Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club

Remains of the Eel River Gun Club Indoor Range

On 29 September 2025 the Eel River Gun Club indoor range was destroyed in a fire that

was most likely caused by mice chewing electrical lines causing a short.  The building and

contents are a total loss.  We are in the process of an insurance claim and intend to

rebuild.

This will not be a fast process. Obviously our winter rifle and pistol leagues are canceled

as we have no indoor range at present.

We fully intend to rebuild and envision a much better facility. 

While this will not be a fast process we are hopeful to have as few delays as possible.

Our outdoor range was unaffected and will remain in use as weather permits.

Saturday, September 13 was the last High Power Match of this High Power season.  It was also the weekend of the ISRPA Camp Atterbury State Championships, so we were a bit down in attendance – but it was a really fun day anyway.

We had thirteen shooters ready to shoot by 8:45 A.M. and after the safety brief, conducted by newly certified Range Officer Mia King, shooters self squadded and the match got under way.  The match went as smoothly as just about any match has gone (even with a couple of target uh-oh’s) and we finished up at 12:10 P.M.

Ready on the right …?

Ready on the left …?

We had shooters firing 50, 80 and 100-round matches,  In the 50-round matches, Mia King (one of our Junior girls) took top honors with a personal best 477-12X Master Class score.  She was followed by another Junior girl with another personal best, Aria Hobbs, firing an Expert Class 464-7X.  Aria beat her GrandPa, Jess Jessup who was third in the 50-round match with 459-10X.

Mia and Aria Celebrating Personal Best Scores

In the 80-round matches, Marshall Rohrbach (just recently moving up from the Junior ranks) was top shooter with 787-23X.  This Master Class score cements Marshall’s CMP Master Classification – making him a Master Class shooter for both CMP and NRA matches.  Jeff Beierke was second with 757-22X and Ron Dague, returning for only his third match this year, took third with 733-13X.

Mark Walters shot the 1000 point aggregate 100-round course of fire.  He took this match as an opportunity to test some loads for this trip to the Vermont CMP Games later this month and found out that his service rifle really didn’t like heavy VLD bullets.  In spite of that, he shot an impressive 960-29X in the long course match.

Ashton (419-3X) showing very good prone technique

Our next match will be on October 18th, a 3 x 20 300-yard prone match.  This has historically been a well-attended, fun match so make plans to join us to close out the High Power season.

Range Safety Flags (red pennants) have been installed for the rifle ranges and pistol bay areas of the range.  The safety flag for the rifle ranges is located just to the left of the access road as you enter the driveway for the rifle ranges. 

Safety Pennant for the Rifle Ranges

The safety pennant for the pistol bays is located to the right as you drive into the pistol bay area.

Safety Pennant for the Pistol Bays

These red pennants are to be flown any time firing is being conducted on the range involved.  The rifle pennant need not be raised for pistol bay activity nor does the pistol bay pennant need to be flown for rifle range activities.

They do not need to be flown if activities not involving firing (e.g setup for a match, grass mowing, target maintenance), but if such activities are undertaken and then firing follows, the pennants must be raised before firing begins.

When the pennants are lowered, just wrap the provided bungee cord around the pennant to secure it to the flagpole – it’s not very elegant, but it works.

Stowing the Pennant When Firing is Complete

Please make use of this added safety feature whenever you are conducting firing activities at the ranges.

Thank you; FWRR Officers and Directors

Ok Guys, Girls and Juniors:

Here is the Thursday practice plan for the rest of September:

As of now, the Cub Cadet tractor is unsafe to use.  It’s about to have a major engine failure and I don’t want to be on it when it throws a scrap iron fit and scatters pieces everywhere – the firing points won’t be trimmed as neatly as Carlos usually trims them and finding brass will be harder.

We’re getting toward the end of the High Power season, the Atterbury matches this weekend will close out the Indiana Triple Crown series – so we will have a full practice on Thursday, 11 September.  The sun is getting low in the sky and shooting back at 300 is getting harder with sun glare, so we may want to modify what we shoot that day.

On Saturday September 13th, we will have our normal 50/80 match.  This is on the same day as the Atterbury State matches, so I understand if someone wants to go shoot there instead – just too many chances to have fun.

On Thursday, September 18th – I will try for the third time to give the class on using the stand-alone Silver Mountain electronic target.  There will be no formal High Power Practice that day.

On the next Thursday, September 25th we will have a normal practice, but I will have a “special event” for the Juniors;  no Junior shooting that day.  We will have a brass sorting party because we need to get started on loading for next year – we’re just about out of Junior ammo! 

I believe by then we will only shoot at one distance because of the low sun in the sky – we’ll decide on that when we get there that day.

We’re coming to the end of a good High Power season – thanks to everyone who has made that possible.

The first match of the Indiana State Championship series was held at Fall Creek Conservation Club on Saturday, 30 August when the 100-Yard Reduced Course Match was fired.  Of the thirteen shooters participating, six were FWRR members and FWRR was once again very well represented in the results.

FWRR’s Mike King took this year’s 100-Yard State Championship with a score of 790-35X.  He was followed by FWRR member Geoff Branson taking second overall with a 775-21X. 

Mike King with Andrew Beaver (First Master) and Geoff Branson (Second Overall)

Other FWRR shooters included:

Mark Walters                     755-10X

Gary Mabis                        747-17X

Mike Habel                        733-12X (First Grand Senior)

Mark Richard                     584-19X

The next event in the Championship Series is the 300-Yard State Championship at Wildcat Valley on Saturday, September 6th.