Why I compete and how I started

Kodiak99317

Kodiak99317

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Since Maynard has the opposite thread going strong (Why I don't compete), let's see why we do compete, how you started and the positives of competition.

I'll start.

I started to compete once I had a rifle that was a shooter. Before that, I was just shooting for a 1" group or minute of moose. I had bought a Tikka M55 heavy barrelled 308 and this puppy just loved to shoot little groups. This really got me interested in the accuracy side of shooting and reloading. I went to Wholesale Sports in Calgary for some match primers and the guy turned me to the late Al Murdock. Al was "the" benchrest guru in Calgary at the time; in fact he was the driving force of benchrest in Canada at the time. He made bullets (McCracken, taking over from Terry when he passed on) and had all the goodies right there in his shop. Al talked me into coming out to a match, were the Tikka and I took 1st place in the factory class shooting 154g McCracken FB bullets and 40g of H4895 and 210M primers against a dozen other hunting type rifles. I was hooked. I shoot benchrest, both group and score for some 14 years while in Calgary, was involved with the club executive and in more than one capacity, plus sat on the APRA exec as well for our club. I also travelled to about a dozen shots in the US as well in this time frame. After moving to Saskatoon were there is no benchrest nor a good range for such without a ton of work (again), I found the SPRA and converted one of my 30 Cal Hunter class benchrest rifles into a long range rifle and still compete today.

Why do I compete? Because I still can. One day, my MS will knock me down hard and I will only be able to watch and maybe plug/hang a few targets if I'm lucky, but that is a different story. I compete because I like the fresh air (with a little H4895 or Varget mixed into it) and the small talk with the "boys". I like the early morning still. I like to watch the sunrise. I like to do better each time I go out. I like reloading. I like the challenge of a small target at a great distance. I like to rub shoulders with other good shooters and talk winds amd learn. Competition teaches you how to loose, how to win (hopefully without too much gloating) and what it takes to win, dedication and attention to details. After 7 years of 24 hour thinking and talking and doing any sport, you will be a "blackbelt" at that sport IMO.

I think I have babbled enough and you all would like me to put a lid on it so I will. Let’s make this a positive thread guys and maybe we can get some more shooters out. :dancingbanana:

Thanks,
Keith
 
I was born into a shooting family, a lot of my father's relatives competed in National and international big bore and smallbore.

it was a natural thing for me to get into it.
my older brother shot more bigbore than I when we were younger, but I am the only one still active in competition out of four brothers.

I love the concentration needed to shoot with irons and sling "out there" past 500 yards, but also enjoy 100 and 200 yard smallbore .
Rifle rodeo, (which is a pretty big stretch from TR) provides awesome competition and exitement for me!
Cat
 
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Good point Cat, concentration! That is another thing I really like, getting into the "zone" to the point that all my work/family/money troubles and all other distractions fad away! I'm sure a train could pass behind the firing line and I would miss it once I'm in the "zone".
 
Kodiak99317 said:
Good point Cat, concentration! That is another thing I really like, getting into the "zone" to the point that all my work/family/money troubles and all other distractions fad away! I'm sure a train could pass behind the firing line and I would miss it once I'm in the "zone".
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Yup! When you have it all together, it's "nuthin' but Bulls"!:dancingbanana:
Nothing like it, IMHO. You can ride the bullet right into the target! :cool:
Cat
 
Factory Class "Fun" competition for Spring 2007

Largely on the basis of the very interesting "Why I don't compete" thread, I have talked with one of the pooh bahs at our club. the idea of a factory class shoot seems to be very well received.

A couple of ideas were tossed around including having a straight 300M ISSF/F-class but using factory guns, or a mixed even including snap, balloons, and a standard 300M ISSF so that shooters can sample a bit of everything.

I'd be interested to know what sorts of events would/should be incorporated into an event like that. Anybody with experience in these matters, I'd love to hear.

We may have to tell Mystic Player to stay away... we need SOME chance of letting the newbies win...;)

Lastly, how many BC shooters here would attend an event like that up in the 'loops?
 
