Otero Practical Shooting Association
	Otero IPSC - Rocky Flats Rangers - Action Handgun Monthly Newsletter and Match Scores

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From the Prez:

Greetings fellow OPSA Members

This is the first time I have done anything like this. Problem is, I am one of the world's great procrastinators . but more about that later.

It is with pleasure that I take charge of the presidency of this organization. We are continuing to have matches that are popular, and that is a good thing. I mention them: IPSC, Action, Cowboy, and High Power.

We are looking t o continue our sponsorship of "Women on Target". The consensus is that we will be doing this in October, 2008. Membership felt that the spring version last year wasn't the greatest mainly due to the normal windy weather.

A point that I wish to make is that at monthly board meetings this year, we will be following Roberts Rules of Order. I will be making up the agenda for each meeting three (3) days before the meeting. For any new business, if you want something to be on the agenda, please let me know. Also, if an item is very controversial, it may only get on the agenda as a Miscellaneous (for discussion only) item.

I am seriously looking at starting a Muzzle Loading Rifle Match this year. I would like to run them on the 4th Saturday (leaning toward this day) or the 2nd Sunday of the Month. Initially, I am thinking that I would like to have a Traditional Bench Rest Match for Flint Lock and Cap Lock rifles at 75 or 100 yards using NMLRA targets. If I can get my act together, we will start in March and do them Monthly, Bi-Monthly, or Quarterly if there is enough interest.

That is about all I have to say at this point.

Mickey Reinecke - 2008 President

Our next Executive Committee meeting is April 21, 2008, at 6:30p.m. at the range classroom.  All club members are invited to attend.  Hope to see you all there.

From the V-P

I would like to thank all the OPSA members for their continued support of OPSA events throughout this year. In case anyone hasn't realized, OPSA is the only local club that hosts the majority of disciplines in New Mexico. OPSA has IPSC, Cowboy, Action, NRA High Power, and various fun matches every month. I don't know of a local club that hosts these many disciplines. OPSA also conducts two Friends of the NRA Women On Target events every year and is the focal point for southern New Mexico's NRA Eddie Eagle children's gun safety program. Members of OPSA also constitute the majority of and leadership of the annual Friends of the NRA Fund Raising Banquet supporting New Mexico firearms programs, training, and education. OPSA members have also conducted USA Boy Scout's Rifle Merit Badge classes and were instrumental, in the first ever in the United States, USA Girl Scout Camp involving shooting activities. OPSA members are instructors for the New Mexico CCW program, participate in the New Mexico Hunters Safety Education program, and provide instruction for basic shooting skills and instruction for individuals wanting to become NRA certified instructors. OPSA should certainly be proud of the club's and their individual member's accomplishments. I just want you to know what a great organization you belong to.

Butch

A special THANKS to all those, past and present, that donate their time to OPSA. Without their devotion we would not have one of the best and most active clubs in the state.

Remember, the setup time for the different matches is 5:00 PM the day before the respective match. Come on out and help set up. It is your match, so lend a hand.

Women-On-Target

This year's first Women On Target was the best ever. Look for another one in the September time frame.  The instructor/coach ratio to ladies was virtually one-to-one. The rebuilt classroom at the range is top-notch and provided a distraction free environment for the academic portion of the program, except for the aerial announcement of the OPSA Air Force, which provided special entertainment for the ladies compliments of "OPSA Colonel Zero".   It was a special thrill for the ladies to have their own dedicated aerial exhibition.  I dare any other club to rival that!

I would like to thank each lady that contributed to the success and participated in this event and all the sponsors, instructors, and coaches that promoted and supported Women On Target.  Without your backing, our program wouldn't be the benchmark program for ladies in New Mexico that it is today!

Butch R.
Women On Target Coordinator, OPSA

USPSA

Hope to see everyone at the Albuquerque Shooting Park the first weekend of June for the NM Sectionals.  Sounds like it will be another first rate match hosted by the Rio Grande Practical Shooters. 

Cowboy Action

The August match had 12 shooters and this was one HOT match! And I don't mean that any way other than temperature-wise. In the last 10 years that I've been shooting, this was the first match that I wanted to be OVER! Thanks to Matt Clark for his stages. Thanks to Long Islander for his help setting up stages. Thanks to Debbie P. who didn't shoot but shagged brass for us. Also, Long Islander put together our 12 new Evil Roy targets earlier in the day (Fri.) then helped with the set up, a super human effort considering the heat. Mike, from the range, graded the berms and that has helped drainage immensely, thank you. Hopefully, the Sept. match will bring cooler weather. The Lincoln County Regulators have started a new club in Ruidoso. Their shoot is on the second Saturday of the month. Contact "Blackey Cole" (Mickey White) for info, he's their TG. He should be in the Alamo phone book.
If ya gonna miss, miss fast!

Saguaro Sam (Butch)

I would like to pass on a thank you to all those that make our matches successful. Stage design, set up, score keeping, steel setting, spotters, RO’ing, teardown, all work together to make the matches fun for everyone.

Action Handgun

The February match was postponed a day after the light rain and snow of Friday night.  Nine shooters were able to attend the match on Sunday.  The range had dried out enough and it was a great shooting day.  Thanks to all that came out.  We also welcomed a new shooter, Rick D.  He had a good time and vowed to return for more. 

