OREGUN said:

I’ve shot 4-5 pro series matches a year since 2021. This year I’m on track to shoot 7. I’ll fly to six of them (airline, not private plane). I fly to most of the ones I shoot….im not driving 8 hours each way for anything.

I’m alone amongst my shooting friends in being willing to travel to more than a match or two and I'm the only one who flies to matches. I’ve seen friends go to a pro match or a couple matches and then retreat back to the simplicity of local outlaw matches or perhaps the regional scene. Why?

Right off the top:

-It’s expensive. There’s no two ways around it.
-It’s time consuming…how many working people with a family can take Friday-Monday off 6 times a summer? And that’s just the matches.
-There are lots of local matches for a simpler option. This speaks directly to @Sheldon N ’s dilution hypothesis. I have chosen local over national and vice versa several times. There are “too many” matches to choose from. Double this if you are in to hunter matches or rimfire.
-For people who don’t have a financial incentive to the there, Pro matches can feel like an industry bro-hang that is relatively uninviting to outsiders. This is exacerbated by self-squadding and letting sponsored shooters and match-sponsors squad themselves into super squads which are both/either competitively advantaged and/or further isolate new shooters.

Those are the big reasons that I’ve had friends use to excuse themselves from going back to a match.

Then there’s a host of little things that make matches less fun. Some venues are terrific and others suck in terms of lodging, match support, facilities (is there any covered shelter, running water, do I need a 4x4 to access the property, etc). Likewise the weather. Likewise the RO attitudes and behavior (here’s looking at you Roger-Koenig). How is the prize table handled (here’s looking at you Okie Showdown, prize table swarm). If you are on the fence about the cost-benefit and when you do show up to the match it under-performs your expectations, it’s a total mud-pit, the porta-potties are overflowing, your rental car gets stuck in the “parking”, the RO’s are grumpy, distracted, and treat you like a piece of shit, and then the prize table turns out to be a loot grab where some guys carry out armloads of stuff while others get nothing without regard to score, it sort of disincentivizes match attendance.

There’s are also some real maturing that needs to happen in the pro-series, in my opinion. The example that comes to mind is the rule situation regarding what can and cannot be said as a shooter moves through/the COF…against the backdrop of using other competitors as the spotters/impact callers. So, the officiating of a “pro” event is far less well-executed than it should be, in my opinion. HOWEVER, that’s not a reason that a one time shooter doesn’t come back, I don’t think.

Click to expand...

FuhQ said:

I'll stick with Proof CF barrels that are truly wrapped in layers... Historically, centerfires with carbon-sleeved barrels have been absolute shitshows for accuracy (I.E. Springfield Waypoint), so I have my doubts concerning a Ti sleeve, as well.

Click to expand...

xxflyingturtlexx said:

That 6cm running super fast by the time you settle you will need a new barrel

Click to expand...

some quick load development

ChrisAU said:

@RecoilXBrakes tell us about the new shorter but fatter two port brake I see on IG!

Click to expand...

1up5down said:

Does he still ship orders with Ramen?

Click to expand...

rimfire22lr said:

If she was protecting her kids, why did she unlock the door and go outside, leaving the kids alone?
I have been in a situation where cops were searching my neighborhood in hot pursuit of felons who had bailed out of a vehicle late at night. helicopter overhead on loudspeaker telling everyone to stay indoors, etc. I armed myself, checked my doors, turned on the floodlights in my backyard to aid the police, and STAYED MY ASS INDOORS. I cannot think of a single reasons why I would grab a gun and go outside. There is nothing whatsoever protective or smart about that move.

Click to expand...