New Match Formats to Conserve Ammo?

I wonder if any match directors out there have considered changing the traditional 2700 match format to help shooters conserve ammo and components during what is likely to be a prolonged ammo shortage.

Even though the seasoned competitors probably have enough ammo and/or components on hand to keep shooting at a normal pace for years to come, there must be many newer or less committed shooters who will drop out of the bullseye scene rather than pay inflated prices to stay in the game.

So what to do? One option would be to re-structure match programs to require less ammo overall and less of the most expensive rounds (centerfire and .45) in particular. For instance:

Match 1: .22 Slowfire, 2x10 rounds
Match 2: .22 Timed, 2x10 rounds
Match 3: .22 Rapid, 2x10 rounds
Match 4: CF National Match Course
Match 5: .45 NMC
Match 6: Aggregate of matches 1-5, 660 possible points

I know that bullseye shooters are a traditional bunch so this probably isn't under consideration yet, but perhaps we should start thinking about contingencies in case things get even worse.

Rather than make up courses, the NRA has several courses that could fill this need.  Just eliminating the NMC in each caliber agg makes an “1800” and cuts ammo consumption by a third.  Easier for us ancient mariners to shoot in a day too!

Or we can just conserve some ammo by dry firing more...just sayin...
Slightly more seriously, from the ammo saving perspective, air pistol is a good alternative and just as much fun (well, almost).

Good ideas so far!

Lots of clubs used to do league shoots on weeknights, shooting the NMC x 2: once for 22, once for CF.
It's a good way to promote the sport, too.
In Canada, the 1800 match format was once quite popular: 900 x 2, once .22, once CF.

Air pistol is an excellent idea, and can be done in many places and at different times.
Free Pistol is also great! 30-40 shots, carefully paced, will fill a 1-1.5 hr. range session.
Then, there's electronic training systems like SCATT.

Jim

PS: where are all these action guys getting thousands of rounds of ammo to blast away with?

Orpanaut wrote:I wonder if any match directors out there have considered changing the traditional 2700 match format to help shooters conserve ammo and components during what is likely to be a prolonged ammo shortage.

Even though the seasoned competitors probably have enough ammo and/or components on hand to keep shooting at a normal pace for years to come, there must be many newer or less committed shooters who will drop out of the bullseye scene rather than pay inflated prices to stay in the game.

So what to do?  One option would be to re-structure match programs to require less ammo overall and less of the most expensive rounds (centerfire and .45) in particular.  For instance:

Match 1: .22 Slowfire, 2x10 rounds
Match 2: .22 Timed, 2x10 rounds
Match 3: .22 Rapid, 2x10 rounds
Match 4: CF National Match Course
Match 5: .45 NMC
Match 6: Aggregate of matches 1-5, 660 possible points

I know that bullseye shooters are a traditional bunch so this probably isn't under consideration yet, but perhaps we should start thinking about contingencies in case things get even worse.

this format is 1200 points not 660

How about a virtual match ?  Brandon would approve !

My matches, and others around North Carolina, are set up as a 2700 but I have several competitors who for physical / medical reasons or just a scheduling thing only shoot the 22 and CF aggregates and thus make it an 1800.   You could also do it that way if you are short on ammo.   That way those who want to leave early can, but most can stay for the full 2700.

Star loader wrote:How about a virtual match ?  Brandon would approve !

You say that in jest but the scatt email/postal matches are as rough as they come and require no ammo.