News

NRA Basic Pistol Instructors: Six club members recently took the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor course.  They will soon be certified, and are anxious to begin teaching hand gun safety classes. If anyone is interested, please contact us. This is for all club members, not just the Ladies.  Please spread the word.

Annual Dues Increase: Your Board of Directors has successfully operated this club for a number of years, at our current membership rates, despite continuing cost increases, ranging from insurance to natural gas.  During this time, we have seen member and organizational use of both our indoor and outdoor ranges significantly increase.  We are offering more shooting events, at more ranges, than ever in the history of Southern Michigan Gun Club, and members are responding enthusiastically.

Unfortunately, as costs have increased, income has not kept pace.  This created the need for a thorough board review of club operations, and recommendations to maintain viability.  The board voted unanimously that a $5.00 per year membership fee increase is a reasonable minimum to help in that effort.  You  will see this reflected in your  membership renewal, which should be arriving shortly.

Thank you for your support and understanding.  We will continue to provide the best safe shooting value in this area.  If you would like to contact any Board of Director member, our information is located on your newsletter or through our website, www.southernmichigangunclub.com.
Thank you. - SMGC Board of Directors

Targeting a Cure: On June 21, we will again host a shoot to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.   Komen for the Cure is an international organization devoted to saving the lives of, empowering, ensuring quality care of, and energizing science to find cures for women suffering from breast cancer.  Last year’s event was a great success, raising over $3,000.  We want to do even more this year.  This is a great way to enjoy your club’s various shooting activities while contributing to an important effort.  Please watch for details in next month’s newsletter as well as on the web site.  If you would like further information about the Komen organization, please visit their website at www.komen.org.

CMP Garand/Springfield Match: The Kalamazoo Rod & Gun is having a CMP Garand/Springfield match this coming Saturday, May 3rd. We will shoot the CMP course "A" at 200 yards on the SR target, same as the Camp Perry match.  Our match fee will be $20.00 which will INCLUDE 35 rounds of M2 Ball (.30/06 CMP HXP-68) ammo. You can shoot your Garand on one relay and your Springfield on the other relay. If you want to shoot both rifles the fee will be $35.00 which will include ammo for both relays (70 rds.). Only as issued M1's and 1903/A3 Springfield's will be eligible for awards. Issued ammo MUST be fired in the match just like at Perry.  CMP award pins will be given for both Garands and Springfields. We will start registration at 8am and hope to start firing at 9am or as soon as possible.

Archery Range Approved: Southern Michigan Gun Club's Board of Directors approved a 10-point cement pad (4'x40') for our archery shooters at the April 9th board meeting.  The Archery range will be located at the upper level of the club's facilities.  The range will have one 8 foot raised section to aid with practice from an elevated shooting position.  Whitetails of Allegan and Kalamazoo Chapters generous contribution made the construction of this project possible.  This will be a free service to SMGC members, however, guest are requested to pay a $5.00 per guest fee per use.  Dick B. will oversee construction and rules for use of the archery range.  Dick is already talking about summer leagues, archery hunter's safety clinics and other clinics to hone your archery skills.  Construction should start sometime in May.

SMGC Members-Only Reloading Class: A beginning reloading class for metallic cartridges will be held on May 3rd, at the outdoor clubhouse. The class will start at 9 AM, and will cover the basics of reloading straight walled handgun cases and common bottleneck rifle cases. Class size will be limited. A lunch will be served. Contact Terry via email to register for the class: redskin171@verizon.net 

Announcing This Summer's .40 Bore Matches: SMGC has a fun match designed around rifles of .40 caliber and larger.  We shoot off hand at 50 yards, 10 shots per large Buffalo target, 20 rounds total but we give 5 sighters.  Open sights only, peeps are allowed but no scopes.  You will see original 1894's, plenty of lever actions, some bolts, weird conversion and some Sharps...calibers run from .45 ACP, 45 Long Colts 45-70's and some larger.  Quick and easy, matches start at the SMGC lower range (50 yard) at 10am usually finished around 11:30am.  New rule for 2008, palm rest and hooked butt plates are now allowed.

Dates:
19th April
17th May
21st June
19th July
16th August
13th September
4th October

.22 Bench Rest Opens :Here are the dates and times for this year's .22 bench rest shoots.

Burgers, Brats and Tuesdays: Terry R. has officially proclaimed Thursday's skeet and trap shoot night as “burger and brats night.” Donations for groceries are being accepted. I gave Terry about 6lbs of ground deer meat to help kick it off.  As soon as I get around to it, I'll make up a batch of shredded pheasant BBQ to freeze and use as needed. I have to get the recipe from Max W. first. The deal is, be there on Thursdays, from 5 PM to 9 PM.  Be sure to bring paper towels because you will get greasy faced. Marlin S. e-mailed me, and said that the weather is starting to get nice and that we needed to start opening on Tuesday nights, from 5 PM to 9 PM.  So, starting the first Tuesday in April, we will be open.  Volunteers will be needed, so check the calendar at the indoor club house and sign up. If there is an empty shoot date, with no one signing up and no one taking charge at the last minute (and the gate is locked) don't get mad. Get involved with YOUR gun club. You get the idea.

