The USPSA Match scheduled for April 20 (which is Easter Sunday) has been rescheduled until the following Sunday, April 27.
Because of health issues, the Cowboy Action Matches for the summer of 2025 have been cancelled.
Final Winter Offhand – March 8, 2025
Saturday March 8 was the last session of Winter Offhand and the day opened looking a lot like winter. A Friday afternoon session of snow flurries left the lane into the range and the range itself look like a Winter Wonderland – hopefully the last one of the winter.
Eleven shooters came out for the last session of Winter Offhand. It was bright, and the wind coming from about our 2 o’clock position made it brisk, but not brutal. We started out as a snow covered day and finished with brown grass – a typical March snow day.
This winter we managed to shoot four Winter Offhand matches and we count
competitor’s top three scores towards the season aggregate. This season we shot in two classes; Class AA
for Experts, Masters and High Masters and Class A for Marksmen, Sharpshooters
and Unclassified shooters.
In Class AA, Mike King took first place with a season aggregate of 1168-34X. Second place went to Jim Jackson with 1117-14X, edging out Mark Walters in third place with a 1115-15X. Class AA rounded out with Mike Habel’s 1110-9X and Gary Mabis with 1071-8X.\
In Class A, Mia King, a Junior girl shooter, took top honors with a 1073-10X season aggregate. Joe Freiburger followed with 917-2X and Tayt Shaffer, another Junior shooter closed out the top three places with his 857-3X.
After the Winter Offhand match, we had a class and shooting session with our new Juniors, the Class of 2025. Eight young shooters showed up with six of them shooting and two having their first classroom session.
Winter Offhand is over – we start High Power on Saturday April 12. This year we are starting matches at 9:00AM to accommodate shooters who want to come in from further away so they don’t need to start out at oh-dark-thirty to get here. This match will be a practice match, not an NRA or CMP match, so we can work out all of the kinks before we start competition in May.
Come out and shoot with us in April!
Wet Range Reminder
It’s almost Spring in Indiana and that means wet, muddy and sloppy conditions.
Our range is no different – it is like the rest of Indiana right now.
Members are warned that you can and will get stuck if you drive on grassy areas at this time of year.
DO NOT DRIVE OFF THE ROAD TO GO OVER TO THE 200-YARD TARGET FRAMES!
DO NOT DRIVE ON THE GRASS IN FRONT OF THE 300-YARD TARGETS!
DO NOT PARK ON THE GRASS BEHIND THE 300-YARD LINES!
Every year we have someone who thinks that they can park somewhere or drive somewhere and get away with it. This usually ends up having to get that individual pulled out of the mud and creates ruts that are almost impossible to clean up without a tractor and a bucket.
DON’T EVEN TRY IT!
2025 Dues Reminder
If you have not returned your 2025 Membership Renewal Form, dated proof of current NRA membership, and applicable dues, do so before February 28th to avoid paying a $25.00 late fee.
If you are having financial difficulties or hardships that would keep you from meeting this due date, please contact any Club Officer or Director to make arrangements.
Winter Offhand – February 8, 2025
Well, the weather held off enough for eight brave souls to shoot today. The weather was not horrible, hovering around 30 degrees the entire time, and the wind was coming out of the north, and was very brisk.The overall scores were:
- Mike King 192-5 197-10 389-15
- Jim Jackson 190-2 188-5 378-7
- Mark Walters 189-1 184-4 373-5
- Mike Habel 185-1 182-0 367-1
- Gary Mabis 181-3 177-1 358-4
- Mia King 177-2 164-3 341-5
- Taytin Shaffer 122-0 137-0 259-0
March 8th is our last Winter Offhand Match, so come out and finish out the season with us.
Thanks to Mark Walters for running the match and then writing up the results (LB)
FWRR CMP Sanctioned Match Bulletin
Dates of Matches: May 10, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
June 13, 2025 50 shot match 4:30 PM
June 15, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
July 12, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
September 13, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
Sponsor: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club
Location: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club Range; 15715 Rupert Road; Harlan, IN.
