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Fred's
Articles
Fred Talks Gun Clubs
We were sitting around in Fred's office, which occupies a tiny corner of the warehouse.
As it is hard to ever get Fred to settle in one spot for long, I was enjoying the opportunity for some long-delayed conversation.
Somehow, the subject turned to gun clubs.
"Everyone should be a member of a gun club", Fred said.
"I don't care what a person's shooting interests might be, he will find that associating with others at a local range will greatly increase his enjoyment of shooting.
"Here in North Carolina, nearly anyone living in the country can go out his back door and shoot 50, 100, 200 or in a few cases, 500 or more yards.
"But just shooting is not all its about. Improving one's skills and knowledge, becoming a better shooter, is what really keeps a person's interest and enjoyment up - and you get that best at a local gun club where you have a chance to interact with others of different skill levels - and knowledge levels.
"As for getting to shoot better, the fastest way I have found is to shoot in local competitions. Too many people don't - because they lack confidence that they can shoot good, when their concern should be can they learn to shoot better.
"There is nothing like shooting in competition to sharpen your skills. It doesn't matter what your score is the first time - that's when you make every mistake in the book. It's what your score is the second time out, and the third - when you see better scores.
"Take my club, for example - "
For the first time, I interrupted: "You mean, the RWVA?"
"Right - the Revolutionary War Veterans Association. Now there is a group of guys who have come a long way. From just a few years ago when the county sold their old range land, the boys got together and raised money to buy a piece of land and for chicken feed cleared a 500 yard rifle range, 50 yard pistol range, and 150 yard blackpowder and .22 range.
"But that wasn't enough. Next they put up surplus military popup targets at 200, 300, and 500 yards and ran wires so they could control them from the firing line. That was the STARWARS range, with reacting targets controlled by the range officer.
"In the old club, with the max 200 yard range, you never could get anyone to try a shot past 100 yards. On the new range, the first competitions began at 300, and people lined up to shoot at 500.
"Next came - since the club had a .22 rule on Sundays - long range .22 shooting out to 400 yards, just so the day wasn't wasted. On Saturdays, we'd shoot at steel groundhogs at 300 and 400 yards, with varmint rifles, and then come out Sunday and shoot the same targets with .22 rimfire.
"It was only because of the club that we found out that the drop of the .22 at 400 yards is about 49 feet, that the sound of the shot arrives before the bullet, and that you can hit an 8" by 12" groundhog at 400 yards six out of nine shots from prone with standard .22 ammo and a plinking rifle.
"Speaking of our groundhog event, I remember one time when our usual crew with heavy barrels, bipods, and Leupolds were doing their usual hammering at the steel 'hogs' when an old-time club member showed up with a stock 1916 No 1 Mk III British Enfield and some Iraqi surplus ball ammo made in the '50's and - without a sling - cleaned everyone's clock.
"We had to set up an extra trash barrel that day behind the firing line.
"That was before we put up a groundhog at 500. That really eliminated the iron-sight boys, since that hog is invisible to the naked eye.
"All these shooting experiences could never have been done without a club. Everyone should go to the local club and sample the shooting experiences which wait there.
"Go prepared to be the 'outsider' for a while, and don't let it bother you. Just be sure to participate in the competition offered and the ice will melt. You can't lose, since your shooting skills will improve whether you want them to or not. And you will be part of a tradition in American - and help keep that tradition going. And that's what we really need, isn't it?"
What could I say?
But Fred wasn't finished. "The shame of it is that there are people who would take all this away. Fortunately, this is an Election year, and every gun-owning American should resolve that this year it will be different. Find out who the good candidates are. Pass the word on to your friends - and get out and vote - with them!"
I'll second that!
But Fred had more to say: "Clubs can do more than be places to shoot. They can be engines for getting others into the game, to build on the tradition of private ownership and skill with firearms. The tradition is being lost, even as we speak, if more people don't wake up and get serious about shooting, and get others into what is a satisfying and ego-enhancing sport.
"And clubs are a great place to get people fired up...
"So find one, join it, learn to shoot, and get others there to learn to shoot.
"You'd be surprised at the percentage of club members who can't shoot, and don't have a clue how to learn, but would like to.
"That's where our Army Qualification Test targets and Fred's Guide to Becoming a Rifleman can really make a difference.
"Use 'em to get a marksmanship program going at your club..." |
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