Additional Shooting Hours Set for Handgun Shooters: The lower range will be open, beginning Tuesday, April 1, from 1000 to 1400, every Tuesday in April and May. In addition to Tuesdays, the "steel range," for steel plate practice, will be open every Wednesday in April and May during the hours of 1200 to 1600. On Wednesdays, there will be a RSO for the steel range only, and the lower ranges will not be open to the general membership unless the person is in the SSS program.

2008 High Power XTC and 3x600 Schedule: A new NRA XTC rule for seniors age 60 and above is that they may stay in position for the rapid fire events if they wish.   You are welcome to use an optical sight on your XTC rifle if you wish, but you will only compete against any other optical sight shooters. Five or more XTC optical shooters are needed to pay an award for XTC optical  class. Please declare optical XTC at registration.
 
I know the price of fuel, brass and bullets keeps going up.  Remember, you can bunk out in the club house or primitive camp on the club grounds for free.  This season the Cadillac Woods Campground is offering a 20% discount on camping to competitors at the Cadillac matches, if you would like to stay at a full service campground .
 
Skeet shooting is also available Friday nights starting at about 5 p.m.
The Garand and Springfield matches are May 17&18 and Sept. 13-14
MRPA Black Powder matches are May 24 & 25 and  Oct. 4 & 5
 
Download the Dates Here. Download the Course of Fire Here.

New Resource Section:Check out the new location for a variety of resources of interest to SMGC members. This will be the place for everything, from forms, to videos, to whatever might be of interest. Please feel free to submit material for the section or send suggestions.

Check Out the Socoreboard! This is a place to post match results.I'll post the results of any club matches that you send me. Just email them here.

Discussion Board Is Up! Click here

Annual Calendars Added: Dates will be continuously added. If you have dates to add, please send them to Webmaster. You can access the calendars via the calendar page.

Some Assorted Skeet Photos: Hey you pistol and rifle shooters.... Believe it or not, there is great shooting outside the pit! Not only can these guys shoot, but they bend over backward to help a newbie (and believe me, I need the help). Skeet is great too. To see some assorted photos, click HERE.
This Years First Practical Pistol...or Rather Practical Shotgun Shoot: Dave did it again. Never one to tolerate the same old thing, Dave created a shotgun only PPC shoot. It was reportedly quite a challenge. However, everyone had a great time. To see the pictures, click HERE.
Five Stand Shooters: Its high time we got a few photos of those Five Stand shooters. I don't believe I saw a single bird missed the whole time I was there! (You're welcome guys.) To see the photos, click HERE.
.40 Bore Shooters Emerge for a Rare Winter Shoot: Seems that cabin fever has hit this group too. See the photos here and the scores here.
Women's Division Mails gifts to the Troops: Last December, membser of the women's division collected and mailed a number of items to some of our troops in Iraq. To see a photo of the troops, click HERE.
Dave Builds 1911! I'm excited to report that Dave's 1911 building project is almost complete. Here is a sneak peek at his gun. He hasn't shot it yet, but we are all anxious to watch him do so. Click here.
Snow Shoot: Fifty-two "soldiers," many clad in uniform, shot period correct weapons to participate in the annual Snow Shoot. The event featured both rifle and pistol competition. The antique uniforms and weapons made this event great to watch. Photos ...................... Scores
Frosty Revolver Plate Match: Our stout hearted band of pistol shooters braved six degree (yes 6!) temperatures to shoot the first annual Frosty Revolver Plate Match. Frost-bitten trigger fingers couldn't deter this brave band of cabin fever escapees. In the end, Dave B. (who we couldn't even recognize under all his winter garb) won the match. For photos, click HERE.
Practical Pistol Xmas Shoot: On 12/15 the PPC shooters held a Xmas lunch and shoot at the indoor range. Here are the photos. Here are the scores.
Here is your chance to show off that big buck you got this year! Email your photos here. Check out other members' trophies here.
Photos from the Women's Shoot on 11/17. Click here.
Photos from the November CMP Shoot. Click here.
Westwood Outdoor Club Holds Outing at the Club The Westwood Outdoor Club, affiliated with Westwood Reformed Church, held an outing at the club. Here are a few photos.
.22 Match Photos Click here.
More Photos From Dale. Click here.
Looks like Dale has been a busy guy. Checkout his photos here!
Photos from the September Steel Match. Click here.
Check Out the Photos from the September CMP Shoot Click here.
A good time was had by all at the annual volunteer picnic. Click here for more photos.
Bethel Baptist Church Holds an Outing at the Club- Several members of the Bethel Baptist Church tried their hand at handgun shooting. Curch member Steve Brown and pastor Dana Arledge (both club members) ran the event with assistance from safety director Greg Anderson. Click here for photos.