OK Gents.................

I wish to direct this question to those who've put on and run Schuetzen matches before.

I am a member of a club that has a small group who are passionately interested in Schuetzen rifles. I would like to put on and run a match, and am seeking information on how to get started.

I am not new to running shoots. I've been involved in running NMLRA Territorial & similar matches for some years now. I have some ideas of my own, but would much appreciate a little input from those of you who've been there & done that before.

I would like to run the match(es) to entertain my shooters for at least a weekend. Example 9:00am to 5:00pm Saturday. 9:00am to 2:00pm Sunday. I want to give them plenty to shoot.

All suggestions welcome.     Bruce

shoot what ever you want!!!!
currently I can say that I shoot three different types of "scheutzen"
what I call the traditional  ie assra type rules where the rifle must bve of single shot falling block type reciever, iron or scope smokeless or black,(any safe load) plain base lead bullets.
Then there is the newbraunfels schuetzen verein, it has been around since 1849, and currently the shoot both awful hand scope and iron, and standing stairstep rest at 100 yards 22 rimfire.
then there is fredericksburg we shoot a fun combinatrion of open iron sights  both cemterfire and rimfire at 200 yards.
the most common cALIBER IS 22-250.
so as they say schuetzen is open to your own idea.
there is also a club uip near houston called  apelts hill that has its own version and they shoot every thing from a 30-30 lever gun to a 7mm mag form a peg on a post!!
do hope this helps.
irish

I can only give you the benefit of my limited experience... (assuming you can call it being benefited, of course... ).

I had some experience running other-than-schuetzen matches at my club also... and after picking up an EMF Sharps 1874, I decided I wanted to run a match I could shoot it in.  I don't know squat about shooting Black Powder (well, I know a lot more NOW than I did then... ). Our range couldn't reasonably accomodate a silhouette course.
So.. that meant Schuetzen.
I hadn't heard of the ASSRA yet.. so I was making it up as I went along.

I got 4-5 guys with single shot rifles enthused about the idea, and put it on the annual calendar of events.  Ironically, by the time that first match rolled around, the EMF Sharps was still back at EMF's gunsmith getting straightened out (LONG story there... which I won't go in to right now...)... but I had purchased a Haenel-Aydt with left-hand stock (which this south-paw very much appreciates!).

We showed up, we shot, we had fun.   I asked the guys that showed up if they wanted to do it 3-4 times the following year. They did.
I got a few more Black Powder guys from the "other" local club interested.
The next couple matches I started introducing a few rules... always announced at the end of the previous match so no one got caught flat footed.

Right now, there are only three rules the ASSRA uses that I don't... ( I don't care what kind of base their lead bullet has, I don't care if they use a palm rest, and the shooter gets to fire 30 shots for a 30 shot course... none of this "shots on paper" nonsense...).
I'm even using ASSRA targets now after depleting some old targets in the Club's target shed.

I also have an "Honor Target" at each match. Each shooter puts in a dollar for a single shot at the Honor Target.  The shooter with the shot closest to the center wins the "pot" and the honor target.
I have used an 1898 German postage stamp as a target, and I have used a color photocopy of a 1910 German 100 Mark note.. with the original note in a frame as the "prize" along with the stack of dollars.   
The hardest part is seeing from 200 yards away the holes as each shooter shoots 'em. (it's a 300 yard walk to our 200 yard targets... pond/swamp in the way...).

My main "principle" in running these matches has been to be as inclusive as I can without damping the "spirit" of the matches.... Old fashioned, stand-on-your-hind-legs, single-shot rifle, SHOOTING.   

This year, much to my surprise and enjoyment, one of the black-powder guys from our other local club has started running a couple Schuetzen matches too!  We've got a friendly team rivalry going (well, not much of a rivalry, they mopped the floor with us this year...sure was fun though!).

You only need a few guys to start.   
Get some targets, get together, and shoot!   

Hope this helps!
Paul F.

Green Frog,

Please check your private messages.

Bruce

Bruce,

     I'll send a detailed PM as soon as time allows.  Just a couple of random notes, though.  You might want to have some rim fire @ 100 on the range you described in your PM...a lot of people seem to have a single shot .22 like a Martini, or a Favorite, or whatever.

     I like the idea of keeping it pretty simple...sometimes we try to have too many matches on our program.  That said, the King Match IS great fun for all, and what we did in June was allow each shooter registered for the day one shot at that day's King Target as part of their registration.  We even lent rifles around for those who needed them.  The prize is the target which everyone signs by their bullet hole.

     I was fortunate to "inherit" a club's group and have a place we could arrange to shoot, so I didn't literally have to "start from scratch" but that first match involves a lot of discovery.  I'll be in touch soon.

Regards,
Froggie

Bruce, 

You should have an e-mail from gfrog53 in your regular email box.  We'll talk after you've had time to peruse that stuff.  BTW, what part of the country are you located in?  Maybe some of the board regulars who are shooters and not just lurkers can make it out to participate.

Froggie

Bruce, I sent you a LOOOONG e-mail before I read this latest.  I would add that since you are in MN, you should be able to find a match to drive to at least once, even though it will be perhaps too far to drive repeatedly, so you can see how other matches in the region are run.  I see there is a local affiliate at the Oakdale Gun Club, perhaps you could find a match there.  If not, you may have to go to the next state, but I believe you would find it worth your while to do so.

Froggie