Why HAVEN'T you shot your first match yet?

[bigfelipe]

Like NKD mentioned, danger isn't a legitimate concern. Safety is paramount anywhere I shoot. As to folks arguing the cost... A match is usually cheaper than a range session, IME. Most folks have the requisite gear. If you don't, you should anyway. Buy one less gun and get some holsters and mag holders and such. The entry fee is usually about what an hour at the range costs you and you'll run through less ammo in a handful of stages than you would running mags through your gun at paper in an hour.

Time is the biggest real factor. There are matches on weekday evenings and weekends most places though. Look around and you'll find something you can make I bet.

To those that are just too lazy, or too scared to go outside and interact with people outside the web, can't help ya with that...

 

[august1410]

Confidence. I have no confidence. Additionally, the fear of looking bad, though no one says it's and issue, is my biggest hurdle.

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[NKD]

Confidence. I have no confidence. Additionally, the fear of looking bad, though no one says it's and issue, is my biggest hurdle.

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Most important thing to remember:

99% felt exactly the same way when we went our first match or two. We all looked bad, because we were bad. The other 1% were overconfident, lol.

Nobody cares what gun, shoes, clothes, equipment, etc. that you have. People would be happy to have a new shooter there even if they missed every single target with a Hipoint and a Nylon holster. The good shooters are happy to watch newbs to see how far they have come, and the mediocre shooters are thankful there might be someone lower on the leader board!

 

[fieldgrade]

Confidence. I have no confidence. Additionally, the fear of looking bad, though no one says it's and issue, is my biggest hurdle.

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I am very confident at every match that I will finish in the bottom half of the score sheet.
And I succeed every time. LOL

 

[Bull Durham]

I am in a bluegrass band.....

 

[Ghost1]

because I'm a chicken

 

[InvisibleOne]

When I was a kid, the shooting gallery was one of my favorite attractions because it had fun targets. Not just punching paper like we did at home (Dad was all about precision groups).
So, the idea of a 3-gun course looks like a lot of fun, different targets at different distances with different guns ... COOL! I'd really like to give it a try.
But, when I factor in a 90 minute drive to the range, it's usually more appealing to just hang soda cans from the trees in the backyard.
Maybe someday?

 

[NCLivingBrit]

The only handgun I have left is an NAA mini?

 

[fieldgrade]

I can't recall if I mentioned this upthread, but my office is at home, and with old parents needing attention, my wife and I rarely get out of town. Plus I live in the Containment area which sorta drives me nuts.

One of the things about shooting IDPA matches beyond just becoming more confident with my gear and shooting is...

a) I love driving 30 minutes to two hours away from my house in the Containment Area every Saturday morning. It makes me smile.

b) I like eating two country ham biscuits on the way. It makes me smile.

c) As Amp Mangum likes to say, I like getting outside and "making a joyful noise." It makes me smile.

d) I'm somewhat of a social animal and I like hanging out with a bunch of like-minded individuals for most of the day Saturday. It makes me smile.

e) I like breaking bread after the match with these like minded individuals every Saturday. It makes me smile.

f) I like playing with my guns, ammo, and gear while sitting in my office getting ready Friday night before. It makes me smile.

g) I like shopping for more gear, ammo, and guns during the week because I think they will make me shoot better scores. It makes me smile.

 

[Wolffy]

I can't recall if I mentioned this upthread, but my office is at home, and with old parents needing attention, my wife and I rarely get out of town. Plus I live in the Containment area which sorta drives me nuts.

One of the things about shooting IDPA matches beyond just becoming more confident with my gear and shooting is...

a) I love driving 30 minutes to two hours away from my house in the Containment Area every Saturday morning. It makes me smile.

b) I like eating two country ham biscuits on the way. It makes me smile.

c) As Amp Mangum likes to say, I like getting outside and "making a joyful noise." It makes me smile.

d) I'm somewhat of a social animal and I like hanging out with a bunch of like-minded individuals for most of the day Saturday. It makes me smile.

e) I like breaking bread after the match with these like minded individuals every Saturday. It makes me smile.

f) I like playing with my guns, ammo, and gear while sitting in my office getting ready Friday night before. It makes me smile.

g) I like shopping for more gear, ammo, and guns during the week because I think they will make me shoot better scores. It makes me smile.

