Why do you shoot matches?

[tizzo]

Constant training is good to develop muscle memory and many other skill sets to the hope that it prepares you for any given situation; but nothing is 100%. That being said, it's still a good thing to do, to train, (in many areas), and perhaps these competitions are a good way to do that, to connect with people, to learn new techniques, tips, tricks, etc; and perhaps I should give it a try..... again, as I mentioned in a previous post, I look at the word "competition" differently. I don't know what people would call the matches otherwise.

I think you should give it a try. With the USPSA scoring system there's no better way to compete with yourself. Points, time, and hit factor. All aspects that measure how well you shoot and that show strengths/weaknesses.

[XDM45]

Constant training is good to develop muscle memory and many other skill sets to the hope that it prepares you for any given situation; but nothing is 100%. That being said, it's still a good thing to do, to train, (in many areas), and perhaps these competitions are a good way to do that, to connect with people, to learn new techniques, tips, tricks, etc; and perhaps I should give it a try..... again, as I mentioned in a previous post, I look at the word "competition" differently. I don't know what people would call the matches otherwise.

I think you should give it a try. With the USPSA scoring system there's no better way to compete with yourself. Points, time, and hit factor. All aspects that measure how well you shoot and that show strengths/weaknesses.

It may indeed be worth a shot....or several, literally.

[PRS]

1. I love guns.
2. I like to see my name on a score sheet with a number by it.
3. I like drinking beer with guys who like guns.
4. All the hot chicks at the matches.

Do it and you'll be hooked, spend way more money, and end up in a van down by the river( or in my case a volkswagon). It has made me 110% more confident in my ability to handle my pistol. Drawing my pistol, shooting fast and accurate, clearing malfunctions without thinking about it (though my glock is perfection), and reloading fast are all skill sets that are hard to work on without the pressure of the timer. I can't stand at a range and just shoot anymore. It's simple not fun.

[XDM45]

1. I love guns.
2. I like to see my name on a score sheet with a number by it.
3. I like drinking beer with guys who like guns.
4. All the hot chicks at the matches.

Do it and you'll be hooked, spend way more money, and end up in a van down by the river( or in my case a volkswagon). It has made me 110% more confident in my ability to handle my pistol. Drawing my pistol, shooting fast and accurate, clearing malfunctions without thinking about it (though my glock is perfection), and reloading fast are all skill sets that are hard to work on without the pressure of the timer. I can't stand at a range and just shoot anymore. It's simple not fun.

Well, I've already dropped about $3,500 on guns and supplies so far since I bought mine in Feb this year; and since April, I've put 3,000 rounds thought the 45 and 3,150 though the .22LR. Money really isn't an issue for me, but I'd hear about it from the wife if I dropped $5,000 on ammo (which I'd have no problem doing). She just doesn't get it and thinks you can just buy a gun, stick in a drawer loaded and ready for defense. She doesn't know about all the other stuff that goes with it. So yeah, might be a problem for me (if I want to stay married that is) if I joined an league to increase my gun expenses.

[plblark]

Reload

[XDM45]

Reload

I've considered that.

[Ron Burgundy]

I can completely **** the bed and I still come home with a big smile on my face.

^^^^THIS

I've been to exactly 5 USPSA events in Oakdale. I'm hooked. I do **** the bed and I'm loving it. I don't think I can ever enjoy shooting while stationary in a dirty range again.

[plblark]

I'm incredibly biased because I'm definitely hooked. Good times, good folks, and the various things going on in the match. There's the effect of the time pressure / beep, the balance of speed and accuracy, the opportunity to test your skills and make mistakes. It's a place where you can test and improve your skills under pressure, the good and the bad. If a malfunction can happen, it WILL happen on the clock at a match. learning to efficiently deal with it and get back to work in a second nature fashion is cool.

Did I mention that shooting is FUN and the people are cool?

re: getting into it:
I have a spare holster, mags, mag holders and M&P in 9mm. bring the ammo to the Sept steel shoot and try it out.

[bpacman]

Being new to Action Shooting I can give you my perspective.

I have been shooting for over 40 years now. Ever since my Pa put a shotgun in my hand and pulled the cord on the bluerock thrower I knew this is what I wanted to be good at. 23 years in the Army as an MP and CID Agent I got a lot of range time standing in line with my fellow soldiers waiting for the "Commence Fire" command. I shot Expert at everything they handed me from a Colt .38 Detective to a M60 Machine Gun.

None of this equals the experience, thrill, and realism that I have experienced shooting with the Guys and Gals of the Twin Cities Action Shooting club. I am 50 years old and 50 lbs heavier since my Army days. If I would have discovered this years ago, I would have made a more serious effort to be good at it. To me, it means more to make it through a match with no Procedural Errors or Hits on a Non-Threat than it does to shoot faster and straighter than the other people.

Each "Course of Fire" is a personal test that makes you think about cover, reloads, rounds on target and following the rules that are laid out. Making sure you are being safe and not doing something that will endanger you or your fellow shooters is a constant consideration that should be instinctive. In a real world situation this will always be at the forefront of every decision you make.

The only thing that gets in your way of enjoying these shooting matches is your ego and your personality flaws. Show up, remember the names of the people you shoot with and enjoys the laughs and the friendly competition. Because when that shoot timer goes off it is just you, the gun and the targets in front of you. There are people there just to make sure you are being safe, but the rest is on you. If you make a mistake that gets you disqualified for the day, you have an opportunity to show everyone that you are capable of learning from your mistakes and still stick around to help with the match.

All of the above is the best reason I can give you for doing some action shooting. My alternative reason is that it cuts down on my weekend Whiskey consumption....that doesn't happen when I am fishing

Bp

[westhope]

Unless you are shooting an match, how many of the ranges in the Metro allow you to draw from a holster, move to multiple positions, shoot while moving, reload (possibly while moving), shoot over, under, around, through barricades, shoot appearing and dis-appearing targets (or even allow you to shoot silhouette targets), allow any position but standing (kneeling or prone) all as fast as you can, all while under the additional stress of a timer. How many ranges have several different courses of fire each week to shoot.

That is only a part of what IDPA / IPSC is.

I even know of several ranges that have a maximum rate that you can fire your gun (no more than 1 shot every 5 seconds or so).

[Humphrey Bogart]

I shot this year and last at Oakdale USPSA and I'M hooked.

Thanks to the volunteers who did the heavy lifting to get it accomplished. The current person who is in charge will not be running it next year. Has someone taken over the responsibility yet?

Thanks again to everyone who makes it possible.

[usnret]

Reload

Ya, like that's going to save a person money. Lets see, it costs me less for ammo cause I make it myself.....Hey I can shoot more.

[SkyRock]

...Has someone taken over the responsibility yet?...

I don't think so.

[brado]

Fun

[plblark]

OT: The MN shooters did VERY well at Area 3.
http://www.uspsa.org/uspsa-display-matc ... ?indx=5655
Good Job!