As we look at the weekend weather prospects, we have decided to cancel this year’s Leonard Johnson Memorial Match.
Over the years we have had good fortune in scheduling this match in late October – but if we have weather issues, we run out of year in which we could reschedule.
Next year we will schedule this match in late September and a “rain date” in later October.
Larry Beardsley and Jerry Johnson Send
The Range Warning System is ready for use at the 100-yard covered firing points. The installation was finished on Wednesday, 11 October. Some labels remaining to be installed, but all of the range functions are active.
At the center of the covered 100-yard line is an alarm and control station. The center line control switch, along with the switches at the north and south end of the line activate the alarm station.
The alarm system can be activated from any of the three switch stations. If the system is activated from any station, it must be deactivated from the same station when the line status is changed. For example, if the system is activated at center line, it cannot be turned off at the south end of the line. If the system is activated from multiple stations, all stations must be turned off to deactivate the system.
The system is powered from a switch located inside the south door to the clubhouse. The system should remain powered on at all times.
As of now, unless we get an extended stretch of good weather in the next couple of weeks, work will resume on the system at the 200-yard covered points in the Spring of 2024.
Oh – by the way – we have a beautiful stand of grass on the areas that were graded and seeded earlier this fall.
The long awaited Range Warning System is in its first operational stages. The warning and control station at center line of the 100-yard covered range is operational as of Friday, October 6. You are encouraged to use this station if you are using the 100-yard covered firing line.
Until the full system is operational – the RANGE HOT sign on the north covered firing line sign shall continue to be used.
Operation is simple of the system is simple. It is intended to alert all shooters on the firing line that the line is about to go COLD (everybody put down their guns and leave them alone while anyone is downrange – Range Rule 1)
At center line there are two warning devices – they are fire alarm strobe/siren alarm stations. There is a control switch directly below the alarms. This switch is a three position switch; UP – CENTER and DOWN.
When it is desired to make the firing line COLD – the switch shall be put in its UP position. In this position the strobe lights on the warning station will begin to flash (one facing north, one facing south) and the warning horns will sound. (There are horns in each of the devices on the station and even though the horns sound intermittently, when both are active, it is a continuous alarm sound).
THE ALARM IS LOUD – you can hear it even with your ear protection on!
Once the alarm has sounded and everyone has put down their firearms, the switch should be placed in the DOWN position. In this position, the annoying alarm horns are silenced, but the strobe lights continue to flash, providing a visual indication that there are people downrange and the range is COLD! The sign on the north covered firing line should be lowered, further indicating that the firing line is COLD!
SO long as shooters are downrange, the strobe light must be energized. If the strobe is flashing, someone is downrange somewhere. When all shooters have returned to the firing line, the RANGE HOT sign at the north covered position should be raised and the switch may be returned to the UP position, giving another blast from the warning horns. This is an “ALL CLEAR” blast. The announcement should be made “THE LINE IS HOT”. The switch should then be returned to the center OFF position, the line is HOT!
Over the next several weeks, as time and weather allow, two additional control stations will be added to the 100-yard covered firing points and an additional set of alarm and control stations will be installed on the north covered firing line. Labels are being prepared for the switch boxes that indicate “HORN & STROBE – OFF and STROBE switch positions.
BE SAFE OUT THERE!
FWRR Club Meeting
The next meeting of the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023. Meeting Place: VFW Post 857, located at 2202 West Main Street in Fort Wayne. Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m. Food and drink will be available at very reasonable prices before and after the meeting.
Meeting Agenda: Standard meeting format. Please make an effort to attend meetings, as a quorum is required to conduct club business. Sincere thanks to members who take the time to attend meetings and to support the club in so many other ways. Being a member of a club involves more than paying dues and using facilities.
Maintenance Activities
Earth work has been completed on the west side of the ditch. The mound at 75 – yards on the 100 yard range was removed, as was the low-level extension at the north end of the 100 yard impact bunker,. The mound was originally put in place to catch pistol bullets that were fired at 25 yard targets. The mound proved to be ineffective in achieving its intended objective and caused drainage problems.
The extension of the 100 yard impact bunker, which was installed for .22 Bench Rest (BR) matches, is no longer needed because .22 BR matches no longer fired. Earth from the mound and extension was redistributed to improve surface water flow. Also, the 100 yard firing mound on the 300 yard range was extended and leveled. Grass seed (200 lbs), triple 19 fertilizer (100 lbs), and straw were applied.. More work on the east side of the ditch and in the Pistol Pit will be accomplished later this year.
Ted Smeltzer headed up this project. Ted was assisted by his son, David (a non-member), Martin Didion, Robin Liechty, and Jim Sweeney. Robin provided the equipment and fuel that was needed to blow straw. Please thank these gentlemen for their work.
New Members
Please welcome the following individuals who inducted as full members at the August 2023 meeting: Brian Bremer, Gregory Bultemeier, and Bradd Shull.
