Osage Orange Sharpshooters
News January 2002 - Edition 2

Hello to all members and prospective members of the Osage Orange Sharpshooters.

Swampy here…. For the foreseeable future, it appears that I'm going to be taking over part of the duties connected to writing the frequent news reports that you have all become accustomed to receiving. Our honorable Match Director, Mr. Bill Corcoran, in addition to the other work that he's had in the past, has fallen victim to the whims of the OOS members and is also our new Club President. Seeing that he is now too busy for such mundane stuff, I agreed to help out by writing the OOS Newsletter.

Lots of stuff to report…..

If you were not there, the First Annual OOS Dinner and Club Meeting went very well. About 30 people, old faces and new, showed up at the Heritage Cafeteria on the evening of Jan 11 to share a meal, elect officers for 2002, and discuss Club issues for the coming year. Club Sec-Treasurer Mr. Mike Thorn says that, during the dinner & meeting, 13 people either joined the OOS new or re-upped membership from last year.

Club officers were elected as follows:
President                       Bill Corcoran
Sec-Treas                     Mike Thorn
Match Director(s)          Bill Corcoran
                                     Steve Kemm,
                                     David Fuller
Membership
Coordinator                    Steve Milholland
Junior Shooter
Coordinator                     Dave McCurdy

EXPANDED MATCH SCHEDULE
As reported in previous letters, Steve Kemm and I had been working in an attempt to get a slate of CMP Highpower events accepted by the Springfield Bench Rest Club at Billings MO (SBRC). This has now been accomplished.

Mr. John Bullard, a long time member of the SBRC, has agreed to be the SBRC "sponsor" of a CMP Highpower Match Schedule. In addition to the events already on our OOS schedule at the Dalton Range for this year, we now have an additional 7 matches at the SBRC Range where we have an opportunity to enjoy our sport. The SBRC's CMP matches will be open to all SBRC members, as well as OOS members and the public at large. These matches are all set for a Wednesday afternoon at 5 or 5:30 PM, once a month from April through October.

A full listing of our Match and Event Schedule follows:

MATCH & EVENT SCHEDULE FOR 2002

January 26, 8:30 AM - - Dalton Range Classroom
This meeting will be about reloading ammunition. We will have presses, dies, trimmers, scales, measuring tools, etc., and lots of good information.

February 9, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range "Annual Fun Shoot" Please be thinking about bringing something to donate to the Prize Table.

March 2, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range and Classroom. Position Rifle Shooting Clinic.
This will be an introduction for new (and old) shooters. High power rules will be discussed, as well as some small bore issues, such as the kneeling position.

April 6, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range:
CMP Sanctioned John C. Garand Match

April 17, 5:00 PM - - SBRC Range: League Match

May 4, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range: League Match

May 15, 5:30 PM - - SBRC Range: League Match

June 15, 8:00 AM -- Dalton Range: League Match

June 26, 5:30 PM - - SBRC Range: League Match

July 13, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range: League Match

July 24, 5:30 PM - - SBRC Range: League Match

Aug 10, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range: League Match

Aug 28, 5:30 PM - - SBRC Range: League Match

Sept 7, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range: League Match

Sept 18, 5:30 PM - - SBRC Range: League Match

Oct 5, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range:
CMP Sanctioned John C. Garand Match

Oct 9, 5:00 PM - - SBRC Range: Match

UPDATE AND REMINDER:
JAN 26 -- RELOADING CLINIC, DALTON RANGE
OOS Prez and Match Director Bill Corcoran says that, if you are looking forward to re-loading all that brass you've been picking up, then don't miss this meeting. You'll learn how easy it is, and how economical it can be to begin reloading your centerfire ammo. Improved accuracy is an added benefit to "rolling your own".

Below is an excerpt from one of the handouts Bill has made up for next weeks meeting:
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The answer two common questions about reloading ammunition: How much $ can I save? And, how many times do you reload your brass?

The first question depends largely on the answer to the second one. To load a cartridge similar to GI, you might spend the following
Bullet $0.05
Primer $0.015
Powder $0.06
Brass $0.12
Total $0.25

Which is exactly what we pay for surplus M2 Ball from the CMP. Of course, the brass is reloadable, and therein lies the tale as well as the savings.
_______________________
With proper loading and case prep practices, brass casings can be re-loaded six to twelve times each. This means that your cost for 30-06 ammo can be cut to as low as $.16 per round. This is about HALF what Club members pay for Club ammo ($2.50 per 8 rd. clip = $.3125 per round).

With the supply of GI surplus 30-06 drying up, Club ammo prices can only go upward when it becomes necessary for the CMP to purchase newly mfgd. commercial ammo.

Learn how to take advantage of the savings and accuracy advantages of reloading at the Clinic scheduled for Jan 26 at 8:30 AM, Dalton Range.

ANNUAL FUN SHOOT: FEB 9, DALTON RANGE
Prez & Match Director Bill Corcoran also asked me to relay his "Course of Fire" for the OOS Annual Fun Shoot.
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Bring any rifles you wish to shoot. Bring any young folks you know who wish to try the shoot with .22 caliber. Scopes and deer rifles are welcome. The course of fire will be:

1) .22 caliber, any sight, sitting at bench, 10 shots in 10 minutes, .22 cal. 50 yds (Target A-23) Reverse score

2) Any centerfire rifle, any sight, standing, as many shots in 10 seconds as possible, 50 yards, target SR-1, Rifle must start unmounted

3) Any rifle (including .22), any sight, standing, Break a balloon at 100 yards, up to 10 shots, 10 minutes.

4) Any rifle, any sight, any highpower position, including a sling; 1 minute shoot. Target: a balloon and target SR-1 First you must break the balloon, then fire as many shots for record as remaining time allows

3 minute sight in period before each event
Entry fee: $2.00 per person
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Last years Fun Shoot events were similar. Lots of fun. Don't miss it. Bring a junior or a friend.

MEMBERS VS. NON-MEMBERS
and JOHN C. GARAND MATCHES
The OOS is a CMP affiliate club. OOS membership is CMP membership. Many other clubs around MO, KS, and AR are also CMP affiliated. The John C. Garand matches are CMP sanctioned matches open to all CMP members of any affiliate club. At this years John C. Garand matches, in line with CMP policy, we may request proof of CMP membership and inspect rifles at the JCG matches. Remember, the JCG matches are for Issue Grade M1 rifles without modification. Match conditioning or Match grade components are not allowed.

MEMBERS VS. NON-MEMBERS
and THE SUMMER LEAGUE MATCHES
Our summer league matches at the Dalton Range are for Osage Orange members. Prospective members and guests are invited to shoot their first match without needing an OOS membership. After that first match, OOS membership at the Dalton Range will be required.

The CMP Highpower "League Matches" that are held at the Springfield Bench Rest Club's facility are open to all SBRC members, all OOS members, as well as the general public. Here's hoping we get a lot of new faces participating in CMP Highpower in the local area…….

That's it for now……
The next print & mailed OOS Newsletter probably won't be out until sometime in March. In the meantime, check in with the OOS online website for any late breaking news and Club updates.

Best regards to all,
Steve SWAMPY Milholland
Phone: 831-2309 8 AM to 8 PM
E-mail: swampy@alltel.net

Osage Orange Sharpshooters website:
http://www.swampworks.com/OsageOrange.html