ihmsa forums

Has anyone had the idea to offer a FREE day at your range. Here's the kicker. No matter what they are coming to shoot, BR Trap, Skeet, Steel, etc. Offer them free range passes for the day if they will try silhouette. Before they can go to the range of their choice, they must give silhouette a try and then are given a card or pass showing they tried silhouette, or they will have to pay the range fees. Have guns available for them to use. 22's you could supply cheap ammo, if they want to try BB, just have some guns and reloads on hand and charge them enough to reload your brass again (or let them shoot it for free). They wouldn't have to shoot a full 40 targets, but maybe 2-5 targets at each distance with a coach/spotter/gun owner (to help adjust sights) Maybe I'm way off base with this, but I'm just trying to think of ways to draw more interest. We invite people down from the BR range with 22 rifles or whatever just to let them shoot just to see if we can get more people interested. It could be part of an open house or something. Maybe have hot dogs, cokes, etc. or even a pot luck dinner. Make a day out of it and make it fun for everyone involved, even possible non shooters.

We used to do that at my home range every year the day before the first match of the year. At first we had good turnouts and would get 1-2 new members a year. Then attendance dropped off until no one showed up at all. We posted flyers in gun shops and even had tables at gun shows. But as people moved toward the spray and pray type of shooting interest in long range handgunning began to wane.

I say give it a try. Make flyers and post them in gunshops. Simply invite people out and make it fun. Tell them to bring guns and ammo and then let them try your equipment.