So over the Contrived and Repetitive Nature of Stages today

Its a lot of work to run these things with 0 help. I'm a "new" shooter and I ended up being an RO and they are always begging for ROs. Setup/Tear down. People put a lot of hard work in and we got a lot of Sallies on the sidelines back seat driving. I couldn't get dick for help when RO during match to prepare even though I got last place (I'm just not very fast). All the top guys were "busy"

Yes I will bag on PRS for what it needs to improve. Still better than NOT shooting. Except for self-entitled "gimme a prize and I don't wanna have to do dick but show up" people. They suck.

One of the lower shooters got a new rifle in our match and one of the organizers got a new rifle as well. 0 issue with that. Hell I got a certificate for a discount and I basically was last place. And a hat! I'd still show up for free (In fact our finale I was supposed to shoot free as an RO, but i still paid--range time ain't free yo)
 
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If we are being honest, this needs to change.

Three steps: drop the weighted, tuned, flat-bottom rifle on a bag, wash, rinse, repeat

This is stupid; where is the training value beyond repetition, and what skill are we demonstrating?

There must be a reason; we need to have value in the course of fire. Sure, entertain us, but why not have a training objective with the stages?

What is the actual takeaway?

Even watching the stages at Cameo, they were reduced to size, ignoring the terrain, adding artificial props, and doing nothing to increase the stress or heart rate of the competitor. Why are we trying to ease shooters into a scenario instead of increasing the movement?

Why no mandatory mag changes, it's designed to work with you vs forcing you to adapt. The only compromise I see is the height of the obstacle, correct me if i am wrong, but what are the 3 main solutions to a shot being promoted? Bag on prop, bag on prop with tripod rear, bag on prop...

I know I am pissing in the wind, but I am gonna offer up choices; I think it's boring to watch; it's who taps the trigger vs who follows through, and not much else as the rifles do all the work. The only value comes in the number of stages you shoot, the repetition.

Look at it this way, at the IPRF there were no training clinics beyond Emils talk and really there is no value in training, only shooting the comps as is... weird they dont value training, there is nothing to be learned is what i saw, no Tips and Tricks, they just assume you are there so you are the peak of the sport... crazy they ignore this element

and before you dismiss it completely, look at archery again, look at the front page of their competitive organization, right at the top, find a coach, find a mentor, find training, learn the craft as you progress, we have none of that... strange to me.
Frank I quit shooting the matches when they went in the heavy non field equipment way. I coined the phrase IPSC with a sniper rifle. I have no problem with either it’s just not what I want to do

I miss the old field courses but I understand why the PRS has become more popular

I think what we miss is the older type training matches you, Jacob and Whittington used to put on. Of course they became less attended for awhile because the people doing them for training were mostly on two way ranges. Maybe it’s time to do more of them? Of course I am too broken to drag my butt around one of those courses but would help
 
You know the PRS doesn’t run matches obviously and there were many matches before 2012 when the PRS formed right?
Oh yeah....its a common problem, everyone bitches. No one helps. Lots of entitled people out there who think matches (of all kinds) just "happen"

Worst are the USPSA wannabe GMs who think they don't ahve to paste or reset.

I know thats off topic, but something I've noticed in the shooting sports. Everyone is gung ho until they ask for voluteers! I notice for about 40 shooters every week its the same 5 guys setting up. hmmmmmm

I may "bag" on the MD but I'm actually really nice "Have you thought about this......." On the hide I have to set my asshole level up about 10 notches.
 
You're in BC? I can see how it could be hard to have the same number of shooters as somewhere like the southern or eastern US.
Yup, way the fuck up north. Even well subscribed matches in the Vancouver area and the pacific NW struggle to break 40 shooters. This fall I’ve basically moved past the match travel comp game. No fun, too expensive in time&$$, results are irrelevant really. I will probably get a buddy or 2 to team up for a couple cool interesting matches a year I think. NRL Hunter style mostly. Regular PRS style we will squad with whoever the least experienced shooters are if we have a choice.
 
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Yup, way the fuck up north. Even well subscribed matches in the Vancouver area and the pacific NW struggle to break 40 shooters. This fall I’ve basically moved past the match travel comp game. No fun, too expensive in time&$$, results are irrelevant really. I will probably get a buddy or 2 to team up for a couple cool interesting matches a year I think. NRL Hunter style mostly. Regular PRS style we will squad with whoever the least experienced shooters are if we have a choice.

Be honest, you got tired of getting beat by Jerry and his Rem 783s 🤣
 
I shot PRS for almost 10 years most of it locally and regionally with a bit of national level too. This year I lost all interest. It became too much like a job to me. Spend a bunch of time in the reloading room, run to the range 2-4 times a month for live fire practice, do a bunch of dry fire practice in between. All of that for 20-40 minutes of actually shooting at a match.

