Posted: 1/31/2008 6:27:42 AM EDT
|
If you don't visit the General Discussion area of this site, there's a discussion going on here regarding Highpower. I think that it's worth reading through to see why people don't shoot Highpower. Since it's difficult to get new people into the sport, I think it's valuable to know why people are interested and don't go to matches, or come once and never return. We need new shooters or the sport will die. Personally, I think that Highpower needs to make some changes to attract new shooters. |
A local club publishes a monthly gazzette and that is the subject of many articals. I would wonder what needs changed though? Optics? That seems to defeat the whole idea of learning to shoot a rifle. Course of fire? Maybe some type of modification to the rapid stages? Make it seem more energetic? I dont know. I like it the way it is but if changing some things allows the sport to prosper than I am all for it, within reason though. i dont think we should stray from the original intent of teaching civilians to become riflemen. |
| I ran a junior program for many years. We provided the guns, the ammuntion, the instruction and the facility. I would stop by groups of kids hanging around on street corners when I was enroute to the meetings, which were walking distance for the kids, and ask them if they wanted to come down and shoot a little and see if they might want to join. No takers. No ambition. It isn't just Highpower, it is shooting in general. Our club finally folded last year due to no participation. I don't think Highpower should be changed. The whole attitude of the nation needs changed. |
|
The thread was started by the guy that made a post on NM.US this morning that can't make it to a local match with pits because it's an hour and a half away, but is all signed up to go to shoot the Board Matches at Perry as his first full distance match. I'm not sure where he is coming with this since he is obviously inexperienced in HP. B |
|
Good afternoon. I started shooting Highpower/Service Rifle 7 years ago when I was 17. In the beginning I was intimidated by the gear foremost and the structure of the matches second. Since then, I've gotten over the gear pretty much. I have my own stuff, but I've tried to cut back on how much of it I actually use during the match. Amazingly, I shot better last year than I have in my whole shooting career. This was after taking 3 years off (/bragging). It made me realize that the equipment is almost completely ancillary to the shooter and his rifle. I have the privilege of living near one of the best ranges in my state. Aside from that, the guys in my club fell all over themselves trying to help me, loaning me stuff, giving advice and I think that this really helped out in getting me into the game. Even the "loudmouth" was a big help. I do not understand at all the attitudes I read about in the GD thread, I've never seen them. Now, the problem I've seen, apart from the gear (and that is a big deal), is the devotion the discipline requires. People my age and it's worse when they're younger, don't like to concentrate on their "playtime." At it's core, what sets Highpower apart is that it is a discipline, it takes concentration to hit an X at 600 whereas 3-gun and the others are more akin to a game (realism aside) like HALO or COD4. What I would suggest for attracting new shooters, is having a more informal environment. The rigorous course of fire kinda highlights glaring errors because it makes everything so serious. Of course, observation of safety is paramount, but perhaps instead of doing the whole "SHOOTERS TO THE LINE' "YOU HAVE x time FOR PREP" and such, just kinda keep on eye on what the shooters are doing and shoot when everyones ready. |