getting more shooters for CBA

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  • Last Post 16 May 2017
GWarden posted this 10 February 2017

If our organization is like many other shooting venues, the age of our group is getting older, and younger shooters are not entering the ranks. We have a dedicated group that do a great job of making the CBA a quality shooting organization. New postal matches are being introduced to get more shooters involved in our cast bullet shooting. Pete, a member of the CBA got me interested in cast bullet shooting, and I've never looked back. I look at all rifle purchases from the angle of how will it work with cast bullets.

So, what I'm getting at, how do we try and keep coming up with new ideas to introduce younger shooters to our cast bullet shooting? How many of us take time to actually take our time and introduce younger shooters to our sport? I saw one great new CBA postal match to introduce younger shooters to. The “bunny match” seem to just be the ticket to introduce my son inlaw and grandson to. Why not introduce someone to one of the postal matches, pay their entry fee and then just let them see how challenging and enjoyable cast bullet shooting is. The “bunny gun” match is one great idea. Entrants can use their .22rf, they don't need to make the investment in equipment , but can use their existing rimfire. It just might be the thing to spark an interest. If nothing else, what a great way to spend time with family members.

Bob

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BigMan54 posted this 16 May 2017

 I know what you guys mean. Whenever I get out to the indoor range I try to strike up a conversation with some of the young shooters. They are all a bit interested in trying out the "old-fashioned" revolvers that I shoot, but none seem the least bit interested in reloading, let alone casting. They don't care about shooting more for less. They just wanna throw bullets downrange as fast as possible.  And I do mean THROW. They put their targets out at 7yds & do a victory dance in they hit the 10 ring on a small-size combat target once out of 50rds. It's very disheartening to see what the next generation is becoming. I put my target out at 50ft. And even this broken down half-blind old man out shoots these damn kids bullseye style.

I try to tell them practice makes better. But as long as wally world sells cheap Russian crap,  they have no interest in becoming better shots.

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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David Reiss posted this 15 May 2017

 M3 Mitch wrote:  One caution, though, don't let other people shoot your reloads.  Unless of course you are set up as a small scale manufacturer, and have appropriate liability insurance.  I have sent many thousands of CBs down range without so much as a popped primer, but, here in "the land of the litigious" I don't let anyone else shoot my loads.

We can continue to move toward more political correctness and litigation, until we completely destroy common sense. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 15 May 2017

..another reason not to let others "" try "" your loads is that when you get your brass back it might not fit your gun quite the same .  i stuck a case last night just for that reason ... sigh ... smarter now ken ...

 

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M3 Mitch posted this 15 May 2017

Considering that at many ranges most shooters are shooting from the bench - given current state of the art, CBs are not going to out-shoot jacketed bullets in terms of absolute accuracy.  But that's not why I am into CBs, I like them for offhand, and other "position" shooting, they allow shooting enough to "get good" at shooting without a bench.  Shooting at a gong is also, at least for me, more interesting and you can tell if you hit or missed right away without a spotting scope.

One caution, though, don't let other people shoot your reloads.  Unless of course you are set up as a small scale manufacturer, and have appropriate liability insurance.  I have sent many thousands of CBs down range without so much as a popped primer, but, here in "the land of the litigious" I don't let anyone else shoot my loads.

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David Reiss posted this 11 May 2017

I just received my latest mould from Al at NOE and included in the package was one of the CBA calling cards.  Good idea David and thank you Al.  Gp

Use that card to give to someone you know or one you meet at the range that my be interested in joining the CBA,

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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GP Idaho posted this 11 May 2017

I just received my latest mould from Al at NOE and included in the package was one of the CBA calling cards.  Good idea David and thank you Al.  Gp

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David Reiss posted this 03 April 2017

Ok, we have come up with a solution. Look for it to come out in the next FS, in the meantime send me an email and I will send you some of our promo cards, which are 3"X4". But we will not be printing any business cards, so the promo card will have to do. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 02 April 2017

not knowing about the cba !! eek !... did you hand out the cba business cards ? ....oh wait ... we don't have any ... yet ...

ken

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OU812 posted this 02 April 2017

More or better advertisement in the Cast Boolit forum.

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SierraHunter posted this 02 April 2017

I think you guys should look into run and gun/practical shooting type matches. I went to my first USPSA match yesterday, and is say at least half of the guys were running powder coated cast bullets, and out of the ones I talked to, one one even knew the CBS existed, although he was not a member.

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shootcast posted this 24 March 2017

Business cards would be a great way to help get the word out. Simply print a basic quantity up and keep them at the CBA store. Then a member could order a few at a time for distribution to local gun shops , shows or even carry a couple in your wallet. Whenever the opportunity exists . We could at least see if it actually works by response. Cheap way to advertise.

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Scearcy posted this 18 March 2017

I agree that we are just a curiosity at the range unless we are out shooting the jacketed boys. Not always easy to do, particularly if one is experimenting rather than shooting his best rifle. I am often guilty of that.

 

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OU812 posted this 18 March 2017

I just renewed my membership.

Most people at the range are not interested in cast until they see better grouping...I am getting there.

What we need is a mould manufacturer that is willing too make bump dies and better bullet designs. This would help make shooting cast rifle bullets more accurately, more fun and less confusing for the beginner.

