by Baldrick314 » 02 Sep 2014, 8:06 am
I was intimidated to be competing at first too but it's not such a big deal. What actually takes place in a comp depends on what match you choose to shoot.
Every match has a order of fire that outlines any time constraints and how many targets you have to engage and in what order to do it.
Also to fulfil your licensing requirements you only have to submit a certain amount of scores. For the first 6 months of having my licence I didn't compete, I showed up on practice days when the range was less crowded and ran through the match with other people who were practicing and submitted a score based on that.
Lastly, you'll find people are a lot more welcoming than you first expect. They all remember what it was like to be the new guy who didn't know anyone.
Do some research on what match you want to do and find out when they shoot it, then show up and start talking to people and help out where you can. Those guys will help you out with choosing equipment for the match and what pricing is good.
When I had decided on my match I'd go out on shooting days and help pick up brass after the shoot and just talk with the guys, before I knew it they were offering me to shoot their pistols and helping me find deals on my own pistol and reloading gear.
May have got a little side tracked there, just go out and enjoy it and don't be intimidated by 'competing', it's not a huge deal.
.177, .22lr, .22-250R, 2x .308W, .30-30W, 7.62x54r, 8x56r, 9x19, .357 Mag, 12GA