For detailed instructions: https://fwrrclub.org/index.php/how-to-find-us/
Competition Open To: These matches are open to all competitors who may legally possess firearms. Membership in the CMP or Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club is not required. All competitors must execute a 2025 CMP “Eligibility and Liability Agreement” at check-in. Junior shooters will require a 2025 “Parental Consent Form” to compete.
Entry Fee:
Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club members: 50/80 – round matches – $15.00
100 – round matches – $20.00
Affiliated Club members: 50/80 – round matches – $15.00
100 – round matches – $20.00
Non-members (FWRR or affiliated) 50/80 – round matches – $20.00
100 – round matches – $25.00
Registration: Pre-registration may be made by contacting the Match Director; FWRRHPDirector@aol.com. Pre-registration requests for specific targets and relays will be honored inasmuch as possible. Day of match registration and setup open at 7:30 AM. Registration closes at 8:35 AM.
Firing: First shot will go down range promptly at 9:00 AM.
NOTE: June 13 match is a 50-shot 4:30 PM afternoon Match.
Match Rules: These matches will be shot in accordance with the “28th Edition 2025 CMP Highpower Rifle Competition Rules”.
This rulebook maybe found at: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ebacv/rpgv/#p=1
Course of Fire: These matches will be fired as CMP Cup HP Rifle
Standard Course Matches (Rule 6.5). Competitors may choose to shoot a 50 –
round Non-EIC match, an 80-Round – HP Short Course (Rule 6.5.3) or a 100 –
round Long Course (Rule 6.5.4).
Awards: Awards will be made based on competitor CMP Classification and the number of competitors firing in each classification. Classifications may be combined if there are fewer than three competitors in a category.
General Information: All matches will be fired on Silver Mountain electronic targets; no pit duty but competitors will be expected to assist in setup and tear-down of targets.
Any safe ammunition my be used. No tracers, incendiary of explosive ammunition may be used. “Green tip” ammunition is allowed. Match grade ammunition is available to Junior shooters at reasonable cost (typically 35-cents per round, but subject to change).
No food is available at the range, no lunch breaks.
Contact Information: For additional information about the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club, visit our website at FWRRClub.org.
For additional match information, contact FWRRHPDirector@aol.com
Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club – GSM Match
Dates of Match: June 15, 2025 Garand – Springfield – Military Rifle Match
Sponsor: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club
Location: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club Range; 15715 Rupert Road; Harlan, IN.
For detailed instructions: https://fwrrclub.org/index.php/how-to-find-us/
Competition Open To: This matches are open to all competitors who may legally possess firearms. Membership in the CMP or Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club is not required. All competitors must execute a 2025 CMP “Eligibility and Liability Agreement” at check-in. Junior shooters will require a 2025 “Parental Consent Form” to compete.
Entry Fee: Competitors who paid the $35.00 entry fee for the morning Junior State Championship Match will not pay an additional fee for this match. This will be a re-entry match. An additional entry fee of $5.00 will be charged for each re-entry match fired.
Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club members: $15.00
Affiliated Club members: $15.00
Non-members (FWRR or affiliated) $20.00
Registration: Pre-registration may be made by contacting the Match Director; FWRRHPDirector@aol.com. Pre-registration requests for specific targets and relays will be honored inasmuch as possible.
Day of match registration opens at 11:30 AM. Registration closes at 12:15 PM. This match will be shot after the Junior State Championship Match activities have completed and lunch has been served.
Firing: First shot will go down range at approximately 1:00 PM, dependent on Junior activities.
Match Rules: These matches will be shot in accordance with the “12th Edition – 2025 CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Rules”. All competitors are required to know and abide by the match rules.
This rulebook maybe found at: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ebacv/qsvv/#p=1
Course of Fire: These matches will be fired as As-Issued Military Rifle matches (Rule 5.5, Table A). The match will be fired on the SR target at 200-yards; up to 5-sighting shots, 10-shots slow prone; 10-shots rapid prone and 10-shots offhand.
