This is part of a posting from the Wyoming Schuetzen Union Forum.

Fred
 
Center Shot 61 by Steve Garbe 

In this installment of the Center Shot I would like to talk about a subject that has been “simmering” for a couple of years. It involves the definition of a “Schuetzen” match. 
The Schuetzen style of shooting has always been an offhand discipline. That being said, I know that there were some matches, mostly in the German communities in Texas, where the rules allowed the rifle to be rested while the shooter stood in an upright position. I think we could agree that these matches were the exception and not the rule. Generally speaking, both in Europe and America, Schuetzen shooting was a strictly offhand affair. 
So why do we now have bench rest matches incorporated into the aggregate on almost all our Schuetzen matches? The answer that I have received from most “old-timers” was that when the Coors matches started back in the 1980’s, bench matches were thought to be necessary in order to attract a sufficient number of contestants. It seems that bench shooting has also been part of the ASSRA’s shooting programs although they are generally not referred to as specifically “Schuetzen” matches. Members of both associations have assured me that bench shooting was necessary to insure participation. And, both the International Single Shot Association and the American Single Shot Rifle Association do not have the word “Schuetzen” in their names. 
I don’t think that anyone could argue against the statement that rest shooting and offhand shooting are two distinctly different disciplines. Go to any Schuetzen match and look at the difference between the benchrest and offhand rifles. Serious competitors have a completely different rifle for each discipline. The problem that I see is, historically, Schuetzen means “offhand”; and if we are to pay attention to history, we need to keep it “offhand”. When a competitor wins an overall aggregate in today’s Schuetzen matches he may not have been the best offhand shot…he may simply have turned in the best bench score and good, but not the best, offhand score. If there are several excellent offhand shooters present at a match, many times the winner is decided by the benchrest score. I think that this is in contradiction to the historical definition of a Schuetzen match. It has often been said that offhand shooting tests the man and benchrest shooting tests the rifle. Anyone who has competed in both matches will tell you that offhand and benchrest shooting are drastically different and require their own set of abilities. 
This is not to say that there weren’t rest matches in the old days. Quite to the contrary, there were many organizations that were focused strictly on benchrest shooting. The National Rifle Club, the Nypano Rifle Club and the Jamestown Rifle Club were but a few of the organizations whose main interest was in rest rifle shooting. Rest rifle shooting, in many different guises- turkey shoots, chunk rifle shooting, double rest matches- were uniquely American shooting sports and as such, a big part of our shooting heritage. Many present-day black powder shooters have not the slightest clue about the old rest rifle matches and shooters. Hopefully, through the efforts of individuals associated with the National Rifle Club, that will change. 

With the resurrection of the National Rifle Club and it’s focus on rest rifle shooting, it begs the question that the Wyoming Schuetzen Union should become truly a “Schuetzen” organization. In several phone meetings with the Schuetzen Board of the Wyoming Schuetzen Union the decision was reached to focus the Wyoming Schuetzen Union on offhand shooting in its sanctioned competition. Pat Bowland, Schuetzenmeister for the Bitterroot Schuetzen Society has also informed me that the Montana State Schuetzen Championship for 2008 may be a strictly offhand match. The National Rifle Club will host the benchrest competition that has in the past been associated with the WSU Wyoming State Championship and will award NRC Wyoming State Championship medals. Combining offhand and benchrest scores to determine an overall Schuetzen winner will be a thing of the past at Cody. The National Rifle Club will be the sanctioning body for benchrest matches at the National Championships at Raton, New Mexico as well. 
In conversations with the principals of the National Rifle Club, it was decided that the addition of an “Open Class” to the NRC rules would serve the function of providing for a venue under which our current bench rest rifles could be shot. The NRC’s “Traditional Class” will still adhere to their “pre-December 31, 1900” technology cut-off. However, the new Open Class will allow equipment, sights, powder and single shot rifles produced after that date. The “any plain-base lead bullet” rule will be common to both classes, as well as the definition of “Time Rules” when they are used in a match. 
As I said, this issue is one that has been brought up frequently over the years and I think that the Wyoming Schuetzen Union is leading the way on returning Schuetzen matches to what they were originally- a test of marksmanship from the offhand position. I’m well aware that other single shot rifle organizations will probably not agree w

I agree that there should not be an aggregate of offhand and bench rest scores. This idea was started at the Coors matches and harkens back to how the NMLRA holds matches. I think you will find that in the old days , like the ASSRA, they kept offhand and bench rest separate. I am thinking of the shooters at Walnut Hill where rest matches were a big part of their program.

Paul - is that weenies or "winners" - ha - just couldn't resist - you have a good day now - I just might be a weenie though - freezing here in Indiana - thinking seriously of moving to TN. - the rimfire - cdpersons

Have shot a fair amount of "Schuetzen' out of the country were it's mostly Air Rifles and Beer all offhand. With most clubs it's more about singing the old songs than shooting although some of the guys are pretty good.  Found I can't shoot well when drinking, probably a good thing.

While I only shoot offhand can see we need bench rest to keep the sport alive though. Few offhand shooters on the East Coast in Schuetzen.  A whole lot of them in NRA rules Silhouette and some very good.  I am glad the Wyoming shooters have such an offhand following and wish them well.  Wish there was more offhand Schuetzen competition east of the Mississippi.

It is sort of unfair to agg offhand and bench they are totaly different One of our very good shooters seems to me to always suffer at the Coors due to his bench scores. He does not own a bench rifle and never shoots bench. If it was scored offhand separate he may have won some of those matches.

Boats

I agree with Jim on bench-offhand aggs. You have to be a pretty good offhand shot, no matter how good you are on the bench, or you're just out of the game! A mediocre offhand shot drops so many points on that leg, that he can't possibly make it up on the bench leg.

Been there done that. You can lose the match from either side, bench or offhand. I agree that it is easier to have a good offhand shooter come out on top, but a bad bench can sure kill you. There are ussually allot higher precent of lost points. They say in position smallbore, prone won't win you a match but it sure can lose you one.

"They're just so SERIOUS all the time! "

Hey Paul F, you've obviously never watched ME shoot benchrest.  Frogs don't have a single serious bone anywhere in their little amphibian bodies!  

Then again, if you want to see serious, you should see me sweating trying to get a few shots to actually score on an offhand target.  That's serious (or at least intense.)  I'm MUCH more relaxed sitting down!

Froggie

In the aggregate, the best offhand shooters will win the agg.  Who cares as long as we get to shoot and be with our friends. And enemy's. 
If your having a bad day you can always shoot someone's wind flag. 


                                                                               Joe.