How do I get into competition shooting?

[Tortuga]

I've become pretty interested in competition shooting. I know that means a lot of things to a lot of different people, but I'm not exactly sure how to get started. I've been doing reading online and it seems like there's a lot of competitions from a lot of different kinds of shooting. I'm interested in most of them (except maybe pistol). Ideally, I'd like to shoot with my AR 15 (preferably open sight).

Any thoughts on this?

 

[gunlaw]

Show up at a match. Most shooters will be very helpful.

 

[Trashyshoots]

Figure out what discipline closest matches what you want to do and show at a match.
Like @gunlaw said, they will (should) be very helpful with the details.

 

[Mauser lover]

Action shooting, like 3-gun?

Or more like what the CMP does with service rifles?

It just depends on what you want to shoot. Where are you?

 

[redneck2]

Since you’re not sure, i’d be more inclined to find out what’s available within a reasonable distance. If you wanted to try 3 gun but the closest range is two hundred miles away, it’s a lost cause from the start

 

[KY DAN]

Start with your local area, find what's offered, get phone number of match officials, make call, say my name is .... and I want to learn more about..... I have never competed before, show up and watch, learn, buy your equipment, become the best.

I live in western Kentucky where coal was once king, the mines left and so did the money so now it's a poverty filled land with meth addicts for citizens and neighbors.
We don't have much competition, just the occasional odd range with their versions of ipsc, ispa, steel challenge. I have gave up on competition due to the limitations of the area. The thought of driving 2 hours to shoot 160 rounds of 9mm at card board targets does not excited me.

 

[243winxb]

Service Rifle.....

For a AR 15 https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2019/6/5/intro-to-service-rifle

The NRA will list competitions in your area. Do a search.

Buy or read online the High Power Rifle Rule book . . It will cover equipment, course of fire & more.

Best part is different clasifications. You dont have to be a World Class Master.

Buy some targets and give it a try at your local range.
You may*need to join the NRA & maybe your state organization.

 

[Ifishsum]

Highpower/Service Rifle is a great discipline to hone your skills with irons on an AR15. I found a very welcoming and helpful bunch of folks when I started 8 or 10 years ago, find a scheduled match and show up you'll enjoy it.

 

[Tortuga]

It seems like the general consensus is "find a match and show up," which I think is good advice. However, as others mentioned and as I have discovered after more reading, some require joining the NRA (which I had a thread about that got deleted) or other groups. The other main issue is, with the WuFlu going around, I don't think a lot of these competitions are happening. We had a bunch of people recently defy lockdown orders and have a big cookout recently. I learned from a neighbor while shoveling her driveway that apparently a bunch of people got sick and died.

 

[JJFitch]

1. Join a local club
2. Find out who shoots AR's on a regular basis. Lots of like minded shooters show up at the range on specific days.
3. Show up when they do and get to know them. This will open all the doors you are asking about.
4. If this isn't happening let people know that you'd like to get an informal group of like minded shooters together for casual shooting as a group.
5. Get out there and have fun.

Today I went to the range to fine tune a new AR. While I was fiddling with it several guys came over to see what I was doing. They thought I was having issues because I was only firing 1 round about every several minutes! They are probably used to people firing 20 rounds a minute! I was actually breaking in a new barrel, sighting in and testing 3 loads!

The fact that they were interested in what I was doing opened the door for conversation. As a matter of fact they inquired about a monthly "Old Soldiers Match". Very casual club match for any military style rifle and open sights or a separate class for optics.

Smiles,

 

[JFrank]

It seems like the general consensus is "find a match and show up," which I think is good advice. However, as others mentioned and as I have discovered after more reading, some require joining the NRA (which I had a thread about that got deleted) or other groups. The other main issue is, with the WuFlu going around, I don't think a lot of these competitions are happening. We had a bunch of people recently defy lockdown orders and have a big cookout recently. I learned from a neighbor while shoveling her driveway that apparently a bunch of people got sick and died.

I started by going to ranges then ask around while im there about longer ranges of course one thing leads to another I heard of a 600 yard informal / non sanctioned benchrest event and let me say that it was intimidating at first but now 600 is no big deal.
Keep looking and asking you'll find one to shoot at.

