgun platforms, I would have thought there would be higher demand here for these matches.
Practical shotgun is drama free and in my biased opinion, 10x the fun of pistol.
Shotgun is currently still "pure" in that people genuinely just want to shoot and have fun.
One of the most experienced officials here in Ontario was blown away as to how much fun everyone was having and the general positive attitude when he was the range master as last year's shotgun provincials.
He mentioned that he couldn't recall the last handgun match that felt that way.
Shotgun should be the least intimidating and has the easiest ability to participate of all the IPSC disciplines.
DISCOURAGES! Na. I got lots of support from fellow IPSC club members. Advise, help, and tolerance of my questions. Yes you must take and pass a required course and be safe. So what. I have to do it and repeat courses for work all the time. At 65 years of age and fat I managed to do it first time through. I do not wish to be in a area with others who may or may not understand the code of conduct on a range.
Do not toss the red herring of money out there. Life costs. If you cannot afford the course or time well maybe its not for you.
As to shotguning, well its a hoot. Mud and wet is not for me. Been there sucked it up through some tough days. Coffee and AC was my on my day planner.
I like all shooting but being around happy fun people is always a great time.
Do not toss the red herring of money out there. Life costs. If you cannot afford the course or time well maybe its not for you.
As to shotguning, well its a hoot. Mud and wet is not for me. Been there sucked it up through some tough days. Coffee and AC was my on my day planner.
I like all shooting but being around happy fun people is always a great time.
thanks Paul , Alex and the rest of the crew for a very rejuvinating match. I felt like a 30 yrs young again. a lot of people especially those who havnt shot or just shot a couple of rounds find it very intimidating / punishing as their first experience. find a good mentor/ coach who can teach / show the right way to shoulder/mount the Shotgun and guarantee it will be all smile. Honestly I find the SG matches more enjoyable maybe because I"m new to the sport. 25 yrs of pistol shooting gets quite boring. its nice to have some alternatives. thanks again gentlemen. btw, my new convert to Shotgunning just shot his first match, and it was all smile.
Paul, I think you and Alex are doing a great job with the matches at Silverdale, with the additional action ranges it has made it even better.
I agree the shotgun side of IPSC is just plain old fashioned fun, I also enjoy it more than the handgun.
For new shotgunners trying it out there are always people willing to share/try out equipment like shell holders and guns.
Personally, I think some momentum was lost this year without a provincial match, these have always been well attended and well ran.
Hopefully next year a provincial & national match!!!
HW
I agree the shotgun side of IPSC is just plain old fashioned fun, I also enjoy it more than the handgun.
For new shotgunners trying it out there are always people willing to share/try out equipment like shell holders and guns.
Personally, I think some momentum was lost this year without a provincial match, these have always been well attended and well ran.
Hopefully next year a provincial & national match!!!
HW
Northaways
Regular
- Location
- Northaways
Was my first IPSC shotgun match and I had a blast! Big thanks Paul for all your advice and to you and Alex for some fun challenging stages. Am totally sold on shotgun and look forward to the next one!
- Location
- Toronto, ON
I am a member there and would love to try out something like this. Is there a link you can provide where I can get read up to get started?
thx!
WS
In Canada, all IPSC matches regardless of the format/ type, BlackBadge is mandatory, and I believe some other Action Shooting Discipline also have their own training/ qualification course. Take the BB course and you can shoot majority of the discipline availiable, a lot a them take or accept your BB qualification.
$ 35-45 is now the average match fee of any level 2 matches ( 80-120 rnds), supplies - like targets, building materials and props, steel target maintenance and other expenses like range rentals and course you need to feed the R.Os for lunch as a token of appreciation for the time volunteering. Everything is getting expensive.
$ 35-45 is now the average match fee of any level 2 matches ( 80-120 rnds), supplies - like targets, building materials and props, steel target maintenance and other expenses like range rentals and course you need to feed the R.Os for lunch as a token of appreciation for the time volunteering. Everything is getting expensive.
Just a bit of info,
As it currently stands, to participate in any IPSC match you need to have gone through the black badge course.
There have been proposals in the past to make a long gun only BB course for those who would want to participate in shotgun/rifle.
Hasn't received approval....
What is required to participate in a shotgun match? (other than the BB course)
You need a shotgun, a way to carry shells, and a positive attitude.
As for match fees, people would be surprised to learn how expensive it is to run a match when the club itself isn't the one running it, and there are no sponsors or contributors to the match.
When your home club agrees to let you run a match, they provide you the range space and all the props.
Your club members give their volunteer hours to help build and tear down, and run the match.
That isn't the case here.
Between renting the ranges, buying and maintaining all the steel, walls, timers, scoring systems, other equipment needed, cost of storing all this equipment, compensating everyone that helps run the match, etc etc....
Match fee is set at a point to try and at least break even, with any excess going into future match expenses and new props in order to try and run even bigger and better matches.
If people think we're pocketing all sorts of cash, and aren't coming out because they think they are just contributing to our "paycheque", they are seriously mistaken.
I haven't recovered the cost of the 100+ pieces of AR500 steel/stands and other shotgun props that I personally paid for.
Also, being on the range means I'm giving up income from my job.
And a weekend like this past one where we realized a healthy loss due to last second drop outs and no shows, just sets us back even further.
Again, the whole reason I got involved in running the shotgun matches was to grow the sport, get more people involved, and provide top level stages for those wanting to take their game to the next level.
I think other than one club out towards North Bay that put on one shotgun match earlier this year, we are the only ones currently attempting to host IPSC shotgun.
Will have some thinking to do moving forward
As it currently stands, to participate in any IPSC match you need to have gone through the black badge course.
There have been proposals in the past to make a long gun only BB course for those who would want to participate in shotgun/rifle.
Hasn't received approval....
What is required to participate in a shotgun match? (other than the BB course)
You need a shotgun, a way to carry shells, and a positive attitude.
As for match fees, people would be surprised to learn how expensive it is to run a match when the club itself isn't the one running it, and there are no sponsors or contributors to the match.
When your home club agrees to let you run a match, they provide you the range space and all the props.
Your club members give their volunteer hours to help build and tear down, and run the match.
That isn't the case here.
Between renting the ranges, buying and maintaining all the steel, walls, timers, scoring systems, other equipment needed, cost of storing all this equipment, compensating everyone that helps run the match, etc etc....
Match fee is set at a point to try and at least break even, with any excess going into future match expenses and new props in order to try and run even bigger and better matches.
If people think we're pocketing all sorts of cash, and aren't coming out because they think they are just contributing to our "paycheque", they are seriously mistaken.
I haven't recovered the cost of the 100+ pieces of AR500 steel/stands and other shotgun props that I personally paid for.
Also, being on the range means I'm giving up income from my job.
And a weekend like this past one where we realized a healthy loss due to last second drop outs and no shows, just sets us back even further.
Again, the whole reason I got involved in running the shotgun matches was to grow the sport, get more people involved, and provide top level stages for those wanting to take their game to the next level.
I think other than one club out towards North Bay that put on one shotgun match earlier this year, we are the only ones currently attempting to host IPSC shotgun.
Will have some thinking to do moving forward
