Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
CAS TOPICS => Shooter's Meeting => Topic started by: CryptoDave on June 21, 2017, 04:07:33 AM
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Hi everyone,
Pardon the title but I really need some advice.
I'm a new shooter and went to my first local shoot.
I introduced myself to the man n charge and told him I'm a brand spakin new shooter. He said no worries and introduced me to the group as a newb.
When it was my turn to shoot I was so nervous I was shaking like a leaf, but I was damned determined to do it. I have been practicing everyday at home dry shooting and going to my local indoor range to shoot. But, as soon as I got up there, everything I practiced went out the door as my nerves kicked in. As time went on during the match, my nerves settled down a bit.
But here's what really pissed me off, one of the more experienced shooters who is a regular at this club, gave me some advice. Now I'm totally open to advice, hell im a new shooter so I feel I can learn from anyone. But this shooter started off with comments like "why the hell are you holding your rifle this way......" and "what's with the shakes?" Not only did he make me feel stupid, he made me feel unwelcome.
All I've heard is that Cowboy Shooters are some of the nicest people, but from my experience part of me doesn't want to go back. But I really do like the sport and want to continue and I'm sure as hell not going to be pushed out. Unfortunately this is the closest local club to where I live. I decided to continue my practice and go back.
Just not sure what to do when this big mouth fires off next time. Part of me wants to say "look if you've got some advice I'm all ears, but otherwise keep it to yoursel" but I know this will be starting me off on the wrong foot, especially with a what appears to be tight if not "clicky" group.
Any advice?
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People forget they were just the same when they were newbies, too.
Like the line out of "Magnificent 7", when asked if his hands were sweaty and mouth dry, "Every time."
Adrenaline kicks in before a shooting a new stage.
Keep on going, get to know the people, most likely the old veteran was just trying to help you relax. Just give it no never mind. Ask a lot of questions about things you're curious about, talk firearms and equipment, and observe how people shoot stages. Pitch in and help with running the posse, too. Show them you're willing to be a part.
I guarantee you your next match with them will seem more relaxed and comfortable.
Have fun and welcome to the sport.
RCJ
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Wish I had some advice, other than look farther off, for a better group. I am a semi-outsider myself. 20 years ago, I shot with a group near St. Louis (most of us drove work pickups). If a FNG showed up in blue jeans, flannel shirt and work boots, we would welcome him and help him. 5 years ago, I went to a group near Atlanta. Most members drove German cars and the few pickups looked like they had just come off the showroom floor. I was treated like *^$%. My Rossi 1892 in .45 Colt was not authentic. I should throw it in the garbage and get a $3,000 rifle with a $1,500 action job; my pants were the wrong weight wool, etc., .etc. I found another group to shoot with. It was a lot longer drive, but well worth it.
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We all were new shooters once. We shouldn't forget that and when a newbe comes out to play our game we need to make him comfortable. He's under plenty of self induced stress. Keep him and us safe and let him have some fun. Hang in there Dave, be a helper bee, pick up brass, reset targets or carry long guns. Work the match and watch how the other cowboys shoot the stage. They'll show you the best way to shoot it. By working you'll be seen as an asset. I've been to shoots where cowboys feel that they paid their money and so they don't have to do any work. Don't be disheartened. After a while, 'shooter ready, beep ' won't be so scary. Mostly, just have fun.
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Thanks guys!
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Rule number one for a newbe is "Don't forget to Breathe."
Rule number two for a newbe is take your time and don't be rushed.
(Any Body tries to rush you, ask them to do it for you and you'll just watch)
Rule number three for a newbe is when the "helpful" sounds like criticism, tell em to go away.
Rule number four: When they call you to shoot, remember rule NUMBER ONE
Coffinmaker
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It has been my experience , confident , disciplined, seasoned shooter will offer advise "IF" you ask...
A type as you describe , who volunteers his version of advise or belittles someone....is to be avoided.
I've seen them, met a few, I try to avoid them when possible and when I'm annoyed enough I let them know it >:(
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I've tried to be an ambassador at our club. When we get someone that shows up and shows interest, I try to get them to stand beside me at the loading table. It's a great place to watch the loading procedure and also watch what's going on on the firing line. The interested new person gets a good look at everybody's guns and ammo and has a chance to converse with about everyone on the posse. At the end of the match, we will invite them to shoot a stage. Some do and some don't. We'll encourage them to come to next match and offer to loan guns, ammo and whatever else they need to shoot. I remember one match where a guy borrowed everything. And the same match, I loaned a guy one handgun. He had everything else he needed.
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At a lot of clubs you can choose which posse to sign up on at registration. If so, sign up on a different one than that guy :)
As for shakes, yeah adrenaline, as said above. After a lot of years doing this, I often find myself shaking at the unloading table after stage 1 :)
Just overlook that one doofus and enjoy the wonderful world of CAS !