 NRA High Power

This a sport that the vast majority of shooters do not subscribe to. It is a pity as this is a discipline that traces it's roots back to the founding of NRA and the matches that were held initially at Creedmoor Range on Long Island in New York State and ultimately to the National Matches held each year at Camp Perry, Ohio.

I must confess that I did not get into it until about 4 years ago when we started sponsoring these matches here in La Luz at the SPG Range. Dick talked me into it then and as soon as I shot my first match, I was hooked. I have a lot of fun at these matches as I sincerely hope everyone else who participates does.

This winter, we had F-Class (Scope Sight) Matches in December and January. In February, we had a Vintage Service Rifle Match (CMP Style). Next month (March), we will be having a regular NRA High Power Match to tune up for the Summer League. We now have a group of shooters who regularly participate in High Power who are great to shoot with. I enjoy the enthusiasm, camaraderie and discipline of our group of shooters.

Our Summer NRA High Power League will be from April to October, 2008 for a total of 7 matches. I will be scoring differently for prizes at the end of the league. Also, we will be numbering from left to right in the NRA style.

Also, we are toying with having a sanctioned match in November this year. Please let me know what you think about this, our league, or anything else. I welcome comments good and bad or indifferent.

Mickey

22 Rimfire - March 2008

The March '08 22 Fun Match had 16 shooters which was a very good turnout. Several new shooters joined in. The stages weren't complicated but a little strategy helped. Five rounds for pistol and ten rounds for rifle for each of the four stages is what's required. Breaking poker chips and popping catsup packets proved a lot of fun. Everyone got a lot of laughs and good natured ribbing. Our next 22 Fun Match will be May 31st, 8:00 set up. This is a great opportunity to get the spouse involved in an inexpensive, easy, fun, and friendly competition. It's great for the kids, too. As long as participants have basic gun handling skills and knowledge of gun safety, they are invited.
Butch

From the Range

As most of you have noticed the backstops on the 200 & 300 yard ranges are completed. A drainage ditch for the GP Ranges has also been dug. We will still have some flooding on the GP Ranges though. When you park on the GP ranges please try to stay out of the ditch along the south side of the driveway, its not very deep and could easily be filled in. The concrete on the 50 yard range has also been removed which will help hold down the ricochet problem. We still can have ricochets so please continue to put your targets on the upper portion of the target frame when shooting close in. For the 05/06 range budget, I have requested a part-time worker so the range can increase its operating hours to seven days a-week. This has not yet been approved and we won't know until the new budget is finalized in July. If you think this is a good idea, please contact your county commissioner and let them know what you think. The tumbleweed problem this year is huge. If you would like to see a weed free range, when you see a tumbleweed coming up, feel free to pull or kick it out. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. I have heard a rumor that I will not approve more then 4 competitions a month. This is false conception. Any ideas for new competitions need to be submitted at a club meeting, approved by the committee, then approved by the range. Any competition that will benefit the club and the range will be considered. We just can't use all the ranges every weekend. We are seeing many new shooters to our competitions every week. Keep up the good work! If you have any questions or suggestions please don't hesitate to talk to the club committee or me, Jay Frost, Range Master.

If you would like to become a certified RO contact Jay Frost.  Your cost: the NRA RO Manual and NRA registration fee.

 

AREA MATCHES

Cowboy Action

Ft Bliss Rod and Gun Club (El Paso) holds a cowboy action match on the first Sunday of the month.

Gila Rangers has a cowboy action shoot on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.

Roswell has a cowboy action shoot the 2nd Sunday of the month.  www.roswellgunclub.com

Truth or Consequences has a cowboy shoot on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

Carlsbad has a cowboy shoot on the 3rd Saturday of the month.

Magdalena has a new club. They shoot on the third Saturday of each month. They shoot at 1 PM. For the location you will have to contact someone there.

IPSC Matches

El Paso - Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club holds an IPSC match on the second Saturday of the month.  Fort Bliss IPSC

Albuquerque - Rio Grande Practical Shooting Club holds an IPSC match the first and third Saturday of each month. For more info:   Rio Grande Practical Shooters

The Zia Gun Club shoots a variety of action type matches including 3 Gun, action handgun and revolver only during each month.  Visit their web site at:  Zia

Las Cruces is now shooting IPSC sanctioned matches on the first Saturday of the month at the Shooting Range just west of Las Cruces and shoots a Steel Challenge Match on the forth Saturday.  For more info: Las Cruces IPSC

Roswell Gun Club shoots an IPSC match on the third Sunday each month.  Roswell Gun Club

 

Safety on the Range: Who is responsible for safety? YOU ARE! If someone says anything to you about something unsafe-don't take offense, it is for your safety as well as that of everyone else. It is better to maybe hurt your feelings than have anyone get injured.

Thank you to all those who help to advertise OPSA matches.

• President: Mickey Reinecke
• Vice President: James Rials
• Secretary: Richard Dommers
• Treasurer: Jay Frost
• IPSC matches: Don Bednorz
• Cowboy matches: Marvin Jordan
• Action matches: John
• SASS Territorial Governor: Pam Hall
• NRA High Power: Mickey Reinecke

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