Why Do You Not Shoot In Line Matches?

[FishDFly]

Back from the Texas State M/L Championship Shoot and was wondering why folks do not participate in line matches?

You can learn a lot from experienced shooters and for the most part they are willing mentors if you ask.

Thoughts and why?

 

[Stony Broke]

I shoot a match once a month and enjoy the heck out of it....usually.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I don't do it do my because I get not enjoyment out of competition with others.

 

[Ames]

I prefer to shoot alone at my own pace.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I must be been half asleep when I typed the first post. I meant to say that I prefer to shoot by myself as I don't enjoy competing with others.

 

[okawbow]

I enjoy shooting in all kinds of muzzleloader matches. I shoot offhand, woods walk, bench, chunkgun, and table matches.

It’s good fun and the competition makes me a better shooter. I also learn from other shooters who are better than me, and improve my own shooting and gun management. Best way to keep sharp and improve in my opinion.

Chuck

 

[EC121]

I used to shoot line matches just to improve my scores. Kind of like golf. If I placed well, that was just a bonus. Interest has died out around here so I don't shoot many matches these days. I shoot on my range, but other than sighting in a rifle, it isn't much fun to shoot by myself.
To me competition means being able to play offense and defense. Shooting and golf are games without defense. You are playing yourself.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I shoot any event I can, woods walk or "line matches." I mostly shoot line matches, because that is what is offered in my area. I didn't know that there was a prejudice about "line shooters." I was at a woods walk wherein I cleaned between each shot (as I normally do on the line) and the grizzly old line judge muttered, "****** line shooter." That's why I use "line shooter."

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Ames]

And that's why I don't. You never have to listen to the mutterin' in your own back 40.

 

[hanshi]

I've done a couple of woods walks and that's about it for me. Long ago I did compete in rifle & handgun matches with, ahem, those cartridge thingies.

I no longer travel or drive very well and health issues are around for the duration it seems. Plus I've never run into any ML matches locally; and I prefer to shoot alone and take my time. I do shoot occasional "postal matches" where there's always plenty of time and no stress.

 

[No Deer]

I don't shoot well enough and don't care to practice enough to get good enough to shoot line shoots, and I am not serious enough. Around here line shooters take it too serious. You better not speak to them, or even walk past them on the line. Woods walks are are lot more loose, harassment of other shooters is expected, and almost mandatory lol. Plus, you are not striving for cloverleaf shot groupings on the x, hitting the clanger gets you the score.

 

[tenngun]

I enjoyed match shooting when I first started. Enjoy novelty shoots like woods walks and mostly shoot in the middle of the pack.
The hard dyed in wool blood shooters have a lot of fun at shooting in a line, but it’s an aspect of the sport that I’m just not drawn to. I enjoy the historic aspects of the sport. Clothing cooking woods skills.
I don’t enjoy black and white smithing, pottery making. I’ve done a bunch of brain tanning but probably will not do it again, as I don’t find it a lot of fun.
I love reading military history but don’t care to march.
There is plenty of games in this sport for us all to play.

 

[biliff]

I shoot trail walks and bullseye shoots, mostly with my flintlocks. Use the same loading technique for both, spit patch, no wiping, what many would consider a "loose" ball/patch comb. I usually spend the last 15 minutes of a 30 minute relay smoking my pipe waiting for everybody else to finish. Every now and then I'll win a relay. Don't really sweat it as its all practice and I'm really just shooting against myself. Having a "formal" scored shoot is helpful because paper don't lie and there's no fooling yourself about how well you're doing.

 

[rich pierce]

I do it as a personal challenge and I really enjoy being part of a ML club.

 

[longcruise]

I enjoy shooting in any kind of match. There used to be more and larger matches than now. When I got my Kmart TC in 1974 I read the manual and looked for a place to shoot. I heard of a match nearby and thought it would be fun so I went and signed up. Best thing I ever did. As soon as they saw me dipping the powder measure into a plastic tub full of powder I started getting all kinds of help! Those folks treated me great and got me started down the right path. They got me started and I've been shooting matches ever since.

I never cared where I ended in the standings. Just loved the whole fun thing of shooting and talking with other shooters. I still don't care where I land in the scores. Sometimes you finish with the top three and sometimes you land in the bottom three. It's all good fun.

 

[Logcutter]

I went to a club shoot once. The guys were nice enough and welcoming and encouraged me to join the club. But it wasn't for me. They were ALL ABOUT winning and scoring points. Strict time limits between shots, no talking on the line, like we were on the golf course putting or something. Period dress was even a competition for them and was scored. I just wanted to burn some powder with other muzzle loader guys. I did not go back. Like I said, they were some okay guys and I wish em all well but it was not what I was looking for.

 

[Col. Batguano]

I don't think our local ML'ing club shoots are "line matches" as per above, but at their monthly shoots, they put ALL ML'ers in the same category just to get their numbers up. Each target costs $0.50 to shoot, and me shooting my small caliber low sighted HC/PC flint gun would have to compete directly with guys shooting big caliber scoped in-lines wearing precision 3-P shooting garb. I don't mind losing when the playing field is level, but that isn't level.

 

[nkbj]

Haven't competed in muzzleloading matches since about oh, 1978-9 or so.
When you split a .44 rifle ball on the axe and break both targets and then they make up a new rule to keep you from winning...

Well, I went over to their silhouette gongs and rang them for a while. They expressed concern over how my 1861 spoke.
I put things away and left.
Never went to another one.

 

[dave951]

I'm having a ball shooting with the North South Skirmish Association. We don't call the matches, but rather Skirmishes. Either way, it's competition and a hoot to compete in. No arguing over did my shot cut the 9 ring, targets are all frangible and you break it, it counts and the clock is running, no pressure.

 

[azmntman]

I have never shot against anyone but my son and my bestest friend. They have both beat me a time or three. I mostly tie the boy, last time I shot with buddy we literally had to turn a pair of bino's around and study to see his 5 shot group was about .0005 tighter than mine and he, I believe, is avoiding a rematch. I like to shoot alone myself (or with a trusty German shepherd husky mix...my Giberianhuskards)

Did ya'all know a pair of bino's turned around acts like a mini microscope? Buddys dad was G&F detective and he taught us that trick as he studied a shell he found at a poaching site. Pretty cool.