Shooting @ 18 Feet

[Kentucky Lawman]

Just a question to the general membership. How many of you incorperate shooting @ 18 Feet in you club shoots or (If any) in your open CFDA matches?

It seems most shoots always follow the same format, 21 feet on Sat. and 15 feet on Sunday. What is the preveling reason for this?

I ask because Shane's BGFD club in Kentucky and I believe Ringo's ODFD club in Virginia and the spring shoot in Deadwood use a format of each day firing the first two rounds @ 15 feet then the next 2 rounds @ 18 feet and finishing out the contest @ 21 feet.

This seems to me to be an exciting way to compete and to level the playing field out even more.

So again, I was just wondering why not add 18 feet shooting in the match instead of just the same old sterile 21 one day and 15 the next? Is there a reason?

[Ringo]

Howdy Kentucky Lawman!!

Cal showed us this format when he visited us 2 years ago. We have used that format since then for our regular monthly matchs. I like it for several reasons. First, for new shooters, putting someone new on the line at 21 feet is definitely more intimidating to them than 15 feet. So shooting at 15 feet first seems to give them a little bit of confidence before going to the further distances. For new shooters, or even seasoned shooters, hitting the target a few times with decent times will make up for the misses and slow times. To me, it is about the shooters coming back because they felt good about what they had done.

Second, it seems like if you start at 15, then go to 18, 21 feet doesn't seem so far away for most shooters, especially the newer folks.

Third, this is "fast draw" so alot of folks really turn on the speed at the closer distances more so than at 21 feet. I love seeing the smiles and cheers from the folks when they shoot with more common lower times at the shorter distances. It is all about fun and personal satisfaction and achievment.

It is very popular at our club. However, for our next two monthly matchs, we will be shooting everything at 21 feet getting ready for our state championship in July.

Our Club Championship in November is shot at that format as well!!!

Hope to see ya soon Lawman!! Tell the Mrs I said howdy!!
Ringo

[Kentucky Lawman]

Ringo,
Those are good points you have brought up and again It just makes me wonder why the 18 foot distance is not used more in the open CFDA shoots that clubs put on.

21 feet has to be used in a titled contest, but unless there is something I am missing, why is the 18 feet largerly ignored when clubs put on matches that are not titled.

I just think we have gone stale with the Sat. 21 feet and Sunday 15 feet format and by using the 15 foot 2 rounds, 18 foot 2 rounds & 21 foot to complete the remainder of the rounds and match format each day would spice it up some.

Of course there could be reason (Administrative, logistical...etc) and I am just not seeing it. But, I think you charge the same amount to shoot for either day of give a discount if you shoot both days and go from there to award the daily and overall match prizes.

Ringo, looking forward to seeing you guys in July!

[Lester P. Larceny]

Damm if Tombstone had been 15-18 I wouldda hit the target at least once.........with my gun

[The Irishman]

Our club use to shoot 15', 18' and then 21' in the past, I don't know why we got away from that format, we moved to a different location and to my understanding we are going to go back to the (3) stage format for future shoots.

The Irishman

[last will]

Due to the indoor range limitations we shoot only 15 and 18 feet.
We shoot these most of the time outside as well. We our County Championship is at 18 feet and the State and larger matches at 21'. That's not to say we don't ever practice at 21' Seems like most of our warmer weather practices are at 21'.

We used to move the targets further back for the expert shooter as a handicap against the less experience shooters but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. We changed to a time range format instead. This seems to work well.


Will

[ANGEL LADY]

The contests we hold here in Marysville have been set up for 21' and 15'. When we hold the Spook Shoot in October inside the 4-H building, it is not large enough to allow us to shoot at 21' and therefore we shoot 18' and 15'. All the championship contests are at 21'..... by backing off to 15' on the second day, it is more relaxing and gives the new shooters or slow shooters a chance to compete. We actually have shooters who only show up to shoot the 15' on Sunday and forfeit the right to win an all-around trophy just because they feel more threatened by the 21'. Guess this is our reason Steve.

[Kentucky Lawman]

Angel Lady, I think you are saying some what Ringo talked about.

It appears that newer shooters or those with not a lot of time on the line like the closer distance. And so that is what I am trying to raise the point. Why just do the 21 and 15 format when by expanding to the 15 - 18 - 21 format each day it brings that new shooter into the situation in a more comfortable/gradual way? The option to shoot Sat or Sunday or both days is still there and that new shooter can get the feel of all three and by starting out the day at 15 he can start out in the "comfort zone".

I just raised the question because it appears that the open club shoots seem to be disappearing. That could be because there are more titled shoots now and traveling distances to go to shoots like the Spook Shoot or President Day are just not as fesible OR have they grown stale with just the 21 first day then 15 2nd day format.

Just something for clubs with shoots to think about as this format of 15 - 18 - 21 appears to be working quite well for the two clubs here in the East (Kentucky & Virginia).

[Shane]

I think it makes it more interesting to shoot at the different distance's.