This will be a re-entry match. An additional entry fee of $5.00 will be charged for each re-entry match fired.
Awards: Awards will be made based on scores and the As-Issued rifle being used as set forth in Annex A of the 12th Edition – 2025 CMP Games Rifle and Pistol Rules
General Information: All matches will be fired on Silver Mountain electronic targets; no pit duty but competitors will be expected to assist in setup and tear-down of targets. Any safe ammunition my be used. No tracers, incendiary or explosive ammunition may be used. “Green tip” ammunition is allowed.
Ammunition is available to Junior shooters at reasonable cost (typically 35-cents per round, but subject to change).
A lunch will be served as part of the Junior State Championship held in the morning session. There will be a nominal charge of $12.00 for the lunch. Reservations for the lunch are required
Contact Information: For additional information about the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club, visit our website at FWRRClub.org.
For match information, contact FWRRHPDirector@aol.com.
2025 High Power Match Bulletin – NRA Approved Matches
Dates of Matches:
May 10, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
June 13, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
June 15, 2025 50 shot match
June 26, 2025 50-shot, 100-yard match
July 12, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
September 13, 2025 50/80/100 shot match
Sponsor: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club
Location: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club Range; 15715 Rupert Road; Harlan, IN.
For detailed instructions: https://fwrrclub.org/index.php/how-to-find-us/
Competition Open To: These matches are open to all competitors who may legally possess firearms. Membership in the NRA or Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club is not required. All competitors who do have not previously done so must sign a Release of Liability at check-in. Junior shooters must execute a Release of Liability with parent or guardian signature at registration
Entry Fee:
Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club members: 50/80 shot matches $15.00
100 shot matches $20.00
Affiliated Club members: 50/80 shot matches $15.00
100 shot matches $20.00
Non-members (FWRR or affiliated) 50/80 shot matches $20.00
100 shot matches $25.00
Registration: Pre-registration may be made by contacting the Match Director; FWRRHPDirector@aol.com. Pre-registration requests for specific targets and relays will be honored inasmuch as possible.
Day of match registration: For afternoon matches, registration and setup opens at 3:45 PM. Registration closes at 4:15 PM.
For morning matches, registration and setup opens at 7:30 AM. Registration closes at 8:35 AM.
Firing: First shot will go down range promptly at 4:30 PM for afternoon matches, 9:00 AM for morning matches.
Match Rules: These matches will be shot in accordance with the NRA High Power Rifle Rules (Revised January 2024). Coaching will be allowed for Juniors with classifications of Unclassified Master, Marksman or Sharpshooter (Rule 19.4.1).
This rulebook maybe found at: https://competitions.nra.org/media/9388/2024-high_power_rifle_rules.pdf
Course of Fire: These matches will be fired as an NRA Approved Tournament. Competitors may choose to shoot a 50-shot National Match Course (Rule 7.14), an 80-shot Regional Match Course (Rule 7.15) or a 100-shot Regional Match Course (Rule 7.16). The 600-yard stages of these matches will be shot at 300-yards on the MR-63 target.
Awards: Awards will be made based on competitor NRA Classification and the number of competitors firing in each classification. Classifications may be combined if fewer than three competitors in a category.
General Information: All matches will be fired on Silver Mountain electronic targets; no pit duty but competitors will be expected to assist in setup and tear-down of targets.
Any safe ammunition my be used. No tracers, incendiary of explosive ammunition may be used. “Green tip” ammunition is allowed.
Match grade ammunition is available to Junior shooters at reasonable cost (typically 35-cents per round, but subject to change).
No food is available at the range, no lunch breaks.
Contact Information: For additional information about the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club, visit our website at FWRRClub.org.
For match information, contact FWRRHPDirector@aol.com.
