"A 2 gun requirement for cowboy is stupid in my opinion, as is a 9mm minimum for IDPA. These organizations may start out with the notion of being somewhat realistic, and then morph into pure game playing well removed from the original concept."
I can agree somewhat with that, and disagree with it as well.
The 2 guns for SASS give a shooter more shooting time at more targets. It's a game & we all like to shoot a lot.
.9mm as a minimum caliber,, in a gun game where steel targets of a standard size makes good sense for safety. A .22 may not knock one down but it could easily ricochet back to the shooter or others. Having a minimum caliber & power factor is a safety thing.
As for starting out being somewhat realistic,, and changing. Well, the concept may desire realism, but to have a game,, with loaded firearms, and all types of people,, safety rules must be implemented. Having played a lot of these games or various competition types over the last 30 plus years, (USPSA, IPSC, SASS, Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays, Bullseye, Bowling pin shoots,) I can attest to the fact that none of them are "realistic" to a life threatening event where a firearm is concerned.
So I agree that they have morphed into a game away from realism, or the concept.
Why have they done that?
People.
Even among this great bunch of folks here,, we see different attitudes about gun handling & such. We see different approaches to how we carry, what we carry, when we carry, how we practice, etc.
So,, any game will require a set of rules if you are going to keep score in any fashion. Otherwise it's just a day at the range. And people like to be competitive. So, you make rules about categories, and types of guns. You make rules about safety. You make rules to try & "level the playing field" for everyone to where your skills determine how you place on the scoreboard.
But people,, being people,, act the same way all lawyers act. They study the rules, and try & figure out a way to "stay within the rules" yet gain an advantage over everybody else. We call these folks "gamers!"
And don't forget the marketing of different products. All kinds of new products have been designed to be used in competitions of all types,, that later became mainstream accessories for everybody. Holsters, red dots, lasers, are but a few items that have heavily influenced the games & also the general market.
And even the guns.
Ruger developed the Vaquero initially for SASS types. But other people appreciate them as well.
So, the biggest issue is PEOPLE. We all have different thoughts, and are not all the same. Some people play the games just for fun. Some for practice. Some for the fellowship. Some for improving their skills. Some with a desire just to win. Some to experiment.
The biggest take away is actually very simple. Gun games,, ALL can allow us to actually test our own skills against others or a scoresheet to see if we can improve ourselves. Many people shoot gun games KNOWING they will not be at the top of the scoreboard. But they also are only competing against themselves. And if you play a gun game often,, you actually develop motor memory skills with your firearm(s).
THAT'S the one skill you can use to your favor in the unlikely event of a real life dangerous encounter where the need for a firearm to be used in SD!
For that reason alone,, a good gun game can be beneficial.
And a close second,, is to develop better skill sets with any firearm,, to make us a better shooter.
So,, having gun games, 2 gun rigs, 3-gun competitions, USPSA, Skeet, or whatever can be a good thing. That is,, if you are actually a person who enjoys a lot of shooting and wants to be as good as your personal abilities can be tuned to.
