Southern Hospitality? None Found In Pinson Ala.

[AuMiner]

Finnally made a match! Didn't get to shoot though! After driving 2 and 1/4 hours I arrived at the range at 0830 local time. I asked about sighting in befor the match. Sure, I was told. Do you have your own targets? Bench? Bags? Etc...? As I readied my gear and approached the line, I went through the usual equipment checks and questions. Then, for some unknown reason the offer to allow time to sight in was rescinded. I remarked that if I can't sight in I might as well go home. Tough luck! and Good bye! What a waste of time, gas, and sportsmenship! Well I'll try another place. Maybe third time will be the charm!
Ron

[SqHunter]

I wanted to go to that one this morning, but the director never answered my inquiry so I thought it was canceled. What a shame. Sorry for your experience.

[hambone49]

Should have kept on driving down here for our match (see my Sunshine State Games post) We pride ourselves on our southern hospitality (although we are all from up north) Heck, we would have let you sight in during the match if needed. We also can boast about our new big screen TV, great grub, and bikini clad target setters(some are even girls), so come on down y'all.

[SqHunter]

Where hambone? I am new here and don't see the thread. This is Rex from RFC btw.

[Boyd L.]

Bummer Ron.
Where are you driving from?

[hambone49]

Hi Rex welcome over here, too. It's in the Clubhouse forum, but only believe half of what you read....

[AuMiner]

Thanks for the kind words and the invites! I am in Carrollton Ga. I really didn't want to travel so farto shoot but there is nothing around here.Youins said you were from up north. I used to shoot alot in Pa. We NEVER had bikini clad target setters! Even the female kind! Regretably I have to still work to earn my bullets and have to suffer that every other weekend. So I have to pick and choose where I can go. If I could get some interest around here, I could set up an eight firing point smallbore range. Have acreage, targets, stands, and gumption!
Later
Ron

[Chattcatdaddy]

Ron

Come to Chattanooga, TN at the Chattanooga Rifle Club on April 17 for a nicely run southern match. Ed "Gator" will treat you right at the match. Heck, he let me shoot his rifle for my first match. Oh and don`t get me started on Alabama...

[AuMiner]

Thanks Keith! But I only get every other weekend to shoot. I think my schedule comes around so that I can make one this summer.
Ron

[Jason]

Just to make sure I'm clear on this, there was a match that did not have a sight-in period before the match started?

[AZRifle]

Finnally made a match! Didn't get to shoot though! After driving 2 and 1/4 hours I arrived at the range at 0830 local time. I asked about sighting in befor the match. Sure, I was told. Do you have your own targets? Bench? Bags? Etc...? As I readied my gear and approached the line, I went through the usual equipment checks and questions. Then, for some unknown reason the offer to allow time to sight in was rescinded. I remarked that if I can't sight in I might as well go home. Tough luck! and Good bye! What a waste of time, gas, and sportsmenship! Well I'll try another place. Maybe third time will be the charm!
Ron

Were other people sighting in and you were not allowed?
When was the match scheduled to start?

Our's start at 9:00, so you might have run into a timing problem here if you showed up at 8:30.

[AuMiner]

Please let me say this to be absolutely clear: I did not nor do I expect any rules or protocols to be broken for me for any reason. That said, I only would expect, as a courtesy to a new shooter to a range after traveling so far, a small variance to allow sight in. If it were my 2nd 3rd or whatever time, then forget it. How many of you have traveled 2 plus hours to a new area and range for the first time and been turned away? There were only about 8 or 9 shooters there. They were practicing when I arrived, dring my questioning, and as I brought my gear to the line. I was told that if I had my own bench, targets,bags, etc... I could sight in during the practice. Then a cease fire was called and practice was over, and so was any chance to sight in. As I said earlier I arrived @ 0830, and had my gear ready to go within minutes. Match was due to start @ 0900, with a safety meeting prior.
Ron

[malinois]

Sorry about what happened to you...unfortunatly it has happened to me and probably a few others here....but I did not leave I just shot the match. I carry a range zero book for every place I have shot and usally I can find a dope in it that will apply to most places so even if I get there and cant zero I have sufficient confidence in my equipment to compete..get one started and dont ever let the nasty people get to again and shoot !!!!. Oh and you are welcome to come down and shoot at our place in hollywood fl anytime you wish.

[Boyd L.]

Church congregations, civic groups, etc....all suffer from the same malady. Particpation in any group activity that is worthwhile and that we enjoy is often taken for granted. I've seen clubs drop various shooting programs due to a lack of interest. The problem? No new shooters were coming (or returning if they came once). No program was ever dropped because of too much participation or interest. (duh!!)

We have a tendency to forget that our chosen society (shooters in general and silhouetters specifically) must have new blood to survive.

Whatever the circumstances, new shooters need to be cultivated and an orientation and acclimation time provided for until they "catch on" to our game's rules, protocols, quirks, etc....

BTW, I second Keith's encouragement to come to Chattanooga. Just be sure you talk to Ed, Nelson, or one of the other regulars first. One of this range's quirks is gate admittance, but even that can be dealt with.

[Gator]

Thanks Keith! But I only get every other weekend to shoot. I think my schedule comes around so that I can make one this summer.
Ron

The schedule for Chattanooga: http://www.chattanoogarifleclub.org/calender.html
Carol Rosenqvist conducts matches in Hiawassee on the 4th Sundays. See the club schedule: http://calendar.yahoo.com/chatugegunclub
I have shot in Pinson in the past and been welcomed but that was at least 10 years ago. Who was the Match Director that day? Really don't understand the urgency with 8 or 9 shooters but it is not my place to judge.
We run a pretty relaxed ship in Chattanooga particularly when dealing with new shooters. Might chalk it up to a bad day but don't give up on Silhouette shooters. I would rather begin a few minutes late, within reason, than alienate a new shooter. With few exceptions, I have not met too many Match Directors that wouldn’t go out of their way to help a newbee along. When a seasoned shooter shows up griping about not having zeros, that is another situation. That’s his problem unless there are unusual circumstances.
I say this since it ain't my first rodeo. Have been shooting silhouette since 1982 when malinois was still a kid and innocent wore braids. Remember those good ole days’ malinois & innocent?
Great people, challenging sport and good fun. Don’t get much better than this…

C ya
Gator