New thoughts to build IHMSA

[Alvin]

I've been hanging back for awhile about how "things" are going with IHMSA. We've all seen how we're losing members, smaller matches....losing ranges..ect....A few thoughts in the back of my mind that I will throw out to the membership here on the forum.
First off...I would cut the membership fee back to $25 or even $30....The present fee is way too high.. for getting people to sign up. I won't drag out this topic...
I realize that we have "HANDGUN" in our organization's name...but we are missing an opportunity here. Something that we have been doing here in Southeast Iowa, almost since the start of the .22 game was to add .22 rifles into the match. Already have the targets...and many people have a .22 rifle laying around. Why not add a .22 rifle division? We've been doing this since around 1980 or so. We finally settled on two categories...Sporter(Production under 8 lbs) and Target(Unlimited) over 8lbs. We didn't really get many open sight rifles after a few years so we dropped that category. This is a great way to include the younger generation of shooters. We simply have the rifle shooter enter the match and "feed" into the firing line, just like the normal handgun shooters do. This is shot in the standing position only. I won't bore you with more details at this time...but I would like to see what the reaction is from fellow match directors, and the general feedback from this forum.

I'll just mention, in passing, another idea that we did for almost 15 years and stopped only because I was getting a little burned out holding four matches per month. We started shooting 1/2 sized targets on the big bore range with centerfire rifles(over 6.5 bore to keep away from shooters only firing .222, .223, 243s..ect...)We also had two different categories here also....

In both these endevers...we had a lot of participation. Some of the 1/2 size BB matches(along with the .22 rifle matches) floated our club for many years. When IHMSA started to sanction 1/2 size matches...many of us switched back and started shooting our handguns on 1/2 size again.

Anyway...thought I would throw it out there and see what you guys thought. It's been a boon for my local club and we'll continue with it...thought perhaps it was a way to introduce new members to IHMSA and draw them into our organization. I also realize that NRA has their own silhouette programs....but....I'm not going to knock their programs...I just think that we(IHMSA) could use a "shot in the arm" for the future of the sport.

Your comments are very welcome.

[braud357]

Al, I agree with your idea on membership fees. As it stands now, the "product" we are offering is not worth the $50 membership. I must disagree with the idea of changing our name or adding rifles as an official part of our game. We started sharing our match date with a group of NRA Lever Action rifle silhouette shooters. Has it increased attendance - yes it has ! Have we seen any crossover or even interest in crossover ? -- NONE ! We have a couple of NRA shooters who are nationally ranked, with one of them recently winning 2 NRA air rifle silhouette national championships. Will he ever shoot handguns with us ? - very doubtful ! We need to be careful about changing IHMSA - you could alienate the shooter base that still remains. Do I have any better ideas or solutions - no, I do not. Al, I appreciate you putting these ideas out there - we need to do SOMETHING ! -- and dialog such as this a good thing !!

[Alvin]

Well, the thing is, I'm not looking for crossover....and I'm not saying to change the name of IHMSA....I'm just looking to ADD new events, or in this case, a completely new category...rifles...to increase participation at our local matches. I'm certainly not looking to alienate any of our shooters....quite the opposite. I was hoping to "include" rifle shooters into our matches. If they decide to shoot handguns also..fine..if not..no problem. But I see and understand your points....and I appreciate your comments. Let's keep the ideas flowing...

[braud357]

Al, the problem I have is this - I do not have enough time (and energy) to shoot all of the handgun entries that I have pistols for ! I do not need anything else to shoot !! Your idea may work at some ranges, but at our range they already have a very active rifle program (NRA Smallbore Silhouette, NRA Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette, DCM 300 yard rifle matches).

[Alvin]

Phil...I'm not looking for more guns and divisions for you to shoot....I'm looking for NEW members to come and shoot under the umbrella of IHMSA. You say that you have a very active rifle program at your range. Think about having those same rifle matches sanctioned under IHMSA. Wouldn't that gain NEW members for IHMSA? Isn't that what we're looking for? New members, not more divisions for the current membership, but bringing in new members.

[braud357]

No, I do not think that it would ! But, I am speaking strictly about MY area ! We have tried everything, including "stacking greased BB's", to garner and increase local participation. We have even advertised in the metro Baton Rouge area paper, Louisiana shooters websites, offered free entries, plus extensive "word-of-mouth" - net gain has been ZERO ! As my brother Charlie has stated before - we are dealing with societal chance, and that is almost impossible to change. Concerning the rifle games, we would be competing with established matches in our area. Another problem that we have here in Louisiana is the lack of a range to practice at. We have access to our range 1 day a month. Every new shooter that has shown interest has asked the same question - "when can we come and practice" ? The answer is - " you cannot" ! Say goodbye to prospective new shooter ! We simply do not have much to offer them ! This is why we have decided to share match days with the NRA Cowboy Lever Action silhouette shooters - more total attendance, and we are sending the $1 sanction fee for each of them to IHMSA - just because !

[260 Striker]

I know there are some ranges that have unofficial matches with concealed carry guns using the FP targets. I wonder if adding an open class for any CC handgun would draw new shooters. If word could get out that IHMSA offers a way to practice with your CC handgun I wonder if anyone would attend. My gut feeling is not many, if any, with the current shortage and high price of ammo. Unfortunately, many CC gun owners buy their guns, shoot them once or twice, then put them away or don't practice much due to cost and/or shortage of ammo. This open class would not have classes and just let people shoot for the practice. If people could see the fun in knocking down steel targets versus punching holes in paper for practice, maybe we could draw some shooters into IHMSA. At least there is a possibility of increasing entries. I think Steve in OR has offered side matches for CC handguns so maybe he can offer some insight.

[260 Striker]

I too would like to see old articles printed again in the IHMSA News. Would there be some legal issue since the articles were printed in the old Silhouette newspaper. I have a CD around here with some of Larry Harris' old articles he submitted to the newspaper. I would be glad to try to retype or scan and use ocr software to recreate old articles. Our old newspapers were loaded with good information which is still useful today. Too bad the old Reloading Guide for Handgun Accuracy published in 1982 was copyrighted. That load information could be updated with our newer cartridges and reprinted. Do you think having a link on the IHMSA site to a database with current cartridges/load information would get more shooters to use our website? Shooters could submit their favorite loads similar to the reloading guide. I'm not a database wizard but I'm sure there is one out there somewhere.

[19 Turkeys]

I think Steve in OR has offered side matches for CC handguns so maybe he can offer some insight.

We do offer "Standard Handgun" as a side match in Field Pistol. I keep track of scores & award an annual trophy. Very few IHMSA members try it, and it has not attracted any new shooters. We also offer SB & BB rifle. Again, only one non-IHMSA member participates. Cowboys, Action Pistol shooters & casual shooters have no interest locally in what we are doing. I have one or two shooters shooting Practical Hunter at the West Coast Championship but none during our regular matches.

Steve W.

[LOCKHART]

We have the NRA lever rifle shooters at our club, and participation is pretty good. We also
shoot the "bordello" matches with our personal carry pistols, too. IHMSA was one of the first
handgun shooting sports with REACTIVE targets, now, there are lot more handgun shooting sports
with them. And, some of these pay money! I dont know the answer to our problems, but there
are no easy solutions it would seem. I do think we have too many classes, tho. Remember how
simple things were when we only had production, revolver, standing, and unlimited ? Its probably
too late to eliminate a bunch of classes, and I dont think thats the problem we face today, anyway.
Its like someone said earlier, all things pass, and everything dies, so maybe this is just our natural
fate.