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Being friendly to New/Kid/ shooters

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Johnny Too-Tall

62 Cal.
Joined
Sep 26, 2012
Messages
631
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572
I was traveling and was at was at A restraunt getting bfast and in walks some guys dressed up in period clothing. Peaked my interest and we struck up convo and they said they were going to a shoot. Just so happens I had my 45 flinter and bag in the camper As I planned to do some shooting with buddies at one of the destination. I asked if it was open to anyone and they stated yes but non-club members had to pay $10 more to shoot. I then asked if i could compete without period clothing which, I was told yes. So I went and signed up and learned it was a woodswalk and paper shoot combination. I paid my money and waited until they had enough to make a group and went to shoot with 3 other gentlemen and had a great time until the shoot was over. I started getting a few hateful looks from a group of older guys and made me feel on edge. They started to announce the top shooters and I ended up winning by 2 points. Then the drama started unfolding. I could verbally hear the same group of guys grumbling how it was unfair an outsider comes in wearing street clothes and wins. Not like I cheated your club members kept score, I just shot. Then the kid in your group took to long to load and slowed you down in the heat and threw your shooting off. I wasn’t in the group with the kid but, maybe they could have assisted him and Offered positive advice (they might have). But hears my point- the sport is struggling to bring in new or even younger shooters as it is why make new people feel like manure because they came to your event and paid money to compete. Was It you thought I was a chump because I didn’t pack my period clothing for an event I didn’t plan on shooting in And ya thought I’d pad the winners pockets some more I get it, it paid Cash for prizes your club guys didn’t win. But to try And make me feel bad because I had a good day and took the prize moneys not cool. The events I go to welcome locally new people and go out of the way to make them feel welcome. I know this groups behavior is not normal for the muzzleloader community but it’s not the first time I have seen it through the US, as I’ve shot all over the county while in the service. For this sport to survive we need to not isolate anyone willing to participate especially woman and children.
I fell in love with rendezvous and shooting at 5 years old, I’ve been that kid Who’s struggling to load fast making sure I’m doing things safely, and in the proper order. I was there to enjoy the sport knowing I had no chance to compete with the adults but did it for the love of it. My dad was there making sure I was being safe but made me do it all on my own - surely wasn’t fast but I was thorough. The other shooters encouraged me and said it’s ok slow down take your time we are in no rush. I carry the patience they gave me throughout life and in the shooting world. You can be an ambassador to the sport or an embarrassment choice is yours. I am a big boy I can deal with it but that young man, might just quit altogether, I hope not I talked with him and said not everyone in the sports a jerk. He said he gets it all the time and feels no one wants him to shoot or be in the group with him because he’s a kid and slow. I told him I’d shoot with him anytime gave him my phone number and said he can call me anytime. I doubt other than for him I’d ever step foot in the that clubs events again but I have options that young man might not. if your the Ambassador type keep it up - if your the Embarrassment type check yourself and if ya don’t know which one you are your probably the later. Shoot straight and take a new person shooting.
 
It's a real shame that kid had that kind of experience with those guys. I hope his interaction with you overshadowed those guys. On a somewhat related note, two weekends ago our gun club held their annual Youth Day. It's where kids 16 and under from the public can come out and shoot all types of firearms, air guns and archery totally free. Every year I bring my .50 cal. Pedersoli Frontier so kids can learn about black powder shooting and shoot it themselves. I load just 30 grains and shoot a PRB off the bench at paper at 25 yards. The kids LOVE the boom and smoke! It's my favorite event of the year!

As an aside, Youth Day is on Saturday and Ladies Day is Sunday, where ladies only, 16 and older, can shoot. Quite a few years ago at Ladies Day I was loading for the first group of ladies and realized I had dry-balled! So they got a lesson in taking off the nipple and working some 3f powder down the hole to bloop the ball out. A bit embarrassing, but we all had a good laugh!
 
Sorry things went down that way.

Good for you for having that talk with the kid. At one point in life if I were in his shoes I probably would have quit, at other times I would have stuck around out of stubbornness and spite, but not have been enjoying myself,,,, not sure which is worse.

Often at the membership meetings of one of my clubs, the raffle winner (we sell 50/50 raffle tickets at the door as you enter) the winner will donate the winnings back to the club, usually to a specific fund such as "fish and pond," "archery," or "ranges."
Is there a way you could have/can donate the money back to the club?
Not as appeasement. Not only does this make you look good,,,, of those grumblers win next time, then look bad when they pocket the money.
 
