For anyone within reasonable striking distance of Wilton Gun Club, which is off Exit 16 of the Adirondack Northway I87, and would like to shoot in one of our matches, either .22 or centerfire, you would be more than welcome to participate. Here are the general rules.
Lead bullets only. We prefer reduced loads as full house loads beat the targets up.
Black powder or smokeless is fine. If you shoot black, you will shoot outside.
Normal match is 40 rounds plus sighters. I would suggest at least 20 sighters, maybe more if you do not have sight/scope settings. If you have a 100 yd setting for the load you are shooting, we can get you on target for the further yardages.
Scope or iron sights
You can shoot prone, sitting, offhand/standing or from the bench. Prone shooters normally use sticks. Front rest is allowed for bench shooters. No rear rest/bags.
The firing line is poured concrete so you'll want a shooting mat or carpet if you shoot prone. Sticks go in the dirt at the edge of the pad.
Match starts at 9am. We don't have shooters meetings because everyone is a regular. Most get there around 8am to chew the fat, set targets, etc.. We have both indoor (thru windows and outdoor shooting points. Out door shooting points are covered so rain is never an issue.
You have to sign in if you are a guest. Shooting fee is $5.00. If you come alone, you will get paired up with someone or you might be added to a pair and shoot three at that point. One shoots while one spots. Since you are new, you can watch when not shooting. Bring a spotting scope because if you have never read mirage, it's a chance to learn. My partner and I call out the conditions continuously. So, you will hear the call and then see thru your scope. Reading conditions is key to any long range shooting.
Target(s) will be assigned to each pair (or sometimes 3) of shooters. When it is your turn, you set up, shoot your sighters to get on target and then announce when you will shoot for score. Normally, you can convert your last sighter if you choose. You fire 10 rounds for score and then you switch roles and you spot while your partner shoots. When both are done, you rack your rifles and wait for the line to finish. When everyone is done, all the rifles are racked, the safety lights go on and guys will go down and repaint the targets. When they come back, you stay where you are, but then move to the next furthest bank of targets and repeat the shooting/spotting process. When you finish the furthest bank, your next bank will be the nearest. So we always shoot near to far and we all start at different yardages. The process continues until all 40 shots for score have been shot.
The match is normally over and things are picked up by noon. So you can use that to judge your traveling times.
I shoot just about every Sunday. Let me know if you are coming. If something comes up at the last minute and you cannot make it, no big deal. We start at 9am and if you are there, you shoot. But if I know you are coming, I'll watch for you and make introductions, give you the lay of the land and in a few minutes you'll feel like you've been coming forever. Good bunch of guys and a couple ladies on occasion. No macho crap. Lots of gray hair and experience. You'll have fun.
And if you beat everybody, you'll never make it off the property alive.