The Pearl Harbor Remembrance Match held on December 6, was an opportunity for shooters to remember and honor the “greatest generation” who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today!  Thirteen shooters participated on a cool and breezy morning for the J.C. Garand Match using a variety of U.S. Service rifles, mostly Garands, a few 1903s, and an M-1 carbine.  Winner was Dan Harper with a 271-1X, second was Leonard Trevino with a 258-3X, and third was John Kelly with a 256-0X.  High junior was Jason Laa with a 117-0X, shooing that M-1 carbine.

The annual “M-1 Carbine Rattle-Battle” had 8 shooters for a single relay so it went really fast.  Everyone kept those barrels smoking as they fired 50 rounds in the allotted 50 seconds at each distance.  Winning score with 21 hits out of 50 shots was Eric Johnson, shooting a STMTC loaner carbine, Leonard Trevino was second, and Ed Beezer came in third.  Eric Johnson boasted he was placing the fabulous Ken Slade M-1 Carbine Rattle-Battle trophy on his fireplace mantle to be enjoyed by his wife and family for the entire next year.   Leonard Trevino received the ever-desirable shooters votive candle made from an empty Greek ammo can for a second time and was planning on using them for a romantic, Hoppe’s scented evening with his wife.  In third place Ed Beezer, received the exotic bag of Circus Brand salted peanuts.

Finally, we shot our annual Bayonet Challenge Match, consisting of 5 rounds in 5 minutes, standing slow fire at 200 yards, using a service rifle with a bayonet mounted.  Six shooters tested their skills and contrary to what you might believe, you can actually hit in the scoring black with a bayonet on the rifle.  Jon Ussery, shooting an M1 Garand, won the free frozen turkey with a score of 32-0X.  It might be interesting to do some off-the-bench testing to see how much the bayonet affects accuracy of a Garand…any excuse to go the range a shoot the old war horse.

The first High Power match for 2010 is a “Fun Match” at CTSA on Sunday, January 17.  It’ll be a standard 50 round NM course of fire.  Match fee is $20 for adults and $10 for juniors.  Fun begins at 0800 for set up and first rounds down-range at 0900.

There were 10 High Power competitors shooting the November 15, Fun Match at the CTSA Range. This match was a standard 50 round National Match course of fire. The winds were gusty winds and there was no mirage due to the overcast day. This made for some tough wind calls. Winner of the match was Jon Ussery with a 475-5X. Shawn Taylor was second with a 470-7X, and Wayne Nunn was third with a 469-9X.
The next match is the Pearl Harbor Remembrance M1 Garand Match at CTSA Range on Sunday, December 6. We’ll start the day shooting a standard 35 round J.C. Garand Match. We have “loaner” Garands available for competitors to use. (Springfields, Enfields, and Carbines are legal too.) Match fee is $25 for adults and $15 for juniors, and includes 35 rounds of M2 Ball 30-06 in the entry fee.
The fun will continue with our annual M-1 Carbine Rattle-Battle Match. The course of fire will start at 200 yards prone, then at 150 yards sitting, and finally 100 yards standing, with a time limit of 50 seconds at each range. A total of 50 total rounds of ammo may be fired. Match fee will be $5.00. For ammunition you have two options, bring-your-own-bullets (BYOB) or purchase (very limited) carbine ammo (50 rounds) for sale at $15.00 per box. The organization has loaner carbines available for use at the match. The lovely and rare Ken Slade M-1 Carbine Rattle-Battle trophy will be awarded to the match winner.
Finally, if we have enough interested shooters, we’ll conduct our Bayonet Challenge Match which consists of 5 rounds in 5 minutes, standing slow fire, using any service rifle (any country) with a bayonet mounted. Highest score on the 200 yard SR target wins a turkey! All this shooting fun begins at 0800 for set up and first rounds down range at 0900.

We had 11 High Power competitors attend the August 17, Fun Match at the CTSA Range. Conditions were fine and the competitors turned in some great scores. Winner of the match was Shawn Taylor with a 471-8X, second was Jon Ussery with a 466-7X, and third was Dan Harper with a 464-4X. Off the bench, Jim Ford had a 416-2X.

The next High Power match is the John C. Garand Match at CTSA Range on Sunday, September 21. It’ll be a standard 35 round CMP “A” course of fire. Match fee is $25 for adults and $15 for juniors. The fee includes 35 rounds of M2 Ball 30-06 ammo. Fun begins at 0800 for set up and first rounds down range at 0900.