doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Parker Challenge, what is next?

Serious side by side shooters are a bit over scheduled at side by side clay bird events from coast to coast. They really don't have any extra days for sanctioned competitive sporting clays. On another point, the vendor presence at side by side events is as important to the event participants as the shooting competition. Really serious side by side competitors can participate in any NSCA shoot they wish. There are many NSCA shoots that would be of interest to side by side shooters. I would rather finish high up in an NSCA shoot, winning over a bunch of K gun and B gun shooters than to do the same at a side by side shoot. Side by sides are often shot in open box bird and Columbaire competition and win a few bucks occasionally.

Yes I am very familiar with competitive clay shooting. I do not agree with you that serious side by side shooters are over scheduled. As I believe we most likely don't agree with what you consider serious shooters. In serious I am assuming from your post that implies master class shooters. I personally know a bunch of guys that are serious side by side shooters oh but wait they are not master class so I guess they don't count. I am also aware we can shoot in NSCA events and that some shoots even have a side by side events. There is no one forcing anyone to shoot an event. If the event happens to be in your area and you want to shoot it atleast its avialble. Because you don't want something does not mean others don't want it too. I have heard all over the country guys say I wish there was more side by side shoots. I have shot the Worlds, Master's Cup, Seafood blast, Angle Port Open, and a bunch more big blast shots. I think if there were organized events that were not to costly and gave decent trophies out people would come to shoot them. Maybe a few bigger size shoots around the country that gave a decent side by side away to class winners. I do believe it would be a hit. I am not suggesting it would be the size of NSCA. Sometimes smaller is better.

There are a lot of SxS events- but no one list them all in one place. I didn't see where eightbore said "master class shooters". I just came back from the Southern and picked up two fliers from there. I wouldn't have known about them otherwise. There's also the Vintagers , and three in Michigan I can think of and another in Ohio I attend. As eightbore said you can stay busy whether a serious shooter or one for fun. paul

You like he are not seeing the point. Never mind I guess its to hard for you to understand.

Marine, maybe you can clarify your point. I missed it too. I shoot competitive SxS at NSCA tournaments and also do vintage type SxS shoots. Most all the registered shoots in my zone (#2) offer SxS events, and excluding the winter I can do one almost every weekend if I want to. The vintage type shoots are fewer but spring through fall there seems to be about 1 every 4-5 weeks or so within a couple of hours drive for me. Many of the Vintager chapters sponsor a shoot every month. Back to registered shoots you can certainly shoot a SxS at the main event in whatever class you're in, and be competitive in E through Master if the gun fits and you're in the "zone" that day. Net, there doesn't seem to be any lack of shooting opportunitioes for SxS gunners at least here in zone 2. You said you are from CT and I don't remember if that is in zone 2, but if it's in zone 1, I'm thinking the situation is pretty much the same there. Silvers

What I've seen of the Parker Boys, I'd think a challenge of a walk-up hunt would do with any gun - AND no stopping at the big SUV for milk and cookies along the way!

Silvers,

I am in Zone 1. I am well aware I can shoot a side by side in any class in NSCA. Here is the point. There are a lot of hunters/ side by side guys that would like to shoot side by side tournaments against their peers,In their areas. Most of these guys I know of don't want to belong to the NSCA. If there was a sxs sporting clays association to give attention to these shooters would be much better then what the NSCA does. I believe the more we cater to sxs sporting clays the more it will grow. I have shot sxs NSCA events. Most of them are also only 50 targets. I have nothing against the NSCA and I am a member. I shoot tournaments all over the USA when I am home. I am all for the vintagers and plan to shoot many of their events when I return home. I also think that getting the vintagers onboard with a sxs sporting clays association would make a huge impact. Maybe a quarterly or bi-monthly publication. There are a lot of options and a lot of great things that could be done with it. This is my opinion and I truely believe it would work and for the good of everyone involved.

SxS only shoots are great, more the better, but as soon as you start a "SxS Sporting Clays Asso., it will go hell in a heart beat! I know you won't buy that, but look at the NSCA, NSSA, Silhouette Rifle Shooting. The sprite of them are not anything like it was meant to be when they were set up. Special Guns and Big Money have morphed them and ruined that sprite for the recreational shooter, IMO.

You said:
"Maybe a quarterly or bi-monthly publication. There are a lot of options and a lot of great things that could be done with it."

Thats what will screw up the whole damn thing!
As soon as an Association is formed for anything that can be competitive, they totally forget how to KISS!

Amen to Don's post.

Don,

You have some very valid points for sure. None of which I feel can not be over come. I totally believe in K.I.S.S. and I understand the big money issue. I do not disagree with you on that at all. Personally if i were the one to start it and run it I would keep the industry out of it. Of course they (industry) would be more then welcome to have a booth at the shoots. Also unlike NSCA there would be no national headquarters. I would also try to keep it an open association were as there are no delagates. The by laws would be simple and common sense. Developed in conjunction with the sporting clays ranges and shooters. Everything would be voted on by the shooters. Each voice having a vote, majority wins. It would be a very open and welcoming association. The tournaments would not be madatory to being a member. As I feel this pulls away some shooters that are not the hardcore type. I know you are asking now why then be a member? Membership would have its privillages. Only members can vote. If a shoot has a limit to the number of people able to shoot it then of course members have first crack. The publication would be for members only. It would have features on clubs that support the sxs association. It would have shooter profiles and not just the top shooters in the country. Maybe have a member gallary were members can post a picture of there double guns along with pictures from shoots. What I see as the difining difference is would be its total involvement of the members. Maybe I am wrong but unless it is tried we will never know. Its easy to cast it of and point out the negatives, and its hard work to take the initative and do it. maybe I am the only one these days that still understands hard work and trying is better then never knowing. There is no reward without risk. If you fail at least you know you tried. Just my opinion.