When I first got involved, I planned to shoot Service Conditions, coming from 14 years in the militia. An older gentleman from the club asked if I had ever tried Target Rifle. I was handed a P-14 with a S/L barrel and P/H iron sight and a handfull of IVI. The target were 300 yards away. I was told this was as close as they get. First relay I fired a 41 out of 50, next relay a 46. No jacket or sling just off the elbows. I though it was kind of neat, and was given paperwork to fill out if I wanted to join. Oh, and by the way, that rifle is for sale.
Went back the next week after mailing in my membership and bought that rifle. Someone loaned me a sling and a glove and we shot 1000 yards that day, I was hooked.:dancingbanana:
Next came the madness of gathering all the kit. Custom made shooting jacket, better spotting scope, glove, hat, shooting mat.
I was given a phone number for a guy in BC that sold TR stuff and before I knew it, I was contributing to Paul Reiben's retirement fund. (still contributing)
Next year was a slightly use 40X Rangemaster. Had that rebuilt after the second year into a Mcmillan prone stock and an Obermeyer barrel.
Then came a .223 and a few more .308's being built along the way, upgraded spotting scope again, another new jacket and a Anshutz smallbore rifle for the off season.
In all this somewhere along the line, IVI was phased out and handloading was brought in.
After 14 years of this I still can't see an end to all this madness. I can't wait until next season:runaway:
 
I compete because I love the challenge of 'beating' a task both technically and physically.

I love the feeling of success both in beating my personal goals or other competitors. I also don't mind the low that comes with screwing up and the challenge of doing better.

The concentration and focus is a great escape from the daily grind. The study of shooting and accuracy keeps the grey matter moving and really much better then watching reality shows on the TV.

Reloading and building gives the satisfaction that only hands on work can give. Bringing a concept to fruition then doing well in competition really is a buzz.

Meeting and building relationships with other like minded people. Sharing a laugh. Sharing a victory. Sharing a loss.

Competition is a lot of fun....

Jerry
 
Why I compete with a rifle

Some people are just born to compete. Wether it be with a ping pong paddle, baseball glove or a rifle. Most of us change our mode of competition with age. At 54, marathon, track and cross country running are great memories. Small bore shooting as a teenager, with great eyes, was fun and challenging. Luckily I was proficient and it held my interest until I discovered how much fun girls were. Now after 10 children have been raised, I've found the time and need for that feeling a competitor gets when he's done his best. Win or lose, you've done your best.

I now compete in 1,000 yd. bench rest and F Class. I compete with and against some of the finest shooters in the world, in both the U.S. and Canada. Due to the political climate in Canada, there aren't as many matches or places to shoot as in the U.S. I've got to believe this is a major factor in the smaller numbers of shooters.

I read on someones post about the pace of matches and people not being friendly. In the U.S. the matches are usually very rushed. I can't understand why except it's just an extention of everyday life down here. In shooting with the ORA and DCRA for the last four years, I've found it to be relaxing and very social.

Much like any sport, your experiences, positive or negative, are a direct result of your desire to fit in, meet new people, make friends and help others when your needed.

At 54, the icing on the cake is that competing with a rifle is better than ###, because shooting lasts all day!
 
