Author Topic: joining ihmsa a mistake? (Read 13582 times)

stubshaft · « **Reply #30 on:** April 03, 2009, 09:31:34 PM »

I agree with slabside. Too many people make an issue of what "you need" to be competitive. I was the president of the local club for 12 years. I won the 4 gun agg using a 10" 357 Maxi barrel. Yes I also had Ralph Bond build me a custom chambered XP. People are funny they are great at telling you that you need a $1300.00+ gun, because thats what they shoot and THEY need the boost to their ego's. The name of the game is to compete! thats why they have different classes. You compete against people of your own skill level. We once had an unlimited "C" class shooter win the State championship in that class by shooting an 11 out of 60! he used an XP-100 in 7BR. The equipment doesn't make the shooter better. ONLY long hard perfect practice does. Along the way you will meet and bond with great people whom have also "paid their dues" to become proficient. You will also find that if you enjoy hunting, your abilities wil be greatly enhanced.

Joe IHMSA #36685 (ret)

G2Driver · « **Reply #31 on:** April 04, 2009, 02:55:19 PM »

If you enjoy shooting it is not a mistake. I joined three years ago and I love it. It is the cheap to shoot because I do not want to reload so I shoot only .22's. I started with Federal bulk (550 rounds for $10). I only compete with myself so if I shoot better today than yesterday I won! There are several classes and they will test your skill. Last year I shot my first 40X40, I may never do that again but I don't care I did it once.
The best part is I see things fall down and I don't have to drag them out of the field or gut them.

Madmark · « **Reply #32 on:** April 04, 2009, 03:41:21 PM »

Howard, are you still bragging about that 40x40?

Seriously, that was good shooting, and we're proud of you! And you are a perfect example of how IHMSA can be shot, AND enjoyed without spending a ton of money.
I missed you on Thursday, I was testing some loads and hoped to see you. (as long as you didn't rub in the 40x40!!) Maybe next Thursday.

BTW, this topic was started in 2005, maybe twobellies will chime in with an update...

Sweetwater · « **Reply #33 on:** April 04, 2009, 04:12:40 PM »

This has been around a long time! I just found it. I joined IHMSA in 1987. I had a 357Mag Model19 S&W and a 41Mag Ruger Blackhawk. We borrowed a TC for the 22 matches, which we later bought. The only unlimited guns I ever shot were borrowed.

I loaned my guns to hundreds of shooters over the next 5 years. I also became match director and had to enforce the growing list of rules.

One year, the State Director won the State Match with My Ammo! How's that for comrades in arms!

It was a great ride!

Regards,
Sweetwater

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #34 on:** April 06, 2009, 07:10:15 AM »

Quote from: Sweetwater on April 04, 2009, 04:12:40 PM

It was a great ride!

Regards,
Sweetwater

Sweetwater, What's this "It was a great ride"? IHMSA is still alive & there are ranges shooting the game in Idaho. Go have fun & get back into the game. You're not dead yet!

Steve W.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #35 on:** April 07, 2009, 02:09:46 PM »

Guess I commented that "it was a great ride" because it was a big part of my life for a short time which ended in divorce in '92. My wife at the time and I shot together and ran the matches together. She was determined to keep shooting and I was determined to not be around her. So I walked.
Now, 17 years later, I just stopped paying child support, have remarried and are hoping to get new home (we have rented for 7 years) this summer (with a shooting range)! LOL! My new wife likes to shoot, but not in public. Not sure where my interest in IHMSA is today. I thought I'd be interested in Cowboy Action Shooting, but so far haven't generated much of a spark there.
Just too many things that cost too much. I have a whole slew of non-competitive guns which I totally enjoy recreational shooting. Don't think I'm into getting back to competition quite yet. It will only make me broker, though I do know I would be with a great bunch of people; they always were. The guys back in '92 tried to encourage me to come out to the matches and a few times I did, and "she" would be there, and I'd loose my cool.......it's a bad memory and yes, I don't get over stuff and 'cowboy up' like I ought to when it comes to my family. I lost 4 kids and my hunting partner in that divorce. The kids now are all young adults and seeing for themselves what Dad is really like and wanting to come visit - for most of them that's over 1,000 miles now. Last December, I about lost it when my 19 year old son called and said he had just booked a flight and was coming for Christmas - hoped we were planning to be home! You BET we were!

