Welcome to the new year! Hope that everyone had a good holiday season and is ready for another exciting year of shooting with the Mill Creek Practical Shooting League (MCPSL).
In 2003, the MCPSL saw an increase in the membership roster to 93 members. The club added a fourth pistol stage on most match dates. Finally, thanks to the donation made by CZ, the club also acquired new targets and props.
2004 is shaping up to be another exciting year. The MCPSL will continue to run four pistol stages on match dates as well as the long gun events in the afternoons. To make things run smoother with the extra pistol stage, the club will be introducing the Mill Creek Squadding.
December Scores
HOA Open Brad Pederson
HOA Limited Mike Widebrook
HOA Limited 10 Mike Eastin
HOA Production Tom Clark
Congratulations to all the winners. Full set of scores may be found on our website using this link: http://millcreekpsl.org/
The December match had a great turnout considering the heavy snow and bad roads. There were 24 shooters, one of whom shot a second pistol, and we had one new member join.
In addition to the shooters, 10 more members and some guests came for the annual meeting and lunch. Thanks to all that helped with the food. Everyone ate well (and then some). It also looked like the prize table was a success.
We had two special door prizes, a CZ pistol and a Remington Shotgun. They were won by Ray Conrad and Mike Widebrook.
The club presented Jim Hewins with a much deserved Silver Anniversary plaque. Jim has been a member of the club for 25 years and has been tabulating the scores for many number of years.
Finally, the annual Board of Directors election was held and here are the results:
2004 Board of Directors
John Hartman, President
Gary Moore, Vice President/Treasurer
Jason Morton, Secretary
John Aull, Quartermaster
Bill Kinsey, Long-gun Match Director
J.D. Smith, Pistol Match Director
Riichiro Suzuki, Communications Director
2004 Dates
The match dates are set for the second Saturday of the month.
January 10
February 14
March 13
April 10
May 8
June 12
July 10
August 14
September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11
These dates are subject to change if they conflict with the MCRC’s major match schedule. The rifle club is currently finalizing their schedule for 2004. The most current information including the list of RO’s setting up the stages will be available on the website.
January RO’s
The following individuals are signed up to set up a course for the January match.
25 Yard North (Short - Med Course): L. Noell
25 Yard South (Short Speed Course): Ray Conrad
50 Yard (Field Course): R. Suzuki
Classifier/Standards: Jon Roberts
Rifle: Open
Shotgun: L. Noell
At time of writing, we still need someone to set up rifle in January!
2004 MILL CREEK SQUADDING
For 2004, the Board of Directors has voted to immediately implement a modified Florida Squadding on the match dates. This will make the matches run more smoothly. Please read the entire section, especially if you are signed up to set up a stage for the January Match!
The pistol stages need to be ready for a 9:00 walkthrough! The RO’s setting up the stage need to make sure to give themselves a few minutes to get ready, and join their squad for the walkthrough of the other stages.
If the RO does not plan to be on site by 7:30 because he/she is planning on a simpler style stage that does not require a full two hours to set up, it is the RO’s responsibility to contact the club secretary in advance. At some point in the morning, we have to assume that late arrivals are indeed no shows, and seek out suitable substitutes.
Stage Set Up (recommended)
1. Stage set up will start at 7:00 AM and complete by 9:00 AM for pistol stages. It has been suggested that the 200 yd. rifle stage be set up at this same time - just work around the crew setting up the classifier or pistol stage.
2. Two (2) stages will be set up on the 25 yd. range, one (1) stage on the 50 yd. range, and the classifier on the 200 yd. rifle range. This will allow four (4) pistol stages in total. This may change in the future if we're able to split the 25 yd. range with a berm or get the LE range on match days.
3. It is recommended that no stages should be over 32 rounds required in length. Stages set up on the 25 yd. range (when two stages are set up on the same range) should be no more than 24 rounds required in length.
4. Steel should be set within 5 yards. of the side or back berms on all ranges for safety reasons.
5. No shots on steel less than 10 meters nor greater than 25 yards. Shooter may take shots at their option greater than 25 yards. Any shots forced to be taken longer than 25 yards. should be on full size paper targets. It's no fun being a new shooter trying to hit steel at long range.
6. IPSC competition is freestyle. With the exception of Standard Exercises, a course of fire may not specify a shooting position or stance (standing, sitting, kneeling, etc.). However , conditions may be created and constructed to compel a competitor into positions or stances required by stage design.
7. Ports, windows, doors, shooting boxes, etc. may be used to direct shooter movement at our club instead of constructing hard walls to meet the intent of Item #6 (IPSC competition is freestyle).
8. Courses of fire shall not require more than eight (8) rounds to be fired from any one position, however, course designers may allow other targets to be shot from any one position with the eight (8) rounds, providing that the shot challenges the competitor and that the added targets are also available from another position.
9. Remember - when setting up courses of fire that this is a shooting competition - not a track meet.
Shooter Meeting
1. Sign up for all shooters for pistol stages will be complete by 9:00 AM and the sign up table closed.
2. Shooters meeting will begin at 9:00 AM in the club house.
3. New shooters will be introduced to the membership.
4. Any special announcements will be made.
5. A short safety talk will be conducted.
6. Classifier for that match will be read in detail - this is the "walk through" for the classifier stage.
7. Assembled shooters will be divided into four (4) squads of equal size based on sign in sequence. Exceptions will be made for those wishing to squad together.
