Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club

Membership Renewal Reminder

To date, approximately 40% of the membership has not submitted a renewal form, proof of current NRA membership, and dues.  If you have not renewed your Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club membership, please do so before March 1st to avoid paying a $25.00 late fee.  If you have not renewed your membership by March 31st, your name will be dropped from the membership role. 

Note: Renewal forms were mailed in early December.  No mail was returned as undeliverable.

The membership cards for all persons who have completed the renewal process were mailed on February 3rd.  Cards are being mailed later than usual this year due to a backorder of the card stock on which the cards are printed.  

Thank-you,

Marty

FWRR Membership

February 2024 FWRRC NEWSLETTER

FWRR Club Meeting

The next meeting of the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club will be held on Monday, February 5,2024.  Meeting Place: VFW Post 857, located at 2202 West Main Street in Fort Wayne.  Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Agenda:  Standard meeting format.  New business topics will include a discussion of Cleanup Day activities.  Please make an effort to attend meetings, as a quorum is required to conduct club business. 

2024 Membership Renewal

2024 Membership Renewal Forms were mailed in early December, 2023. To date, approximately 55% of the membership has responded.

Dues must be received on or before March 1st to avoid a late fee 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 XI, 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.

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PRINTED AT THE TOP OF THE FORM.  

Provide responses to all requested information and remember to include proof of current NRA membership.   PROOF OF NRA MEMBERSHIP MUST BE DATED.  A photocopy of a membership card of a magazine label (or the label itself) are acceptable forms of proof of current membership.  (Some NRA membership cards lack dates.  At present, magazine labels contain membership date information.)

Individuals who were accepted as members after October 1, 2023 are not required to pay membership dues for the 2024 calendar year; nevertheless, they do need to return the renewal form with proof of current NRA membership.

Updating the roster is a time-consuming activity.  Deciphering illegible printing and contacting members to obtain proof of NRA membership are frustrating and time-consuming tasks. 

Cleanup Day

Please join fellow members for work, lunch, and camaraderie at Cleanup Day, April 27, 2024.  As usual, work will include target frame repairs, road grading, and the trimming of trees and brush along the lane.  In addition, new seats will be assembled to replace those which have deteriorated or mysteriously disappeared.   If you have suggestions for additional projects, please present them at the February meeting.  A list of projects will be posted on the website https://fwrrclub.org/

Lock Combination Change

The lock combination change will be made on Cleanup Day (4/27/24).  Retain your 2023 Membership Card until the change is made.

Dues Increase

Basic dues for 2024 were increase from $60.00 to $80.00 and will increase at a rate of $5.00 per year for the following four years.  Individuals inducted before January 2024 will be grandfathered with regard to Senior and Life memberships under Article XI, Section 5 of the recently amended 2002 Bylaws.  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.  Article XI, Sections 5 of the Bylaws will be amended to reflect these changes.  The Bylaw revision will be mailed with 2024 Membership Cards.

Driving Off Road

TO AVOID DAMAGE TO THE NEWLY INSTALLED SWALES*, IT IS NO LONGER PERMISSIBLE FOR ANY MEMBER TO DRIVE OFF ROAD TO THE 100 YARD TARGET FRAME.  Soil conditions permitting, it is acceptable to drive on the grass downrange (west) of the 100-yard firing mound on the 300 yard range to access the 200 yard target frames.  Do not drive across the 100-yard firing mound.

* swales are a low or hollow place, especially a marshy depression between ridges

Discipline Reports

ACPDL (Allen County Practical Defense League) *Click Name for more information

ACPDL matches will be held on February 3rd, March 2nd, and April 6th.  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) *Click Name for more information

USPSA matches will be held on March 3rd and April 24th.  Match start time is 9:00 a.m.  A practice session is scheduled for April 4th at 5:00 p.m.

High-power (HP)

Winter Offhand Matches are scheduled for February 10th and March 9th.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and match start time is 9:00 a.m.  The next 50/80 round National Match course will be fired on April 20th.  Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and match start time is 8:00 a.m.

A Breakfast with the Juniors fund raiser will be held in March.  Sausage and gravy will be on the menu. Please check the website for the date.  A Winchester Model 94 “Count the Bullets in a Jar” event will be held at the breakfast.  A maximum of 40 opportunities will be offered to count the bullets at a requested donation amount of $15.00/opportunity.

If you have young folks who are interested in HP rifle competition, please contact Larry Beardsley.  Email: fwrrhpdirector@aol.com

Cowboy Action

The next Cowboy Action Match will be held on April 13.  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). 