Off topic there, sorry....Don't believe IHMSA or any other shooting fraternaty is ever a mistake to join. Probably a mistake not to join.....

Regards,
Sweetwater

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #36 on:** April 11, 2009, 05:30:42 AM »

Sweetwater,

The perfect place for "non-competitive" guns is Field Pistol. & the only competition is yourself. & remember the Small Bore game is really cheap to play. Again, shoot Standing & it's a tough game with any handgun. Find a match & relive some of the good memories!

Steve W.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #37 on:** April 11, 2009, 08:37:07 AM »

Steve W. -
thanks for the encouragement! Maybe someday - just too many "gotta does" grabbing at my checkbook right now. Gotta get Momma her own home before I can do much more playing. She's basically tired of renting; considers it "unpacked". Not how I see it, but it's not about me.

Happy Easter,
Sweetwater

Orddy · « **Reply #38 on:** April 27, 2009, 07:02:12 AM »

Quote from: slabsides on August 16, 2007, 04:09:35 AM

You didn't make a mistake. IHMSA is a good way to learn how to shoot. Especially if you stick to the box-stock class.
Trouble is, the way things are, you'll feel the 'NEED' to get a better gun, invest in a Contender (or G2) and spend, spend
on better bullets, different powders, new dies, etc etc. It's insidious. I got into the game early..my member number was
1286... and it was lots of fun. Shot myself into P-AAA...then the highest class. Even won a few matches.
But Elgin Gates was the boss of the sport then, and it became increasingly clear that he had a Messiah/Caesar complex.
And the rules got pickier and pickier.
My stock Ruger .44 was suddenly disqualified because I'd polished the cylinder bright. This might not be a violation now,
but it was then, and I thought it unreasonable. That, and the squabbling and fighting over 'rulership' of the IHMSA on both
the state and national level, and the hyper-competitiveness that developed in the sport, with semi-pro shooters showing up
at local matches and eclipsing local talent; plus the increasing cost to compete, caused me to slip away from it. They still
have occasional matches at my old club, but the membership is way down. I hope that other clubs and groups in other
states will keep the game alive.
SASS seems to be where most of the attention is lately...and I think that's where the companies, the magazines, and the interest seems
to be centered. I wish it were still fun like in the old days...with shooters helping each other compete, kidding each other when
a bad shot or a 'leaner' happened, and not being so cut-throat 'winning is everything' as it later became.
IHMSA is still the best way to 'learn your gun' and how to hit what you aim at, of any handgun game I know.

Well.......since we lost Elgin.......IHMSA is virtually history. He started it and it seemed to have died with him. No one person ever did so much in support or in promotion of a sport as Elgin did. IHMSA misses him so badly that it will cease to exist without his guidance to keep it competitive and cost effective. I shot IHMSA alot back in the 80's when it was at it's peak.......no more will anyone ever see the commraderier of those days. Sad. All the fighting from within has destroyed IHMSA......the majoritiy of our ranges are long gone now to never return. I used to shoot 3 matches a month cause i loved the sport just that much, but once Elgin was gone and the people who took over started their fighting .......it destroyed the game. I for one will forever be saddened because of it too.

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #39 on:** April 27, 2009, 06:46:54 PM »

Quote from: Orddy on April 27, 2009, 07:02:12 AM

Well.......since we lost Elgin.......IHMSA is virtually history. He started it and it seemed to have died with him. No one person ever did so much in support or in promotion of a sport as Elgin did. IHMSA misses him so badly that it will cease to exist without his guidance to keep it competitive and cost effective. I shot IHMSA alot back in the 80's when it was at it's peak.......no more will anyone ever see the commraderier of those days. Sad. All the fighting from within has destroyed IHMSA......the majoritiy of our ranges are long gone now to never return. I used to shoot 3 matches a month cause i loved the sport just that much, but once Elgin was gone and the people who took over started their fighting .......it destroyed the game. I for one will forever be saddened because of it too.

