As a prior military pistol and rifle competitor who was a member of AMU for a short period during my military career I would like to know how competitors in the Airgun community feel about having to compete against individuals who are factory or sponsored individuals? Should they have a separate classification in matches? When I was in the military soldiers whose primary job was to represent their service competed separately from the average soldier. I think that was only fair since we had access to weapons and gunsmith services the average soldier did not. I don’t see the same level of fairness in the Airgun matches yet? Am I missing something in how competitors are classified? I’d like to see this sport grow and for people to be able to have a class that they have a chance to win in and receive prizes that are commensurate with what the sponsored individuals are winning. Like to know how you guys feel about it?
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- Thread starter xindaris
- Start date
Now just an opinion.
The top shooters in the Air Gunning sports can give any mere mortal a run for there money, Military or otherwise ... IMO
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I think you’re missing what I am saying. To me a factory or sponsored shooter has a big advantage over a regular shooter with equal skills. The factory or sponsor gives them the best most accurate rifle and equipment they have. I think they should have a separate class for them when they compete. The military did that to give the regular soldier a fair playing field to compete in. If you want to grow the sport you have to have classes the regular guy can compete in and win prizes like the sponsored guys in the sport or you’re going to watch the sport decline instead of grow. Just my take.
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NOTE: This thread does NOT apply to 10 Meter Precision Air Rifle competition at the club, division, region, national, or international levels!
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Not really ... as most of the serious shooters in the AG sports already are shooting exotic rifles that cost these guys 2-$4000 before adding optics !
I've been in competitive AG shooting now in the FT game going on 12 years and have gear that is Super exotic tweaked and massaged by those who know there way around these competitive rigs.
Honestly there is nothing at the factory level that has any advantage over what guys are self assembling & setting up ... as there gear is the stuff average joe's do not have & only wish they did, which is to your point I belief
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"guys are self assembling & setting up"
IMO these guys^^^^ have an advantage over the "factory" guys as they will know that gun inside out and sideways.......
IMO these guys^^^^ have an advantage over the "factory" guys as they will know that gun inside out and sideways.......
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I’ve never competed in competitions but it was my u derstanding that in the big ones such as RMAC and EBR there was a “pro class” and a “sportsman’s class”. Is that correct?
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Air gun competitions seem to be full of 'factory' sponsored guys. I see team shirts that say FX, Daystate, Utah and many others.
When a guy can shoot a target at 650 yds on the first shot, with an air gun.... I don't think that person is going to be 'out of their league' in ANY shooting environment.
When a guy can shoot a target at 650 yds on the first shot, with an air gun.... I don't think that person is going to be 'out of their league' in ANY shooting environment.
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While we see a little bit of sponsored shirts & players at National & State Field Target championships, by in large if you FOLLOW THE MONEY, as in events with $$$ purses to be won, then the factory & gear sponsorships & there highly visible shooters show up IN MASS !!!!
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All of the major airgun competitions have Pro and Sportsman class to even the playing field. But Sportsman shooters can enroll for Pro if they so choose. But not the other way around.
Thx
Dan
Thx
Dan
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If any changes were to be made, I would like to see classes based on caliber. We don't see any Air Arms at our big benchrest competitions. It is difficult for a .22 to compete against a .30 in the West Coast winds. (I imagine. Not speaking from experience) If there were a .22 class, a lot more manufacturers could be competitive.
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That does make a lot of sense, CALIBER with a Power limit.
Tho without a lot of persons to fill the class's making the event worthwhile, it makes for a lot more management of keeping track & scoring etc ...
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You are 100% correct. There would have to be enough shooters to make it financially worth doing.
It may bring in more manufactures/sponsorship dollars. That could help offset costs.
I admit the promotors seem to be doing pretty well, so there is no incentive to add a division. Maybe a promotor will try it someday.
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They equalize the different calibers by plugging the hole with a .30 cal plug so everyone that shoots is all scored with the same largest caliber for the score. .177 would be plugged with a .30 cal plug if one was so inclined to use a .177
Thx
Dan
Thx
Dan
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Given my advantages of 65 years of airgunning, 40 years of competitive airgunning, shooting skills belying my 'unique' shooting form(s), and a half-century of accumulated shade-tree gunsmithing skills with hack-saw, file, rotary-tool, baling-wire and duct tape, I purposely shoot the oldest, cheapest, and least competition-specific equipment in any given shooting competition, in order to not have ALL the advantages over my opponents.
"I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit my opponents' youth and inexperience."
That said, I don't hold it against any competitor taking advantage of any and all legal limits.
Happy Shooting, All!
.
"I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit my opponents' youth and inexperience."
That said, I don't hold it against any competitor taking advantage of any and all legal limits.
Happy Shooting, All!
