No real position here either...
'Cept to say that I kinda got into Schutzen to get away from the overly "equpiment raced" Highpower rules.

I like the "run what you brung" sort of matches run in my area.  Of course, since I'm the match director, I try to engender that in my matches.   
If the rules called for it, I'd abide by shooting coats, or classes, etc...
But I do kinda prefer a "stand on your hind legs, shoulder to shoulder with everyone else, and shoot" atmosphere.

Paul F.

we tried a combination of assra and wsu matches the past 2 years, and yesterday at the tssra membership meeting we voted out the wsu matches, and rules.
keep it simple
irish

This mentality of "doing whatever it takes to win" is what turns off many shooters from competitive shooting. When people get caught up in using everything that's legal, rather than just enjoying the event, it ends up with a few people desperate to be the best, and the rest just tired of it.
I like Froggie's attitude, just have a good time and don't worry about what the other guys are wearing!

Quote:


Agree.  We need a category for iron sights only - in calibers under .40 so I don't have to use the .458WM for the only category of ONLY iron sights.   

An additional humble suggestion... it is for the interested new shooter to find what he wants to do, and ask of the organization what he should use to do it by their rules.  If he likes what they are doing, he can join them.   

My strategy was to look at the various organizations I would like to shoot with (or might expect to have a chance to get into) and assemble my rifle and shooting kit to suit the most restrictive set of rules.  By default, the more liberal rules would be met and I wouldn't have to change anything.  If the prospective shooter decides to specialize in or concentrate on one specific discipline or organization, he will probably be upgrading his gear for that one anyway.   

CatWhisperer, the categories you mention exist in ASSRA at larger matches.  We just don't have enough shooters at CSV to offer every match that exists across the boards.  If there is enough interest, I would love to have an any caliber iron sights match, perhaps at 100 yds for bench or offhand... if enough attending shooters request it, I will add it to the June program.  That will give me an excuse to drag out another high-wall! 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Froggie

PS  I also would like to reiterate what Jim said;  The biggest reason these other organizations exist is that their founders wanted to do something different from what was already being done since the late '40s by ASSRA.  That does not mean we have to change to accommodate their wishes, they have their own organizations for that purpose.

Actualy it's my opinion a tight shooting coat is a disavantage offhand. Not everybody see's it that way but it's OK with me if somebody wants to hinder his offhand positon.

Tubb shoots Match rifles offhand with his coat on but unsnapped. And has won more than one Silouette championship with just a light vest. He claims in his book strapped in does not let you control the rifle as well.

I have one wear it smallbore prone but want no parts of a tight coat offhand.

Boats

As I said in the initial post, I don't have a horse in the race. A couple of comments, I own recognize one serious offhand shooter in the replies a fact which lead me to do a bit more research. After browing through several years of the ISSA* shoot report, ASSRA scores as listed in the Journal, and what has been printed in Black Powder Cartridge News it became obvious that if a very modest 2000 points in the Hudson Match
were the cutoff, above that indicating some offhand shooting skill, it 
appears that only about 20 current shooters reach that level of competency!! Hence, I guess it does not make any differance as all of the above-mentioned 20 probably know what scores their fellow shooters post, and which ones use jackets.

fred

* Since the ISSA matches offhand are 50 shots at the international shoot I just doubled those 50 shot scores.

Just a probably irrelevant comment here:  it seems like only a relatively small percentage of the shooters I see at Etna Green (my limited perspective) do any offhand shooting.  as just a WAG I'd guess less than 25%.  not sure why but maybe the physical demands are more than many can or are willing to handle.

I'd never shot any offhand in my life until I started trying with the 22rfs a year or so ago.  it is a long slow learning curve for me.  but I'M HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BALL trying!!!!!!  someday maybe when I grow up I'll try centerfire.
  I REALLY appreciate the addition of the 100 shot/100 yard rimfire mini-hudson--any time I can mange to shoot a few less 10's than my last match I feel pretty good.

I've tried shooting both with and without a tightly fitting vest and am not convinced either way yet.  I'm perfectly happy with the rules the way they are at present

It’s always something. If the ASSRA is against it then we’re not inclusive, if we allow it than we need a special class. How bout we just show up and shoot?

40 Rod

Yes, don't spit in the wind. But I'll bet a properly fitted shooting jacket is worth at least 75 points in the Hudson match. We had an assortment of them at the Fairfax Club some years back and test results i.e. score improvement were eye opening. These jackets were NRA-type very heavy. One comment was that when properly strapped "I could not have
broken wind". As far as being "no help" just talk to the high power shooters. Again, I'll just keep shooting in those old t-shirts.

fred

Try that jacket. If it's very thick length of pull could be a problem. Jim Luke shot a Hudson a couple of weeks ago using an ISU jacket which
is limited to 2mm thickness. This was his first attempt at using a jacket, shot a 2297 which in considerably higher then he has shot in recent years. Jim is a superb shot, I was there at the Fairfax Club in 1992 when he shot an incredible 2321 without jacket, Ballard rifle.
fred

I still have a lasting memory of shooting with in a match with Jim McDermett on a hot muggy July day. He had on a shooting jacket and was soaked with sweat to his knees. At the end of each relay it looked like he was going to pass out. How that helped his shooting is beyond me. But that is why they make chocolate and vanilla.

40 Rod

Dick, that was not Jim's first use of the jacket, as he used it a month ago @ Chinquapin.  I don't know whether that was his first outing with a jacket either, but I do know he used it at that time.

Froggie