MEGARMS
KnowNothing
August marks the 12th month and the end of the first year since AGC Action Shooting started allowing non badge holders to participate. Our first competition posted to Practiscore was a 3 Gun match on September 22. There were three stages, 34 shooters, and we barely had enough targets to make it work. In fact, we just shot several of the targets twice to make it worth our while.
As October was approaching, I learned that most of the Action Shooting team's core guys were headed to WV for the Zombie Invitational (so no 3 Gun match that month). There was talk of this "Steel Challenge" thing on MDS, something of which I had really never heard of. Stoveman reached out and gave me a quick tutorial on exactly what is. "It drag racing with guns," he says. He hooked me with Chris N. from Delta who offered a ton of advice. We honestly would not have been able to do any of this without these two guys getting involved.
So, our first Steel Challenge match was on and scheduled for October 12th. We had 4 Stages that day - 3 that somewhat resembled Standard Steel challenge COFs and 1 "Stage of Madness" designed by Stove. We sold out that day with 52 guns registered. My partner Rick called me on his way home from WV that night. I remember saying to him, "Rick, I think we figured out how to fund some more 3 gun props." Little did I know then that "Outlaw" Steel Challenge was going to be the most expensive match to field.
As the months came and went, we expanded from 4 COFs to 5 and eventually to 6. We changed the name from Steel Challenge to "Outlaw" Steel Challenge" so as not to piss off any purist's, and inserted some new rules to keep things moving rapidly. Today, the match routinely sells out with 78 guns and typically a good size waiting list. Only the extreme heat, ammo shortage, and COVID19 got in our way of selling out this month.
So, we are now at an impasse once again. As it stands today, we currently run 3 standard Steel Challenge COFs and 3 Falling Steel / IPSC style COFs with movement. The feedback we get every match is that everyone loves the non standard COFs and that they could do without the others. Everyone would like more falling steel/IPSC.
We have talked about it and agree that we should change the name again and have 6 Stages of Madness. That idea sounds great, but therein lies the rub.
We do not have enough falling steel props to do it the right way. Each Stage of Madness requires $2,500 - $3,500 worth of props. Those props also need a secure place to live while we aren't using them. We just spent $6500 a month ago on new props, $5,000/200 man hours building the sheds, and now we find ourselves needing more, more, more. Unfortunately, we have all but blown our nut.
We would really like to do it, but in order to do it right, we need to raise enough money to pay for more props and more sheds. The AGC is gracious enough to let Action Shooting to reinvest 100% of its proceeds into the program, but they are not willing to invest beyond what they already have (the berms, Hescos, etc.)
So, here is everybody's favorite thing to complain about when it comes to the AGC - Price/Fee Increases
!!!! Knowing this, I figured I would put a poll out there and get an understanding where peoples heads are with this. Most of the folks I talk to in person/phone/text are supportive, however I know there must be those who think we are a priced high enough as it is.
Disclaimer: None or some of this may happen. I just want to know if raising the fee $5 per gun will keep a large number of our regulars from participating.
So, here is your chance to let us know what you think. Please be kind and as a matter of fact. I really, really, really don't want this to turn into another AGC bitch thread.
As October was approaching, I learned that most of the Action Shooting team's core guys were headed to WV for the Zombie Invitational (so no 3 Gun match that month). There was talk of this "Steel Challenge" thing on MDS, something of which I had really never heard of. Stoveman reached out and gave me a quick tutorial on exactly what is. "It drag racing with guns," he says. He hooked me with Chris N. from Delta who offered a ton of advice. We honestly would not have been able to do any of this without these two guys getting involved.
So, our first Steel Challenge match was on and scheduled for October 12th. We had 4 Stages that day - 3 that somewhat resembled Standard Steel challenge COFs and 1 "Stage of Madness" designed by Stove. We sold out that day with 52 guns registered. My partner Rick called me on his way home from WV that night. I remember saying to him, "Rick, I think we figured out how to fund some more 3 gun props." Little did I know then that "Outlaw" Steel Challenge was going to be the most expensive match to field.
As the months came and went, we expanded from 4 COFs to 5 and eventually to 6. We changed the name from Steel Challenge to "Outlaw" Steel Challenge" so as not to piss off any purist's, and inserted some new rules to keep things moving rapidly. Today, the match routinely sells out with 78 guns and typically a good size waiting list. Only the extreme heat, ammo shortage, and COVID19 got in our way of selling out this month.
So, we are now at an impasse once again. As it stands today, we currently run 3 standard Steel Challenge COFs and 3 Falling Steel / IPSC style COFs with movement. The feedback we get every match is that everyone loves the non standard COFs and that they could do without the others. Everyone would like more falling steel/IPSC.
We have talked about it and agree that we should change the name again and have 6 Stages of Madness. That idea sounds great, but therein lies the rub.
We do not have enough falling steel props to do it the right way. Each Stage of Madness requires $2,500 - $3,500 worth of props. Those props also need a secure place to live while we aren't using them. We just spent $6500 a month ago on new props, $5,000/200 man hours building the sheds, and now we find ourselves needing more, more, more. Unfortunately, we have all but blown our nut.
We would really like to do it, but in order to do it right, we need to raise enough money to pay for more props and more sheds. The AGC is gracious enough to let Action Shooting to reinvest 100% of its proceeds into the program, but they are not willing to invest beyond what they already have (the berms, Hescos, etc.)
So, here is everybody's favorite thing to complain about when it comes to the AGC - Price/Fee Increases
!!!! Knowing this, I figured I would put a poll out there and get an understanding where peoples heads are with this. Most of the folks I talk to in person/phone/text are supportive, however I know there must be those who think we are a priced high enough as it is. Disclaimer: None or some of this may happen. I just want to know if raising the fee $5 per gun will keep a large number of our regulars from participating.
So, here is your chance to let us know what you think. Please be kind and as a matter of fact. I really, really, really don't want this to turn into another AGC bitch thread.
...but how about a way on practiscore to indicate (like a check box or something) brand new shooters, so that they could be squadded to start in the small stages? Just a thought 
fee increase at AGC. I'd still pay it, and still think it was the best value around, but I would hate to see increases become a recurring theme. $5 shouldn't break the bank for anybody, but with ammo prices through the roof...every little bit hurts 
