[msredneck]

Got a membership application last week from the USPSA.

Not sure I need to join just yet, I'm still sorting through what it takes to compete. One thing that caught my eye was the letter from Michael Voigt, the USPSA President...it made me reflect on the mindset of the USPSA and what our attitude should be as we approach competition.

"By participating in competition you learn that it takes tremendous dedication and hard work to be a champion. One cannot just buy a new gun and move up in the classification system. You have to learn how the gun works, how to care for it, load ammunition, spend hours on the range shooting, watch and learn technique, and practice, practice, practice. We don't all win all the time, and when we lose we appreciate what the winner had to do and respect him or her all the more for it. And when we win, we deeply appreeciate what we have accomplished and those who have helped us."


It is my hope that many shooters on msgunowners will consider coming out and getting involved in competitive shooting. I have one reason for giving it a try...I figure no matter how poorly I do, it will still make me a better shooter in a bad situation.

Is USPSA "real world" shooting?...not exactly..But competition puts a little "stress" on you, folks are watching and it aint always easy on the ego to see your name at the bottom of the heap......But I don't concern myself with such matters..If you are out at night on the town and two thugs attack your wife and child...are you gonna be stressed then? You betcha....

So mull it over, Competitive shooting can be a lot of fun (eventually)...Personally I have a lot of things to overcome...ie excuses...Ex. Starting at 50 years old, Fat, slow, old eyes that need bifocals...left eye dominate but right handed etc etc.....I'm gonna hang in there with it for one reason, personal improvement....I hope others will do the same.

So that's my little rant for competitive shooting...There's lots to choose from...USPSA, ICORE, shooting steel


Go give it a try!

 

[GunOneDown]

bottom line is: ITS FUN
lots of good people there to share conversation with on the topics we all love to discuss GUNS.

did I mention its FUN.

 

[bigsig]

'neck, if you look at it as a compitition that means you are trying to win something. Look at it as a day at the range with new friends. I did not go shoot to win, I went to try a new way of shooting. I'm not in it to become the next Max Michel Jr. , but if G.O.D. can get a friendly grudge match going then we are not worried about everyone else just bettering ourselves.

 

[SubGunFan]

You either approach shooting matches as a Gamer or a Sportsman... A Gamer are the ones that compete to win. Sportsman compete to just have fun. While both groups compete to learn and have fun, the Gamers are just "wound a little tighter".....

In my early days of IPSC shooting (80s) I lived & breathed IPSC (Gamer BIG TIME).... And yes, I won most of the matches I entered. Now being older (maybe wiser), my outlook on IPSC matches (and matches in general) is different. The competitors and equipment have improved, and I do not have the time (or desire) to try to keep up with them. Now the few matches I shoot each year are JUST TO HAVE FUN..... The memories of the past matches and the friends I made are PRICELESS ! ! !

Having a Gamer mind set and starting IPSC is fine. Just please don't enter your first IPSC match thinking you are the BADDEST MOFO on the block..... You will be put in your place (not winning) by the current group of experienced Gamers. When your "couch commando" bubble gets popped, you might not want to shoot matches again. That would be YOUR LOSS...................

So.... Start IPSC competition as a Sportsman. Go in with the basic equipment and an open mind. As you get better, you might want to upgrade your equipment and then possibly...... step over the line to the "Dark Side" and become a Gamer. No matter which group you choose, the competitors will become your new friends.

..................................

 

[Cliff Cargill]

When I started pistol competition 20 years ago, SugGunFan was the dude winning all the matches.

My reply to his post?

"What that guy said." :thumbup: