08-08-2012, 04:16 PM
I have been shooting club matches for a while now, and been trying to get into the F-TR game. My F-TR has been limited, primarily due to equipment and cost.
I've seen many people just outright buy what they need out of the gate, and while that is ultimately cheaper, it's less accessible to me because I can only afford a little bit at a time. I learn the hard way, and through time, what works and what doesn't, because I simply can't afford to buy a Nightforce as my first optic. I have to be creative in finding my solutions, and they don't always work. I have to take the longer path, and do more work myself. Fortunately, my father is a machinist, and has been for many years. I am even more fortunate that he takes an interest in my shooting, and has taken up gun smithing. What we lack in finances, we try to make up for in labor. The downside is that it's slower, and more difficult. The upside is that I can gain a more intimate knowledge of my equipment and how it all works together. This is one reason I am sticking to F-TR. I know I cannot afford to compete in F-Open right now.
I don't think I've shot enough F-Class to even classify yet. I've been fiddling too much with my equipment. One piece at a time, I will get there, and I will be competitive. It's a very short list of F-TR shooters here in Arkansas. The last regionals didn't even produce enough shooters to warrant medals. Had I attended, we would have had enough. I just didn't have my crap together.
I've seen many people just outright buy what they need out of the gate, and while that is ultimately cheaper, it's less accessible to me because I can only afford a little bit at a time. I learn the hard way, and through time, what works and what doesn't, because I simply can't afford to buy a Nightforce as my first optic. I have to be creative in finding my solutions, and they don't always work. I have to take the longer path, and do more work myself. Fortunately, my father is a machinist, and has been for many years. I am even more fortunate that he takes an interest in my shooting, and has taken up gun smithing. What we lack in finances, we try to make up for in labor. The downside is that it's slower, and more difficult. The upside is that I can gain a more intimate knowledge of my equipment and how it all works together. This is one reason I am sticking to F-TR. I know I cannot afford to compete in F-Open right now.
I don't think I've shot enough F-Class to even classify yet. I've been fiddling too much with my equipment. One piece at a time, I will get there, and I will be competitive. It's a very short list of F-TR shooters here in Arkansas. The last regionals didn't even produce enough shooters to warrant medals. Had I attended, we would have had enough. I just didn't have my crap together.