Orddy, Elgin isn't gone, he died. The sport did not. I have been a match director for 10 years, ran the IHMSA HQ West & edited the IHMSA News for several years. I continue to run 4 matches/month here in Grants Pass, OR. I agree that we have lost many clubs, but it was primarily because the match directors got burned out & others were too darned lazy to pick up the slack. For the life of me I do not understand why someone would quit shooting rather than help run a match.

I would STRONGLY suggest that you visit www.ihmsa.org, find a range and visit a match. You just might be surprised to find that there is no fighting and the game was not destroyed.

Steve W.

S.B. · « **Reply #40 on:** April 28, 2009, 02:00:41 AM »

19 Turkeys, amen, that seems to be the way of most shooting sports, today? Talk the talk but, won't walk the walk.
Steve

jsh · « **Reply #41 on:** April 28, 2009, 02:23:41 AM »

Very true Steve. If I were to travel just a little bit, I could shoot every weekend of the month and not leave the state or very far out of it. IHMSA is not dead, it has just slowed the same as a lot of other shooting sports. The clubs suffer as well, I know first hand. This is a pretty wide spread effect to boot as I know folks N-S-E-W many miles from me that see the same thing going on. Gas at $4 per gallon last year put the kibosh on a lot of folks I know. "Little Johnny" and "little Sarah" didn't have year round sports for the most part. Maybe a week or two after school was out and that was it. Now I have been told a lot of it goes on way into the fall part of school, the outside sports that is. So mom and dad are running them all over the country. Cowboy stuff has taken off for sure. A lot but not all of those folks have their kids raised up to an age they can either stay home or already young adults, around here at least. Trap and sporting clays has also fell pretty flat from what it used to be around these parts. There are still a folks that shoot it yes, but near the numbers there used to be.
Last months GC general meeting a couple of the early memebers, 40+ years, mentioned there were not any "sportsmen" any more. Now that may fire a few guys up, but when you listen to some of the older gents talk you know what they mean. The were either hunting, fishing in their off time or getting ready to do one of the two. One of those fellows mentioned that GC memebers today just want a place to shoot and go home. That statment stands out in my head when I step back and take a long hard look, very true for the most part. There is a core of shooters in most all disciplines and that is what keeps a lot of these alive, even if it is a little slow. Anyone that has never been involved even on the edges of being an MD should. There is a lot of work before and after let alone during a match. Our MD here at home almost burned out, but from a good few people they stay after it and rotate around who calls the line so that all of them can get as many guns in as they like. That is what I have found to make this sport so interesting is the good folks involved.
I have tried to get several young guys involved. They come out, you help them, they do pretty good for the first time and then never come back. I know a couple of them pretty well and ask, where were you last weekend. Oh, I don't think I can knock them all over. I told them that was the point, the challenege. Folks want instant sucsess with little or no effort put into it a lot of times. Then they think they need a lot of equipment. I have tried to explain to them and loan them everything they think they need to no avail.
I am about to ditch my shooting tray that has everything but the kitchen sink in it and go back to my old blue or brown to compartment plastic tote and a pair of binos, so as not to set the wrong impression.
jeff

Explorer1 · « **Reply #42 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:28:33 PM »

"Well.......since we lost Elgin.......IHMSA is virtually history. "

Not totally valid, but it has CHANGED LOTS since he passed on (not all good or bad). Elgin was contraversial but great for the sport; I worked with him to build the IFS range in the early 80s. That was a pleasure, and a great range.

The sport is not very active in the West today to my knowledge but appears strong in the South and East. I have sold off the TCs and Sevilles while the XP collects dust. But it IS a fun game!

The hardware race is present, but ONLY in certain classes. As we said, run what ya brung.

Heck one of the few trophies I have kept is the one I got shooting standing with a .357 TC while in a full leg cast. I hobbled to the line on crutches, dropped the crutches to shoot, and asked someone to hand me the crutches when I was done.

As with most non-big dollar shooting sports, you will meet a great bunch of folks (and a few jerks - can't prevent that). As long as YOU are shooting for fun, who cares what the score was? You are the only one you are competing with, practice will result in improvements.