Then add in buying barrels, brass, bullets powder and primers.

I have no ill will towards PRS and consider Ken a friend. I hope it grows and he can make a good living off of it for his family. Same goes for my local MDs, I hope it keeps growing and expanding.

It's just not for me anymore.
 
I shot PRS for almost 10 years most of it locally and regionally with a bit of national level too. This year I lost all interest. It became too much like a job to me. Spend a bunch of time in the reloading room, run to the range 2-4 times a month for live fire practice, do a bunch of dry fire practice in between. All of that for 20-40 minutes of actually shooting at a match.

Then add in buying barrels, brass, bullets powder and primers.

I have no ill will towards PRS and consider Ken a friend. I hope it grows and he can make a good living off of it for his family. Same goes for my local MDs, I hope it keeps growing and expanding.

It's just not for me anymore.
That's the way I was with skeet... except I had been doing it over 40 years (NSSA competition less than half that). After the debacle of my last match - culminating in a twice-repeated "jam" on the last stage caused by leaving the 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 chamber flag in (no points match so they let me reshoot), I was about ready to quit.

The problem is, I can't shoot for fun anymore. I crave the environment and "rush" of competition.

It has been my honor to have had two Vietnam-era fighter pilots in my life. Neither of them flew again after retirement. I asked one of them - he now rests in Arlington - why. He said pretty succinctly: after flying fast movers in combat, toodling around behind a fan had absolutely zero appeal.

In no way am I comparing combat to recreational shooting. I'm just saying there's a kick to competition that just doesn't happen with shooting for fun.

I do wish there were more seniors-friendly matches to be had (not so much "rifle yoga"). But I'm glad, now into my 70s, that I can still shoot PRS-style matches at all... I'm good with mid-pack finishes.

And my skeet gun is still in the safe. I hear it every so often.
 
I shot PRS for almost 10 years most of it locally and regionally with a bit of national level too. This year I lost all interest. It became too much like a job to me. Spend a bunch of time in the reloading room, run to the range 2-4 times a month for live fire practice, do a bunch of dry fire practice in between. All of that for 20-40 minutes of actually shooting at a match.

Then add in buying barrels, brass, bullets powder and primers.

I have no ill will towards PRS and consider Ken a friend. I hope it grows and he can make a good living off of it for his family. Same goes for my local MDs, I hope it keeps growing and expanding.

It's just not for me anymore.

I think this is a typical story.

People play the game, get heavily invested, and after a few years (5-10), get burnt out and pursue other things.

I started shooting PRS about 10-11 years ago, and I don't know if a single person in the top 20 from those days even competes anymore. Maybe even top 50 or more nationally. Lots of turnover.
 
I shot PRS for almost 10 years most of it locally and regionally with a bit of national level too. This year I lost all interest. It became too much like a job to me. Spend a bunch of time in the reloading room, run to the range 2-4 times a month for live fire practice, do a bunch of dry fire practice in between. All of that for 20-40 minutes of actually shooting at a match.

Then add in buying barrels, brass, bullets powder and primers.

I have no ill will towards PRS and consider Ken a friend. I hope it grows and he can make a good living off of it for his family. Same goes for my local MDs, I hope it keeps growing and expanding.

It's just not for me anymore.

It's all about why you shoot the sport. If you like it then keep shooting. Nothing says you have to go to every match and spend thousands on the game. I have been shooting the sport for 21 years now and still love to shoot matches. That said I have dialed it back from when I used to shoot a lot like you mentioned and then some. I used to fly around the country to go to matches as there weren't regional matches and ended up getting Delta Silver medallion one year with over 25,000 miles flown just going to matches. LOL

Take a year off and then start coming back in and shooting some local/regional and have fun. Don't worry about points and finales and BS like that. Hang with friends and enjoy it again.
 
I wonder if there is less burnout with the “buy once cry once” mindset than with the “buy, test, upgrade, repeat, learn from tinkering” mindset.

The former seems like it is more of a competition journey while the latter seems like it is more of an equipment journey.

The former seems to have one stressor, competition, while the latter has competition plus tinkering as a stressor.

Knowing which mindset you are in, and knowing when to switch, is likely of value for longevity.

Like my unfortunate tagline says, “If it ain’t broke, you can’t resist.”

-Stan
 
For me it was time and having a young family. Cost was another part.

3-4 hours round trip to go to the range 3-4 times per month. I stopped keeping track of time spent in the reloading room. Travel time, overnight time if it was an out of state match.

Cost was another factor. Though the gear chase probably kept me in it a little longer.

I might jump back in but probably in NRLH or Guardian matches. But for now I'll just golf with my old man and my crew from my firehouse.