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David Reiss posted this 15 March 2017

Since the board has no control over any individual member, we can not keep anyone from doing whatever they want. However, as an organization of responsible & sane people, it makes sense to allow the board to discuss this suggestion. So allow me to bring this to the boards attention and see if we can come up with a reasonable option to benefit the CBA. 

David Reiss - NRA Life Member & PSC Range Member Retired Police Firearms Instructor/Armorer
-Services: Wars Fought, Uprisings Quelled, Bars Emptied, Revolutions Started, Tigers Tamed, Assassinations Plotted, Women Seduced, Governments Run, Gun Appraisals, Lost Treasure Found.
- Also deal in: Land, Banjos, Nails, Firearms, Manure, Fly Swatters, Used Cars, Whisky, Racing Forms, Rare Antiquities, Lead, Used Keyboard Keys, Good Dogs, Pith Helmets & Zulu Headdresses. .

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Pepe Ray posted this 15 March 2017

The idea of handing out business cards strikes me as a good idea. Promoting and supporting at once. If there were a sample of an accepted version I'd be moved to have a few dozen reproduced for my use.

Would this require an earthquake to create a card that was acceptable to the membership? Or would the membership trust in the honor and intent of the individual to create his own?

How say you?

Pepe Ray

Only in His name.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 25 February 2017

ac: ... casting demonstration ... great idea.

how about :  indoors, preferably at the youth section ( our local show sometimes has a bb gun range for yutes ) ...

2 ( + ) men sitting at a table .. big pile of shiny completed bullets not greasy  .. from different molds, 22 to buffalo bill's favorites. ...... one guy obviously pouring the mold ( simple ladle .. easy to get started ) ..... and dumping something into a bucket that 2nd member picks out bullets and shows them off ...

a sharp eye with some study sees that the pot is cold, there is no melting lead, and the molder doesn't really have fresh hot castings to dump ... he is dumping cold castings from the bucket they previously filled .  when the 2nd member takes one out to show, he also puts one back in the bucket.

kinda like the ever-flowing fountain from a bucket you see in shopping centers ...

if caught :   ” congratulations on your shooter's IQ !  you would make a great CBA member ... here's a cba card with my  home phone number and let's set up a real casting session ... what kind of bullets would you like to try ? ... where do you shoot ? ... i know a place where we just shoot with other cast bullet guys .. we are pretty laid back and probably have a coffee and donut for every 10 shots we take ...  many times we just shoot up our bullets so we can load some more ...  if you would like to have a little more fun shooting with your rifle or pistol lets get together and bring your family  ... “

sort of thing .  variations welcome

ken

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acfirearms posted this 25 February 2017

I have used every chance I can get to bring up,brag about,and in other words ways to get people into casting bullets. I think a possible way would be to have a casting event at gun shows. yes it would have to be out side in the parking lot or on the loading dock behind the the event building. I had one at a local club meeting and got a lot of lookers.( can't say I converted any) the point is we have less people who reload so maybe we have to start with that.  If casting “how to” events were made public (free) I would think you would see an increase in membership. maybe we should have tee shirts that say something like “I am a bullet caster” would you like to try?   AL

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acfirearms posted this 25 February 2017

If our organization is like many other shooting venues, the age of our group is getting older, and younger shooters are not entering the ranks. We have a dedicated group that do a great job of making the CBA a quality shooting organization. New postal matches are being introduced to get more shooters involved in our cast bullet shooting. Pete, a member of the CBA got me interested in cast bullet shooting, and I've never looked back. I look at all rifle purchases from the angle of how will it work with cast bullets.

So, what I'm getting at, how do we try and keep coming up with new ideas to introduce younger shooters to our cast bullet shooting? How many of us take time to actually take our time and introduce younger shooters to our sport? I saw one great new CBA postal match to introduce younger shooters to. The “bunny match” seem to just be the ticket to introduce my son inlaw and grandson to. Why not introduce someone to one of the postal matches, pay their entry fee and then just let them see how challenging and enjoyable cast bullet shooting is. The “bunny gun” match is one great idea. Entrants can use their .22rf, they don't need to make the investment in equipment , but can use their existing rimfire. It just might be the thing to spark an interest. If nothing else, what a great way to spend time with family members.

Bob

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2coldhere posted this 25 February 2017

I used to drive three hours to get to the nearest match and could only get to one of them a year.  Solved the problem by running my own military score matches.  Now I only drive an hour and a half to get there and with the gas savings I bought another K31, an 03A3, and a 71/84.  Ok, you caught me on that last one about the gas savings.  Needed one for every category.

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John Alexander posted this 22 February 2017

in a similar idea I asked Lee Precision to put a similar card into their mold boxes a few years ago. Lee agreed to help out and used up 100,000 cards over a couple of years.  We got 40 -- 50 new members and some are still showing up. There are probably still cards in the pipeline. The card offered free digital copies of TFS and a $5 off the first year's dues.  David Reiss just got another similar batch printed which we hope to get distributed by smaller custom mold makers along with their molds.

Several years ago I had several thousand tri-fold color brochures printed which gave room for a more complete pitch and an entry blank that could be sent in. Still seems like a good idea but ,with a few notable exceptions, CBA members and even Board members showed little interest in getting them distributed to gun shows and on the counters of the local gun shops. It too produced some new members but hard to tell how many.  With better cooperation it might have done a lot more. 

John

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