Forum Suggestion

[high standard 40]

And with all due respect to YOU, highstandard40, the 2500 dollar
revolvers I spoke of werent just admitted to competition! Elgin Gates
hadnt been in his grave a YEAR, until they were judged legal for IHMSA
competition. We can argue about this, you have your opinion, I have
mine, and I dont think either one is gonna budge on either's opinion.
I'll just say we are gonna have to agree to disagree, and leave it at that!

I can see that I can't sway you from your opinion. The difference is that I am stating a position based on research, not just an opinion.

[260 Striker]

Lockhart,
I guess I missed the memo about winning is everything. IHMSA silhouettes are FUN for me and have been since day one even now 35 years later. I attend matches to shoot not to win. I really don't care if I come in first, last or whatever, I'm there to shoot steel. I bring new guns, new loads, no sight settings, bore sighted guns (try that with iron sights) and enjoy every hit and sometimes the misses. If all you care about is winning then this may not be the game for you. Or maybe that is why the equipment race means so much. I'm not saying your view point is wrong but it sounds like you are missing out on a lot of fun by worrying about your equipment or always wanting to beat everyone else in your class. I value your opinion but hope you can begin to enjoy silhouettes more.

[high standard 40]

I'm still shooting an 8" DW revolver in 357 Mag with cast bullets. My smallbore revolver is a Single Six. I never felt the need to buy a FA. I'm of the same opinion as Lynn. I shoot to have fun and my only opponent is the guy I look at in the mirror every day. Maybe the problem IHMSA has is that too many people feel that they have to spend the family budget to have fun. I have no problem with people who have the $2500 revolvers and have many good friends in this sport that do have them. I don't have the funds for that myself. It does not however change how much fun I have with the equipment I do have.

[jcunclejoe]

Well, I started in 1996 and there were plenty of fancy guns out there. I watched our match director shoot BB rams at 200 yards with a 4" Smith 44. After he hit half of them, I decided right there and then I wanted to be like him, I wanted to become a better shot with a pistol. I was fresh out of college and not making much money. I brought my 35 Rem contender and my Single Six 22 revolver. I started shooting with the only goal of becoming a better shot with a pistol. I got better, then I started wanting to shoot better than other people. At some point my skill FINALLY exceeded my equipment so I started buying better stuff. It took me 10 years to build my full IHMSA arsenal. I finally did buy a pair of Freedom revolvers but my first 100 club entry was shot with a Ruger 357 Max (standing and revolver entries).
For me it was not about the equipment or winning until I had learned how to shoot, how to control the sights and the trigger, how to load and test accurate ammunition, how to determine when my skills had exceeded my equipment.

I love to win but some of the most memorable and meaningful matches I have ever been to are the ones where my friends beat me. One in particular was where Bill Pendleton won the BB US world Championship in Texas. I cam in second and could not have been more proud of Bill. I watched him clean a bank of turkeys and then dance a jig afterward.

Everyone has their reasons and motivation for shooting silhouettes. Mine are listed above and I expect a little unique but probably a bit familiar too.

A huge hurdle now is the lack of components and the fact that many young people have a 3 month attention span. There is quad season, snowmobile season, motorcycle season and boat or ski-doo season. Everything has to be fast, powerful, and not require any real skill or dedication beyond 3 months.
I've never heard of a vine before but I agree completely with the statement.

I love this sport and will never quit as long as I can keep on shooting steel.

Joe

[high standard 40]

Thanks for your input Joe. Your story mirrors mine.............except for the established achievement part. I love our sport and will never quite as long as my body will allow. I'm nearly 65 now and the eyes are starting to go away but I still shoot entries with iron sights, though I'm one of very few to do so at our matches anymore. Each of the categories that have been added through the years has been an effort to increase attendance. Each easing of the requirements was an effort to improve options for shooters. At our current range I can say beyond a doubt that if it were not for the scoped categories, I would likely be the only person to show up. We as a group of shooters are getting older and older. We don't get younger shooters to our matches and I have addressed the reasons as have some others here. Younger people for the most part are looking for the instant rush and they want it now, being unwilling to wait for anything worthwhile.

[35isit]

People get out of silhouette what they want to. Some love it some don't, some want to win every time and some don't. Cost of equipment is not always a determining factor. Take trap for example. You can buy a used Remington 1100 trap model for $350.00 or spend $20,000.00 plus for a new Perazzi or Silver Seitz. Either one will break targets. Same as a used $350.00 Ruger Blackhawk or a $2000.00 F.A. Both will knock down targets with accurate loads and practice.

This sport is not for everyone. This sport is hard. Just getting someone to a match does not mean they will be a member for ever.

To the subject at hand I think we need a members only forum.

[ole95]

Am I in the right place is this the members only part of the forum we were talking about or just the laundry mat

[dhagerty40x]

Am I in the right place is this the members only part of the forum we were talking about or just the laundry mat

you guys left the door open again!

[jcunclejoe]

and the cat dragged in ole95

[LOCKHART]

260striker, I am not talking about myself, I'm talking about NEW SHOOTERS! If
they come to a match and even THINK that it takes a 2500 dollar gun to be competitive,
MOST of them are not COMING BACK! Thats ALL i meant. I will continue shooting this
game until it all folds up, which, as pertaining to IHMSA, is probably not far off. I hope
my local club will continue on even if this happens.