Time to down grade?

Has anyone that got moved downward regretted doing so?

Gus

Hey Gus: I've contemplated the same doing the same. I occasionally shoot a decent score but the average is way down probably SS class. My cousin was designated a "Lifetime Master" and he re-classified and seems content with it. For my part I just like the sport and the good people therein and don't worry about the competition or my competitiveness and as long as I'm not to great an impediment to others I'll stay at my assigned Master status.. I do worry a bit going to Perry that my occasionally age blunders will cause someone else an issue and I don't want that and may cause me to re-consider in the future. I hope some others respond to this "issue". Phil

You earned that Master card. Every match you shoot in your shooting in that class. It sometimes is the only proof you have that you made the effort to get the card. I would rather come in last in the Master class then come in somewhere in the middle of the pack in Expert. Keeping the card makes you try every time to live up to your own expectations. I feel that if I reclassify down then I will be moving my goals down. These of course are my own opinions. I don't always come in last.

Len

I am of the school of thought that you guys earned the right to those age blunders.
Even if you don't have the physical skills, you still have knowledge & hopefully the patience to pass some of it on to me.

A class earned is a badge of honor, Master is a good accomplishment.  IMHO I would keep it and be proud no matter how I would shoot as I got older.

Returned to bullseye after 18 years.  If High Master had existed in the late 80s the old classification card in my gun box would say High Master instead of Master.   Noted that the book says that the master classification is gone in 5 years of inactivity.  Forum buddies pointed out that the NRA did not maintain the system well and that my Master classification most likely was still on record.  I checked and it was.   I have no desire to change it.  Shot a 2511 my first time out and see no reason I can't get back to 2600.  I'll be 62 this fall.  My endurance in coming back.  Shooting fewer and fewer 9s every time out.   My plan is to work and get my scores up to Master and even High Master before I croak! 
 

On the other hand, I wouldn't look down my nose at someone who reclassified downwards (provided it matched up with their current performance level).

Take it from someone who used to shoot much higher scores than he does now.

Shooting a pistol one-handed is (IMO) one of the most challenging feats of marksmanship. (Yes, I am biased - why do you ask?)

It takes a lot of hard work and no shortage of physical strength and stamina to achieve an advanced classification in bullseye.

If age, strength, lack of training time, or any other combination of things has you shooting scores that are consistently in a lower class, and you're still having fun shooting, go ahead and reclassify downwards. If you once were a HM, but now are shooting high 2400s, you don't need to be classified with the Patrick Franks (Frankses?) of the world.

As long as you are on the line, are safe, and aren't an asshole, I'm happy to have you there. Much better than having you sit out.

According to a posting on the mailing list in 2012, there are approx. 20,000 BE shooters with scores on record at the NRA.  There were only 324 High Masters out of that 20,000, roughly the top 1%.  Even Masters are in the top 10-15% of the entire group.  Truly to me they are the elite groups of our sport. 

Bullseye shooting is different in that I meet lots of people who I feel would do well if they tried it but refuse simply because of the unique challenges of the sport, one handed and the 50 yard distance, in particular. 

I certainly would not think differently of someone who lowered their classification BUT I also would point out to someone thinking about it what their card really means.

Gus, hang in there my friend.
Enjoy your shooting times.
Yiogo

3 gun Gus wrote:Has anyone that got moved downward regretted doing so?

Gus

I got reclassified down to Expert. I probably just should have kept my Master card. Just an afterthought. When I asked to be reclassified lower I was shooting team matches at the state, regional and national level. At the time, I didn't think that it was fair to the team to be classified a master and not be shooting consistent master scores, because the team is classified based on the average of the team members' classifications.

Just running thru other possible things that might occur, will your dropping to a lower class that then puts you in  direct competition with others in that class be excepted if you start shooting better scores than them? Many might think its unfair for a person who shot those high scores at one time being moved into the lower classification.

Gus, Do you want to be the guy that says "I was a master once upon a time"  
Or do you want to be the guy who can say "I AM A MASTER!"

Dave C.

Dave C. wrote:Gus, Do you want to be the guy that says "I was a master once upon a time"  
Or do you want to be the guy who can say "I AM A MASTER!"

Dave C.

It doesn't mean anything if you can't "walk the walk".

Wow.

Dave C.

Sorry but there is pride in achievement. Its better to have walked the walk, than never to have walked it at all.

DavidR wrote:Sorry but there is pride in achievement. Its better to have walked the walk, than never to have walked it at all.

That's what the distinguished pistol shot badge and all your awards are for. The classification card is just something that allows one to compete within one's skill level. When all is said and done, it is the people I've met through the years and memories that are important to me.

DavidR wrote:Just running thru other possible things that might occur, will your dropping to a lower class that then puts you in  direct competition with others in that class be excepted if you start shooting better scores than them? Many might think its unfair for a person who shot those high scores at one time being moved into the lower classification.

If you are shooting bullseye for those big money awards, you are in the wrong game.  
I shoot bullseye against myself.  
    The stacked sandbagging teams are the ones that get the awards at Perry.  I don't blame them.  It really is the only way to be competitive.

Just saying, at our ranges the shooters shoot within there class and have fun competing with each other. If say a master classes down to sharpshooter then starts shooting high in that class and beating the regulars it could set forth bad feelings.

This situation just arose in southern Wisconsin.  A master shooter who sold out 20 years ago and didn't shoot at all in the years since found his old guns and started shooting again about 9 months ago.  I shot against him in SS class and he beat me on some matches and I beat him in others.  In the last few months he already has reclassed to Expert.  He was the high Wisconsin shooter in the Wisconsin State Championship by 10 points over one of my other SS regulars.

I don't think it was upsetting to shoot against this former Master as a Sharpshooter.  I need to shoot well to win, and I frequently do.  I cannot control how a competitor shoots, and if I lose to a competitor who shot better than me, that's fine.  I should have shot better!

We all know that the shooters in the top of their classes don't do that forever--they all end up in the next class up--that's when it's your turn to be top dog until you get good enough to be fighting for the top of the next class.

Because of arm/shoulder pain I am only physically able to shoot a 900 upon occassion yet I retain my master classification. I struggle to get a decent no of shots "in the black" yet I think of myself as a Master.

I have been shooting 100-150 rds a week, mostly .22, and as much as 40 to 50 .38's. My arm and shoulder hurt and no longer will tolerate the .45, even the mild WC loads BE shooters use.

I still enjoy it most weeks. I have tried to quit, Doc's advice, but miss it when I try to lay off. Believe it or not I have enjoyed trying to find the right combination of gun/sight weights and balance trying to  produce tighter results. (Can't refer to them as groups as they are not!).

It's enjoyable to work the club's public line and invite likely candidates to join our sessions. And I don't think of BE as dead but in a down cycle for several reasons; economy, ammo scarecity and cost. If one looks at the various clubs those that are successful usually have at least one leader who is largely responsible. These guys have engaging personalities and enjoy working with and helping others.

Because of or despite of all the above I consider myself a master. Mayber others do not or would not and that is their perogative.

Ron Habegger

Master class is an interesting class. I am not sure that anyone that makes it here should ever reclassify. You get to shoot with (for the most part) a bunch of old shooters that love the sport and show up for every match and just keep plugging away. Sure there are some young shooters in the class. They are on their way up and you will see them shooting HM someday. I wasn't sure I was going to post this but it fits so well with the question that I feel it will be appropriate. I just shot in the Oregon regionals in Sherwood. I took 1st place in the Master class. If I had been shooting in the Expert class I would have got 6th. If I had been shooting in the SS class I would have got 2nd. Why would I(or anyone my age) ever want to change classification?

Len