What's the Deal with Competitive Shooting?

I recently graduated and got a low-paying gubbermint job, and I've gotten back into shooting. I have a couple 22LR's (one bolt, one autoloader), a Mosin, and a Ruger LC9S for CCW. I sold my Glock 17 a couple years ago. Since I'll lack the space or money to get back into motorsports until the fiancé gets a job as well, I'm considering getting into some kind of competitive shooting in the interim. I don't mind something that gives me a reason to buy another gun, especially if it's a Gen4 G17 or a 16" barrel AR-15 pattern gun.

I've tried trap shooting, it's fun, but I don't own a shotgun, and it's fairly expensive, $80 an outing, would be $60 if I had my own gun. I've heard of various other shooting sports, but never tried any. What do you guys enjoy? Bonus points for being able to use a gun I already have, being available in Central Ohio, or being somewhat "tactical"/practical. (I did two Iraq tours, what can I say).

TIA,

Joe

In reply to ShadowSix:

The shop boss at work is a big fan of three-gun competition ( article ).

Either of these close to ya? 3-gun

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is out of Camp Perry: CMP

I know they do service rifle competitions (Garand, foreign, etc) but it's more marksman versus the tactical competitions you were looking for.

It also looks like you're central to all sorts of "Cowboy Action" shooting clubs: SASS

Personally, I kind of dig the Cowboy action just for the giggle factor.

Autocross lets me pretend I'm a real race car driver, SASS lets me pretend I'm John Wayne.

When I was a kid we did target shooting at 50 feet with .22 rifles, I guess it's called smallbore rifle competition today. I thought it was a lot of fun. http://compete.nra.org/how-to-get-started/smallbore-rifle-competition.aspx

Trap is awesome, and you don't need an expensive shotgun to get into it. Reloading shells is MUCH less complicated than handloading bullets, and can cut the cost significantly.

Personally, I'd look into IDPA. Relatively cheap buy in, tactical\practical, and lots of clubs all over the place: http://www.idpa.com/compete/clubsearch?stateProvinceId=36&countryId=1&search=

USPSA. Basically an autocross with a pistol. Go get another G17, 3-4 extra mags, and have fun.

uspsa.org has a guide to your local clubs. Long story short, there's USPSA clubs pretty much everywhere. In Florida, I can shoot 6-8 matches a month within a two hour drive, and three within a 45 minute drive.

I can't really help with what you like... but join a well equipped sportsman's club with national level competition affiliation. They will have everything available to taste.

I like shooting metal targets that are really far away and a few of the pistol things but I really don't compete. I play. back of pack stuff. There are some serious berkeleying shooters in nepa.

The Glock would fit in with IDPA and USPSA.

Rifles of all sorts fit in with Appleseed events, but that is geared more toward basic rifle marksmanship than "tactical" shooting.

The Mosin, if unmodified, could be used in vintage military rifle matches, such as those the CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) holds.

The Mosin and an iron-sighted 16" AR could be used in NRA Highpower Rifle matches as Match Rifles. That's position rifle shooting with some rapid-fire thrown in. The shorty AR's will be at a disadvantage (Velocity/sight adjustment at mid- and long-range, sight radius at all ranges), but can still be fun if you're just there to get better. The Mosin is a bit of a challenge on several fronts, but I like old military rifles.

Also, check out NSSF's Rimfire Challenge and Silhouette.

I used to shoot NRA Hunter Pistol Smallbore. If you have a 22 target pistol, that's a good one. I was AAA in iron sights and AA in any sight. Of course, finding 22 ammo these days is challenging.

I have been wanting to go and try the "Rattle Battle" match at this place Briar Rabbit but so far I have had Drill every time.

calteg wrote: Trap is awesome, and you don't need an expensive shotgun to get into it. Reloading shells is MUCH less complicated than handloading bullets, and can cut the cost significantly.