You need to smile more.

 

[Jayne]

Money....I just priced out a belt, holster and mag pouches, $175

I've been shooting matches for about 1.5 years. Two matches a month, sometimes more if I'm motivated. I'm using a $25 sherpa that I broke the retention button out of and just last month upgraded to a new $15 double mag pouch. I've been using my CCW belt the whole time. I'm usually in the top half to top 1/3 of the shooters at the matches and have zero interest in buying more holsters/carriers/race guns. I just want to shoot and keep my skills up. Maybe when I'm losing to guys by 1/10th of a second I'll think I need a new holster.

EDIT: the whole "top half to top 1/3" goes out the window at steel challenges. I fall apart at those and go home crying. It's awful.

 

[NKD]

I can't recall if I mentioned this upthread, but my office is at home, and with old parents needing attention, my wife and I rarely get out of town. Plus I live in the Containment area which sorta drives me nuts.

One of the things about shooting IDPA matches beyond just becoming more confident with my gear and shooting is...

a) I love driving 30 minutes to two hours away from my house in the Containment Area every Saturday morning. It makes me smile.

b) I like eating two country ham biscuits on the way. It makes me smile.

c) As Amp Mangum likes to say, I like getting outside and "making a joyful noise." It makes me smile.

d) I'm somewhat of a social animal and I like hanging out with a bunch of like-minded individuals for most of the day Saturday. It makes me smile.

e) I like breaking bread after the match with these like minded individuals every Saturday. It makes me smile.

f) I like playing with my guns, ammo, and gear while sitting in my office getting ready Friday night before. It makes me smile.

g) I like shopping for more gear, ammo, and guns during the week because I think they will make me shoot better scores. It makes me smile.

Nailed it with this post!

I would add:

h) I like to learn and get better at things.

 

[fieldgrade]

I've been shooting matches for about 1.5 years. Two matches a month, sometimes more if I'm motivated. I'm using a $25 sherpa that I broke the retention button out of and just last month upgraded to a new $15 double mag pouch. I've been using my CCW belt the whole time. I'm usually in the top half to top 1/3 of the shooters at the matches and have zero interest in buying more holsters/carriers/race guns. I just want to shoot and keep my skills up. Maybe when I'm losing to guys by 1/10th of a second I'll think I need a new holster.

EDIT: the whole "top half to top 1/3" goes out the window at steel challenges. I fall apart at those and go home crying. It's awful.

Indeed. Aside from buying different sights for the Grock I just bought, the only other thing I bought for it was a BladeTech kydex holster I found for $28. I have two others and like 'em.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Because...

I work my keister off all the time and there aren't any conveniently close matches for me to attend. When I'm not at work or busy with other things, I'm doing things with and for my family.

 

[dmarbell]

Nobody cares what gun, shoes, clothes, equipment, etc. that you have.

And nobody cares what you shoot. They are too busy worrying about how they shoot/shot.

 

[dalek]

Someone want to help me try a precision match? I am interested in shooting a dmm match.

Only precision matches I know are the long range sniper thingie ones Frontline Defense has.

I am in a bluegrass band.....

So you can compose music about your matches.

Confidence. I have no confidence. Additionally, the fear of looking bad, though no one says it's and issue, is my biggest hurdle.

Use it as a learning experience. Learn to laugh at you and when you screw up. The reality is that if you do something bad and learn how to do it better, you will remember and get better at it. Accept that you are not perfect, that you still have a lot to learn, and embrace that. Keep an open mind and a learning attitude.

Honestly I think 99.999% of the people here know more than I do and are much better shots than me. The corollary of that is that I then have a ton of *victims* I can suck their brains and learn from. Can you say opportunity? Every day you learn something new is a good day. The day I think I mastered everything will be a sad day indeed.

