SOUTHERN INDIANA RIFLE & PISTOL CLUB

Information Pamphlet

The Southern Indiana Rifle and Pistol Club was founded in 1941.  It presently operates in two locations.  The indoor pistol range is located in the Indian Creek Shooting Center, 5950 Gun Club Road, Georgetown, Indiana.  Bullseye Pistol is shot there on Wednesday and Friday nights.  Additional shooting may be added soon.  Other shooting disciplines may be scheduled on different days on a once a month basis.  The outdoor range is near Borden, Indiana.  It is owned by the club and is open to the entire membership daily from sunrise till sunset.  During a scheduled match, the outdoor range is closed to other activities.  Due to the range layout, members must coordinate among themselves to safely shoot at the different positions.

INDOOR RANGE

Conventional pistol shooting at the indoor range is conducted every Wednesday and Friday nights (except for major holidays).  Shooting begins at 6:00 PM. and ends between 8:30 and 10:00 depending on participation.  On the first Wednesday of each month a business meeting is conducted.  Shooting is halted and the meeting is conducted until about 8 PM.  Though it is not mandatory, members are invited to attend.  Shooting is resumed after the meeting.

Usually the National Match Course (NMC) is the competition at the indoor range.  Thirty shots in all.  It is fired in three stages.  SLOW FIRE, ten shots in ten minutes; TIMED FIRE, two five shot strings, twenty seconds per string; RAPID FIRE, two five shot strings, ten seconds per string.

When entering the range you may place your shooting equipment on any unoccupied firing point.  You may open your box/case and load your magazine(s), focus your spotting scope etc.  BUT DO NOT TOUCH YOUR PISTOL.  After the Range Officer announces the three minute preparation period has begun, you may handle your gun, check your grip, dry fire, etc.  MAKING SURE TO KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR GUN POINTED DOWN RANGE AT ALL TIMES.

NATIONAL MATCH PISTOL COURSE

SLOW FIRE STAGE:  When the preparation period is ended the range officer will say "Shooters to the line for the .22/Centerfire National Match Course.  First stage is slow fire, ten shots in ten minutes.  On the firing line load." THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN YOU INSERT THE LOADED MAGAZINE AND CHAMBER A ROUND IN YOUR SEMIAUTO OR CLOSE THE LOADED CYLINDER OF YOUR REVOLVER.  The range officer will ask, "Is the line ready?" IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM LET THE RANGE OFFICER KNOW IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE REMEDIED BEFORE HE PROCEEDS WITH THE COMMANDS.  The range officer, after looking and listening to see if everyone is ready, will say, "The line is ready," (pause) "ready on the right," (pause) "ready on the left," (pause) "all ready on the firing line."  The targets will then turn to face the shooter or the range officer will say, "Commence fire".

After all shooters have fired ten shots or the ten minutes has expired the range officer will say "Cease fire, make the firing line safe, magazines out, slides back, cylinders open, bench all guns."  (MAKE SURE YOUR GUN IS EMPTY, IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM UNLOADING YOUR GUN, MAKE SURE THE RANGE OFFICER KNOWS ABOUT IT IMMEDIATELY!) The range officer should then ask, "Is the firing line safe?" (IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM OR SEE SOMETHING UNSAFE WITH ANOTHER SHOOTER LET THE RANGE OFFICER KNOW AT ONCE.)  Then the range officer will say, "The firing line is safe, go forward, score, and hang a clean timed fire target." ONLY THEN CAN YOU GO DOWN RANGE.