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Hi everyone,
Pardon the title but I really need some advice.
Shake it off? ;)
Hey, I went to a shoot at a new place for me and they were nice but there were a couple guys there that thought they were too smart for everyone else. I wear slim jim holsters, a money belt, and shoot long barreled 1860 conversions. These guys were all over what a dunce I was for that setup, snickering about how I would never amount to anything until I got with the actual and only SASS program of gaming the system for speed. I said:
"You know there is a brand new category coming out for 4&3/4 barrels and buscadero rigs only right?"
'There is? What is it?"
"Queer cowboy" I said.
Shoot what you want when you want and encourage all others in their shooting no matter what they shoot. You cannot manage others behavior, but your response will tell them who you are and your character is what counts, not some piss ant snot eating little mouth that has mommy clean his cap guns for him.
Peace
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Neo-poleons exist... ::)
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Just do your best to avoid that guy and go have fun.
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Shake it off? ;)
Hey, I went to a shoot at a new place for me and they were nice but there were a couple guys there that thought they were too smart for everyone else. I wear slim jim holsters, a money belt, and shoot long barreled 1860 conversions. These guys were all over what a dunce I was for that setup, snickering about how I would never amount to anything until I got with the actual and only SASS program of gaming the system for speed. I said:
"You know there is a brand new category coming out for 4&3/4 barrels and buscadero rigs only right?"
'There is? What is it?"
"Queer cowboy" I said.
Shoot what you want when you want and encourage all others in their shooting no matter what they shoot. You cannot manage others behavior, but your response will tell them who you are and your character is what counts, not some piss ant snot eating little mouth that has mommy clean his cap guns for him.
Peace
Ahhhhh......I like that Mean Bob.
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There is an old saying that goes "those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Sometimes, I think the saying should be "those who can, can't teach." Some times people who have a "natural ability" have a difficult time taking that ability and sharing their techniques with others. Sounds like the person you ran into just didn't have the tact to teach. There are better ways to hold a rifle for CAS and sometimes a bit of humor can ease nerves. Might be what this guy was trying to do, he just didn't realize he wasn't doing it very well. Give them another chance. You will find that they probably are a tight knit group, and they'd love to have you in their group. Remember, this was only one person in the group. The best advice I can give you is to either volunteer or ask others to teach you how to handle some of the posse duties. I always liked working the unloading table. It gave me an opportunity to watch the good shooters. When they were done with a stage, I would ask them why they did certain things certain ways. Once they get to know you, they will take you aside and teach you some of their tricks.
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When I was getting interested in CAS I went to a local club to watch a shoot. The guy who was running the shoot came up to me and asked if i was a shooter .I explained that I was interested in the sport and wanted to see how it was done, meet some folks, ask questions, etc. He pretty rudely informed me that i was a spectator & I had to stand way back behind the shooting carts, where all I could see was carts and cowboy rear ends. I explained that I was an experienced shooter, understood range regulations, and woud not be causing anyone any problems.. didn't make a dent. I could not get near the loading table let alone the firing line, and every time I tried to move to where I could actually see something he came running over to shoo me back. I asked him how i was supposed to "spectate" If i couldn't see. I went to the next shoot ( My first ) cold, and when I got to the firing line, I asked him if I wasn't supposed to be behind the carts. He either had no memory of the incident, or didn't appreciate the joke. It takes all kinds.
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The world is full of rectums. There is no avoiding them.
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The club that I belong to will allow spectators who have eye and ear protection on the range, those without stay back under the shelter. A NEW new shooter is assigned a mentor, usually our club safety officer for his/her first shoot. We all want and need new shooters to join cas. I don't know why any RO would give a prospective new shooter a hard time. That steel is awful damn heavy and we ain't getting any younger.
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Yup. Didn't notice a whole lot of that "warm & welcoming " thing either, except from folks my own age (see avatar). Note to younger pards: I'm not here to slow down your shoot or disrupt your laser-like focus. Just here to relax, shoot my personal best and have a good time. If that don't work for you you might try 3gun or IDPA.
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Has anyone ever noticed ,,a mirror ,,it show's what you look like,,,not who you "ARE".
smok'm if y'a got'm,,,Hootmix.
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Next time somethin like that happens just tell em you been watchin them and are tryin to be just like them.
wM1
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Wow, I am near Atlanta, what club was that?
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I don't shoot for speed, I go for a clean match and it isn't that hard when the targets are at spitting distance. After joining the muzzle loaders and silhouette where the targets are at a distance where you actually have to aim at them, I found that CAS wasn't as much fun. I turned 75 this past summer and I don't know how many years (hopefully a lot) that I can continue with the shooting sports. So, I decided that to make CAS more interesting and a bit more challenging and more "cowboy". Starting this summer, I will be shooting the handguns at the rifle targets where i actually have to aim, making it more interesting to me. I don't give a rat's behind about score, I just want to play cowboy the way God intended, and not IPSC in cowboy boots.
