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 We
all realize we need to continue to encourage growth in shooting
sports for many reasons, not the least of which is to ensure
that there are more supporters of our 2nd
Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and so that this sport is
available for many generations to enjoy.
There are certainly many ways that you can assist the
sport to grow, and I would like to talk about two specific areas
that are not discussed very often: First, side-match events and,
second, the merging of mounted shooting with ground shooting.
The
participation in side-match events needs to be increased
significantly. These
events are not only enjoyable but also provide some historic
reference to our sport, such as the bird hunt (cowboy clays,
trap, skeet, and sporting clays), buffalo hunt, the pocket
revolver used in saloon fights and in town, long-range rifle
using rifle caliber, long-range rifle using pistol caliber,
fastest rifle, fastest pistol, fastest shotgun, the Plainsman
Event, and more. There
are some real opportunities here for someone who might not be
the fastest pistol or best rifle shot in the main match but can
really shine in some of the side matches.
These side matches can be made so that they are both
challenging and fun. If
you haven't shot a black powder single-shot rifle in a buffalo
match, maybe now is the time to try it.
If you have, see if you can't get your friends
interested. It's
a hoot! There is
nothing like the feeling of the kick of the rifle against your
shoulder and the sight of billowing smoke wafting away from the
muzzle, followed by the sound of the "clank" as your bullet
hits the buffalo 300, 500, or even 1,000 yards away.
What satisfaction!
Not
only can an increase in participation in side matches bring a
greater number of shooters into the fold, it can also provide an
increased market for gun manufacturers, leather makers, and
clothiers. We must
remember that to grow our sport we must also keep these people
in mind and do right by each and every vendor who attends a
shooting match.
Editorial
Continued
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