The EPS Newsletter - Eugene Practical Shooters

To promote the recreational use of firearms
To provide a venue for shooting sports
Eugene Practical Shooters
Eugene Practical Shooters Newsletter (vol. 1 issue 3)
May-June 2010
"Everyone seems
to be having fun!"
Things have been picking up nicely
at the League range this spring.
Attendance is up at all the matches,
compared to last year. With the change
in schedule, we are now seeing renewed
interest in the IPSC-style match on the
first Saturday, and continued interest in
the steel and IDPA matches.
As we grow and get on our feet
financially, we
have put some
thought into what
we need to do
next. Some high
priority needs
that
Contents
President's Message
Why I Like to shoot
2010 Match Schedule
New Timers
Why I Like to Shoot
Competitive Matches
by West Hovland
(Editor's Note: If you've ever shot a match at EPS,
you've seen member West Hovland. He likes to set up
Bay 1 and if you've ever shot one of his shoot-house
scenarios, you know West likes to make things
interesting. In this article, he explains why he likes to
shoot competitively. He also does an excellent job
capturing the difference between the three match
styles EPS sponsors.)
Growing up in the woods of
northern Washington learning to use a
gun was natural. Hunting, pest control,
and general plinking were a daily part
of life. Soon the paradigm shifted and I
was pursuing education, family, and a
sustainable job. I no longer hunted and
shooting bottles/cans just left a mess.
For me, punching holes in paper got
boring real quick.
2010 Match Schedule
EPS Schedule for 2010
1st Sat - IPSC
2nd Sat - IWLA Donation Match
3rd Sat - IDPA
4th Sat - Range Clean Up
Oregon Area Action Pistol Schedule
1st Sat IPSC Eugene/Steel Bend/”IPSC-style”
Douglas Ridge Rifle Club
Just a few years ago someone
mentioned something called
"action shooting." After some
1st Sun IPSC Klamath Falls
2nd Sat IWLA Donation Eugene/IPSC Albany
2nd Sun IDPA Bend/IPSC Roseburg (on hold)/NRA
Action Pistol Douglas Ridge Rifle Club
3rd Sat IDPA Eugene/IPSC Bend
3rd Sun IPSC Tri-County/Medford IPSC
4th Sat IPSC Dundee/IDPA Medford
4th Sun Steel Albany/Tactical Practice Albany/Steel
Bend/Tactical Match Tri-County/IDPA Klamath
Falls
For a great shooting calendar, see:
http://www.oregonshooter.com/calendar/month.php
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know how to use a firearm. She heard
about our Timer Earmark Fund and
donated enough to purchase the club's first
timer. We'll be using it at the very next
match.
New Timers
by Charlie Fernandez
Shot timers, much like target
stands and targets, barricades
and walls, and range boxes, are
part of the necessary
accoutrements for running a
sports shooting club.
Each of the three competitive
matches EPS puts on monthly,
though they differ in style and
strategy, requires a shot timer
for each squad of shooters.
Since January, 2010, the shot
timers used at matches have
been the personal timers owned
by the match SOs which they
graciously volunteer the use of.
At the May EPS board of directors
meeting, the BOD decided to follow
LaVella's good example and go ahead and
purchase a second timer. Both timers are
the Pact ClubTimer IIIs.
Several of the BOD have either used
these timers or seen them in action in the
past. One major selling point is the
ClubTimer III's electronics, which have a
reputation of being robust when it comes
to standing up to moisture - of which we
get a lot in Eugene.
Here are some of the other features that
hooked us on ClubTimer IIIs:
 Extra loud buzzer
 Ergonomically placed buttons
 Impact resistant case
 Easy to read digital display
 9 volt replaceable batteries
Come out and see the ClubTimer III in
action at the next match!
EPS is happy to announce we
are now in a position to change
that thanks to a donation by 85
year-old, native Oregonian
LaVella Garber.
LaVella has never shot with
us, but thinks everyone should
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Left Overs
have been identified, in no
particular order, are: timers for
the squad boxes; more barricades
for setting up scenarios; more
variety in steel targets; removal of
the old tires from the range and
building a sturdy (won't blow
down in wind...) shoot house.
Some members of the Albany
gun club have graciously loaned
and/or donated falling steel
targets, an activator plate, and
other range gear. One of our
members has built a swinger
target stand and a turner
target. We also recently
purchased 12 steel target bases,
which we believe will require less
maintenance than the wooden
ones.
Everyone seems to be having
FUN at the matches, and next to
SAFETY, that is the most
important thing. See you at the
range!
Jeremy
research I went to watch a steel match
and was immediately hooked.
The different disciplines of
shooting sports are a great way to
practice safe gun handling, improve
skills and have a hoot all at the same
time.
The raw quick-draw speed of steel
entices that inner-cowboy to come out
and play. The run and gun of USPSA
feeds me the adrenaline rush of a 3-D
video game. The scenario-driven
IDPA stages allow me to practice
using cover, target priority, and gets
about as close to real-life encounters
as a shooting game can.
For me it’s all about the fun. Some
days I do well, some I don’t. Either
way it’s always a good time!
To contact EPS, please visit the EPS website at www.eugenepracticalshooters.com