2025 Junior State Championship Match Bulletin
Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club
2025 Junior State Championship Match Bulletin
Date of Match: June 14, 2025
Sponsor: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club in association with the Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association (ISRPA)
Location: Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club Range; 15715 Rupert Road; Harlan, IN.
For detailed instructions: https://fwrrclub.org/index.php/how-to-find-us/
Competition Open To: This match is open to all competitors who may legally possess firearms. Membership in the CMP or Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club is not required. All competitors must execute a 2025 CMP “Eligibility and Liability Agreement” at check-in. Junior shooters will require a 2025 “Parental Consent Form” to compete.
Entry Fee: No Entry Fee for Juniors
Registration: Pre-registration may be made by contacting the Match Director at FWRRHPDirector@aol.com. Pre-registration requests for specific targets and relays will be honored inasmuch as possible.
Day of match registration and setup open at 7:30 AM. Registration closes at 8:35 AM.
Firing: First shot will go down range promptly at 9:00 AM.
Match Rules: This match will be shot in accordance with the “28th Edition 2025 CMP Highpower Rifle Competition Rules”.
Course of Fire: This match will be fired as CMP Cup HP Rifle Standard Course Match (Rule 6.5). This will be an 80-round match (Rule 6.5.3)
Awards: Awards will be made based on competitor CMP Classification and the number of competitors firing in each classification. Classifications may be combined if there are fewer than three competitors in a category.
General Information: This match will be fired on Silver Mountain electronic targets; there is no pit duty but competitors are expected to assist in setup and tear-down of targets.
Match grade ammunition is available to Junior shooters at no cost. Any safe ammunition may be used. No tracers, incendiary of explosive ammunition may be used. “Green tip” ammunition is allowed.
Lunch will be available at the range; free to Juniors -$12.00 for others.
Contact Information: For additional information about the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club, visit our website at FWRRClub.org.
For match information, contact FWRRHPDirector@aol.com.
February 2025 Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club Newsletter
FWRR Club Meeting: The next meeting of the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025. Meeting Place: VFW Post 857, located at 2202 West Main Street in Fort Wayne. Meeting Time: 7:30 p.m. Meeting Agenda: Standard format meeting.
Election Results: Election results are as follows,
President: Jim Sweeney
Vice President: Mark Walters
Secretary: Joseph Penepent
Treasurer: Martin Didion
Director: Jay Wehrle
Program Manager: Mark Walters
Range Safety Officer: Larry Beardsley
Thanks go to out-going officers Ryan Brammer, Mike Miller, and Mike Toscos for their many years of service. Thanks also go to the many members who took time from their busy holiday schedules to attend the meeting. Turnout was outstanding.
2025 Membership Renewal: 2025 Membership Renewal Forms were mailed in early December. To date, more than 40 % of the membership have completed the renewal process.
When returning the form, please remember to include proof of current NRA membership. Either a photocopy of the membership card or magazine label (or the label itself) are acceptable forms of proof. If a photocopy of a membership card is submitted, it must display the expiration date. Cards marked “Annual” and displaying no date are unacceptable.
Completed Membership Renewal Forms, proof of current NRA membership, and payments are due on January 1st each year. Dues must be received on or before March 1st to avoid late fees or termination of membership.
Dues received with postmark dates after March 1st, but on or before March 31st, are subject to a $25.00 late fee. Dues received with postmark dates after March 31st will be returned with a notice indicating that 1) the party’s membership has been terminated, and 2) future membership requires submission of a membership application and payment of new member fees (c.f., Bylaws Article IX, Section 2).
Dues paid with an NSF check are subject to a $25.00 returned check fee.
If personal hardship prevents timely payment of dues, contact a Club Officer who may arrange either for dues to be waived or for payment to be deferred.
Individuals who were accepted as members after October 1, 2024 are not required to pay membership dues to the 2025 calendar year; nevertheless, they do need to return the renewal form with proof of current NRA membership.
