Re: F-T/R Bullet Weight Cap (proposed), discussion.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nora23</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would like to post from the perspective of the "new shooter" being referred to so often.
My experience started with stock rifles and grew over a couple of years to a custom rig (though not a extremely expensive rifle). My skill has developed in shooting, wind reading,and loading. My first classification was Expert and I never expected to be competitive when I first started mush less win. I knew the only way I would be competitive was to learn more and practice a lot. I never believed there was a magic pill and still don't.
In October 2011 I shot the TN State Championship at MSSA in Memphis and won F/TR ( Since I don't live in TN I couldn't be state champion but was overall high shooter in F/TR. I set two national records (Which still have not been posted by the NRA) and made High Master at that match.
My point for saying all of this is that one of the best parts, to me, about the whole thing is the experimenting I've done with guns, barrels, stocks, triggers, scopes, bullets, powder,...well you get the point. The other best part is the people I have met since I started shooting.
I have seen people who have multiple thousand dollar rigs who don't practice, can't read the wind,or aren't careful loaders AND who aren't competitive. On the other hand, I've seen people who practice a lot, study and practice wind-reading skills, and load really good ammo, who can compete at the top with a stock Savage.
I honestly don't believe the equipment is as much of an issue as most think. I know shooters who shoot 155 SMK's that constantly beat everyone (but they are often talking about their barrels having over 5k rounds on them)and you don't get that good by buying high dollar equipment. I do have one question about the whole thing:
Who are the extremely shortsighted people who think competitive people will just stick with basic equipment, ammo, etc. out of the goodness of their hearts? Any area of any class left unspecified will be manipulated to the nth degree to obtain an advantage over everyone else. My opinion is that F/TR should be left alone and another class created where everyone is forced to compete with all the same gear and ammo. In all seriousness I think this class should be created and compared to F/TR to see which one grows the fastest.
Another question is: We are talking about changing a class that is GROWING? Does that make sense? Do new shooters really expect to be competitive when they start and do they quit when they don't win, or at least finish well? I think this may be coming from somewhere other than "new" shooters. Forget about it and IF the discipline starts to decline THEN make some changes (IF you can show EVIDENCE people are leaving the sport due to it being too much trouble and expense to experiment with the various components. People want to experiment or else they wouldn't do it. Start restricting it and you'll take the fun out of it. </div></div>
OK when your done patting yourself on your back let us know. We all have a few trophies around the house. The idea that you set a record in another state and did not get credit is nothing new. Wait until you set a World Record and dont get credit in US or the host country. Ask Stan Pate and Monte about that one.
Now onto your rant. Its not about keeping folks from attempting to get an edge its about keeping a 308 and a 223 a 308 and 223. We wanted to find a way to get a grip before F TR went the route of IPSC and the end result looked nothing like it started. Look at a current IPSC pistol and tell me thats a combat pistol. This started so us broken down folks could still compete and on level playing field.
We did not come up with this on our own we came up with this because folks complained about folks cheating to get an edge.
Frankly I vote in the end we do what ever the majority wants and right now I see more pissed at a potential change than want more limits
