Osage Orange Sharpshooters
News - March 2002

Upcoming Activities

March 2, 8:00 AM - - Dalton Range and Classroom
                                  Position Rifle Shooting Clinic.

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

April 17, 5:00 PM - - SBC, Summer League Match

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

May 15, 5:00 PM - - SBC, Summer League Match

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

The March 2 "Position Rifle Shooting" clinic will include both classroom discussion and range time shooting. We should have some new members and interested non-members attending, so if you are an experienced member, you could help out on the range. I'll have some copies made of the Army Marksmanship Unit manual that Les Welch provided so that all attendees can get a copy. It is 57 pages, so there will be some expense in duplicating it.

Entry forms are now available for the spring John C. Garand Match. See the the web page, or send your $30 to Bill Corcoran
804 S. Pickwick
Springfield MO 65804
Your entry fee includes ammunition. We will probably issue loose ammunition this year. There will be some clips available for sale.

Other Matches
Some of us are planning to attend other high power matches this year. Joplin shoots a 100 yard course similar to ours on the third Sunday each month. The first matches this year are March 17 at 1:30 (50 round match) and April 21 (80 round match). .

The St. Louis Benchrest Club has a 600 yard match on April 13 and a John C. Garand Match April 14. What a great way to spend a weekend. They have a 200, 300, 600 yard match on May 18, as well as the Missouri Service Rifle Championship on June 22 and 23.

The Bucksnort Shooting Club in Marshall, MO hosts the Missouri Regional High Power Championship on May 4 and 5.

Finally, the Missouri Small Bore Prone Regional Championship is June 8 and 9 at the Bucksnort club. The Saturday course of fire is 160 rounds from the prone position. Anyone want to go?

I'll be going to all the high power events listed above, so if you want to link up, let me know.

The Fun Shoot
If you have any ideas for additional things we could do for the fun shoot, let me know. I'm going to plan major changes for next year, so while it is fresh in your mind, give it some thought. I'm considering an 'old rifle' match for the Mausers and SKSs, more .22 caliber stuff and more precision matches, like shooting at cards or quarters. Or, everybody crank their sights to a non-zeroed setting, then trade M1's, then see how many shots it takes to score an X with the other guy's rifle. Let me know what you think would be fun.

The prize table for the fun shoot was outstanding. To all you guys who donated, NICE JOB!

Safety
We should also soon have a supply of 'Open Bolt Indicators' or OBIs. These are yellow plastic flags that fit into the breech of your rifle to indicate that the bolt is open and the rifle safe. Each member will get one free, and there will be additional ones for sale for $1. They are required at all NRA high power events, and they will be required in our matches from now on. I just filled out the CMP paperwork for our 2001 club report, and the first set of questions is to report on any accidents or safety violations. It was gratifying to put 'NOT APPROPRIATE' in those spaces.

Ammunition (and other forms)
Remember, as a CMP member you are entitled to purchase up to 4000 rounds of M2 Ball and the same of M1 Carbine ammunition. M2 Ball runs $100 for a 400 round can. They no longer have it on clips, only in boxes. It is quite easy to order it off the CMP's web page (although you will have to send or fax them a copy of your club membership card). If you don't use a computer and you want to order ammunition (or anything else, like a rifle), send me a note with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, and I will be happy to print off the forms and send them to you.

We have on hand about 4,000+ rounds of M2 ball and 1200+ rounds of Carbine for sale to members during the Summer League as a convenience. We will probably have to use a bunch of this for the JCG match in April, although we will receive an allocation of reduced-price ammo for the match…there won't be time to take care of all the logistics, but we will purchase it.

Reminder
If you are getting this by U.S. Mail, we don't have an e-mail address for you. If that's the way you want it, fine, but if you do have e-mail, it would save time, money, and effort if we could get you the newsletter that way.

Bill Corcoran
Phone: (417) 862-8618
E-mail: <wtc928f@smsu.edu>

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