Glenn, that is a great observation. While other parts of the Country are begging for Ranges to shoot, or even hold Matches, Larry and Beth Deese just decide to build a great facility out of what used to be woods just 3 years ago.
The Range goes all the way out to 400 yards, which gives Larry the option of holding different kinds of Matches. He shoots 100/200/300 Varmint for Score and Group, plus 250 and 400 yard Clay Bird Matches.
I wish the attendance for this match would have been up. It seems Shooters B**** and moan about not having a place to shoot, and then, when a Range takes the time, effort and money to put on a first class event, only 27 shooters show up.
Granted, we had some World Class Competitors, and the conditions were really tough. But for a Range to even break even, shooters have to be willing to show up. It cost a certain amount of money to put on Registered Matches, and we can't expect owners of facilities, or Clubs, to go broke for the sake of giving us a place to shoot.
We in the Houston Area are fortunate to have 3 Ranges, within a two hour driving distance, that have Matches, those being Lake Charles, Walker County, and Tomball. All are close enough to a large populated area so there are good hotels and restaurants. All three also have great Match Directors who are willing to do the work.
Maybe it's the 300 yard thing. When we have a 100/200/300 yard HV Group or Varmint for Score, half of the Shooters will not stick around for the 300 Yard on Sunday. Shooting Benchrest at 300 yards is a whole different animal than 100/200, especially if the conditions are really tough.
That would be a good discussion for a Thread. 300 Yard Benchrest is really in that zone between Short Range and Long Range. It's not far enough out to where BC and external ballistics take over, but almost too far to get a good read on what is going on out past 200. Having that good read is the difference between shooting .5 groups, and shooting 2 inch groups, as many of us found out this past week end.
We sure had a good time at the 1836 Steak House Saturday Evening. Granted, much of the good humor centered around my "Bozoing out" and shooting an entire group on the wrong target, but what are friends for if not to remind you of your short comings.
