After hearing about this conversation, I had to check in. When you fellows talk about new shooters and what it takes to keep them coming back, I would say to the IBS and NBRSA score shooters, particularly the experts on here to try and be a little helpful. Theres nothing more imtimidating to a new shooter than to have one of these judgmental, condescending, experts looking down there nose at you. The few IBS matches Ive been to, if you werent in the click, you were ignored, then when a fellow comes over to this site with hopes to glean some help, well let me just say, from most of the esteemed experts, the contempt is dripping from there replys, if theyre not completely ignored.
But its not that way with UBR. When you show up at a UBR match for the first time, your made to feel at home. They will make you feel wanted, and you will be encouraged. Youll get help from strangers, youll get advise from people youve never met before, and youll be talked to like your expected to return. They are the nices people Ive ever competed with, and Im proud to be a part.
Last year, one of our prominent shooters spread the word that any new shooter who wanted to try out UBR need only to contact him and the new shooter would be provide with a competitive rifle, rest and ammo to try and see if UBR was something he would be interested in. Now this guy has a day job, and at times a full plate. But he was willing to go the extra distance in order to attract more new shooters. And thats just one example.
When you go to a benchrest match, do you notice that most of the shooters are either retired or darn close? Other shooting sports require moving about, shooting from less than stable platforms, and are more fun to watch. Ever wonder what it is that benchrest has to offer that makes a new shooter want to try it out? The way I see it, we are the end all in the accuracy world. None of the equipment used in these other venues are capable of doing what ours can do, on demand. Raw accuracy. And everyone of you have been bitten by the bug. Thats why were here, its what we do. But our sport is withering on the vine because starting in this game of benchrest is intimidating. UBR is a humble way to push past all that.
So, to those of you who havent tried a UBR match, but are quick to denounce it, let me say thank you. Your closed mind, hateful demeanor, and misinformation, makes it that much easier to steal shooters from your sport. Well welcome them with open arms, and show them how score shooting always should have been.
Wayne
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