Special Thank You: Sincere thanks go to the many members who have donated funds to the Club. Your generous donations allow the Club to continue to provide dues-free membership to Senior members and to make facility improvements.
In years past, the Treasurer has placed a personal note of thanks on the back of donors’ membership cards. Donations were so numerous this year, in consideration of the time involved, the practice was abandoned; nevertheless, please know that your donations are greatly appreciated.
Lock Combination Change Reminder: Retain your 2024 Membership Card until the lock combination change is made is made on Cleanup Day (mid to late April, 2025).
Maintenance Activities: Gate gate lock was replaced.
Reminder: Only Club members are permitted to attend Club meetings.
New Members: Please welcome new members Karl Klemm and Jeffery Shappel. These gentlemen were inducted as full members at the December, 2024 meeting.
Sad Newsletter: The Club has learned of the passing of Dean Didioin (membership 1998) and Michael Toscos (membership 2000). Both men were avid High Power Rifle shooters. Dean served as Club Treasurer and Mike served as a Director and also as High Power Range Officer.
Discipline Reports:
ACPDL (Allen County Practical Defense League)
ACPDL matches are scheduled for February 1, 2025 and March 1, 2025. 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. Observers and those persons interested in becoming ACPDL members are welcome. Matches are typically finished by 12:00 noon.
USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association)
The first USPSA match of the season will be held on March 16, 2025
PCSL (Practical Competition Shooting League)
The first USPSL match of the season will be held on March 9, 2025. Match time is 10:00 a.m. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. New shooter orientation begins at 9:50 a.m. Rifles in caliber .223 and pistols in calibers 9 mm, .40 and .45 are used in this competition. Rounds counts are 120/match for rifles and 60/match for pistols. Matches are typically finished by 2:00p.m.
Cowboy Action
Cowboy Action matches will resume on April 26, 2025.
High-power (HP)
Winter Offhand Matches are shot on the second Saturday of the month, November through March. Registration and setup begins at 8:00 a.m. Match start time is 9:00 a.m. or whenever we get a full relay to start things off.
The Winter 40 Matches follow the Winter Offhand and the Class of 2025 Junior Classes are held after Winter Offhand.
THERE WILL NOT BE A JUNIOR CLASS OF 2025 SESSION IN FEBRUARY.
Electronic Target System Training Class: The Club has purchased a Silver Mountain Electronic Target System that will be made available to individual members for use at the range. Users must be trained before access to the system is granted. The next training session is scheduled for March 8, 2025 after the Winter Offhand Matches (approximately 11:30 a.m.).
Distinguished Shooter Listing: The Club would like to have a listing of members who have been awarded Distinguished Rifleman and Pistol Shot Badges. If you are a Distinguished Shooter, or if you know a club member not now living who was Distinguished, please notify Larry Beardsley (fwrrhpdirector@aol.com).
For Sale:
Caliber .223, 77 gr. and 80 gr. Sierra MatchKing bullets. Boxes of 500, $160.00 each.
Jaggi Shooting Glasses Frame with extra nose piece, lenses, blinders and case: $125.00. Contact Marty Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com.
Members who wish to sell shooting-related items may send ad information to Marty Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com. Ads must be received three weeks before meetings in order to appear in the next newsletter
Distinguished Rifleman Recognition
Being recognized as a Distinguished Rifleman is one of the highest achievements that a High Power shooter can achieve.
One of my long term projects is to recognize our Distinguished Riflemen with a plaque to display in the Clubhouse at the range. As part of that project, I have been scouring the list of 8600+ recipients of the Distinguished Badge for FWRR members.
So far, I have identified a number of FWRR recipients, but I am sure I have missed someone. My search has gone back to about 1970 – so there are probably pre-1970 recipients out there that I do not know of.
Here are the Distinguished Rifleman I have identified so far. If you know of anyone else, please let me know and I will update this list.