Reminders
AERIAL TARGETS MAY NO LONGER BE SHOT ON FWRRC PROPERTY. This change was made primarily due to lack of an adequate shot-fall safety zone.
BEFORE DRIVING DOWN RANGE TO THE 200 AND 300 YARD TARGET HOLDERS, CHECK THE RANGE STATUS SIGN. Be aware that the range status sign is not visible from the 300 yard firing line from some vehicles.
Doors to the outhouse are being left open. Please close the door after you use the facility.
Do not drive on freshly seeded areas.
Someone has used the 4’ x 4’ target backers in Bays 4 & 5 as shotgun pattern boards. —an inconsiderate and improper act. Shotguns are fired in the Pistol Pit only during sanctioned matches and at targets designated for that purpose.
Discipline Reports
ACPDL (Allen County Practical Defense League)
Matches will be held on October 7th,, November 4th, and December 2nd. Only ACPDL members are permitted to shoot. The pre-match meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. and shooting commences at 9:30 a.m. Matches are typically finished by 12:00 noon. Observers and those persons interested in becoming ACPDL members are welcome.
USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association)
USPSA matches are held on the third Sunday, April – October. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and shooting commences at 10:00 a.m. FWRRC membership is not a requirement.
High-power (HP)
The Leonard Johnson Memorial Match and a 300-yard Prone Match will be held on will be held on October 14th and October 28th, respectively. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and match start time is 9:00 a.m
Winter Offhand Matches are scheduled for the second Saturday, November through March. The first Winter Offhand Match is scheduled for November 11th. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and match start time is 9:00 a.m
Practices matches are typically held on Thursday afternoons at 4:30 p.m., May through October. The Main Range is closed at 3:00 p.m. on practice days to permit mowing firing points and setting up targets. Pistol Bays 4 and 5 will be open during HP practice sessions.
Cowboy Action
Cowboy Action matches are scheduled for the fourth Saturday, May through October. The next match will be held on October 27th. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. for regular matches and at 9:00 a.m. for voluntary side matches. Regular match start time is 10:00 a.m. The matches begin with a mandatory shooter’s meeting. The ammunition requirements for the regular match are 60 rounds for pistols, 60 rounds rifles, and 30 rounds for shotguns. Only lead bullets and shot are permitted. Shot may be no larger than #4 (shot sizes 4 – 9).
Range Mowing and Maintance/Improvement Activities
Mowing
The 2023 Mowing Schedule is posted on the FWRRC website. Dates are tentative, depending on weather and ground conditions. Mowing times vary according to volunteer availability. Efforts will be made to provide mowing times and change dates on the website (https://fwrrclub.org/) . The Main Range is closed during mowing and other range maintenance activities but Pistol Bays 4 and 5 will remain open. It is recommended that members check the website for updates before traveling to the range.
If you are interested in joining the mowing crew, contact Martin Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com.
Maintance /Improvement Activities
The remainder of the earth work on the east side of the ditch and work to extend the berm between Pistol Pit Bays 4 & 5 will be accomplished in the September/October time frame. This work will be performed when weather and ground conditions permit. Dates and times will also depend on the availability of the contractor who will perform the work. Pistol Bays 4 & 5 will be open while work on the Main Range is being performed. Pistol Bays 4 and 5 will will be closed when the berm is being extended. An effort will be made to post range closings on the FWRRC website. Please check the website (https://fwrrclub.org/) for updates before traveling to the range.
2024 Range Activity Schedule
Discipline Leads should be prepared to submit their proposed schedules for the 2024 season to Program Manager, Ryan Brammer, at the December 2023 meeting.
For Sale
Members who wish to sell shooting-related items may send ad information to Martin Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com. Ads must be received three weeks before meetings in order to appear in the next newsletter.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On Saturday, October 14th, we will shoot the annual Leonard Johnson Memorial Match, the Toughest Team Match in the USA. Leonard Johnson was a FWRR member who was a collegiate small bore champion, an enthusiastic FWRR supporter and a skilled gunsmith and machinist.
What makes this match so tough? The match starts out at 200-yards with a .22
rimfire stage fired on the MR-42 Reduced target (yes, I really meant 200-yards). Two man teams will fire 20 rounds for record
from each shooter. It has been said that
shooting a .22 rimfire at 200-yards is much like shooting center-fire at
1000-yards (especially if there is any crosswind!)
Then, the teams move back to 300-yards and swap their .22 rimfire rifles for their choice of center-fire rifle. Then, each team team will fire another 20-rounds per shooter – but they will still shoot at the MR-42 200-yard reduced target.
No pre-registration is required, we will squad at registration – just like the old days! The first shot will be at 9:00. Registration and setup will open about 7:45. This will be a walk and paste match, our electronic targets will not register the sub-sonic .22- rimfire rounds, so come join us for an old fashioned day of shooting, walking and pit pulling!