TIMED FIRE STAGE:  After you finish scoring and check your target for scoring accuracy, hang a clean timed fire target and return to your firing position.  DO NOT TOUCH YOUR GUN.  When all competitors have returned to the firing line the range officer should say, "Shooters are back, the firing line is no longer safe, check your target and make sure you have a clean timed fire target".  IF YOU DO NOT, LET THE RANGE OFFICER KNOW AT ONCE SO THE LINE CAN AGAIN BE MADE SAFE SO YOU CAN GO DOWN RANGE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.  The range officer will then turn the targets and say, "Shooters may handle their guns." ONLY THEN CAN YOU PICK UP YOUR GUN MAKING SURE THE MUZZLE IS POINTED DOWN RANGE AT ALL TIMES.  The range officer will say, "This will be the timed fire stage of the National Match Course, two five shot strings, twenty seconds per string.  On the firing line with five rounds load."  THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN YOU INSERT THE LOADED MAGAZINE AND CHAMBER A ROUND IN YOUR SEMIAUTO OR CLOSE THE LOADED CYLINDER OF YOUR REVOLVER.  The range officer will ask, "Is the line ready?" AGAIN IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM LET THE RANGE OFFICER KNOW IMMEDIATELY SO THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE REMEDIED BEFORE HE PROCEEDS WITH THE COMMANDS.  The range officer, after looking and listening to see if everyone is ready, will say, "The line is ready," (pause) "ready on the right," (pause) "ready on the left,"(pause) "all ready on the firing line." (Within three seconds the targets will face you.) You will have twenty seconds to fire five shots.  After twenty seconds your target will turn away.  The range officer will ask, "Cease fire, are there any alibis?" IF YOU HAVE ANY MALFUNCTIONS (FAILURE TO FEED, EMPTY CASE CAUGHT IN THE SLIDE OR ROUND DID NOT FIRE ETC.) RAISE YOUR HAND, KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED DOWN RANGE, DO NOT CLEAR THE GUN UNTIL THE RANGE OFFICER INSTRUCTS YOU TO DO SO.  IF THE ALIBI IS ALLOWED YOU MAY FIRE FIVE ADDITIONAL SHOTS IN THE ALIBI STRING.  THE RANGE OFFICER WILL GIVE THE COMMANDS AS HE DID FOR THE FIRST TWO.  ONLY ONE ALIBI IS ALLOWED FOR THE ENTIRE NATIONAL MATCH COURSE.

  After a short pause or when the Range Officer is finished inspecting possible alibis, the same commands will be given for your second string of timed fire.  After all timed fire strings have been fired, the range officer will say, "Cease fire, make the firing line safe, magazines out, slides back, cylinders open, bench all guns." MAKE SURE YOU DO EXACTLY THAT.  AT TIMES WE MAY THINK WE HAVE FIRED FIVE ROUNDS, WHEN IN FACT WE HAVE NOT.  BUT WHEN THE MAGAZINE IS OUT AND THE SLIDE IS LOCKED BACK OR THE CYLINDER IS OPEN, THE GUN SHOULD BE CLEAR.  (MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T A ROUND IN THE CHAMBER.) When the line is deemed safe by the range officer he will tell you to go forward, score and hang a clean target for the next stage.

RAPID FIRE STAGE:  The rapid fire stage is fired exactly like the timed fire stage except the firing time will be ten seconds.

At approximately nine o'clock, if there aren't enough people wanting to shoot formal matches, it is decided whether to have a plinking session or not.  If there are enough plinkers, shooting will last no later than ten o'clock. 

Other Matches

There is a Center Fire Handicap Match fired monthly, and the Ray Wright, and the Scholl Matches which are yearly accumulative matches with scores from each monthly firing.  Ask the range officer for rules. 

AIR PISTOL MATCHES

NRA sanctioned airpistol competition is usually fired on Saturday mornings at the indoor range during the Fall, Winter, and Spring months.  Dates, times, and person(s) to contact for pre-registration and information should be listed in your newsletter under "Up Coming Matches". 

SMALL BORE RIFLE MATCHES

Prone Smallbore rifle competition is usually fired on Sunday afternoon at the indoor range during the Winter months.  These matches will also be listed in your newsletter.

GENERAL RULES AND INFORMATION

A few other safety rules for the indoor range are; NO HARD BALL LOADS ALLOWED (METAL JACKETED BULLETS), NO MAGNUM OR HOT LOADS.  PERSONS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE RANGE.  We come to the range to enjoy our sport of shooting and to do this safely we must all follow the rules.  If you have any problems or questions regarding safe shooting procedures, please ask the range officer or a club officer.  They will be happy to help you.  Remember, if you see an unsafe act bring it to the attention of the person involved or tell the range officer.

OUTDOOR RANGE

The outdoor range is located off highway 60 approximately one and one half miles East of Borden, Indiana.  It is accessed by turning into the driveway (17906 on mailbox) across from Burns Hollow Rest Park.  Once in the driveway, bear to the left and follow the road around a barn.  Shortly after rounding the barn you will come to a water crossing.  During the Spring rainy season water depth may prohibit crossing.   It is a good idea to evaluate conditions well before attempting a crossing.  Proceed to the railroad tracks and cross them and follow the road around to the right.  At the turn (left) away from the railroad tracks, you will notice an earthen mound.  This is the point from which the five hundred yard stage of High Power Rifle matches are fired.  After this point, and before entering the main part of the range you should notice another earthen mound to your right.  This is the point from which the three hundred yard stage of High Power Rifle matches is fired.  You will then come to a locked chain gate.  If your membership is up to date, the correct combination to the thumbwheel lock is on the back of your membership card.  Always relock the gate unless you are entering for a scheduled match.   Looking to your left from this point you can see the main range target impact area backed by a large wooded hill. 