.
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Everything's Bigger & Grander in Texas .. EVEN THE HOT AIRGiven my advantages of 65 years of airgunning, 40 years of competitive airgunning, shooting skills belying my 'unique' shooting form(s), and a half-century of accumulated shade-tree gunsmithing skills with hack-saw, file, rotary-tool, baling-wire and duct tape, I purposely shoot the oldest, cheapest, and least competition-specific equipment in any given shooting competition, in order to not have ALL the advantages over my opponents.
"I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit my opponents' youth and inexperience."
That said, I don't hold it against any competitor taking advantage of any and all legal limits.
Happy Shooting, All!
.
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Just me but the "sponsored" money events are the worst thing ever in airgun sports. Other than normal airgun use, target/trigger time,squirrels for the table and just plain fun I've only "competed" in FT. Saw more innovation (yup even Ron) from FT shooters just doing their own thing than has come about from the recent -to me- money & factory events. Read something here someone impressed with one of the newer rifles using the new idea of radial a transfer port. May have been called "spools" 20 years ago but not new. On and on.
My have shot 1,000 FT match's/shoots and only took home the BIG prizes twice. Never "tried" or cared to win, just the most fun I've evrr had with some of the best people I've ever known.
Thinking my 1st shoot was at Brad's TVA Club (naturally no membership..... required just "run what ya brung" w/in fpe limits). Now Brad can set up an FT huter course that will challenge THE best squirrel hunter in the world! Flip side of the course challenged THE best technical shooters anywhere. FUN!
Didn't last long after I found those folks but Roz opened the Good Ole Boy's club in Pulaski aka Play Ground of Champions. Nicest people! nicest 3 different shooting courses period. Probably shot 10 different day's before asking someone "why playground of champions" Hahaha. I had no idea who was who & it dint matter to me or them. Just a squirrel hunter with daily use rig (just like the fellow with that 2 piston springer except he got more squirrel with his than I did). Just the nicest men women & children (yes a 10 year old from the "club" took 1st at the Nationals in KY in his class).
Good people, good times and always up on the very newest as well as the oldest (well late 1800's) stuhff.
I do not feel money ads a damn thing.
Pic of a great day AND I even took home the 2nd place prize!
Nothing against anyone who seeks the fame, glory and money. It just seems so much like another Job rather than fun to me.
Life is Good. Life is short. Y'all have some fun anyway ya like but dont worry about little things too much. Eh?
John
My have shot 1,000 FT match's/shoots and only took home the BIG prizes twice. Never "tried" or cared to win, just the most fun I've evrr had with some of the best people I've ever known.
Thinking my 1st shoot was at Brad's TVA Club (naturally no membership..... required just "run what ya brung" w/in fpe limits). Now Brad can set up an FT huter course that will challenge THE best squirrel hunter in the world! Flip side of the course challenged THE best technical shooters anywhere. FUN!
Didn't last long after I found those folks but Roz opened the Good Ole Boy's club in Pulaski aka Play Ground of Champions. Nicest people! nicest 3 different shooting courses period. Probably shot 10 different day's before asking someone "why playground of champions" Hahaha. I had no idea who was who & it dint matter to me or them. Just a squirrel hunter with daily use rig (just like the fellow with that 2 piston springer except he got more squirrel with his than I did). Just the nicest men women & children (yes a 10 year old from the "club" took 1st at the Nationals in KY in his class).
Good people, good times and always up on the very newest as well as the oldest (well late 1800's) stuhff.
I do not feel money ads a damn thing.
Pic of a great day AND I even took home the 2nd place prize!
Nothing against anyone who seeks the fame, glory and money. It just seems so much like another Job rather than fun to me.
Life is Good. Life is short. Y'all have some fun anyway ya like but dont worry about little things too much. Eh?
John
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When I was competing in center fire I started with a .308 I found in a pawnshop. I placed well even against some SWAT team shooters. How? Just practice and learning as much as I could. These days I shoot 10 meter airgun competitively. Most of my competition is younger, probably 6th grade and up. They have good family support, they are safety oriented and they do the work. They practice. None of them have factory support. I started with a 2078A bought specifically for 10 meter and practiced. Got my butt kicked regularly. Added an Anschutz made for 10m specifically and practice regularly. Still getting my butt kicked. So no, sponsorships don’t make a big difference in my experience. Can be helpful but learning, putting in the time and doing the work, that’s how to win.
Rick H.
Rick H.
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Two words may speak more volumes, and lend more poignant perspective on the subject of this thread than all others combined (including all my bloviations).
1) Carroll.
2) Shelby.
By the way Scott, you get three guesses where those words originated.
1) Carroll.
2) Shelby.
By the way Scott, you get three guesses where those words originated.
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