Enjoy.

Win 1917 · « **Reply #43 on:** May 26, 2009, 03:19:53 AM »

I've only shot in one IHMSA match but the part that I liked from an equipment standpoint was how relatively simple everything is. I know there's more to it than meets the eye but compared to heavy gun benchrest shooting and stuff like that this is much less expensive and intimidating. I entered field pistol with an off-the-shelf 22lr with open sights and had a great time. It's as easy as it can be to get involved.

As far as popularity of the sport goes I don't know anything about IHMSA because I'm new to it but all sports rise and fall in popularity. Even baseball. That's just the way it is. If everyone does their part to help out and spread the word that's what keeps a sport alive and thriving through the ups and downs.

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #44 on:** May 26, 2009, 06:55:56 PM »

Quote from: Win 1917 on May 26, 2009, 03:19:53 AM

If everyone does their part to help out and spread the word that's what keeps a sport alive and thriving through the ups and downs.

Amen Win! You hit the nail on the head. Bring a friend to the range and get a new member!

Steve W.

Sweetwater · « **Reply #45 on:** May 27, 2009, 05:05:21 PM »

OK, I'll jump back into the foray with a quick question? Where does one shoot in North Idaho? I went on the IHMSA website and found active shoots "down south"; Twin Falls, and I think Jerome was still listed. That's too far on my budget. Alternatives?

Regards,
Sweetwater

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #46 on:** May 27, 2009, 07:40:02 PM »

Quote from: Sweetwater on May 27, 2009, 05:05:21 PM

Alternatives?

I have two alternatives. The first is to start a club. Be the match director and get things moving at a gun club in your area. My second alternative is a bit more costly. Move to SW Oregon. We have a great silhouette club here.

Steve W.

Smokin7mm · « **Reply #47 on:** May 28, 2009, 08:50:08 AM »

There is a third alternative. Move to Western Washington as we also have a great club and always looking for new members. Seriously though, if you have a club in your area propose to them starting your own matches. I know they used to shoot at Farragut State Park out of Coeur d’Alene. I think it was the old Spokane club that held matches there. Shot a State shoot there back in the early 90's.
Bret

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #48 on:** May 28, 2009, 09:02:10 AM »

I havent shot IHMSA for 10 years from what i read here it has not changed . Elgin Gates made money on IHMSA keep that in mind.

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #49 on:** May 30, 2009, 06:05:08 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on May 28, 2009, 09:02:10 AM

Elgin Gates made money on IHMSA keep that in mind.

Forget Elgin. He's been dead for years. What he did or did not do is not relevant today. You say you haven't shot the game in ten years yet draw a conclusion from a very few posts.

I would strongly recommend you go to a local club and find out for yourself what the spirit of IHMSA is. You'll not find bickering there.

You're missing a very fun sport and some very fine people.

Steve W.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #50 on:** June 01, 2009, 01:53:18 AM »

19 turkeys , I had a great time shooting . My point is some people shoot for fun others for profit . Most around here have gone to shooting other types of competition now .

S.B. · « **Reply #51 on:** June 01, 2009, 02:17:43 AM »

Quote from: 19 Turkeys on May 30, 2009, 06:05:08 AM

Quote from: SHOOTALL on May 28, 2009, 09:02:10 AM
Elgin Gates made money on IHMSA keep that in mind.

Forget Elgin. He's been dead for years. What he did or did not do is not relevant today. You say you haven't shot the game in ten years yet draw a conclusion from a very few posts.

I would strongly recommend you go to a local club and find out for yourself what the spirit of IHMSA is. You'll not find bickering there.

You're missing a very fun sport and some very fine people.

Steve W.

Good advice, quit living in the past.
Steve

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #52 on:** June 01, 2009, 02:30:03 AM »

To ignore history is to doom yourself to relive it !

19 Turkeys · « **Reply #53 on:** June 02, 2009, 05:40:08 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on June 01, 2009, 02:30:03 AM

To ignore history is to doom yourself to relive it !

& if you are not participating, recruiting new members, helping to run matches and maintain the range and paying attention to the decisions of the leadership you are part of the problem!

