Thread: Is there any interest in Target shooting competitions with center fire Hunting Rifles

Not really enough information here to answer the poll for me. Most NZDA branches have some form of monthly or bi-monthly range shooting already up and going - club members and pretty much anyone can enter these shooting competitions with their hunting rifle. But NZDA range shooting has typically been in decline over the last ten years or more - so if you just look at a monthly range shoot then i would say there is less and less support.

The range shooting on offer by NZDA branches is pretty static - formal shooting positions to be used in static known distance ranges with metric targets that promote accuracy - i.e. it is generally better to compete with a target rifle and target shooting sling, neither of which represent normal hunting rifle shooting. Service rifle shooting seems to be gaining popularity at the moment. I think this is because it is less formal and more fun (yes there are always the serious competitors). Service rifle shooting has a realistic target center (5cm opposed to the NZDA 10mm) and involves more rapid and more fun stages.

Hennie, i assume you are from SA and are talking about the hunting rifle competition shooting done over in South Africa (SA Hunting Rifle & International Hunting Rifle Shooting Association) and getting something similar going here. I think it would be great to get something similar here but if it is on a static flat range i probably won't bother coming along (particularly if you use Breyt's targets at $20 each) as i am already doing a fair amount of field shooting with hunting, 22LR, and long range rifles - for me field shooting is where my interest lies (at least at the moment) as it best reflects my hunting.