My friend went this route, $500 Stoeger 20ga O/U and a reloading setup that I taught him how to use. The most time consuming part is inspecting all the spent hulls to insure they are still good. He reloads roughly 750-1000 shells through the week for weekend trap shoots. I did it for him once and I was able to reload about 250rd/hr on a basic setup. Much quicker than reloading metallic case ammunition.

The local Rod & Gun club shoots every weekend. In September they had a meet and people showed up from all over the northeast. I didn't know until I flew over it, but they have a little western town all laid out with a bar, country store, post office etc. The drill is to walk down the middle of the street and manequins pop out for you to shoot; similar to Hogan's Alley. Contestants get all cowboyed up in period correct attire.

As in any other sport, a club is the way to go. Costs are divided evenly over the membership. I can fly a high performance world class sailplane for $20/month, can't do that alone.

Dan

ShadowSix wrote: I've heard of various other shooting sports, but never tried any. What do you guys enjoy? Bonus points for being able to use a gun I already have, being available in Central Ohio, or being somewhat "tactical"/practical. (I did two Iraq tours, what can I say).

Guy I work with is pretty heavily into IDPA. His matches/events/whathaveyou aren't terribly far from where you're at. (I think they are near Ashland)

Holy. Crap. There's way more diversity than I realized.

Sounds like I ought to find the local clubs and see what they offer, I know there's on down in Circleville, that's about a 45 minute drive. Anybody know of a club in Delaware County, Ohio?

I am definitely going to start reloading. A guy at one of the local indoor ranges that I go to (New Albany) showed me the whole deal, it's definitely happening, it sounds like something I'd like. Is it possible to get one set-up that will do 12 ga, 9mm, 5.56, and 3.08? I know that's asking a lot!

While I'm at it, do you guys do many schools? I was an Army officer in the GWOT era, I took advantage of the training available and got pretty good with a rifle. But, I can't shoot a handgun worth dick. My unit was still training Weaver stance, so... I'd also like to figure out why I suck so bad at trap shooting.

Can't help ya with the pistol shooting as I tend to have to be inside the barn to hit any side of it.

To answer a question of yours though: a 3-gun match should take care of the 12ga, 9mm, 5.56 and .308. However, I think you will have to bring either our 5.56 OR your .308 per trip.

happy shooting!

You can get a reloading set up to do everything centerfire (from 25ACP to, say, 458 Win Mag) but not shotgun, as that takes a different setup. Pick a budget for reloading stuff and we can make recommendations. It's like anything else, you can reload for $25 worth of equipment, or $2K worth. They both produce ammo that goes bang and makes holes. One is a lot easier and faster than the other.

Sorry, I misread your question (embarrassed emoticon? )

My RCBS rock-chucker fits that bill (minus shotgun as Hess mentioned) at a pretty low cost, but it's a very entry level setup. With your calibers in mind you'll be changing powders (usually between pistol and rifle) so please be careful when making the transition.

For the RCBS press, dies (8mm Mauser and .30-06), case tumbler, powder throw and base, case lube, case trimmer, primer pocket brush, bullet puller, scale, and calipers I think I'm in it for almost $600 (cabelas). But $500 of that was from gift cards from work. If I were to do it again I would watch craigslist (type in RCBS or Hornady) there are usually deals for super cheap.

IIRC: I figured I can reload once fired (by me) brass to the tune of $0.50 a round. Much like home brewing, it's not how much I'm saving but the huge quality improvement over what I can buy at the store.

Cheers

Ninja edit: I forgot the Chronograph in the $600 estimate

I go here with a guy from work: Black Wing Shooting Center. He is a member and on Tuesdays he shoots for free and it costs me $5. A membership is around $175. He has been to a Federal Firearms Instructor school and he has helped me. If you want to check it out sometime let me know.

ODNR also runs ranges around the state, for $5 a visit or $25 a year you can use them. The one by me is not the best but they are building a new one that is supposed to be very nice.