Practical Hunter

[high standard 40]

jrywho,
First of all, I appreciate your enthusiasm. Our sport needs that to stay alive. You mentioned in your post that to be competitive in UAS, a person has to spend huge dollars on equipment. There is no need to spend any more on a UAS gun than you would spend on a PH gun. I agree that there are different levels of skill. That's why we have each category broken down into classes, so that you only compete against shooters of similar ability. Wouldn't it accomplish the same thing if we were to simply add an A classification in UAS, or even B. As far as the intimidation factor of arriving at a silhouette match for the first time and seeing targets fall at unbelievable distances. I think we can categorize people into two groups:
1.Those who see it as a fun challenge.
2.Those who feel they can never measure up.
There are far, far more people that fit group number 2. You will never get them to give more than a token effort in our sport. IHMSA is a difficult, demanding discipline. The vast majority of the shooting fraternity, nation wide, are more interested in fast action games. Go to any gun store and look at the selection of handguns available for sale. I seldom if ever find an offering with a barrel over 4" and anything other than a semi-auto is rare. The reason is......that's what sells in today's society. There is the root of the problem with attemting to grow IHMSA. Our nation has change radically since IHMSA was formed. We are now a minority, a faint bleep on the radar screen. The question was asked here in this thread and in other threads " how do we grow our sport". Some questions just don't have an answer. I have tried tirelessly in my area to grow IHMSA and I always get looked at like I've grown a third eye. I've published articles in the Louisiana Shooters Association publication with color photos and I got not a single response. The local action shooters laugh at us and call us "chicken shooters". So in answer to the question, "How do we recruit new members?"........... I don't have a clue. I do know that not a single person has arrived at our matches wanting to shoot PH.

[encore22]

The rules for PH as stated in the IHMSA News make it an unlimited category, so after market barrels are allowed along with scopes. You could also have a brake on the longer barrels. I think the simplicity of the rules was to let shooters get involved with the production type guns and keep from competing with bolt guns. The 21" rule comes close, but as stated before a stock XP will fit without a scope. The bipod and sandbag rule leaves a bit to be debated too. I believe the board tried to please everybody, but that's not really possible. All that being said I did enjoy shooting the PH category these past two years and hope the board decides to approve the category.

[19 Turkeys]

First, I am not against PH. What I am against is adding disciplines that will add work to the match director's job that will not have a SIGNIFICANT financial impact that is enough to save IHMSA, Inc..

This thread is just like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. IHMSA has stage 4 metastatic financial cancer that will lead to its death in the very near future I predict. I say this having watched the steady loss of funds every year since December 31, 2008. And having an International in Fort Stockton, TX will only hasten this as it looses money every year. Again, this is my personal opinion not that of the leadership. I have personally sent several emails to the full board pointing this out however.

The discussion should be how we move this organization to a financially insolvent paper based organization to a web based, low budget organization.

And as a side note, I have been offering Small Bore & Big Bore Rifle as well as Standard Handgun (any 6.5" handgun or shorter, iron sights, no adjustments allowed, pistol calibers only fired on the Field Pistol course) for 5 or 6 years and advertising the heck out of it. We have gotten zero new shooters to join IHMSA and only 1 faithful shooter using his rifles. One or 2 IHMSA members will try the Standard Handgun from time to time.

Steve W.

[19 Turkeys]

I say Steve Ware for President!

Craig Eagle, 39631

That is not going to happen!

Steve W.

[260 Striker]

I just couldn't stay out of this discussion about PH. Haven't read the rules yet about PH and don't know if I will ever shoot it but I have a whole new approach to IHMSA and silhouette shooting. I started in 1980 so have seen the glory days and the eventual decline. I really don't give a darn if we had categories or classes. If someone comes with a handgun and wants to shoot, let them. Snubbies, ported, whatever you bring shoot them. You could just lump guns into two basic categories - Production and Other. I just shoot matches for my own score and just to beat my own previous scores. I wouldn't care if our match report just had Production then highest to lowest shooter and same for Other guns. I'm too old to be competitive but not too old to still have fun. I don't want IHMSA to fail since it does organize matches across the US and other countries so traveling to other matches can be planned. I know OH will be shooting some type of steel matches no matter what they are called. IHMSA has about ruled itself to death instead of finding categories/classes that will allow shooters to use what they already have. Specialty guns are very expensive (don't ask how I know) and our sport needs to adapt to what is now available to the public. Actually, that wouldn't help since most people never even heard of IHMSA or silhouettes. It is boring compared to the other shoot fast and shoot often sports. Wish I had an answer for all our problems. Me, I just want to have fun bangin steel no matter what gun I may want to use.