Distinguished Rifleman Badge Recipients – FWRR
Lynn Richter 1978 No Badge Number Listed
Mike Goshert 1997 # 1267
Mark Strahan 1997 # 1286
Mark Walters 1998 # 1339
Carl Johnson 2013 # 2161
Brad Diehl 2017 # 2372
Mike King 2019 # 2444
Geoff Branson 2024 #2656
Winter Offhand; December 14, 2024 — Brrrr!
Winter Offhand lived up to its name on Saturday December 14th. It was a nippy 20-degrees and with the wind from the southeast, if you were on the low end of the line – it was close to bitter. At least one shooter declared; “I’m not going out there again – I can’t feel me I’m so cold!” But – he did.
We had eleven shooters come to the line and we started about 8:35 – everyone got there early and we went ahead and started.
Match results were similar to November. Mike King took Class AA first place with a 390-7x and Mia King took Class A top slot with her 376-6X.
On the season to date, Mike is top Class AA shooter with 779-19X and Mia is Class A leader with 732-5X.
Our next match is on January 11, with the Winter Offhand Match, a Winter 40 Match, a Class of 2025 class and shooting session and another try at having our Silver Mountain Targets class. Put the date on your calendar and join us to shoot or just come out and shoot the breeze with fellow FWRR members.
December 2024 FWRRC Newsletter
FWRR Club Meeting
The next meeting of the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club will be held on Monday, December 2, 2024. Meeting Place: VFW Post 857, located at 2202 West Main Street in Fort Wayne. Meeting Time: 7:30 PM.
Meeting Agenda: Officer Election follow by a standard format meeting.
Election Ballot
Club Officers will be elected during the December meeting. Positions include: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director, Program Manager, and Range Safety Officer. The term of a Director is six years; the term of all other elected officials is two years. The election ballot is as follows.
President: Jim Sweeney (unopposed)
Vice President: Mark Walters (unopposed)
Secretary: Mike Miller (Incumbent), Joseph Penepent
Treasurer: Martin Didion (Incumbent), Douglas Burdick
Director: Mike Toscos (incumbent), Jay Wehrle
Program Manager: Mark Walters (unopposed)
Range Safety Officer: C. Larry Beardsley (unopposed)
Nominations will be accepted from the floor prior to the election.
2025 Membership Renewal
2025 Membership Renewal Forms will be mailed in early to mid-December. Please remember to include proof of current NRA membership. Either a photocopy of the membership card or a magazine label (or the label itself) are acceptable forms of proof. If a photocopy of a membership card is submitted, it must display the expiration date. Cards marked “Annual” and displaying no date are unacceptable.
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE TOP OF THE FORM.
Completed Membership Renewal Forms, proof of current NRA membership, and payments are due on January 1st each year. If your renewal form has not been received by mid-January, contact the Treasurer elect.
Dues must be received on or before March 1st to avoid late fees or termination of membership. Dues received with postmark dates after March 1st, but on or before March 31st, are subject to a $25.00 late fee. Dues received with postmark dates after March 31st will be returned with a notice indicating that:
1) the party’s membership has been terminated, and;
2) future membership requires submission of a membership application and payment of new member fees (c.f., Bylaws Article IX, Section 2).
Dues paid with an NSF check are subject to a $25.00 returned check fee.
If personal hardship prevents timely payment of dues, contact a Club Officer who may arrange either for dues to be waived or for payment to be deferred.
Individuals who were accepted as members after October 1, 2024 are not required to pay membership dues to the 2025 calendar year; nevertheless, they do need to return the renewal form with proof of current NRA membership.
Dues Increase
Basic dues for 2025 will increase from $80.00 to $85.00 and will be increased at a rate of $5.00 per year for the following three years. Individuals inducted before January 2024 will be grandfathered with regard to Life membership. Individuals inducted after January 2024 who have been members for at least five consecutive years are eligible for Life (dues free) membership in the year following their 70th birthday. Ref.: Article XI, Sections 5 of the Bylaws, as amended to reflect these changes.
