[this was part of another post, but I'm re-rigging it and putting it here]
I think every gun owner should participate in shooting sports, at least occasionally.
Shooting sports don’t have to be expensive to participate in. IDPA is fairly cheap to shoot for example, just show up in your carry gear++ and 150 rounds of ammo(you’ll prob only shoot 80 to 120, depending) and a $10 match fee.
Another inexpensive type to look into is .22 rimfire. Locally there is plenty of .22 rimfire to participate in, Steel Challenge, Silhouette, Ruger Rimfire Challenge, Rimfire Multi Gun.
Here is why I think participating in shooting sports is a good thing
* it is fun
*it is challenging
*it is interesting, setting up a rifle on a benchrest shooting groups or standing there banging away with a handgun is not very interesting after a while
*you can justify new gun purchases to the wife/gf
*you can justify why you ’have all these guns’ to cement headed friends who don’t like guns without some long drawn out debate
*you will shoot more because you have a reason to shoot more
*you will meet a bunch of good people and make new friends
*you will learn a lot
*you will be a better shooter
*you will challenge yourself
*a shooting match is basically practice that is scored, if you want to approach it like that
*you can track your improvement fairly easily
*you can watch some good shooters and learn from them
*you can watch some newer shooters and learn from them too
*your gun handling and safety skill will really improve, it is rare to see a match shooter have poor gun handling skills
++as long as your carry gear is ok with the rule book
Generally there are 3 types of people who participate in shooting matches and all are valid reasons
1. those who are there to win
2. those who are there to do the best they can and improve/challenge themselves
3. those who are there to shoot some guns but mostly just go to a social event and hang out and chat.
Generally club level matches are relaxed fun shoots.
It is State, Regional and National matches where the participants will focus more and chit chat less
here is a quick list, that most are shot locally
Steel Challenge
Ruger Rimfire Challenge
IDPA
USPSA
Silhouette-.22 rifles, centerfire handguns, Black Powder Cartridges at a wide variety of distances
NRA Bullseye pistol
NRA Highpower
NRA Smallbore
Benchrest
CMP-Civilian Marksmanship Program
Tactical Rifle
Battle Rifle/ Vintage Military
Subgun/Combat Shotgun
Cowboy Action
Wild Bunch
3 Gun/ Multi-Gun
Trap
Skeet
Sporting Clays
5 Stand
Black Powder and Muzzleloading
Appleseed
Air gun
Palma
