[andrewa]

Hi all-

I took a snubby course at the Harvard club, and outdoors, I was able to shoot at a target 6-10' away. Any thoughts on us being able to have a target that close at our club?

Thanks.

[twinbrook86]

i would also be interested in shooting closer,

i dont see why it wouldnt be possible at POPE

that closest baffle seems to have no reason of being,
boggles my mind was money was wasted doing it over

hand some hooks and we would be good to go

[andrewa]

Actually, I think the closest baffle is the most important, when you think about the angles involved.

Plus, it would give us the opportunity to hang closer targets! Perhaps there was a method to the madness all along.

Andrew

[andrewa]

Ah!

At the last board meeting, I brought this up. From what I gather, the reason we can't go shorter isn't so much the target, but what happens *after*. If you shoot a bit "off" when close, the angle is such that you'll hit the ground, or, as things would have it, too far *up*, or to the left or right.

I think the only way this could be resolved (again, from what I understood at the board meeting) was if you had a steel box around the target, so all shots would be contained.

[twinbrook86]

This steel box idea is redunant because you are breaking the rules if all shots aren't on the paper especially since you only hang on target now

[andrewa]

Well, yeah, we *should* be on the paper, but it is what happens that if you are *not* that is what the steel plate is for!

I'm wondering if a steel roof would do the trick; I mean, what is the likelihood of someone going left or right? There are already walls in Pope for that sort of thing, right?

I don't know; maybe the angles would be problematic. At other ranges I've been to where you shoot closer, I don't see any other provisions for these sorts of things.

A.

[bobr]

You are both basically correct. Shooting at a closer distance might cause shots to go astray. Right now when a target is placed on a hanger there are still shots hitting the wood covered baffles and the ground. Sometimes these shots are 4 feet away from the target. There are also shots that are up high on the last baffle above the backstop. Some of these are probably related to shooters benching their firearms and shooting at the 22 foot mark. Allowing targets to be hung closer, say on the first baffle, would just increase this cone of fire.

Yes, we recovered the baffles at some expense but the purpose was two-fold. One to decelerate bullets and prevent bullet spalling. The baffles do their job to prevent rounds from leaving he range. Recovering with new wood would help prevent spalling of any bullets that strike the baffle. Secondly, at least for me, I was hoping that members see the amount of work that goes into keeping the range functional and would appreciate the up-kept appearance of that range. Members would monitor their gun handling and aiming and not damage the baffles, but would take care and put all bullets into the sand backstop. I think for the most part the majority of members do do that and I thank you all.

Yes, there are other clubs that allow members to shoot closer. The clubs I've seen that allow that are located in less sensitive areas. We have private property that is very close and having an errant shot visit that property would bad for everybody.

If you'd like to discuss this further or have some ideas on how to better this range or others please stop by and talk to me. I'm at the office Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.

thanks

bobby r