Otero Practical Shooting Association
	Otero IPSC - Rocky Flats Rangers - Action Handgun Monthly Newsletter and Match Scores

From the Prez:

Greetings to all members of OPSA!

At the request of several of our members, we are sending out this newsletter to all on our email list as well as posting it on the club website, www.opshooter.org.

As I have taken over as acting president, I am requesting input from all club members on what programs or changes you would like to see the club consider. Member input has contributed to the establishment of at least one new match that I will discuss below. Remember that the club is your club and that we are here to meet the needs of out members.

MEETINGS

Our next meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2010 at 6:30 PM at the Pizza Patio on First Street. We have our meeting room, a nice facility, from 6 onward to permit members to order early from a great menu. There should be enough space for a large group, so please plan on attending.

I would like to thank all members for making 2009 a great year for OPSA. Let’s try to improve on it in 2010.

Our new and not-so-new club officers:

President: Stan Rzeszutek
Vice President: Howard Morrell
Secretary: Dick Dommers
Treasurer: Jack Partridge
Cowboy Coord.: Marvin Jordan and Butch Rials
High Power Coord.: Jim Silva
22 Coord.: Milt Berggren
Silhouette Coord.: Larry Daniels
IPSC Coord.: Jim Fairhurst

SHOOTING CLUB DONATES PROCEEDS TO CHARITY

Otero Practical Shooting Association (OPSA), a local club dedicated to the shooting sports, made a donation of all proceeds and contributions raised during its October matches, over $1500, to two local charities that support our military members. During its monthly meeting, November 17th, the club presented donations to the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 14 to support its transportation van. The DAV transports veterans to medical facilities in El Paso and Albuquerque in regular weekly trips. The other recipient of the funds was Miss Maggie Fazenbaker, an Alamogordo High senior who has organized an effort to send care packages to deployed military members. Under the name “Operation Soldier Smiles”, Miss Fazenbaker has thus far prepared and distributed over 8000 packages, that contain notions and small items that are greatly appreciated by troops overseas.

Publicity support from the Alamogordo Daily News and local radio stations was instrumental in getting the word out about the October matches, contributing to the success of the effort. OPSA has over 50 members, many active or former military, and is dedicated to promoting safe shooting activities. OPSA sponsors cowboy action matches, a sport in which participants use 19th century era firearms and dress in western style clothing. Other club matches at the Sidney Paul Gordon range near La Luz include monthly 22 rimfire rifle and handgun, NRA high power and International Pistol Shooting Confederation (IPSC) events. All members of the public are invited to participate in or observe club activities, a complete list of which may be found on the club’s website, www.opshooter.org.

MATCH CALENDAR FOR 2010

Click on the link to bring up the OPSA Match Calendar for 2010. Print a copy and put it on the refrig so you won't miss the next match.

2010 OPSA Match Calendar

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

Here is the link to the OPSA Operating Procedures. SOP in pdf

 

RANGE COMMITTEE

In the event you have not heard about it, the county has formed a committee to study how the range can better serve the community. Thanks to help from Richard Barbaras, I will represent OPSA on the committee and hope to make a positive contribution to their work.

Anyone who has a good idea or two for the club can reach me at 434-8735 (evenings usually good) or at my email address, usnabgo at yahoo dot com.

Straight shooting!

Dick Dommers, OPSA

I would like to thank all the OPSA members for their continued support of OPSA events throughout this year. In case anyone hasn't realized, OPSA is the only local club that hosts the majority of disciplines in New Mexico. OPSA has IPSC, Cowboy, Action, NRA High Power, and various fun matches every month. I don't know of a local club that hosts as many disciplines. OPSA has also conducted Friends of the NRA Women On Target events and was the focal point for southern New Mexico's NRA Eddie Eagle children's gun safety program. Members of OPSA also constituted the majority of and leadership of the annual Friends of the NRA Fund Raising Banquet supporting New Mexico firearms programs, training, and education. OPSA members have also conducted USA Boy Scout's Rifle Merit Badge classes and were instrumental, in the first ever in the United States, USA Girl Scout Camp involving shooting activities. OPSA members are instructors for the New Mexico CCW program, participated in the New Mexico Hunters Safety Education program, and provide instruction for basic shooting skills and instruction for individuals wanting to become NRA certified instructors. OPSA should certainly be proud of the club's and their individual member's accomplishments. I just want you to know what a great organization you belong to.