8. Each squad will be given their "range box" with timer, pasters, pins, clip board, etc. that will stay with that squad. These boxes will be returned to "shed" by that squad at the end of the match or turned over to the long gun squads.
9. A board member or board appointee will be assigned to each squad to ensure that he start position and "intent" of the stage is the same for all shooters.
Walk Through
1. At approximately 9:15 AM, all squads will move to the South 25 yd. course of fire for the walk through. The walk throughs will be conducted by the design set up crews for each stage. After the walk through is complete on the South 25 yd. course then the walk throughs will be given for the North 25 yd. and 50 yd. courses of fire.
2. The "pistol director" will assist the design set up crews in course clarification and any safety issues that may be present on the stage.
Shooting Begins
1. All squads should move to their designated range and start shooting by 9:30 AM.
2. Each squad will RO's itself.
3. It is expected that all members of the squad work - running timer, picking up brass, scoring targets, pasting targets, set/paint steel, etc.
4. The person running the timer is the RO in charge and is responsible for range safety and scoring of the shooter. This position should be rotated among members of the squad that have range officer experience. Being a "certified" RO is not required.
5. On the 25 yd. range each squad should shoot and then both squads score and paste targets at the same time. The squad RO's must work together to make these stages run as efficient as possible.
6. Shooters arriving after the table has closed should seek out the Club Secretary to obtain score sheets, get assigned to a squad, and additional instructions.
Shooting Ends
1. All members of the squad should stay together until all members of the squad have completed shooting the stage. If it is the last stage, then the squad should stay together until the stage is torn down and put away all props.
2. Range set up crew should give the last squad any special instructions as to storage of props.
3. Set up crews for the rifle and shot gun should also notify the last squad on stages that will be utilized for rifle and shot gun any special instructions (steel left out, targets left, etc.)
4. The entire squad is expected to assist in tear down and return of all props to the shed or trailer. Those members that are signed up to set up a stage for rifle and shot gun may go ahead and start setting up their stage as soon as the range is available.
Other Issues
1. The rifle and shot gun stages should utilize the 50 yd. and 200 yd. ranges in that they most likely will be the first pistol stages completed.
2. The 200 yard range can be set up by the rifle set up crew beginning at 7:00 AM until 9:00 AM. Simply work around the classifier set up crew. This will leave only the shotgun stage left to be set up after the pistol match and should allow the long gun shooters to be started shooting much earlier.
3. Long gun stages will run with the same squadding requirements as the pistol stages.
Message from the Long Gun Director
This year, the rifle/shotgun matches will be run by the Mill Creek squadding method and the squad will tear down the match (rifle or shotgun) at the end of the day.
Another important issue is the need for RO's to run rifle stages. It is very important that rifle shooters sign up to RO the rifle stages instead of pistol stages.
A third issue relates to the type of rifle stages. It has become common practice to set up rifle stages on the 50 yard pistol range. While this method makes it easier to set up and tear down the match, it has several disadvantages.
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First of all, it is harder on the steel targets. Steel targets shot at shorter ranges break at the welds and sometimes get punctured.
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Secondly, this type of match does not give any practice making longer shots.
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Third, a significant number of MCRC members have expressed concerns that we are not making use of the bench rest range. We have been notified by MCRC to 'use it or lose it". Developments now underway will likely result in exchanging the Bench Rest range on some months for the high power or the law enforcement range.
This year I would like to have a mixture of short 50 yard assault rifle courses, 100 yard assault rifle courses, and some long range courses. It is clear that use of the longer ranges for rifle matches depends on the weather, requires more manpower to set up and tear down, and is facilitated by the use of a truck to haul targets and props. I think that with a little more organization, we can insure that there are at least two people and one truck available to set up on days where a longer range match is planned. I will be asking each RO to decide what type of match they want to do a month in advance (unless MCRC tells us) and the RO and I will recruit an assistant RO at that time.
2004 Fee Schedule
Anyone (with the exception of brand new IPSC shooters) wanting a membership must sign up for two matches at the time of renewing or purchasing a membership. If a member is unable to fulfill the setup that they selected, the club secretary will assist the member in finding a replacement when requested. However, the ultimate responsibility for finding a replacement remains in the hands of the member signed up for the stage.
Annual Membership $20
Match Fees (effective immediately)
Pistol
Member $11
Non-Member* $21
Second Pistol +$3
Pistol + Log Gun
Member $15
Non-Member* $25
Long Gun Only
Member $11
Non-Member* $21
Late Arrival Fee $5
* Exceptions to the Non-Member Rates will be made for visiting Board of Directors and others under appropriate circumstances. They will be charged regular membership rates.
Also, the practice of waiving the fees for RO’s will cease. With the Mill Creek Squadding, the burden of actually running the stage will be shared by all shooters.
Annual Pocket Pistol Match
FRIDAY January 30, 2004 at the Bullet Hole
The Bullet Hole Practical Shooting League will be hosting its Annual Pocket Pistol Match. This is a single stage match consisting of not more than four separately timed 5-shot strings, for a total round count of not more than 20. No drawing, reloading, holsters, or pockets will be required or allowed.
What qualifies as a pocket pistol:
Revolvers should be 5 shot, 2.5" barrel 38 spl. or smaller, and autos should be single stack .380 acp or less with a barrel length less than 3.86".
There is no power factor for this stage. (.25acp, .32 auto .22 rimfire is fine)
Questions, call Doug Smith at 913 651 5170, or backshooter@kc.rr.com