The other shooters encouraged me and said it’s ok slow down take your time we are in no rush. I carry the patience they gave me throughout life and in the shooting world. You can be an ambassador to the sport or an embarrassment choice is yours....................................................Shoot straight and take a new person shooting.

And this is exactly how we should interact with new muzzleloading shooters. And darn right, be an ambassador and introduce new shooters to muzzleloading. For some reason the shooting sports attract more than it's share of curmudgeons.
 
I will disagree Phil to the extent the folks invited him to come on out and shoot. I will make the assumption the complainers were not the same folks who extended the invitation. Almost every organization has their share of sour pusses. Lord knows we see a few of them here among all the other great folks.
 
It would be proper in my eyes to name the place and the person/s that showed the rude behavior. A person should get credit for their actions!
Good work with the kid.
sir, I am not going to post the clubs name as the were some great guys there and it’s not far to label a club as toxic over a few bad apples. However I did Email the club President about the issue yesterday and stated the two names of the group of 4 guys that I found out there names. For all I know he or they could be members here idk. How he as a President of said club decided to handle the matter it’s on him.
 
sir, I am not going to post the clubs name as the were some great guys there and it’s not far to label a club as toxic over a few bad apples. However I did Email the club President about the issue yesterday and stated the two names of the group of 4 guys that I found out there names. For all I know he or they could be members here idk. How he as a President of said club decided to handle the matter it’s on him.
I'd be inclined to post the name of the club involved. If they're serious about correcting this, they'll do so and make it public and start a publicity campaign to "fix" their reputation. With no consequences, bad behavior will continue.
 
I would talk to anyone that I shoot with if that kind of attitude was shown to a new guy. If the other club members didn’t then they were complicit. We as a group can speak up or turn our heads. I do all I can to help out a new guy or a new shooter. I’ve even fixed a few guns for struggling new shooters only to have them out shoot me. But I’m growing used to being out shot these days. :D
 
I was traveling and was at was at A restraunt getting bfast and in walks some guys dressed up in period clothing. Peaked my interest and we struck up convo and they said they were going to a shoot. Just so happens I had my 45 flinter and bag in the camper As I planned to do some shooting with buddies at one of the destination. I asked if it was open to anyone and they stated yes but non-club members had to pay $10 more to shoot. I then asked if i could compete without period clothing which, I was told yes. So I went and signed up and learned it was a woodswalk and paper shoot combination. I paid my money and waited until they had enough to make a group and went to shoot with 3 other gentlemen and had a great time until the shoot was over. I started getting a few hateful looks from a group of older guys and made me feel on edge. They started to announce the top shooters and I ended up winning by 2 points. Then the drama started unfolding. I could verbally hear the same group of guys grumbling how it was unfair an outsider comes in wearing street clothes and wins. Not like I cheated your club members kept score, I just shot. Then the kid in your group took to long to load and slowed you down in the heat and threw your shooting off. I wasn’t in the group with the kid but, maybe they could have assisted him and Offered positive advice (they might have). But hears my point- the sport is struggling to bring in new or even younger shooters as it is why make new people feel like manure because they came to your event and paid money to compete. Was It you thought I was a chump because I didn’t pack my period clothing for an event I didn’t plan on shooting in And ya thought I’d pad the winners pockets some more I get it, it paid Cash for prizes your club guys didn’t win. But to try And make me feel bad because I had a good day and took the prize moneys not cool. The events I go to welcome locally new people and go out of the way to make them feel welcome. I know this groups behavior is not normal for the muzzleloader community but it’s not the first time I have seen it through the US, as I’ve shot all over the county while in the service. For this sport to survive we need to not isolate anyone willing to participate especially woman and children.
I fell in love with rendezvous and shooting at 5 years old, I’ve been that kid Who’s struggling to load fast making sure I’m doing things safely, and in the proper order. I was there to enjoy the sport knowing I had no chance to compete with the adults but did it for the love of it. My dad was there making sure I was being safe but made me do it all on my own - surely wasn’t fast but I was thorough. The other shooters encouraged me and said it’s ok slow down take your time we are in no rush. I carry the patience they gave me throughout life and in the shooting world. You can be an ambassador to the sport or an embarrassment choice is yours. I am a big boy I can deal with it but that young man, might just quit altogether, I hope not I talked with him and said not everyone in the sports a jerk. He said he gets it all the time and feels no one wants him to shoot or be in the group with him because he’s a kid and slow. I told him I’d shoot with him anytime gave him my phone number and said he can call me anytime. I doubt other than for him I’d ever step foot in the that clubs events again but I have options that young man might not. if your the Ambassador type keep it up - if your the Embarrassment type check yourself and if ya don’t know which one you are your probably the later. Shoot straight and take a new person shooting.
Fabulous rant
 