 

[Varminterror]

@Tortuga - where are you located?

You mentioned you want to shoot your AR with open sights? Do you want to shoot fast or shoot far?

No more generic advice - knowing your location and your discipline, it’s not hard for us to find local clubs/matches for you.

 

[Bwana John]

High Power / Service Rifle

 

[Buzznrose]

It seems like the general consensus is "find a match and show up," which I think is good advice. However, as others mentioned and as I have discovered after more reading, some require joining the NRA (which I had a thread about that got deleted) or other groups. The other main issue is, with the WuFlu going around, I don't think a lot of these competitions are happening. We had a bunch of people recently defy lockdown orders and have a big cookout recently. I learned from a neighbor while shoveling her driveway that apparently a bunch of people got sick and died.

They are happening here in TX. Where are you at?

 

[Buzznrose]

I don’t know about needing to join any club, unless it’s a prerequisite. Where I am, all you need to do to shoot in many matches is contact the match sponsor and ask them how to sign up. Most these days prefer early sign up using an app. But most will still let you show up and pay cash on day of shoot.

Don’t get too fancy with equipment to start. Show up with plenty of ammo and mags, and some mag pouch (I use a double pistol pouch and a single AR pouch but I also wear cargo pants and carry extras as needed. Not the speediest but start slow and figure things out before trying to blaze on.

Main objective for me is social interaction with shooting folks and fun. My match strategy is to make good hits. I’m not much interested in winning anything.

 

[Laphroaig]

Americas Rifle Challenge (ARC) matches are a good way to shoot your AR15 in a more informal, but safe, competition. Nothing scheduled at present but check back when the weather gets nicer.

https://arc.nra.org/find-an-event/

Across the course (CMP) is another good idea, but most shooters come with a lot of specialized equipment which the OP might not have presently.

 

[Tortuga]

@Tortuga - where are you located?

You mentioned you want to shoot your AR with open sights? Do you want to shoot fast or shoot far?

No more generic advice - knowing your location and your discipline, it’s not hard for us to find local clubs/matches for you.

I'm from Pennsylvania. I like to shoot both fast and far. I also like doing the combat drills I used to do in the military, but I'm more keen on contests where I compete with other people on groupings / distance (if that's a thing). I really like to shoot with Iron sights. I'd like to get good enough to compete all over the country.

I've been looking into the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

 

[Varminterror]

I’m not sure I think anyone could “get good enough to compete all over the country” in CMP/NRA Highpower with iron sights if they are starting in January of 2021. The course of fire was designed around iron sights, but after the transition to allow optics several years ago now, the game is dominated by scopes.

But at least you CAN play.

Note: the Civilian Marksmanship Program matches are effectively twin brother to NRA Highpower matches, to the point of referencing each other in their respective rule books - so look for nearby-ish club/range offering Highpower matches or CMP sanctioned EIC/Leg matches. I’m not sure about PA, but often finding NRA-HP matches are easier than finding Leg matches.

Here’s one PA club/range doing Highpower matches:

https://www.nhrpc.org/highpower

There appear to be other options.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m going to do this in 2021. It’s intended to attract folks like the OP that want to shoot their ARs in a competitive setting without having to invest in a bunch of gear

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-power-class-mid-range-prone-tactical.847226/

 

[Laphroaig]

I'm from Pennsylvania.

East or west? There are probably dozens of clubs that sponsor CMP/NRA matches in PA. All the clubs that I'm aware of in W. PA resumed matches last summer, albeit with some social distancing. I'm assuming that will happen sometime next summer as well. Not all clubs around here advertise, so you might have to search them out through their respective websites.

 

[gravelyctry]

There’s also a website called National Match (you may have to register to use) that is focused on cross the course shooting, both NRA and CMP service rifle and match rifle competitions you seeem to be interested in. Lots of helpful people and information there. They can definitely help you find clubs and matches coming up that are close to you, as well as answer questions you might have.
http://www.usrifleteams.com/forums/
Also, a lot of those shooters shoot other disciplines, so you’ll learn about all kinds of shooting opportunities and Ings I never even knew existed until I started shooting service rifle.
Neil