View Full Version : America and guns . . .
We as americans love our guns. This is known world wide, but are we the best with them?
These are the Olympic medal counts for the longest shooting events in rifle and pistol. Then Trap and Skeet.
G=Gold, S=Silver, B=Bronze, T=Total
Rifle
1) USA . . . G-12, S-12, B-7, T-31
2) USSR . . . G-12, S-9, B-7, T-28
3) Russia . . . G-6, S-2, B-3, T-11
4) Bulgaria . . . G-5, S-3, B-3, T-11
5) Germany . . . G-4, S-2, B-2, T-8
Combine the former USSR and Russia and were losing there.
Pistol
1) Switzerland . . . G-30, S-16, B-14, T-60
2) Belgium . . . G-14, S-6, B-6, T-26
3) USSR . . . G-13, S-4, B-3, T-20
4) Sweden . . . G-8, S-8, B-7, T-23
5) China . . . G-6, S-1, B-2, T-9
6) USA . . . Seriously? China has more Gold medals then us? [Mad]
Whatever, I bet were way better with our shotguns . . .
Trap
1) Italy . . . G-43, S-29, B-21, T-93
2) USSR . . . G-16, S-13, B-15, T-44
3) USA . . . G-15, S-24, B-19, T-58
4) China . . . G-10, S-6, B-11, T-27
5) Hungary . . . G-10, S-6, B-5, T-21
Skeet
1) USSR . . . G-27, S-21, B-12, T-60
2) USA . . . G-24, S-24, B-15, T-63
3) Italy . . . G-19, S-16, B-27, T-62
4) China . . . G-13, S-9, B-4, T-26
5) Germany . . . G-8, S-6, B-5, T-19
Sigh . . . you would think America would destroy in these events.[Rant1]
I would bet the USA team is the only team there that is not government sponsored. The USA doesn't allow professionals either. That means all the USA team is taking time off work to practice and travel and compete in the events. They are probably paying a lot of their own expenses too.
At least that's my first reaction.
You are talking "Olympic" athletes shooting at stationary targets...
Don't know about you, but I couldn't care less how good or bad I am at shooting stationary targets. IDPA, IMO, is more of the type of shooting that matters.
The enemy/bad guys aren't going to stand still and wait for you to sight that perfect shot...
Just because more yokels can buy guns, doesn't mean that they are good with them.
the olympics represents the country but it doesn't mean they are the best shots or had their best days either.
besides, we will win in numbers[Tooth]
Just because more yokels can buy guns, doesn't mean that they are good with them.
HEY! I thought I said stop talking about me
GreenScoutII
10-10-2010, 21:59
I would bet the USA team is the only team there that is not government sponsored. The USA doesn't allow professionals either. That means all the USA team is taking time off work to practice and travel and compete in the events. They are probably paying a lot of their own expenses too.
At least that's my first reaction.
You're right. I shot a sport called Running Game Target in the late 80's and early 90's. The competitors from virtually every other country were either in their nation's military or were otherwise sponsored by their governments.
haven't you guys watched the Chinese dodgeball team on southpark...they are bred strictly for their dodgeball skills. Kenny died at the hands of a chinese kid throwing a dodgeball.
that is all the proof you need[Coffee]
I would bet the USA team is the only team there that is not government sponsored. The USA doesn't allow professionals either. That means all the USA team is taking time off work to practice and travel and compete in the events.
Winner. Other countries are government sponsored meaning competing in the Olympics is their job and they are paid for it and they are in all due respects professionals in teh firearms feild whether it be military or some sort of PD.
If we changed our system and allowed some of our career professional shooters to compete in the Olympics, we would literally wipe the floor of competition, seriously. Of that, I have no doubt.
Don't be discontent with how we supposedly perform in world athletic events. Think of it as we just strategically keep our top performers in reserve, HAHA.
[Beer]
So the US doesn't allow any Olympic champions to be professionals, in any sport?
Basketball, hockey, comes to mind.
funkfool
10-11-2010, 09:09
Basketball, hockey, comes to mind.
Uh...
Yep.
http://basketball.teamusa.org/athletes
I'm confused. Why wouldn't we allow professionals to compete if all the other countries do?
Because it would mean the gov would be taking a pro gun stance (see: not allowed anymore).
What constitutes professional? If you get paid at all to shoot? Also, do they recruit or is it an open type competition to get on the team?
HBARleatherneck
10-11-2010, 09:43
well how about OBound respond to the thread since he started it and must be an olympian. he is selling any olympic watch. (which he hasnt responded to either)
im sure he has some insight that would help us lay people.
Miltary and those types of professionals could be involved only if the CO/XO (insert own nonmeleclature here) signed off with rarely (if at all?) happens due to their first duty being active military is service, etc.
"Professional" is often classified as simply being paid to do your job... Not all professionals are of a professional caliber. <-- haha, pun intended.
I don't have time to go find individual rules but in summary:
To become a member of the US Shooting Team, shooters must:
Be a citizen of the United States of America.
Meet the requirements set forth by IOC, USOC, and ISSF.
Compete in a USST selection competition, and score well in it (competing and doing well in the National Championships or Junior Olympics may also suffice) to become a member of a USA Shooting national team.
Through participation in a USA Shooting national team, you may be selected for the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.This is not a fast process. Years of shooting and active participation in USAS are usually required.
Most shooting professionals (I'm primarily thinking PD/Mil, etc here) do not have the time/money to spend doing those club type events (I may be wrong) and usually do not end up on the Olympic team due to prior commitments...
Again, I'm a no nothing punk kid and could be totally out in left feild on this. But I would wage a bet on some of our PD/Mil marksmen against any in the world on any day.
Another thought is that usually Olympians are very specialized. One guy for long range, one guy for pistol, one guy for etc... While most of the active world pros must be a jack of all trades. So while overall PD/mil guy may be subjectively better in real world situations, for the Olympics, the committee wants a guy who can put consecutive rounds through the same hole at 1K yards in ideal conditions... which takes a lot of time/money to train for that a real world pro doesn't nessecarily have.... etc...
Thanks for reminding me to update my watch post. Im a busy guy and I forget about things. [Tooth]
I just posted to see what you guys had to say. I learn more from listening to other people then I ever do from listening to myself talk but the way I see it we should win at every competition no matter what handicap we have. No excuses.
Oh well if it was this way or if it was this kind of competition then we would win. No, no matter how it is we should win.
Life isnt fair and I train with the expectation that the other guy will always be favored over me in some way. Preparing with that in mind I wont break mentally when things dont go my way or if the other guy has an unfair advantage.
Even with all the odds stacked against me Im still going to end up on top.
Livin the dream
but the way I see it we should win at every competition no matter what handicap we have.
Bad way of thinking friend, once you get hit, it'll hurt the pysche more than your body. We are not perfect and we cannot win at everything all the time. Train for success but learn from the mistakes/failings.
Even with all the odds stacked against me Im still going to end up on top.
Livin the dream
Good luck to you and what dream are you living? Are you trying out for the Olympic marksmanship team or something? If so, what is your background/experience, etc?
trlcavscout
10-11-2010, 23:10
So lets send those "olympians" to FT. Benning to see how they compare to the REAL world [ROFL2] I could care less about the olympics anyways.
HBARleatherneck
10-12-2010, 05:26
anybody else notice how obtuse the ops posts are?
for example mine would go. "I am a US olympian/or hopeful, I am going to compete in javelin."
im not criticizing, just curious
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