Just got back from Raton and the ISSA Championship. Had a great time and the weather was perfect this year. Turn out was down (around 60 I would guess) I guess gas prices among other things are hurting everyones matches. I guess the reason for this thread is that I have to think that it sure would be nice if we could get the various associations to come together. I have been a competitive shooter for over 30 years and everytime we have a group split off (for what ever reason, which for this doesn't matter) and start a new association we weaken the sport. A present we have the ASSRA, ISSA, and the WSU who all function seperate. I know each has its different rules, but basically all are single shot rifle fans. My feelings are that as a combined group we would have more power to get sponsors/support from industry, which would mean more press, which would mean more possible growth. What does everyone else think?

boats wrote on Aug 5^th, 2007 at 8:37pm:


And THAT'S the real shame!
Too bad, Joe

Although I am a former BofD member of ASSRA, I have no current dog in this fight.  (I'm not named Vick!) I DO, however, have the reponsibility for organizing a twice a year match here in Central VA.  I use ASSRA's rules because that's who the local club has always been affiliated with and because there is no ISSA or WSU presence in this part of the country.

That being said, I would have absolutely no problem with the competition committees of the three aforementioned sanctioning bodies (or whoever else) getting together and formulating a common set of rules.  That's the real rub, isn't it?  If the average Joe shooter could just take a single rifle or group of rifles and then travel around and shoot at whatever match he desired, the name fo the sanctioning body (and who gets the fees) would be immaterial TO JOE SHOOTER! It might even be possible to do as I have done and make small changes (buttplate, scope, palm rest, etc.) at a given range to allow for small differences in local rules.

JMHO, and worth everything you paid for it, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

Froggie

OK lets explore this a little. The devil is in the details (Shooting Rules) so lets do a survey to see if we can come to an agreement on some ussues that devide us into 3 groups.
Propelents:  Black powder or any powder?
Targets:      Rings to 15 or further?
Color:         Black, Red what shade of red?
Measurement: From the leaded edge for offhand & Center for bench?
Sights:         Click or non click?
Diaptors:      Front, rear or both or none?
Scopes:        click, non click, external  adjustable, Internal justable, any?
Rimfire:        fixed or breachseated or any
Tuners:        What is a tuner? allowed or not?
Are shooting coats allowed? what about back support belts?
10 shots at the paper or 10 holes in the paper.
Cartridges:    Traditional those made befor 1915 or any.

That ought to get us started. 
These are issues that devided us and they will need to be worked out before we can put Humpty Dumpty back togeather again. 
I am not trying to shoot this down. I am trying to guage how much everyone is willing to bend because thats what it will take to make us one organisation again. 

40 Rod

JD you hit the nail on the head.  I am glad for what I have and not going to worry about whats not going to change  ASSRA is a Etna Green club and will always be.

Boats

With all due respect to Joe & Brent (you both know this ain't going to be good right) You both couldn't be more wrong. The problem isn't the leadership of the ASSRA or the ISSA afraid of giving up "power" Its about more people not taking responsibility. Every year at the spring shoot the board has to send out press gangs just to get people to run for an office. If anyone is serious about changing anything all they have to do is show up and run for office tell the membership what they belive and see how the votes fall. I don't know for sure but I bet the ISSA board has the same problems just getting people to take spots making decissions about the rules and how the matchs are run. Everyone wants to sit by and carp about what the board does but none of them want to take the responsibility of leadership. Its easier to be an armechair quarterback and tell Peyton Manning what he should have done without a couple of 300 lb guys comming at you. But nobody wants to put in the time or the energy or has the guts to put it out there and have the rest of the sea lawyers complane. Their egos won't handle it. We all owe a debt of gratitude the the people in the ASSRA, ISSRA and the WSU that will put in the time and considerable energy to try and make a shooting program work. 
I asked a simple question. Who is willing to bend on their rules? Because the first thing we will have to do is set up rules. Without them you have anarchy. 
Well I'm through ranting now you go back to the campfire, make smores and sing Koom By Yah. I'll just smile down from my corner office on the top floor of Schuetzen Towers in greater down town Etna Green and bask in my power. Bah

40 Rod

Anyone ever look for a summary of the rules on either the ASSRA or the WSU websites?  If you were a shooter considering the sport would you go to a match without some reliable idea about what the rules actually are?

I don't think it's critical whether the scoring rings go to 10 or 13 or whether the spot in the middle is black or red.  I would want to be able to determine before I make the trip, that my equipment was eligible, and that I had some idea as to the match procedures.

A start by posting on the website, of what the rule are would be a good start towards generating crossover participation in matches, which would be the start of unification.  A second step would be to put them in similar formats, but that might be hoping for too much.

Chris Jens

Brent
Those rules were set up when the ASSRA was young they work fine for our members as no one has proposed changing them. There is a mechanism for changing the rules in any organisation. 
1.)  Join the organisation.
2.) Get a Constitution
3.) Brush up on Roberts Rules of Order.
4.) Come to a meeting and make a proposal
Brent don't wait for somebody else to do it for you if you want it done do it. As I said before its much easier when you can just stand outside and throw stones.

40 Rod