Butch

A special THANKS to all those, past and present, that donate their time to OPSA. Without their devotion we would not have one of the best and most active clubs in the state.

Remember, the setup time for the different matches is 5:00 PM the day before the respective match. Come on out and help set up. It is your match, so lend a hand.

The T-Shirts are in

Butch has the OPSA T-Shirts. If you ordered one, be sure to see him.

USPSA

The May match had 10 shooters participate with some new shooters. Welcome. We hope you enjoyed the IPSC match and will come back.

Remember that the High Desert Classic/NM Sectionals will held in Albuquerque later this month (June).

Cowboy Action

The April '10 match had 12 shooters. The weather was very nice and just a little breezy unlike the 40-50 mph days we had earlier in the week. Thanks to Lost Knife, Outlaw Jack, Long Islander and Matt Clark for helping set up on Friday afternoon. Also, Lost Knife brought in a large batch of hot green chili stew on Saturday morning which was very thoughtful and well appreciated. It was awesome!!! Although it did make my nose run through the first stage. This might have been his strategy!?

Being Easter weekend we had some bunny themes and Easter baskets to tote during the stages. Thanks to Lazy K for using her artistic talents in making some no-shoot targets look like cute, adorable bunnies. They survived until Fast Hammer stepped to the line! The Picacho Posse "Cowboys vs. Cops" match was a huge success, thanks to the superman efforts of Fast Hammer. Once again the Cowboys prevailed, although the Cops are bringing on the pressure! Super match, look for it next year. Maybe next month we'll have some IRS agents as targets.


If ya gotta miss, miss fast,

Saguaro Sam


I would like to pass on a thank you to all those that make our matches successful. Stage design, set up, score keeping, steel setting, spotters, RO’ing, teardown, all work together to make the matches fun for everyone.

 NRA High Power

The High Power match for June was a Mid Range (300 Yards) F-Class shoot. Four of our regular shooters participated. John Shows bested the group with his .308 F/TR rifle. Some great shooting from a bipod.

July’s match will be the three position NRA High Power Course with standing, sitting and prone positions. Normally shot with Service Rifle or Match Rifle with open sights, this match is open to any sight configuration (scopes are OK too). This match will also be an 80 round match with 20 shots standing slow fire, 20 rounds sitting rapid fire, 20 rounds prone rapid fire and 20 rounds prone slow fire.

The schedule for the remainder of the year is as follows:

August – F-Class
September – NRA High Power
October – F-Class
November – NRA High Power
December – F-Class

This schedule may be changed at the whim of the coordinator and the desires of the shooters.

F-Class is basically a benchrest prone shoot, so your hunting rifles as well as target rifles can compete. Shooting is done with either front and rear bag rests or bipod and rear bag, depending which class you prefer to shoot. F/TR is limited to .308 and .223 with bipod while F/Open can be any caliber. All shooting is slow fire, three 15 shot strings with a time limit of 15 minutes each at targets placed at the 300 yard line.

We are trying to gather more shooters for the long range high power shooting events so tell your shooter friends to come out and participate. As always we welcome all new shooters and desire input from the shooters.

If you have an interest in high power shooting in general, please feel free to attend one of our shoots on the third Saturday of each month. We always welcome new shooters and also invite back all past shooters. Also, if you have any questions pertaining to the high power league, feel free to email me at jesilva at beyondbb dot com.

Jim Silva


22 Action Match / 22 National Match

JULY 2010

Another great weekend spent at the range. We missed all of the rain, although it was looking like we would get wet shooting the National Match on Sunday. We set-up targets in the rain then got to shoot in the sunshine.

The Action match was as fun as always. With the challenging targets and the time monkey whispering in your ear to hurry up and miss, teaches you the patience to take your time and hit your target. Remember, smooth IS fast. You can’t miss fast enough to win.

We had a new shooter for both matches; Cori, an eleven year old girl, visiting her grandpa, decides that shooting might be fun. So….. she comes out to the range with grandpa in tow and proceeds to school us on how shooting should be. I guess “missing” is not part of her vocabulary. Seriously, she has the eye for shooting and good trigger control, with just a little training on position and sling use we all can be watching her in the Olympics. Most importantly she is safe on and off the line. A real pleasure to shoot with, come visit again.

Remember: 4th Saturday @ 0830 is Action Match
4th Sunday @ 1300 is National Match

For the .22 National Match we shoot the 80 round course of fire. 20rnds slow fire standing, 2 stages of rapid sitting, 2 stages rapid prone ending with 20rnds slow fire prone. 80 rounds/800 point possible. Be sure to bring 2 boxes of ammo.

For Action: We shoot 4 stages using 15 rounds per stage, five from your pistol, ten from a rifle at whatever targets I can dream up. Everything is timed; more time is added for each miss, time is taken off for each bonus hit. The most fun you can have for $5 bucks.

We had 9 shooters for Action and 6 for the National Match. Plenty of room on the line for you. Come on out and try your hand.

For the rest of you, see ya all next month,

Milt

22 SILHOUETTE

22 Silhouette Bench Rest

We had a poor turnout for our June Bench Rest match. So, we are reevaluating the feasibility of this match. We had one new shooter, Ted Daly, who was TDY at Holloman and he had a ball trying to hit those small targets.

July and August matches are cancelled at this time due to most of the regular participants being gone.

So stay tuned and keep practicing.

Larry and Stan



Silhouette Rules

AREA MATCHES

Cowboy Action

Ruidoso Gun Club has a cowboy action match, on the 2nd Sat of the month. 0830 sign up.

Ft Bliss Rod and Gun Club (El Paso) holds a cowboy action match on the first Sunday of the month.

Gila Rangers has a cowboy action shoot on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.

Roswell has a cowboy action shoot the 2nd Sunday of the month.  www.roswellgunclub.com

Truth or Consequences has a cowboy shoot on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

Carlsbad has a cowboy shoot on the 3rd Saturday of the month.

Magdalena has a new club. They shoot on the third Saturday of each month. They shoot at 1 PM. For the location you will have to contact someone there.

IPSC Matches

El Paso - Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club holds an IPSC match on the second Saturday of the month.  Fort Bliss IPSC

Albuquerque - Rio Grande Practical Shooting Club holds an IPSC match the first and third Saturday of each month. For more info:   Rio Grande Practical Shooters

The Zia Gun Club, in Albuquerque, shoots a variety of action type matches including 3 Gun, action handgun and revolver only during each month.  Visit their web site at:  Zia

Las Cruces is now shooting IPSC sanctioned matches on the first Saturday of the month at the Shooting Range just west of Las Cruces and shoots a Steel Challenge Match on the forth Saturday.  For more info: Las Cruces IPSC

Roswell Gun Club shoots an IPSC match on the third Sunday each month.  Roswell Gun Club

 

Safety on the Range: Who is responsible for safety? YOU ARE! If someone says anything to you about something unsafe-don't take offense, it is for your safety as well as that of everyone else. It is better to maybe hurt your feelings than have anyone get injured.

Thank you to all those who help to advertise OPSA matches.

• President: Stan Rzeszutek
• Vice President: Howard Morrell
• Secretary: Dick Dommers
• Treasurer: Jack Partridge
• IPSC matches: Jim Fairhurst
• Cowboy matches: Marvin Jordan and Butch Rials
• SASS Territorial Governor: Pam Hall
• NRA High Power: Jim Silva
• 22 Rimfire:  Milt Berggren
• Silhouette.: Larry Daniels

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