Shooting Sports

Here at FieldPost we break down the event category Shooting into five subcategories: Rifle, Handgun, Shotgun, Archery and Muzzleloader.

Many take up the sport of shooting during the off-season of hunting to become more proficient when hunting. Being confident in your ability to shoot will go far in your hunting success. A confident hunter is more likely to be a successful hunter. Take time to get on the range during the summer months and practice with your firearm or bow. You owe it to yourself and the animal you are hunting to be the best possible shot you can be. 

Others take up shooting to be competitive. There are plenty of competitions held across the country. Whether you are interested in shooting a local 3-D archery course or one of the more than 11,000 tournaments across the country each year put on by the NRA, there is something for you. Plenty of local gun ranges and sportsman’s clubs hold shooting events throughout the year as well.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, 20 million shooters are spending $10 billion per year on everything from firearms to time on the range. Participants are roughly 70% male and 30% female. This sport alone has created more than 185,000 jobs. 

One of the fastest growing shooting sports in the country is “3-gun”. This could easily be classified under rifle, handgun or shotgun. Competitors use three different firearms — a modern sporting rifle (MSR), that is, a rifle built on an AR-platform; a pistol; and a shotgun. Matches generally involve courses where the shooter must move through different stages and engage targets in a variety of different positions.

Benchrest shooting is also very popular with rifle shooters. Also gaining popularity in shooting as well as hunting is air rifles. Today’s air rifles can shoot several hundred yards and have the power to take down big game animals.

Handgun shooters also have a lot of options to choose from. Whether it is precision bullseye shooting using only one hand or run and gun shooting called action shooting. This is often done through a timed course at targets that are either stationary or moving. And of course, silhouette shooting is alive and well.

Shotgun shooting is one of the most action-packed shooting sports. Designed to replicate taking a bird in flight, trap, skeet and sporting clays has something for the novice to the expert in shotgun shooting.

Archery shooting has something for everyone. Whether you are into shooting compounds, traditional bows like the recurve or longbow, or gaining in popularity every year, the crossbow.  Whether it is shooting 3-D tournaments or on a course just to become more proficient with your shot placement, these courses are exciting. Also, many pro-shops offer indoor leagues. These often take place when hunting seasons are not open. It is a great way to practice up for your next hunt or big tournament.

Muzzleloaders are not a thing of the past. In fact, more and more people are picking these guns up for fun on the range. And, with additional hunting seasons for muzzleloaders, they are once again popular within the hunting community. Whether you are looking to shoot the more traditional flintlock or cap lock, or the modern inline muzzleloader this is an exciting sport gaining in popularity every year.

Safety should always be your number one priority. When shooting, always practice safe gun or bow handling. Always know what is beyond your target and where other people are located whether you are on the range, sitting in a tree stand or in your backyard.

One way to share your experiences with others is to get involved with the national R3 program – RecruitmentRetention and Reactivation. Focusing on the 3 R's is what will grow the future of shooting sports and other outdoor activities. To find resources in your area, visit www.nationalr3plan.com or contact us here at FieldPost. We are more than happy to help.