I compete in a loose kind of way. Losing Grandad in the war meant that none of the Martial side of my family were around to guide me. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a soldier. My father I never knew ( I still dont and its no loss) so I joined the Army cadets at 13.
I learnt to shoot .177 air rifle indoors and once we travelled to Bodmin as they had a proper range and I think I fired the No.8. I was picked by default (like volunteering if you're the only one in line) for the county team. One saturday later and I had posted my first scores with a target No.4.
That was enough, I couldnt shoot seven days a week and be satisfied. At 16 I joined the regular army. The one regret in training was not making the rifle team. I scoired marksman with the SLR on my first attempt, exactly what you need for an infantryman. the shooting team was selected from the remedial rifle squad who recieved extra coaching, in its own way it worked and they qualified for Bisly.
I was posted to my Bn in germany to train for a tour on ops in West Belfast. a short 3 weeks after my 18th birthday and we are walking up the tail ramp of the hercules bound for Belfast. 4 1/2 months later and it was all over i had done the tour and like almost everyone else survived.
After a few years and a couple more tours I decided to retire to the reserves. I started a new career in mty 20's and they had a shooting club.
indoor .22rf and I had to compete as a tyro.I walked Dividion 5 of the nationals that year bt I had already moved into classics.
I joined the HBSA and the TA. I got bored quickly with the TA, not enough range time and too structured practices with too little achieved.
I shot pistol after a car accident left my target prone shooting difficult until a nutter and some bent policemen persauded the Govt to take away my pistols. I actually kept mine but sold them to collectors to pay for my stalking.
The HBSA has been good aand with judicious reloading my interest in classic arms has continued and I compete a couple of times a year. I do most of my load developing and kit testing on my local farm. I class it as pest control. We as a family shoot clays together we own a motorised trap and a few guns and all of us have stalked together and enjoy the UK social side of game bird shooting.
To put it in a nutshell I compete!
 
I started very young with a fascination with firearms, which thankfully wasn't squashed by my non-shooting parents. Air rifles in the yard turned to a .22 in the yard and then Army Cadets when I was old enough.

Army Cadets were very switched on to things smallbore in those days and I was coached by some very fine shooters, most with fullbore TR experience in Bisley and on the national scene. Our Corps ruled the province and could not be defeated on the range, which was nicely tucked in the basement of the local legion. No 7 rifles mostly, with the more skilled shooters moving on to the Anschutz.

The smallbore shooting led to a fullbore course at Camp Argonaut in Gagetown and a place on the Cadet Bisley team the following year. 7.62 Sportco rifles kicking the living crap out of my 16 year old small frame, from 300-900 yards. All the ammo was issued machine gun fodder then, no reloads allowed. We still did pretty good with it, though I hear they have tightened up the scoring rings since to account for better ammo performance. Makes sense. I placed quite well, 26th place in a big match in Bisley got me a damn nice gold braided patch fro my jacket.

I lived to shoot TR. I was good at it. But I never shot TR seriously again, and haven't to this day.

At 16 on return from Bisley I was invited by a near stranger to try some .22 pistol shooting and shot with a very fine crowd of folks, all quite a lot older than I, with their borrowed guns and 30 minute rides to the range from my always supportive Dad for a few years until i could buy myself my own pistol. What a fine group of people they are.

By this time I had finished high school and joined the military which surprisingly led to a long dry period with no shooting at all, then to a military team and some success at CFSAC and NSCC matches on the pistol side then to a black badge course and discovery of a new passion. Practical pistol shooting.

But, hey...I just bought myself a cheap Stevens .308 and I am eyeing a couple of the Sportcos in the EE and thinking back to those baking hot days under the Noon sun at Connaught and Batoche and Stickledown and Century.

What a fine sport. What a fine bunch of people I've met looking back over more than 20 years of competitive shooting.

Thank you - you know who you are.
 
I like this thread, I hear alot of ideas from people, who think like I do.

Did an informal match this past summer in Saskatchewan, and will probably be in Nova Scotia this spring. I plan to join the NSRA for some service rifle shooting (hopefully at +600 yards) and do some re-active target shooting with 44 magnum as well through the AMA affiliated clubs.

I like this same sport for many reasons already stated, by other target shooters. Plus I like the personal challenges involved with this discipline.

I find it very satisfying to keep "pushing the envelope" in regards to individual performance, while target shooting.
 
Brutus said:
Did an informal match this past summer in Saskatchewan...
Click to expand...

Sorry I missed ya'. Must have been while I was oncall for work. Hope you had a good time and enjoyed the Nokomis/North Star range winds. What Date were you out Brutus and how far out did you go?
 
As a teen I used to compete in archery and loved the whole experience.

I have yet to compete in the shooting sports but think it will be fun. I shot with my hunting rifle at 600 and 1000 in Nokomis with a group of guys this last summer and had a great time, thanks! I was hooked. My LR toy is nearly done, I should be able to start working with it in the new year. Then the fun will start learning to read wind etc.
 
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