I ran IHMSA's HQ West operation for several years while editing the IHMSA News. I maintained the records of new & expired ranges. I was amazed at the number of ranges that died when the match director moved or burned out because no one was willing to assume the responsibilities. Personally I do not understand the mindset of allowing a club to die because people were too lazy to do the work!

MHO only.

Steve W.

Win 1917 · « **Reply #54 on:** June 02, 2009, 12:59:21 PM »

19,

I couldn't agree more. I used to compete in another club sport and it was the same way. Whole clubs would fall apart because the tournament director was the only one doing the work. Everyone would show up to participate but not to help out.

This happened at a club I belonged to and I tried to resurrect the tournaments again and most of the older members who remembered "what it used to be like" were almost hostile in their insistance that the sport was dead and not coming back. That attitude is contagious.

I've found that successful clubs practically mandate that if you're going to participate then you have to help out in some way. Helping becomes part of the ethic of the sport. That way there isn't one individual that the whole operation hinges on.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #55 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:09:31 AM »

then also some shooting sports lack staying power .

Win 1917 · « **Reply #56 on:** June 03, 2009, 08:55:47 AM »

Who cares dude! I'm new to the sport and having a great time with it just like you used to. Why you trying to spoil that?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #57 on:** June 03, 2009, 09:08:53 AM »

Not "DUDE" , i enjoyed it also , ran the line , set targets etc. stopped to start a business . It dried up around here . I would not go back to shooting now though . I hope you enjoy for years to come , Just beware of the ones who try to make money on you ( and that is in most shooting sports ) .
I will give an example , I learned about IHMSA , there were 2 matches before a regional match . You had to shoot 2 matches to be able to shoot the regional match . I shot both and placed 2nd. in aaa unlimited in the reg. match . Beat about 14 other shooters , one had a $900.00 custom stocked XP-100 in a IHMSA cal. the guy went off , my gun was a box stock XP-100 in 7 br . He wanted my gun stripped and checked it was quite funny . In the end i found out he "built custom XP's . His wife had shot the match not him as he shot aa .He was worried about sales ! I met many nice folks to be sure and several are good friends now . But some are not .

teamnelson · « **Reply #58 on:** June 03, 2009, 10:58:10 AM »

Haven't shot a match in maybe 5 years, not for lack of wanting to - been moving around a lot lately. I was recruited by some old timers (Major Golden); came early to set up, stayed late. Folks were real friendly, let me try some guns, some loads, gave me advice, spotted for me. Paid my little kids a couple $ to set up and tear down, and let them shoot .22 rifle at the SB targets after the match. We had a great time.

But it was almost all older folks (50+), younger folks were on the PPC/IPSC or CAS course. The IHMSA shooters were mostly retired, and had time to devote to it - for me working two full time jobs at the time, a day at the range was a big investment. When I did shoot, I was there all day, but I couldn't commit to every week. And I confess the unlimited class put me off a bit. I shot a Bisley .44 I had for hunting, and TC 22 I got from a guy cheap at my first match. Beyond that, I could just afford factory ammo ... never mind reloading, custom rigs, fancy guns. I was proud of a 15-20 on the BB courses, especially when a turkey fell. And I got to shooting low 30s with that TC 22 on the SB and FP courses, using factory ammo. Bigger matches tended to favor the unlimited shooters I felt, so I stuck with smaller matches.

Here's a suggestion if the issue is RECRUITING and KEEPING new members. Shoot unlimited in the afternoon or on a different day. Invite the young shooters for the morning, tell them to bring what they have, leave your scoped BP/XP/TC in 7mm at home and drag out that old long barreled SA or DA revolver. Let them see you shooting something that they might actually own, and doing it well. "You mean I can hit something with my S&W at 50 and 100yds? How 'bout that!" Have a BBQ. Help them not feel like a kid with a cane pole at a bass tourney.

IMHO, Chaps

Win 1917 · « **Reply #59 on:** June 03, 2009, 05:16:37 PM »

Quote

I met many nice folks to be sure and several are good friends now .

When it comes down to it, that's what it's all about.