If you read my other thread, I can bitch about principles and regulations, but if I am going to a competition, it is to learn and make friends. Now, If I am really luck, it will be also to fart upwind of my competitors so they lose their edge.

 

[The Green Heron]

i can't recall if i mentioned this upthread, but my office is at home, and with old parents needing attention, my wife and i rarely get out of town. Plus i live in the containment area which sorta drives me nuts.

One of the things about shooting idpa matches beyond just becoming more confident with my gear and shooting is...

A) i love driving 30 minutes to two hours away from my house in the containment area every saturday morning. It makes me smile.

B) i like eating two country ham biscuits on the way. It makes me smile.

C) as amp mangum likes to say, i like getting outside and "making a joyful noise." it makes me smile.

D) i'm somewhat of a social animal and i like hanging out with a bunch of like-minded individuals for most of the day saturday. It makes me smile.

E) i like breaking bread after the match with these like minded individuals every saturday. It makes me smile.

F) i like playing with my guns, ammo, and gear while sitting in my office getting ready friday night before. It makes me smile.

G) i like shopping for more gear, ammo, and guns during the week because i think they will make me shoot better scores. It makes me smile.

H) i like to put on a fashion show after a match, by changing shirts no less than 3 times, between the range and eatery dujour, it makes me smile. It makes everyone else ltao.

fify

 

[The Green Heron]

I think someone already alluded to the number one reason, and it will never be spoken aloud. It is the subconscious scream of every railbird.

Absolutely, do not want anyone to see how you really shoot.
It's real hard to have a larger than life persona on the internet, when you are personally known away from a keyboard. It is also easy to be a legendary shot, if no one ever sees you shoot in a match. I have seen it go the other way as well. I have heard of great legends at certain "sealed" matches, that swam outside their little pond and find out publicly that they weren't as big a fish as they thought.

I've shot many disciplines, directed matches, been an RO etc. And I have never seen anything beyond encouragement. I have worked with folks who were hopeless but they showed up, and did their best anyway. That beats heck out of the guy who stayed home.
If I am any good(and I done told you I ain't), it is because of the great bunch of shooters I have shot against. If your only motivation is to beat yourself then you aren't going to get much better. The competition is where you hone your skills against others. Those good shooters should not intimidate you, but be the stone against which your steel is honed. Any good shooter worth his salt will be quick to help you shoot better if you ask.

You don't need to practice, the match is practice. If you have the time and inclination, sure practice is good. If you make the excuse about rules or can't win etc I've got news for you, you sure as heck can't win any if you never shoot one.

 

[billyh]

I've been reading this thread and kept my mouth shut because I am one of those guys that really doesn't compete in matches. I have shot a couple non-sanctioned stuff and had a blast.

My big things that hold me back is time and money. I either have one or the other. Right now it seems time is on my side but the money part is pretty thin but with the awesome people here that's starting to work itself out.

My first legit match, if a new job isn't preventing me from going, is going to be the Statesville USPSA match on the 19th. It's a 5 hour one way drive. Wolffy and Butter have done due diligence convincing me to go. My first goal is two parts; be safe, and don't get dq'd. After this match I plan on shooting some F-Class (thanks to @The Green Heron) this year too, hopefully.

 

[fieldgrade]

fify

I didn't change shirts you big sissy. I took one off, then another, and as hot as it was at Alpaca Peruvian Chicken after the match, I almost took the last one off.

Thank me later.

 

[The Green Heron]

I didn't change shirts you big sissy. I took one off, then another, and as hot as it was at Alpaca Peruvian Chicken after the match, I almost took the last one off.

Thank me later.

OK....Now I have laughed till my belly hurts.

 

[dalek]

I didn't change shirts you big sissy. I took one off, then another, and as hot as it was at Alpaca Peruvian Chicken after the match, I almost took the last one off.

Thank me later.

I imagine a lot of people are thankful you didn't
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[Wolffy]

So those that were contemplating shooting a first match, have you? Why not? If you did what was your experience? As much fun as we promised?