
Originally Posted by
rabidrhino
Yeah Darren G, it’s Ryan, I guess we just have to differ on the way things work with the prize table. While I could see the guns being random, I do prefer a competitive aspect to the prize distribution. Personally, I hate how IDPA will not award prizes in a competitive manner, especially with the price tag the same as most USPSA matches.
One of the best shooters would win one gun, though that doesn’t bother me especially in light of the shooters that attended the ORSA 250. Eight shooters attended that were classified as master/grand master and it was definitely good competition. Sure one of these individuals could win a gun, and deservedly so, though I find it less problematic with the 1/3 and 2/3 placed individuals also winning firearms. Maybe if there is only one gun, do a random drawing, but if more than just the absolute best could have a chance at winning, that would be copacetic for me.
While I think cash payback matches are good in theory, I don't see one working as well for a smaller event. My opinion is that they don't draw shooters. One was done at the Alabama State Match, where the winner of each class with X many people got their entry fee back (I'm not sure if the overall winner of a division got another money prize or not). With a somewhere around a $100 entry fee, I can see how that might be enticing, though with how much this sport costs, I just can't see a cash payback drawing people to a competition. Rather, I believe it is the inverse where the amount of the entry fee would likely dissuade potential newbies that feel that they have no chance of winning. As you know, thirty dollars is about the cheapest you will find for a match of this quality.
Also, I think the problems of case payback matches are exacerbated when a relatively small amount of cash is available, i.e. for a match with a lower entry fee and less attendance than a state match. Admittedly, I do not know the workings of how much the club keeps, but I can't believe there would be sum significant to draw people if we are considering paying all divisions GM, M, A, B, C, D, and U. Additionally, as it may be an oddity just associated with ORSA, the number of USPSA shooters pale in comparison to the potential number of shooters that shoot IDPA. In my opinion, I think the Lewis system for awarding prizes works better in this situation where the match does not officially use one system or the other. While I know there is the argument that the Lewis system could be used for a cash payout, I would rather see the individuals have their pick at the best prizes, being guns, gift certificates, shirts, and whatever. This is despite my best interest as a class system/cash payout would work more favorably for me.
Regarding IPSC vs. USPSA, I think what you really mean is just the inclusion of hi-cap magazines and not the other IPSC rules such as a mandatory 5 lb trigger pull weight for the first shot, exclusion of Glock 34/35s as well as painted guns from production. Quite frankly it is ice in the winter to me. I’ll shoot my Glock 22 in limited if I have such a hankering. Admittedly though, if it was to happen at a match, this is one of the few where it could. I can’t remember, did people run single-stacks at this match? If so, I could see that being one reason for the 10-round limit so as to make the competition more level for them. BTW, I wish I could have made it to Ohio too, would have been a fun double-header.