As you proceed, the first thing you will notice is another earthen mound to your left.  This is the point from which the two hundred yard stage of High Power matches is fired.  Also on this mound is a covered concrete bench.  This can be used to bench rest a rifle while firing.  If you look down range from this point you will see six large numbered boards.  These are to identify the High Power targets when in use.  These are not to post targets on.  Behind the number boards is another earthen mound.  Beyond this is a pit from which the High Power targets are operated.  A bunker is located in the pit and target frames are stored in it.  These frames can be used for practice or plinking, but please use the older frames.  We would like to keep the newer ones in good shape for matches.  If you use a target frame, install it in the carriage.  The carriage should be latched down with a hook and eye.  If you post a target on a frame, place it toward the center to avoid accidental shooting of the target carriers.  When finished, latch down the carrier and return the frame to the bunker.  Remove all trash and deposit it in the barrels provided.  If you wish to shoot at ranges other than two, three, or five hundred yards, it is suggested you bring a "realtor type" sign or other suitable target support with you on which to post your targets.  We are only permitted to use the 300 and 500 yard mounds when there are no other members using the facilities at the shorter ranges.

When traveling to the range, please stay on the road and do not drive onto Mr. Wright’s fields.  We are crossing his property to get to our range.  This should be looked upon as a privilege and not a right.  He has been very accommodating to us for many years and we try to do the same for him.

To the right of the two hundred yard firing point is the covered pistol range.  This facility is for pistol and smallbore firing only.  There are concrete bases below ground level at twenty-five and fifty yards.  There should be some metal target holders in the storage building.  These should be used for target velocity ammunition only (jacketed bullets or high velocity centerfire bullets will destroy these holders).  You will probably have to bring your own cardboard target backers for these frames.  Again it would be a good idea to bring a "realtor type" frame to post your targets.  Then you will not be restricted to the permanent twenty-five and fifty yard distances.

Shooting should be on appropriate target holders only.  Do not post targets on number boards, wooden structures, sides of buildings, trash barrels, etc.  The boundaries are marked on the East and West sides of the range.  The Southern boundary is at the end of the grassy area.  To the North our property extends to the hilltop and slightly beyond.  It is permitted to shoot clay targets on the range but, shooting of glass is strictly forbidden.  Anyone purposely destroying club property will be ejected from the club.  Trash should always be put in the barrels provided or taken with you.  When you post a target, be sure your bullets are not impacting into any number boards, target carriages, etc. and are impacting on club property.  In general, it is a desired practice to leave the range in better condition than you found it.

HIGH POWER RIFLE MATCHES

These matches are usually fired on Saturdays during the summer months.  The course of fire is the regional match course.

STANDING SLOW FIRE STAGE:  Twenty shots for record in twenty minutes from the standing position at 200 hundred yards.

SITTING RAPID FIRE STAGE:  Two, ten shot strings.  In this stage you start from the standing position and drop to the sitting position, fire rounds, change magazine, and fire the remaining rounds in a sixty second time period for each string.  Magazine loading is two and eight for a gas operated rifle and five and five for a bolt gun.  This stage is also at 200 yards.

PRONE RAPID FIRE STAGE:  Two, ten shot strings.  In this stage you start from the standing position and drop to the prone position, fire rounds, change magazine, and fire the remaining rounds in a seventy second time period for each string.  This stage is fired at 300 yards.

PRONE SLOW FIRE STAGE:  Twenty shots for record in twenty minutes from the prone position at 500 hundred yards.

Other High Power Matches

Later in the season, two annual matches are fired.  The Senator Martin Match, is twenty shots fired in twenty minutes from the standing position at two hundred yards.  A 30 caliber rifle must be used for this match.  The Long Range Match, is fired slow fire prone from the five hundred yard line.  It is fired in two stages.  The first stage is unlimited sighting shots and twenty shots for record in a time limit of twenty-five minutes with iron sights.  The second stage is the same as the first except any sight maybe used.  This match can be fired with any caliber of rifle.

