An Observation

[19 Turkeys]

I was not at our Air Pistol match on 4-28 as I was helping one of our target setters with his Eagle Scout project, replacing stands on two of our berms. I did the match report & sent it out. One of the attendees sent me the following reply.

" One other interesting note. As we were getting ready to start tear-down, a 4H group came in to clean their rifles. Darin (in charge) asked for a presentation on air pistols. There were about 20, including 5 or 6 parents. I used Ron's Baikal and let them feel the trigger pull plus other stuff. We may have some adult visitors for the Tommy Gun match. Also told them about Production class. Told the kids they make great Christmas gifts 3 parents asked me what time we would be here Wednesday. Also that the kids would be interested in the summer when school is out."

Side note: One of our shooters is in church on Saturday & can't make that match. Thus, we have a first Wednesday Air Pistol match we call the Tommy Gun match for our good friend Tom.

Now the observation. I have always been a firm believer that air pistol was our best way to grow the sport. In fact, that has historically been the fact at our range. It has brought back more old shooters and gotten us more new shooters that have on occasion branched out to the other disciplines. If you are not shooting air pistol, consider it, and reach out to the youth groups.

Steve W.

[kg4tyr]

Steve,
Great post. I have been considering air gun for a while now. My schedule allows me no time to practice, I go to one shoot a month and starting this year I won't even be able to help set up/tear down or clean up. I am not a member of the club where I shoot, but I always tried to help as much as I could. With an air gun I could shoot till I'm blue in the face right in my back yard. Invite friends, kids friends, etc over and shoot. If they liked it we could get some organized matches going and then introduce them to SB, BB etc. Now I just need to save up for a 747 and some 1/10 scale targets.

[19 Turkeys]

David,

Google "Quality Targets". They make nice ones. I would suggest ordering them unpainted as they paint with gloss white paint, and flat black works best for us. You might consider one each target swingers. Drill pilot holes in 2x6 lumber about a foot or 18" long and insert the legs of the swingers. Use two alligator clips on the top wire to hold a piece of white paper. That way, you see the misses.

Steve W.

[kg4tyr]

David,

Google "Quality Targets". They make nice ones. I would suggest ordering them unpainted as they paint with gloss white paint, and flat black works best for us. You might consider one each target swingers. Drill pilot holes in 2x6 lumber about a foot or 18" long and insert the legs of the swingers. Use two alligator clips on the top wire to hold a piece of white paper. That way, you see the misses.

Steve W.

Good idea, get the practice at a cheaper cost. Just a thought, If a person had 1 each of the swingers could he run sanctioned matches on hits alone, to generate interest in the sport? Now do you have an extra 747 laying around?

[kg4tyr]

Just checked out Quality Targets website. 4 swingers costs the same as 5 of each with welded feet. $60.00 Actually cheaper for the set after you add shipping. Seems to me, buy the set and reset them after each round, I mean it's only 18 yds.