I was traveling and was at was at A restraunt getting bfast and in walks some guys dressed up in period clothing. Peaked my interest and we struck up convo and they said they were going to a shoot. Just so happens I had my 45 flinter and bag in the camper As I planned to do some shooting with buddies at one of the destination. I asked if it was open to anyone and they stated yes but non-club members had to pay $10 more to shoot. I then asked if i could compete without period clothing which, I was told yes. So I went and signed up and learned it was a woodswalk and paper shoot combination. I paid my money and waited until they had enough to make a group and went to shoot with 3 other gentlemen and had a great time until the shoot was over. I started getting a few hateful looks from a group of older guys and made me feel on edge. They started to announce the top shooters and I ended up winning by 2 points. Then the drama started unfolding. I could verbally hear the same group of guys grumbling how it was unfair an outsider comes in wearing street clothes and wins. Not like I cheated your club members kept score, I just shot. Then the kid in your group took to long to load and slowed you down in the heat and threw your shooting off. I wasn’t in the group with the kid but, maybe they could have assisted him and Offered positive advice (they might have). But hears my point- the sport is struggling to bring in new or even younger shooters as it is why make new people feel like manure because they came to your event and paid money to compete. Was It you thought I was a chump because I didn’t pack my period clothing for an event I didn’t plan on shooting in And ya thought I’d pad the winners pockets some more I get it, it paid Cash for prizes your club guys didn’t win. But to try And make me feel bad because I had a good day and took the prize moneys not cool. The events I go to welcome locally new people and go out of the way to make them feel welcome. I know this groups behavior is not normal for the muzzleloader community but it’s not the first time I have seen it through the US, as I’ve shot all over the county while in the service. For this sport to survive we need to not isolate anyone willing to participate especially woman and children.
I fell in love with rendezvous and shooting at 5 years old, I’ve been that kid Who’s struggling to load fast making sure I’m doing things safely, and in the proper order. I was there to enjoy the sport knowing I had no chance to compete with the adults but did it for the love of it. My dad was there making sure I was being safe but made me do it all on my own - surely wasn’t fast but I was thorough. The other shooters encouraged me and said it’s ok slow down take your time we are in no rush. I carry the patience they gave me throughout life and in the shooting world. You can be an ambassador to the sport or an embarrassment choice is yours. I am a big boy I can deal with it but that young man, might just quit altogether, I hope not I talked with him and said not everyone in the sports a jerk. He said he gets it all the time and feels no one wants him to shoot or be in the group with him because he’s a kid and slow. I told him I’d shoot with him anytime gave him my phone number and said he can call me anytime. I doubt other than for him I’d ever step foot in the that clubs events again but I have options that young man might not. if your the Ambassador type keep it up - if your the Embarrassment type check yourself and if ya don’t know which one you are your probably the later. Shoot straight and take a new person shooting.
I think I know these two guys, of which you speak about…they are, irritatingly, members of every club that I have ever joined.
 
Fellowship and friendship should be foremost in a club shoot I think. I tell shooters, folks asking about us, we are all competitive but compete against yourself. If a $15 or 5 prize is so important you would cheat ot throw a fit, find another place to shoot. We are about friendship and fellowship. At our shoots we do not inspect equipment to worry about fixed or adjustable sights, roundball vs conical, etc. Come out and shoot. Work on your gear, practice and enjoy a day of fellowship and friendship. Get better. You want to compete and be cutthroat, there are plenty of folks out there to compete against. Those guys invited the op and forgot they got another shooter to their match. More inportant than the prize because that is the prize to me. It is ok to give someone a ribbing after you help em. And do not forget to smile. It happens in a lot of places, we all can make it better for everyone if we simply try.

I would tell my friends who the club is. Maybe not the internet, but face to face friends yes. Ww are not doing google reviews on a business here.
 
Well that sucks. There are a couple like that everywhere, apparently. The self-appointed purity police. Whatever hobby, activity, or human interest you're into, there seems to be a requirement that someone is in charge of making sure no one enjoys success unless they're doing it "just exactly right, the way it has always been."
 
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