PCSL (Practical Competition Shooting League)

PCSL matches will be held on March 24th and April 28th.  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.

Mowing Crew

Current Members of the Mowing Crew:  Please contact Marty Didion

(Email: martindidion4@gmail.com or Text: (260) 633-0172) if you no longer wish to be on the Mowing Crew; otherwise, it will be assumed that you wish to continue to participate.  If you are interested in joining the mowing crew, contact Marty Didion at the email and telephone numbers listed above.

New Members

Please welcome new member Jonathan D. Kline and Brian R. Rice who were inducted as full members at the December 2023 meeting.

Sad News

The club has learned of the passing of David B. Hazelet (membership date: October, 2000).

For Sale

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.

I have included High Power Matches at Camp Atterbury and Wildcat Valley that will be of interest to FWRR Shooters.

2024 High Power Schedule

April 13 -14     Atterbury  Dual  RMC

April 20           50/80  Match                                                 8:00

April 27 Range Work Day/ Clean-up Day 8:00

May 18            50/80 Match                                                   8:00

May 18            Atterbury SAFS

May 19            Atterbury RMC

May 30            100 yard NMC                                             CANCELLED

June 1             300 yard Prone Match                                   8:00

June 7 – 9        Midsummer Madness Matches

June 7             50 round NMC                                                            4:30 PM

June 8           80 Round NMC – Junior State Match                     8:00 AM

30 Round GSM Match                                      1:00 PM

June 9             50 round NMC                                                         8:00 AM 

                        50 round NMC – 100 yards                            11:30 AM

June 15 -16      Atterbury Dual EIC Match

July 20             50/80 Match                                                   8:00

July 22 – August 4       CMP National Matches – Camp Perry

August 5 -14               NRA XTC – MR Matches – Camp Atterbury

August 16 -19             NRA Long Range – Camp Atterbury

August 17        50/80 Match                                                   8:00

August 24 -25 Atterbury Dual RMC

September 7   300 Yard Indiana Championship – Wildcat 

September 12 100 yard NMC                                                4:30

September 21-22        Atterbury Governor’s Cup – State Championship

September 21 Leonard Johnson Match                                9:00

October 15      Atterbury Tentative

October 19      300 yard prone                                               9:00

November 9    Winter Offhand                                              9:00

December 14  Winter Offhand                                              9:00

For most of the week it looked like would be shooting in a windy downpour today, but we ended up with a very good day for a match.  It was cloudy and a bit dark, but when we started it was 55-degrees and by quitting time it was 62!  The wind stayed out of the south and our south tree line sheltered the 100-yard range very nicely.  Not a bad day at all for December.

We had a good turnout – thirteen shooters; we ended up shooting two relays. 

Mike King topped the scoreboard for the day with a dominating 390-3X, followed by Mark Walters with a 379-6X,  Third and fourth places were close – with our guest from Toledo, John Pickens, and our Junior Mia King both shooting 374’s.  But John Creedmoored Mia with a 4X vs. her 3X.  Jeff Beierke closed out the top 5 with a 370-3X.

For the year to date, Mike King leads with a 765-15X, Mark Walters follows with 753-10X, then Marshall Rohrbach with 747-13X, Mia King with 743-9X and Gary Mabis with 706-3X.  We have three more matches to go and the season championship is still in play!

Our next match will on January 13, 2024.  After that match we are planning Brunch With the Juniors – a Junior fundraising project.  We will have a biscuit and gravy breakfast with coffee and pastries.  We will also have the first session of our Junior Rifle Raffle – a donated Winchester Model 94 in caliber .30-30.  It is a beautiful rifle refinished and blued by Mike Toscos. 

Come out and shoot with us – or just come out for Brunch

Here is the schedule for Camp Atterbury matches in 2024:

April 13 and April 14:        80-round Regional Matches each day;  Range KD3

May 18 and May 19:        Small Arms Firing School and 80-round Regional Match (Date is tentative – may not happen);  Range KD4

June 15 and 16:                 EIC Match with squadded practice; Range KD3

August 24 and 25:             80-round Regional Matches each day; Range KD3

September 21 and 22:      State Championships; Range KD3

ATTERBURY HOUSING IS NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR 2024, 812-526-1128,\

The housing office is accepting reservations for these dates now, so make reservations early.  Reservations can be cancelled and demand for rooms is high. 