[gibar]

You are correct about that POS paper. I checked on having it converted electronically each month when I was editor and just having it posted on this website but like many ideas, it fell on deaf ears! Something about the older members not having a computer.

I still would like to know why none of the Directors(except Allen Gaskin) or the President never post anything on this website or address any of the opinions here. It's like they just don't give a S***. I tried posting articles here that appeared in the paper and was hoping after I resigned Lorene would continue but it never happened, it only took like minutes per month. It would have been good to share with non-members what is going on within the IHMSA and would perhaps make them want to join.

Much of this has been hashed over here in other posts but as usual the higher ups don't seem to care.

The only reason I renewed this year was to help out the organization as I don't have to be a member to shoot at the 3 clubs I go to and I have no desire to shoot a championship match.

I agree that the clubs here in Ohio would continue shooting if the IHMSA folded as they have already discussed this possibility.

You wonder why I do not reup?

[jrywho]

gibar,

Just wanted to say I understand the reason for your discouragement. Reading the negative responses have me questioning my commitment to IHMSA. But, as I said on the post I have shot at many ranges throughout the country. A few are thriving quite well while others are just hanging on. I am the match director at Jackson Purchase Rifle and Pistol Club in Paducah, Ky. We are in the process of turning that club into a great place to shoot silhouettes. Last year, in August, we only had three entries. I took over the match director duties only because we were doomed, just as many other ranges shooting our game. Our match director was discouraged and decided to throw in the towel. We are thankful for his time and dedication some 6 years. In October, I am pleased to report, we had 21 entries!

I started promoting a Bordello match which was conducted on the FP targets. Offered a ham to the winner and the action started. While new people attended our match I stressed the importance of shooting the sanctioned categories as well as Bordello. I've been contacted by three different people this winter that have purchased new guns to compete with us in the upcoming matches. Most all people that have attended have Practical Hunter style firearms. This is my primary reason for supporting this category. I anticipate growth using PH as a tool in that quest. If not sanctioned and accepted these people will have to invest more money for the present categories. Point being, investment, which the majority of people do not have at this time. For Pete's sake, we can't even buy ammo at the present time.
This is my commitment, we will grow and generate income for JPRPC and IHMSA. I need Practical Hunter to accomplish our goal and grow our membership.
The last comment I would like to make is regarding your membership. Please consider renewing. Your local club and IHMSA are counting on your support.
thanks

[willk]

I hate to start a spit fight, but every time I hear the word cost and IHMSA, my hackles do get a bit raised. For decades, all I hear is how expensive IHMSA is. Well for match directors, true, for the general shooter??? Costs; Any decent 1911 is going to cost what a custom XP costs. GOD only knows what a decent, tricked out 1911 racegun costs. Yes, techincally you can shoot your $350.00 Ruger P95 in an idpa match or whatever they call it, but who does??

Checked out cowboy action. You could purchase all the guns to shoot all the categories that Charlie offers for the cost of a couple Rugers with action jobs, a decent 1873 Winchester replica with an action job and shortened lever throw, a model 52 Winchester replica, clothes that are price far and above what any right thinking person would pay to attend his wedding (HIS not hers) and the ability to load both shotgun shells and handgun/rifle shells. (by the thousands) AND if you really want to be cool, forget the Rugers, a REAL COWBOY ACTION SHOOTER has to have a brace of COLT SAA'S. Now that will set you back a bit.

For all that, an afternoon's SAA match might get you a couple of minutes of shooting. Last I heard they have more than 100K members still despite recent cooling off of the game.

So please, please quit complaining about how much it costs. Unless you have a full set of big bore targets sitting in your tool shed, you don't know cost (or a brace of customized Colt Single Action Army's)

The next time you see me hopefully you will forgive me for this rant.

Will Kirste

[19 Turkeys]

Will,

I have said the same thing for years! And the new 3 gun game is far from cheap!

Steve W.

[wheelgun7360]

well i'll throw my opinion on this topic. i would vote to adopt PH. although i don't offer it at my range i could see the benefits of making it an official category. i even was told if PH was not offered at the internationals this year a certain shooter from region 2 would not be attending. i personally think we have way to many classes to begin with. at my range we are only going to shoot bb and hs this year.i only have so much time to dedicate to IHMSA. i love this sport and will never quit silhouettes, but the time has come to do other things in life as i'm getting old. been working 7 days a week for the past 4 months and have not had time to do anything. heck, i've had 2 brand new freedom arms silhouette guns for 6 weeks and have not had the time to even fire them. i'll try and find out something from the board where PH stands at this time.
allen