I wanted to get their early, and left the house by 5:00, thinking the match would start at 6:00pm or so. Not keeping traffic in mind my first though was that I was going to be late. My second and prevailing thought during the drive was about what to expect once I had arrived. As it turns out, traffic was pretty light for typical Route 50 at 5pm, so I had arrived at 5:45. Only one other truck was there and the clubhouse was totally empty except for Ron, who had just finished setting up the targets on the range. I thought tis was a bad thing, that he and I were the only two there! Turns out, it starts at 7:00
! I was relieved to say the least. In the thirty minutes before anyone else came: he showed me the range, explained the entire process, showed me how to fill out the score card, and just talked in general. Super nice guy! And it only costs $4.00 for non-members!Everyone else came, and the crowd was about 15-20 people...I didn't count. The air rifle scene is much stronger here than I had expected, I was told that the previous week there were 32 shooters! We were all entered, and then assigned shooting partners (Each station both partners shoot their five targets at the same time and reset them after the line is clear). John, from Springfield (about 1.5 hours north) was my partner. He attends bi-weekly and is a Super nice guy! He had explained a lot to me as we went, told me some tips and tricks about where to zero my rifle, and a better way to stand for offhand. Things like that.
We shot the four sets of targets, then exited the range back into the clubhouse until it was our turn to go again. We shot 3 rounds of 20 targets, making for a 60 shot match. In between rounds everyone just hangs out and has a good time. Just as much fun as the shooting itself! Everyone at the match was really friendly and very approachable. When I would look at someones gun, they would say "wanna shoot it?"! When I was on the firing line, before the line was clear, people would walk up and say "shoot this", or "try this". I wound up shooting about 50% of the guns that were there, and I didn't even ask to shoot them, they just gave them to me to try! What a generous bunch! I particularly liked the FWB 300 John had, and a S200 that Theo was using with an FT stock running on CO2.
There were 3 or 4 BAM rifles there and a QB78 there. Ed is a retired machinist, and makes the BAM rifles his tuning projects, makes some very nice rifles! I didn't shoot one, but everyone was sure shooting well with them!
I met a gentleman from my town as well, Greg, small world. I live about 4 miles away from him. We got to talking about a Field Target Match this Saturday. Greg, John, and Ed are going as well as a few others there. I will know them there then, and meet even more people at the match. Can't beat that.
Scoring wise, I only shot a 43/60. Certainly not the best, but hey: for my first time there I am REALLY pleased! I lerned a LOT and met some great people. Everybody there was really friendly. A very laid back atmosphere with some GOOD shooters!
I think I am hooked. So much so, a powder burner or two might come up for sale shortly. I really can't say enough about the shoot. A ton of fun-VERY challenging and with great people. The Field Target match is this Saturday, then back to Highland for Monday again!
I don't have any photos unfortunately, but I will be borrowing the digital camera from my parents for Sat. and Mon. next week with a much more detailed report.
My entire reason for getting into shooting was because drag racing with my dad was put on hold (because of the home on the market and a re-hab project on another...money is tight) , so I was looking for a detail-oriented sport that I could afford myself, and enjoy.
What I didn't expect was how much the two sports parallel eachother in their various proceses and how easy going and friendly the people are that participate in the two. I really am thankful to have found such a great group of people as you guys are, and all the fine people in the club. Thats what makes this sport so great, I can go relax at the farm, post here, go shoot matches, anything. All I can say about the air gun and powder burning shooting is: I am here to stay!
How did I get so lucky?