Lock Combination Change Reminder
Retain your 2024 Membership Card until the lock combination change is made is made on Cleanup Day (mid to late April, 2025).
Maintenance Activities
The final mowing of the year was accomplished on November 11th. The mowers, sprayer, and cistern were winterized. Number boards on the 300 yard range were removed and stored for the winter.
Mowing Crew
Thanks go to the following individuals who volunteered time and effort to maintain the grounds: Martin Didion, Tom Fortman, John Halter, Joe Harbor, Matt Hice, Jim Johnston, Russ McCurdy, Dennie McNabb, Ozzie Ostheimer, Karl Pulver, Rick Schwaiger, and Jim Sweeney.
Off Road Driving
Off road driving between the west side of the ditch and a line straight North of the 100-yard impact berm is not permitted. Members have been driving along the ditch to post targets on the 100-yard target frames in violation of this restriction, Exception: Ground conditions permitting, driving in this area is permitted for the purpose of placing/retrieving the number boards that are used during winter HP offhand matches.
Safety Note
On the Main Range, use of target frames or holders other than those provided is not permitted. All shots are to pass through the cardboard backers that are placed on the target frames. Do not intentionally allow bullets to strike target frames. All firing is to be done from the designated firing lines. Distances less than 25 yards may be shot in Bays 4 and 5 of the Pistol Pit, subject to the firearms type restrictions set forth in the Range Rules. Shotguns may be patterned at 25 yards on the Main Range by placing the pattern board between the lower horizontal member and the ground.
(A note from the Safety Officer: On Thursday, 21 November I did a range safety inspection. I noted that at the 50-yard target stand, there were at least 25 bullet impacts in the top rail and another 10 in the bottom rail. There were also approximately 20 .223 cases in the gravel parking pad at the north end of the 100-yard firing line.)
Discipline Reports
ACPDL (Allen County Practical Defense League)
The last match of the calendar year will be held on 12/7. 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.
Cowboy Action, PCSL and USPSA
Cowboy Action, PCSL (tentative) and USPSA matches will resume in 2025.
High-power (HP)
Winter Offhand Matches are shot on the second Saturday of the month, November through March. Registration begins at 8:00 AM. Match start time is 9:00 AM. The Main Range is closed to informal practice during winter offhand matches but the pistol bays remain open. As always, informal practice in the Pistol Pit is limited to Bays 4 and 5 when formal matches are not underway on the Main Range and in the Pistol Pit.
The High Power Range Officer writes:
“The summer HP season has wrapped up and we had a busy and productive year. Our schedule included the 50/80 matches that provide competitors the opportunity to compete for both NRA and CMP classifications, as well as the very popular 300-yard 3 X 20 matches. The 3 X 20 matches bring competitors from all over Indiana as well as from central Indiana and the Toledo area and have set attendance records for recent years. With our electronic targets and beautifully maintained range, our high-power matches have become the premier place to compete for shooters in the Lower Great Lakes region.”
“We have the 2025 schedule in place, subject to Club approval and tweaking as needed to accommodate State and National Match schedules that are not as yet final.”
Electronic Target System Training Class
The Club has purchased a Silver Mountain Electronic Target System that will be made available to individual members for use at the range. Users must be trained before access to the system is granted. The first class will be held on Saturday, December 14th following the Winter HP Offhand Match (about 12:00 noon). Interested members are asked to contact Larry Beardsley. (FWRRHPdirector @aol.com).
New Members
Please welcome new members Zachary Calci, Scott Davis (returning member), Andrew Harbor, and Lawrence Shinabery. These gentlemen were inducted as full members at the October, 2024 meeting.
Distinguished Shooter Listing
The Club would like to have a listing of members who have been awarded Distinguished Rifleman and Pistol Shot Badges. If you are a Distinguished Shooter, or if you know a club member not now living who was Distinguished, please notify Larry Beardsley (FWRRHPdirector@aol.com).
