Shoot What'cha Got!
Here's the scenario:
A local shooting club or organization sponsors a shooting match of some kind....it doesn't matter what kind.....field trial, long range silhouette, 10m Olympic style.....what matters is that the shooting match is held, and an invitation goes out to all interested parties to come and enjoy the match, the competition, the fellowship of like-minded people.
Some shooters come from far away.....others are nearby or so close it's like running to town for a gallon of milk you forgot yesterday! All of them are set to enjoy the competition and atmosphere. The gun cases fly open, and out come the $1000 + airgun rigs, special jackets or weighed pellets, bum bags for derriere comfort.....all the things a dedicated shooter thinks they need for shooting fun. But off to the side.....
A new shooter, or someone new to airguns, hesitates about even going and getting his or her gear from the car. You see, they are new to the fraternity of airgunners, and often new shooters start with low-priced rigs, or big-box store special sale merchandise. The hesitation is noticed by one of the current or former champion shooters, and with a knowing nod to the situation, they stroll over and inquire as to what the new person is shooting.
"Oh, it's just a cheap little Chinese gun I picked up one day when I needed to take care of some garden pests. I'm not even sure I can hit anything with it anymore!"
"Let me see it," the veteran shooter says. "Oh, I've got one of these! Mine shoots at xxx speed and gives me about 1" groups at 40 yards. Does yours do that?"
The new person gapes at the veteran, realizing that their gun is not going to be ridiculed for its origins or cost. Before long, other shooters comment on the new person's rig, stating they either own or have owned one in the past, and sharing stories about how good or bad it was, how they fixed problems that came up with their gun, and how much they enjoyed or are still enjoying the exact same model the new person is using that day.
So what's the point of this little story? Just to say that what you are shooting isn't quite as important as the fact that you ARE shooting. If you are a newbie, I would urge you to go to a match and take what'cha got, and enjoy the fun. Odds are, and I'd almost bet good money on it, that before the day is done, you will get the chance to shoot some of those high-dollar rigs that other shooters bring. And you'll find some shooters using low-cost rigs like yours, and doing very well, thank you very much!
You see, airgunners simply can't resist showing off their guns. I believe it is part of the virus that gets into an airgun shooters when they catch airgunitis. It's not a deadly disease, but it can become costly if you don't watch out! However, part of having the disease is letting as many folks shoot your gun as possible so they can comment on what you have. And many airgunitis victims revel in the fact that they can take a garage sale gun and make it shoot like a house on fire!
Just recently, Ray and Hans Apelles of the A-Team had to have a shoot off to determine the winner of the match, a match in which both of them cleaned the course (hit every target). The gun they were using? The Benjamin Discovery, a sub-$300 gun which they had modified slightly. With a low-budget gun, they beat the competition, some of who were using much higher-dollar equipment.
So get out there, shoot what'cha got, and enjoy the great fun that is available for those who enjoy the sport of airgunning!
A local shooting club or organization sponsors a shooting match of some kind....it doesn't matter what kind.....field trial, long range silhouette, 10m Olympic style.....what matters is that the shooting match is held, and an invitation goes out to all interested parties to come and enjoy the match, the competition, the fellowship of like-minded people.
Some shooters come from far away.....others are nearby or so close it's like running to town for a gallon of milk you forgot yesterday! All of them are set to enjoy the competition and atmosphere. The gun cases fly open, and out come the $1000 + airgun rigs, special jackets or weighed pellets, bum bags for derriere comfort.....all the things a dedicated shooter thinks they need for shooting fun. But off to the side.....
A new shooter, or someone new to airguns, hesitates about even going and getting his or her gear from the car. You see, they are new to the fraternity of airgunners, and often new shooters start with low-priced rigs, or big-box store special sale merchandise. The hesitation is noticed by one of the current or former champion shooters, and with a knowing nod to the situation, they stroll over and inquire as to what the new person is shooting.
"Oh, it's just a cheap little Chinese gun I picked up one day when I needed to take care of some garden pests. I'm not even sure I can hit anything with it anymore!"
"Let me see it," the veteran shooter says. "Oh, I've got one of these! Mine shoots at xxx speed and gives me about 1" groups at 40 yards. Does yours do that?"
The new person gapes at the veteran, realizing that their gun is not going to be ridiculed for its origins or cost. Before long, other shooters comment on the new person's rig, stating they either own or have owned one in the past, and sharing stories about how good or bad it was, how they fixed problems that came up with their gun, and how much they enjoyed or are still enjoying the exact same model the new person is using that day.
So what's the point of this little story? Just to say that what you are shooting isn't quite as important as the fact that you ARE shooting. If you are a newbie, I would urge you to go to a match and take what'cha got, and enjoy the fun. Odds are, and I'd almost bet good money on it, that before the day is done, you will get the chance to shoot some of those high-dollar rigs that other shooters bring. And you'll find some shooters using low-cost rigs like yours, and doing very well, thank you very much!
You see, airgunners simply can't resist showing off their guns. I believe it is part of the virus that gets into an airgun shooters when they catch airgunitis. It's not a deadly disease, but it can become costly if you don't watch out! However, part of having the disease is letting as many folks shoot your gun as possible so they can comment on what you have. And many airgunitis victims revel in the fact that they can take a garage sale gun and make it shoot like a house on fire!
Just recently, Ray and Hans Apelles of the A-Team had to have a shoot off to determine the winner of the match, a match in which both of them cleaned the course (hit every target). The gun they were using? The Benjamin Discovery, a sub-$300 gun which they had modified slightly. With a low-budget gun, they beat the competition, some of who were using much higher-dollar equipment.
So get out there, shoot what'cha got, and enjoy the great fun that is available for those who enjoy the sport of airgunning!
posted by Randy Mitchell at
2:01 PM
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