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.
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