GI CHALLENGE MATCH

We hold a match that we call the GI Challenge Match.  It is fired with an as-issued M1 Garand or Springfield rifles and a GI type 1911 style pistol.  The rifle stage is 30 rounds fired from 200 yards in 3 stages  and the pistol stage is 30 rounds fired at 25 yards in 3 stages.  Pistol ammo must be GI ball or equivalent.  No match ammo is allowed.

SMALL BORE RIFLE MATCHES

Matches are shot from late spring through late fall, usually on Sunday mornings.  The standard course of fire is twenty shots at fifty yards and forty shots at one hundred yards.  This is usually shot as a double match for a total of one hundred and twenty shots.  Toward the end of the season an eighty shot "any sight" match is shot for both target and sporter barrel rifles.  Also a varmint match is shot with both target and sporter barrel rifles at half the distance of the centerfire varmint matches.  As with other matches, watch the newsletter for dates, times, and person(s) to contact for pre-registration and information.

ANNUAL VARMINT MATCHES

The annual varmint matches are always shot on the first Sunday following Labor Day.  This consists of five different matches.  The heavy barrel varmint match is shot from the two hundred yard mound.  This is a twelve shot match.  Three shots are fired from the prone position off a rest at the ranges of; one hundred and fifty yards, one hundred and eighty yards, two hundred yards, and two hundred and thirty yards.  The first two yardages are fired at full size paper crow silhouette targets with scoring rings.  The two longer yardages are fired at full size paper groundhog silhouette targets also with scoring rings.  You can fire any caliber rifle with any power scope, but the rifle weight is limited to thirteen pounds.  The match is fired in two stages with a six minute time limit per stage.  The light barrel varmint match is the same as the heavy barrel match except, scope power is limited to ten and rifle weight is limited to ten and one half pounds.  The pistol varmint match is a six shot match fired from the wooden bench rest to the right of the two hundred yard mound.  You fire three shots at seventy-five yards and three shots at one hundred and ten yards, both at full size paper groundhog silhouette targets with scoring rings.  You may fire any caliber but, you are restricted to iron sights or other aiming devise with no magnification.  The black powder pistol match is fired at full sized metallic groundhog silhouettes in two stages.  You must fire unsupported with one hand.  The first stage is fired at thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, and seventy yards.  You have one minute per round.  Silhouettes must fall to be scored.  The second stage is fired at twenty, thirty, thirty-five, forty, and forty-five yards.  You have fifty seconds for all five shots.  The black powder rifle match is fired at fifty yards offhand at standard six bullseye black powder targets.  There is a thirty minute time limit.  Both black powder matches are re-entry matches.

PISTOL MATCHES

Occasionally, an outdoor pistol match is fired.  It is fired at twenty-five and fifty yards.  Either an "1800"; ninety shots with .22 and ninety shots with a centerfire or a "2700"; ninety shots with a .22, ninety shots with a centerfire, and ninety shots with a .45 is the course of fire.  These matches are fired in the same format as the indoor matches, the slow fire at fifty yards and the timed and rapid at twenty-five yards. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

The club's annual meeting is held on the second Saturday of January.  It is an informal to casual event consisting of a dinner, a monthly meeting, election of officers, and presentation of annual trophies.  Several trophies are given, some are for individual matches and some are for  accumulative yearly scores.  Time and place will be announced in the newsletter. 

Membership dues are annual.  Your membership expires December 31.  Renewals usually start in late November.  Your membership must be current to vote for club officers and to receive the combination to the lock on the gate at the outdoor range, which is changed yearly.

Club members are allowed to bring guests on an occasional basis.  Members are responsible for the conduct of their guests.  Should these guests wish to continue using the range they must apply for their own membership. 

You should have your membership card with you and displayed while at the outdoor range.  We encourage members to ask people they don't recognize as a current member for their card.  This club belongs to the members and keeping unauthorized people off the range will improve things for everyone and possibly cut down on the abuse the range receives.

A newsletter is distributed to each member each month approximately one week after the monthly business meeting.  A brief description of what occurred at the meeting is included along with other information such as upcoming matches, contact person(s) for these matches, match results, etc.  The upcoming match sections purpose is twofold.  One, it informs members of matches and encourages them to attend them.  Two, as stated before, the range is closed to other activities during a scheduled match.  A member should know from the newsletter that he can not come to the range on a match date for other activities.  This should help people to avoid useless travel and wasted time.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: As per a carried motion at the May 2001 business meeting,  all members are required to prominently display their membership cards while using the outdoor range.

Be safe, have fun, enjoy.

March  2007