I will advise the other shooters what my intentions will be, so that they don't think I have old timers disease shooting at the wrong targets. ;)
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Neat idea, I like it, kinda like a Josey Wales match. Sometimes you just have to challenge yourself. That's one of the reasons I've always shot my pistols duelist. Good luck.
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Howdy Crypto Dave (nice alias) and Welcome. Hang in there pard, you didn't shake anymore than 99% of us right here....ya know we had a first match too. Sorry you ran into that :-\, it's very very rare, he was probably a wannabee anyhow :o. Kill em with honey I always say "thank you for the advice but I'm in overload right now, just gonna try to learn one thing at a time". Best place to learn the ropes and make friends quick is on the line, that's where folks are that really care about our game. Help reset KDs and shag a little brass, learn to be the best spotter in the world....it takes time and focus but it can be fun. Don't forget to drink plenty of water and sit down for a snack. Remember, when you're up to shoot that stages is yours you own it, it's yours to enjoy, take all the time you need to stage your guns, take a few breaths (exhale). Relax, smooth is fast ;)....Good Luck :)
Jefro :D Relax-Enjoy
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Dyed-in-the-wool, hard core, Gamer Sass-enachs can be hard to take.
I used to be intimidated by them. Not after watching them fall on their faces at our local matches where we put an emphasis on accuracy, not speed.
We do a man-on-man side match on 10" steel plates at 10m. Each shooter has four to hit before going for the centre mini Pepppr Popper. Our shooters love it as we draw pairs by lot. It narrows down very quickly to the finals shooters.
The Sass-enachs won't even enter it. Nor do they shoot the 100m off hand match rifle event or our Mini-Quigley on 28 oz. tomato cans also at 100m off hand. Just as well as some of their match loads wouldn't reach out that far.
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Well, nearly 6 months without a peep from Crypto-Dave since he popped in here. Wonder if he gave it up????
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Well, nearly 6 months without a peep from Crypto-Dave since he popped in here. Wonder if he gave it up????
Dang, I didn't look at the OP date like I usually do ::) who drugged this thing back to life ??? TEX!! :o ;D
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Neat idea, I like it, kinda like a Josey Wales match. Sometimes you just have to challenge yourself. That's one of the reasons I've always shot my pistols duelist. Good luck.
I have always shot duelist. Never saw Randolph Scott shooting two handed. ;D
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Just saw this thread. I guess I'm lucky. We have nothing but good people at the club I'm involved with. OTOH, I'm involved with two of the three BP clubs that shoot at our ranges. I know and have shot and attended rendevous with guys from the other club. Then we also have an NCOWS group that maintains a range as well. There are guys that shoot at both the BP and CAS shoots. When I went to shoot cowboy, I already knew people. It was just adjusting to a different group of people and learning how they run things. There is some razzing and poking fun at all the different matches. I shoot BP in my SAA and a full stock 1873 trapdoor. I knew I better have thick skin going in. I guess the difference, are you shooting NCOWS or SASS. My best friend that lives a couple hours south of where we shoot. Says there is a SASS group in his neck of the woods. Due to covid, I guess they haven't been shooting this summer. If they get back up and running next year, we are going to see one of their matches and see if we want to try them? Best advise, give it another shot. It is hard to enjoy oneself if you don't feel comfortable.
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The OP " CryptoDave " had just 2 posts over 3 years ago ....
The suggestions made were valid , however His experience was apparently defeating...
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:) What?? Say it isn't so ;)
NECROMANCY I tell ya. It's practicing Necromancy!! Waz a song oncest about resurrecting things should be left alone.
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:) What?? Say it isn't so ;)
NECROMANCY I tell ya. It's practicing Necromancy!! Waz a song oncest about resurrecting things should be left alone.
Not it ain't Necromancy which Wikipedia and Britannica say is COMMUNICATING with the dead, not bringing them back.
;D ;D ;D
Dammit there's no Nanny Nanny Boo Boo emotion con deal. Again Dammit.
OK, on the list of things to not do, search Google for "bringing back the dead"
Shot part of the GAF 2020 muster with all pistol, lost by a long shot to a guy with a Mauser Broomhandle goes by Bat Masterson. Took me too long to reload.
Later
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Read this thread ages ago and thought ---"too true by half" ----some of these guys are just AH's - others well meaning but misguided
We have one of the latter in our blackpowder club - shooting a muzzle loader aint really that difficult but this guy makes it sound sooooo complicated to new shooters he is trying to coax into our club, that they go home dazed and most are never seen again. He means well enough I guess but "explaining" how it works, pretty quick turns into "impressing new person with my depth of knowledge" ................................ nice bloke ----knows a lot of stuff-----very poor teacher...................