FWRR Club Meeting

The next meeting of the Fort Wayne Rifle and Revolver Club will be held on Monday, December 4, 2023.  Meeting Place: VFW Post 857, located at 2202 West Main Street in Fort Wayne.  Meeting Time: 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Agenda:  Standard meeting format.  Please make an effort to attend meetings, as a quorum is required to conduct club business.  Be an active club member. You’ll enjoy the camaraderie.

2024 Membership Renewal

2024 Membership Renewal Forms will be mailed in early December.

PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE TOP OF THE FORM.  

Provide responses to all requested information and remember to include proof of current NRA membership.   Proof of NRA membership must be dated.  A photocopy of a membership card or a magazine label (or the label itself) are acceptable forms of current membership proof.  (Some NRA membership cards lack dates.  At present, magazine labels contain membership date information.)

Dues must be received on or before March 1st to avoid a late fee 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 XI, 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, 2023 are not required to pay membership dues for the 2024 calendar year; nevertheless, they do need to return the renewal form with proof of current NRA membership.

Updating the roster is a time-consuming activity.  Deciphering illegible printing and contacting members to obtain proof of NRA membership are frustrating and time-consuming tasks. 

Lock Combination Change

The lock combination change is made on Cleanup Day (mid to late April).  Retain your 2023 Membership Card until the change is made.

Dues Increase

Basic dues for 2024 will increase from $60.00 to $80.00 and will be increased at a rate of $5.00 per year for the following four years.  Individuals inducted before January 2024 will be grandfathered with regard to Senior and Life memberships under Article XI, Section 5 of the recently amended 2002 Bylaws.  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.  Article XI, Sections 5 of the Bylaws will be amended to reflect these changes.  The revision will be sent with 2024 Membership Cards.

Maintenance Activities

The mowers, sprayer, and cistern were winterized.  The post at the south end of the 100/200-yard covered firing line was repaired thanks to the efforts of Jim Johnston, Ken Ross, and Marty Didion.   The landscape company who damaged the post will be billed for the repair. One hundred road edge markers were installer by Jim Sweeney.  The long-awaited horn/light system was installed on the 25/50/100-yard firing line.  Thanks for the installation go to Larry Beardsley who headed up the project. Larry was assisted by Michael Grannis.  Instructions for system use are posted at the 25/50/100-yard building.  Work to extend the system to the 100/200-yard firing line will be undertaken at a later date.   A repair was made to the 100-yard firing line on the 300-yard range after a careless person drove across the mound.  The Club Cadet mower was taken in for maintenance. Thanks go to Jim Sweeney for transporting the mower to and from the repair facility.  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 next year. 

New Members

No new members were inducted at the October meeting.

Driving Off Road

To avoid damage to the newly installed swales, it is no longer permissible to drive off road to the 100-yard target holders.  Soil conditions permitting, it is acceptable to drive on the lawn downrange of the 100-yard firing mound on the 300-yard range.

Discipline Reports

ACPDL (Allen County Practical Defense League)

The last match of the 2023 calendar year will be held on 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)

The last match of the 2023 calendar year was held on October 15th.  Matches will begin again in April 2024.

High-power (HP)

Winter Offhand Matches are scheduled for the second Saturday of the month, November through March.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and match start time is 9:00 a.m. 

Cowboy Action

Cowboy Action matches are scheduled May through October.  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. 

Mowing Crew

The following individuals were members of the 2023 Mowing Crew:  Marty Didion, Tom Fortman, John Halter, Matt Hice, Jim Johnston, Russ MC Curdy, Dennie Mc Nabb, Ozzie Ostheimer, David Rinaldi, Rick Schwaiger, Jim Sweeney, and Gary Walker.  Thanks also go to Gary Walker for spraying unwanted grass and weeds.

If you are interested in joining the mowing crew, contact Martin Didion at martindidion4@gmail.com

2024 Range Activity Schedule

Discipline leads should be prepared to submit their proposed schedules for the 2024 season during the December meeting. (Note:  A 2024 Schedule has been posted on the website at https://fwrrclub.org/index.php/2023/11/22/2024-fwrr-schedule/, but keep an eye out for possible changes.)

For Sale

Centra Rear Sight, 1//4 min. clicks, AR-15 flat-top mount: $190.00.  Gehmann Model 570 rear sight iris with diopters and filters: $88.00.   Gehmann Model 522A22 front sight iris: $58.00. Mo’s front sight mount for 0.750” O.D. barrel: $50.00.  Contact Tony Holdgreve at (260) 705-6940.

