In the late 90s I was averaging about 15K - 18K targets a year, about 3K of which were registered targets. In '97 and '98 I shot in the SXS event at the nationals. Didn't win anything, but I had a good time. I did shoot the XE in some local shoots, and won class with it a couple of times. In 2000 I quit shooting, cold turkey, because I decided it was the only way I was going to be a dad to my kids, who lived 200 miles away at that time. It boiled down to one or the other. I've only started shooting again in the last couple of years.
I know that's probably more than anyone wanted to know.
As far as shooting targets now, I wouldn't want to discourage anyone, but I think it would problematical relative to 10 or 15 years ago. That is, if one wanted to compete seriously to win.
The problem is that targets at many shoots, especially major shoots, are far more technical than they were before. In the early to mid 90s, most of the local shoots (at least around Dallas) were with hand traps and the creativity of presentation was sorely limited. You couldn't throw the type of targets in that environment that you can now. I was watching the Compac event at the 2005 Nationals, at which I spent the afternoon as a spectator only, and was astounded at the difficulty and distance of the targets.
People like Doug Vine, who I believe won this years Vintage Cup, might be able to shoot such targets effectively with a SXS, but I don't believe even he would be competitive at a tough NSCA shoot with it, especially a major. (Doug, by the way, was about 5th or 6th in the "World All Around", sponsored by Scott Robertson this year. Digweed won.)
To evaluate one's own opportunity with success in shooting a SXS competitively, I have two shot setups you can set up as a test, both with break points at 50 yrds.... The first setup is a 70 degree rise quartering away teal, which has to be taken on the rise to have time for a 2nd target. The 2nd a similar teal, but haveing to be taken as the 2nd target after it peaks and is well on the drop. A third set up might involve a quartering away tower shot with a 60 to 70 yrd break point. I've seen each of these in the last year or two. Typically, these type shots require precision that most of us mortals need all the help we can get on. And a long barreled auto or O/U just has a much more precise "pointer" than a SXS at longer distances.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with shooting such targets for experince or fun. And, there's many registered shoots which don't don't have shots with that difficulty. I shoot my XE when I'm not worried about showing up "down the list". Plus, a lot of younger shooters really go nuts over cool old guns.
That's my two cents, anyway.
