Gauging interest on a Ruck/shooting event.

[TBoschma]

Been brain storming some ideas how I could incorporate a ruck/endurance event that has a shooting aspect to it. I wanna keep it simple and repeatable. I used to do train to hunt and that was a ton of fun and a simple enough format that could be done about anywhere in the country. I’d like to do something like that with rifles. Who would be interested? And how much time could you commit to it?

I was thinking the ruck portion would be as many laps for time and at the beginning, middle, and end of said time you’d shoot your rifle from various FIELD positions. No gaming true hunting situations.

 

[JohnJohnson]

You mean similar to Mammoth?

 

[TBoschma]

You mean similar to Mammoth?

Exactly but gauged more towards hunters not the tactical side, be more field style shooting positions

 

[doc holiday13]

6-12 is a good event. If you did 24, you'd want to have an overnight option

 

[doc holiday13]

6-12 is a good event. If you did 24, you'd want to have an overnight option

 

[LongWayAround]

I did a couple of train to hunts also. I would be into something like this, if it was fairly local.

6-12 hours seems about right.

 

[Wprinkle]

Something like what NRL hunter is supposed to be? Carry what you would actually take on a hunt and shoot what you would shoot?

 

[HighUintas]

I love this idea. I'm always a fan of longer is better, but once you get passed 12 hrs I think the risk of a safety issue would increase dramatically because it involves rifles.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I think an endurance shooting/rucking event would be cool, but I honestly don't know that the format you outline would be all that interesting to me. Either some sort of race/course (10-20+ miles, with shooting and obstacles mixed in, think like a hunting "spartan" race) or a team event where we ruck together and then shoot would be more interesting. Albeit those options make it much more complex.

 

[TBoschma]

I think an endurance shooting/rucking event would be cool, but I honestly don't know that the format you outline would be all that interesting to me. Either some sort of race/course (10-20+ miles, with shooting and obstacles mixed in, think like a hunting "spartan" race) or a team event where we ruck together and then shoot would be more interesting. Albeit those options make it much more complex.

Ya I really like the idea of making it a point A to B long race with shooting in the mix. Part of me wants to keep it simple so that it can be held at multiple locations

 

[id_jon]

From the shooting side, if you're trying to reduce "gaming", I feel that you have to make the course, not the rules, dictate that. Seems like usually "gaming" just means "stability", and why on earth would I want less stability less stability if I'm willing to take the weight penalty? If someone is willing to carry a 16lb rifle and a 10lb shooting bag, they get to carry it and that sucks for them. Making time and distance a factor should be all that's needed to reduce "gaming".

6 hours for the actual activity seems about right to me as well.

 

[LeftyWilbury]

i dunno, if this is supposed to mimic hunting in six hours i've made it maybe three quiet miles, raised my binoculars up and down 600-700 times, sat down a few times, maybe eaten a snack, and hopefully unshouldered my rifle at least once and even more hopeful, called my wife to say i'm gonna be late if i still have reception.

for extra credit, send a buddy a picture taunting him because i filled my tag.

maybe every third time on my big endurance event i have to wrestle a carcass into a tote on the end of a precarious bike trailer. but i don't want to train for that, it's better as a surprise.

and then there's the beer at the finish, which amazingly enough is the same motion as binocular raising so i'm well trained... total round count zero to 1, maybe 2 if you're out of practice.
is this what you're thinking? i could do something like that.

 

[Truck24hr]

6-12 hours would have to be tough terrain or heavy packs.

24 makes a better endurance event. Would need some type of range/rifle control, logistics.

 

[HighUintas]

I think an endurance shooting/rucking event would be cool, but I honestly don't know that the format you outline would be all that interesting to me. Either some sort of race/course (10-20+ miles, with shooting and obstacles mixed in, think like a hunting "spartan" race) or a team event where we ruck together and then shoot would be more interesting. Albeit those options make it much more complex.

I have been floating an idea like this past my wife a couple years ago after I learned about moose biathlons which are held in Finland and maybe neighboring countries.

It sounds awesome to me and I'd love to participate, but I don't know if I'd want to organize and direct one. It could be pretty complicated/expensive navigating the red tape and insurance involved If it is and official event

 

[HighUintas]

I also agree that we could limit the gaming side of it by requiring a certain distance, route, and pack weight.... And also offer no prizes for the winner except bragging rights. I'd be in it for fun and experience

 

[def90]

Look up Run N Guns.. a lot of competitions out there that involve runs/walks and shooting stages. Then there is also the Tactical Games series that involves various physical fitness components and shooting stages.

 

[Dave0317]

Another one to look at format/ideas from:

2024 SNIPER ADVENTURE CHALLENGE - COMPETITION DYNAMICS

competition-dynamics.com

Read some participant reviews too. The main site description doesn’t give you much.

I like the idea of random non-shooting events too. Knot tying, land NAV, stream crossing techniques, a “pack out” portion involving a number of sand bags or similar to have to move a certain distance, bear defense drill involving some up close and fast engagement.

I think the ruck portion would be best done in between stations to cover ground. Doing laps may feel a bit pointless. Though there could be ways around that too.

Pushing to 12 plus hours makes you have to really manage weight, hydration, food, etc. A six hour or less event I think you would see the game rifles much more.

 

[jtevanMT]

6 h over 7-10 miles with shooting stations of varying ranges. Event could be 2 days (run course twice) with an evening BBQ between the days.

 

[Bluumoon]

Doing a friendly comp at my place this weekend, short milage wise (3 miles) but has 20 shooting stations. Score is points dived by time, you can try to game it on the shooting part, but you better be fast at setting up and comfortable using all common shooting positions to include offhand.

 

[HighUintas]

I've got a pretty solid 45ish mile loop in the uintas we could do with 50lb packs + rifles. No targets are set up yet

I would like to know how many people would actually join something like that.

And yes! Mini tasks at stops instead of just shooting... Maybe knot tying or something similar where troubleshooting is involved.