For Sale
77 gr. Sierra Match King bullets. Boxes of 500, $160.00 each. Jaggi Shooting Glasses Frame with extra nose piece, lenses, blinders and case: $125.00. Contact Marty Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com.
Arisaka Type 99, 7.7 mm rifle with Lee die set. Chrome-lined barrel and wood are in very good condition. It has anti-aircraft wing sights, but no sliding breech cover. The chrysanthemum has been ground off. .30-06 brass can be reformed to work in this rifle. $99.00. Contact Larry Beardsley at FWRRHPdirector @aol.com.
A large quantity of 16 ga. field loads and rifled slugs are available. Some 12 ga. and .410 bore shot shells are also available. Contact Mike Miller at (260) 467-0640.
Members who wish to sell shooting-related items may send ad information to Marty Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com. Ads must be received three weeks before meetings in order to appear in the next newsletter.
Winter Offhand; Saturday 9 November
We kicked off Winter Offhand on Saturday 9 November on a crisp fall day. It was a dull day – not a lot of light and just cold enough that you could see breath from most of the shooters. There was plenty of help to get set up and we started shooting about 8:45 when we had 12 shooters, one good full relay.
This winter we are shooting in a two class system – High Masters and Masters are Class AA shooters, Experts and below are Class A shooters. Scores and awards will be made in both classes with the best four scores of the five match season counting toward the season totals.
In today’s match, the Class AA top slot went to Mike King with a 389-12X tally. Top score in Class A and High Junior went to Mia King with her 369-4X score.
Then after the Winter Offhand match closed out, two other activities shared the range. The Winter Forty group held their first bi-weekly match with 8 shooters and the Junior Class of 2025 had a class and shooting session.
The Junior Class of 2025 had six shooters in attendance and after the class session (which included a presentation on shooter respect and safety) a shooting session focusing on sight alignment, trigger control and sight adjustment to center shot groups was conducted.
Thanks to Kileen and Mia for helping with the classroom presentations and additional thanks to Mia and Marshall for their help in mentoring the Class of 2025 in their shooting session.
It was a busy morning at the range with three groups sharing the facilities and managing to play well together. The next Winter Forty match will be in two weeks on Saturday November 23rd and the next Winter Offhand/Class of 2025 session will be on December 14th. Put the dates on your calendar and come out and shoot with us!
Stand Alone Silver Mountain Target System
At the October meeting of the FWRR, it was voted to purchase three Silver Mountain Target systems. This has been done. Two of these systems are the server based systems we use for formal matches and one system is a “Stand Alone” system of the type often used by individual shooters for practice sessions.
The Stand Alone system was purchased because a number of members who do not regularly shoot in formal high power matches indicated their desire to have access to an electronic target system to make practice sessions more productive; knowing exactly where shots impact on a shot by shot basis without having to walk down 100, 200 or 300 yards (then back) in a shooting session.
This system does require some instruction in its use. Like the match system, it can be used with a smart phone, iPad, most tablets or just about any device you can use to access the internet. It is not a hard system to learn how to use, but even with our match system – having five years of experience with it – we are still finding “oh-by-the-ways”.
I am proposing to have at least one training session for folks who are interested in using this system (I will do more if the interest is there). It would be a Saturday morning session and as a guess it would last about three hours with classroom instruction and a shooting session to practice what we cover in class.
Only members who have attended the training session would have access to the system and only members who show that their shooting skills would not endanger the target system would be qualified as users (like the CMP does at the Talladega range). Even with this, there will is a chance of damage to the system (every year we lose about one sensor in high power matches and practice) and replacement costs for a damaged sensor run about $150.00. I anticipate that there will be a modest user fee (think $20.00 per member) to be a user of this system, but those arrangements will have to be finalized as we get the details ironed out.
If you would be interested in using such a system and attending a training session, send me an email at FWRRHPDirector@aol.com so I can see how much interest there is in this plan.
Thank you,
Larry Beardsley
High Power Range Officer