As some of you know. I took over as Match Director for Louisiana Speed Shooters a Steel Challenge Club at Palo Alto Rifle and Pistol club about 2 years ago.
I know I'm going to answer my own question, but wanted to get thoughts from other shooters. I would love to revive SC in South Louisiana.
I took over as attendance just starting to drop off. (I know why, I will get to that in a minute)
At SC height at least in south Louisiana (At least when I started shooting SC) we would bring in anywhere between 45 and 60 shooters each month (Weather and Flooding permitting). We would set up 7 of the 8 stage officials SC stages each month and I thought everyone had a great time. When I took over we were averaging 30 to 45 shooters each month (still a good turn out) and was slowly dropping off.
Main reason I believe and or know why SC fell off.
1. RANGE Issues.
Palo Alto is at the bottom of a low lying area where 3 different parishes come together just behind the backside of the range and drainage of the canals were or should I say NOT their concern (No parish wanted to claim the canals and clear them out). Thus allowing the property to flood with the slightest rain and hold water in upwards of 2 weeks. We would have to cancelled the Match due to flooding and no drainage even if we had 30+ entries. I know this is one of the reason people stopped coming out. People got tired of matches being cancelled and gave up.
In order to alleviate the flooding Palo Alto did extensive work to the range and drainage of the property.
All the shooting bays in the back were raised 10" to 18" and were slopped away from the berms along with the road leading to the back. Instead of the drainage ditches running between the road and the bay as it was before all the work. The road was also raised and sloped away from the bays. The road now acts as a dam.
Pre-existing drainage ditches were widened and deepened and other were added. This has elevated about 80% of the flooding issues. GREAT, Lets Make SC Great Again.
2. AMMO Pricing & Shortage.
I know at the time ammo prices were very high and hard to find, even 22lr ammo. I get it, time were tight and so were our wallets. Thus people stop shooting or at least took a break.
OK Hear is the Main Reason SC has Died or is at least on life support as of now!
3. New USPSA Club -- I get it, It's what the people asked for and got it!!!
A New USPSA club formed in Southern Mississippi (not going to name, names.)
As soon as this club got started it pulled of our remaining shooters 80% of our shooters instantly and would average 15 to 20 shooters over the next year or so attendance started dropping off again. We are lucky if we can get 10 people to register now.
I have talked with 90%+ of the shooters that shot SC and no longer shoot SC and was told. SC is boring and it's the same thing over and over again. Obvious My reply, It's so posed to be that way. It's just like Drag Racing, but with Guns.
Was also told USPSA is much more fun for them due to the fact it's never the same thing over and over again and they would rather drive 2 hours for a USPSA Match than 20 or 30 mins for a SC Match.
I understand everyone logic to USPSA and SC. I shoot both and have a great time at both.
I'm not sure what to expect. I know I answered my own question with the 3 items above.
I've also have been posting all the local USPSA and SC Matches HERE and other Forums along with many FB groups. This has had no affect on attendance. I am to the point where SC is on life support and I'm ready to pull the plug.
I will be posting up our December Steel Challenge Match soon on Practiscore.
Our next Steel Challenge Match will be Dec 10.
LSS - Louisiana Speed Shooters.
Match Director.
Bryan Bagnell
I know I'm going to answer my own question, but wanted to get thoughts from other shooters. I would love to revive SC in South Louisiana.
I took over as attendance just starting to drop off. (I know why, I will get to that in a minute)
At SC height at least in south Louisiana (At least when I started shooting SC) we would bring in anywhere between 45 and 60 shooters each month (Weather and Flooding permitting). We would set up 7 of the 8 stage officials SC stages each month and I thought everyone had a great time. When I took over we were averaging 30 to 45 shooters each month (still a good turn out) and was slowly dropping off.
Main reason I believe and or know why SC fell off.
1. RANGE Issues.
Palo Alto is at the bottom of a low lying area where 3 different parishes come together just behind the backside of the range and drainage of the canals were or should I say NOT their concern (No parish wanted to claim the canals and clear them out). Thus allowing the property to flood with the slightest rain and hold water in upwards of 2 weeks. We would have to cancelled the Match due to flooding and no drainage even if we had 30+ entries. I know this is one of the reason people stopped coming out. People got tired of matches being cancelled and gave up.
In order to alleviate the flooding Palo Alto did extensive work to the range and drainage of the property.
All the shooting bays in the back were raised 10" to 18" and were slopped away from the berms along with the road leading to the back. Instead of the drainage ditches running between the road and the bay as it was before all the work. The road was also raised and sloped away from the bays. The road now acts as a dam.
Pre-existing drainage ditches were widened and deepened and other were added. This has elevated about 80% of the flooding issues. GREAT, Lets Make SC Great Again.
2. AMMO Pricing & Shortage.
I know at the time ammo prices were very high and hard to find, even 22lr ammo. I get it, time were tight and so were our wallets. Thus people stop shooting or at least took a break.
OK Hear is the Main Reason SC has Died or is at least on life support as of now!
3. New USPSA Club -- I get it, It's what the people asked for and got it!!!
A New USPSA club formed in Southern Mississippi (not going to name, names.)
As soon as this club got started it pulled of our remaining shooters 80% of our shooters instantly and would average 15 to 20 shooters over the next year or so attendance started dropping off again. We are lucky if we can get 10 people to register now.
I have talked with 90%+ of the shooters that shot SC and no longer shoot SC and was told. SC is boring and it's the same thing over and over again. Obvious My reply, It's so posed to be that way. It's just like Drag Racing, but with Guns.
Was also told USPSA is much more fun for them due to the fact it's never the same thing over and over again and they would rather drive 2 hours for a USPSA Match than 20 or 30 mins for a SC Match.
I understand everyone logic to USPSA and SC. I shoot both and have a great time at both.
I'm not sure what to expect. I know I answered my own question with the 3 items above.
I've also have been posting all the local USPSA and SC Matches HERE and other Forums along with many FB groups. This has had no affect on attendance. I am to the point where SC is on life support and I'm ready to pull the plug.
I will be posting up our December Steel Challenge Match soon on Practiscore.
Our next Steel Challenge Match will be Dec 10.
LSS - Louisiana Speed Shooters.
Match Director.
Bryan Bagnell