Jaggi Shooting Glasses Frame with extra nose piece, lenses, blinders and case: $125.00. Contact Marty Didion at E-mail martindidion4@gmail.com

100 rounds of 7.62 x 54 National Match ammunition ( M118, 180-grain, dated 1970 Lot LC 20-6), 85.00 OBO.  Proceeds go to Juniors.  Contact Larry Beardsley FWRRHPDirector@aol.com.

Approximately 400 Sierra 2200 168-grain .308 BTHP bullets.  These bullets have been moly coated, but should clean up in a tumbler or just shoot them as they are to clean out your barrel.  Midway wants $0.40 each in quantity100; we’ll let these go for $30/100.  Proceeds go to Juniors.  Contact Larry Beardsley FWRRHPDirector@aol.com.

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.

Saturday, November 11 was the opening match in the Winter Offhand Tournament.  It was a beautiful day for shooting; great light, brisk but not chilly temperatures and no wind.  Fourteen shooters came out for the day and as Mark Walters commented; “Wow, folks came out to shoot today” – some really good scores were posted.

As we were totaling scores, someone commented “Oh well; Mike, Mark and Mark again”.  

Uhhh, nope – not this time.  The top slots are still an “M” club, but today the “M” club was Marshall Rohrbach, Mark Richard, Mike King, Mark Walters and Mia King.  Great shooting guys (and girl).

The top five scores were:

Marshall Rohrbach (Junior Boy)                      381-5X

Mark Richard                                                    378-3X

Mike King                                                          375-6X

Mark Walters                                                    374-4X

Mia King    (Junior Girl)                                    369-6X

It should be noted that this was the first time that one of our Juniors was a match winner.  Congratulations to Marshall!

Thanks to Jon McDaniel for bringing us donuts and Sajea Shaffer for being our photographer – I will post pictures to the website later on.

Out next match is the second Saturday in December, December 9th.  Registration opens about 8:15 and we shoot when the first relay is full or we get good light – you never know about gloomy December days.  The second relay is at about 9:00 and we finish up about 10:30, so it doesn’t take a lot of the day.

Larry Beardsley Sends

October Mid Range Results

Here are the revised results for the October Mid-range match.  (I had to correct one shooter from Service rifle to Match rifle). We had only two F-Class shooters, so I did not make an award for F-Class; just Match and Service rifles.

We had 21 shooters for the match, a very good turn out.  The shooting was outstanding.  If you didn’t shoot a High Master score – you were just about out of the money!

And – a big Thank You to Mark Walters for running the match and Mike and Glenna Grannis for their Stat Office work.

Summary of results:
                          Service Rifle                                 Match Rifle

First:       Mike King    599-29X (Wow!)   Joe Bakies  600-40X  (Double Wow!) 
Second:   Gary Mabis  590-24X               Mark Walters  594-33X
Third:      Kileen Shaffer 584-18X           Jim Jckson 592-25X 

The high Junior was Kileen Shaffer with a 584-18X, one point off of a High Master score and third place overall in Service rifle. 

Our next match is the first Winter Offhand Match on November 11th. Registration and setup start about 8:15. We will probably need to do some work to get setup for this first match, but we will shoot when we get a full relay on the line – or about 9:00 whichever comes first.

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 14^th, 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!

The ISRPA Full Course State Championship is in the books, and man what a nail biter! Mike King and Madelyn Schnelle battled back and forth for 2 days, both shooting incredible scores.

In the end, the battle for the Winged Lady Trophy was settled by X-count.  On Saturday, Mike King took top slot with a 790-25X – bettering Madelyn’s 785-31X.  But on Sunday the scores were reversed with Mike shooting the 785 with a 34X and Madelyn posting the 790 with 23X. Mike took the Bob Ireland Winged Lady with a 1575-59X to Madelyn’s 1575-54X; a Creedmoor decision!

FWRR was well represented at the top of the standings, with Miss Emma Branson taking third place with a 1523-25X, Geoff Branson finishing with a 1515-40X  as top Master shooter and Mark Richard with a 1510-46X (very impressive X-count!)

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Emma Branson led the FWRR Juniors with a third place 1523-25X, followed by Kileen Shaffer with a two-day aggregate of 1463-24X; Marshall Rohrbach with 1384-24X, Addiysn Shull with 1371-9X and Tayt Shaffer – shooting his first 80-round matches – with 1249-13X.

And, thanks to all of the parents who gave up their weekend to bring the Juniors to the State Match – without you, it could not have happened!

The mowing crew be cutting grass today beginning at 11:00. With the mowing area reduced because of the seeded and strawed areas, we’ll likely be finished by 1:30.

Please adjust your range plans accordingly.