Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association 100 years of service to Arizona shooters!

1. Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association 100 years of service to Arizona shooters!

2. Welcome to ASRPA • The Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association, ASRPA was founded in 1909 as the NRA affiliated State Association to oversee competition shooting and training. • In 1910, The Arizona Rifle Team designed and used a flag when they attended the National Matches at Camp Perry. Arizona had been the only team in past matches to compete without a flag. This flag was adopted as the state flag in 1917. • Today ASRPA still oversees all NRA, CMP and Olympic style competition in Arizona, is active in education and training, especially for juniors and plays an active role in the state’s legislative process. • ASRPA has been a partner with the Game and Fish Department in supporting and promoting Ben Avery Shooting Facility since its inception over 40 years ago.

3. Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association promotes many forms of shooting competition throughout the state. Whatever shooting discipline you have an interest in, we can help you from the early information gathering through obtaining your upper classifications! Image: Hathaway

4. Lets look at the various competitions and shooting activities available in Arizona today. • Competition Shooting can be found at the major ranges in Arizona: • BASF = Ben Avery in north Phoenix • RSSC = Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club in east Mesa • PRGC = Phoenix Rod & Gun Club in south Phoenix • TRC = Tucson Rifle Club at 3 points. • Yuma = Adair Range • Payson • Prescott • FSA = Flagstaff Shooting Association Image: Hathaway

5. NRA & CMP Highpower Matches Probably the most popular precision shooting event, Highpower Rifle Matches consist of shooting from standing, sitting, and prone positions and at 200, 300, and 600 yards.There are several types of rifles used such as: AR-15 (the most popular by far), M1 Garand, M1A and Match Rifle. All rifles used in Highpower competition are fired with open sights. There are special matches for antique or “vintage” military rifles too, like the Springfield and mauser.As with other precision sports, a great deal of finesse and concentration is needed to excel at this shooting discipline.All ages participate in Highpower competition. The Arizona State Junior team has consistently been a winner at the National Matches in Camp Perry Ohio. Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, PRGC, TRC and other ranges

6. Long Range Rifle Competition NRA Long Range rifle competition is fired at 800, 900,1000 yards, all slow fire prone. Typically there are 1000 yd matches allowing match rifle or service rifle with iron sights, with a shooting coat, sling and mat. We also have F-class which is sort of like Benchrest Prone with scopes and sandbags. One of the most prestigeous events is the international competition called the Palma match, which includes stages at all 3 distances but is limited to iron sights and .308 caliber only. The major factor in long range competition is the wind. If the wind is blowing enough to fly a kite it will blow the bullet completely off the target at the 1000 yard line, so a big part of the competition is “reading” the wind by watching the flags and the heat waves and correcting for it shot to shot. The popular 500 yard matches are virtually identical but are technically “mid-range”. Shoot out to 1000 yd at BASF & TRC, 500yd at RSSC, PRGC

7. F-Class Rifle Competition F-class which can be thought of as “Benchrest Prone” is a variant of Prone slow fire medium/long range shooting where the rules allow scopes and sandbags. Its very demanding, as the target has much smaller scoring rings and ability to read the wind and develop accurate loads is correspondingly more important. Nearly all the prone matches in Arizona have an F-class category. This provides an opportunity for a shooter with a hunting or varmit class rifle to come shoot with the equipment he already has. Shoot out to 1000 yd at BASF & TRC, 500yd at RSSC, PRGC

8. Smallbore Rifle Competition NRA smallbore rifle competition is fired at 50 meters, 50 yards and 100 yds. Mostly slow fire prone, but there are some events that include kneeling and standing positions. This is probably the most demanding of the US style shooting sports, a typical match require perfect concentration, sight alignment, trigger control and follow through, 160 times during the day’s match. The Western Wildcat, one of the nation’s most prestigious events is held in March at Ben Avery Image: unknown Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, PRGC, Prescott, RSSC and other ranges

9. NRA Bullseye Pistol NRA Bullseye Pistol like its close cousin, olympic style pistol are precision forms of pistol shooting fired one-handed, slow fire and rapid fire at 25 and 50 yards Bullseye Pistol matches include events for .22 and .45 caliber as well as other centerfire. Pistols. Some events are iron sights only, some permit red-dot style scopes. Look for this sport in Arizona at PRGC, RSSC and Showlow.

10. Olympic and International style Shooting Competition International events, include Rifle, Pistol and shotgun, the 15 shooting events in the summer Olympics are among them. All shooting is with iron sights, no scopes used. Rifle consists of 10 meter air rifle, 50 meter .22, and 300 meter centerfire rifle. Pistol events include 10 meter air, .22 at 25 or 50 meters and .32 centerfire. Several past and future olympic medallists live in Arizona. Look for this sport in Arizona at PRGC, BASF Image: Morini

11. Action Pistol & Practical Shooting These shooting sports developed from self defense training. Consisting of several different situations or scenarios, that involve targets of various sizes, shapes and distance and where the score is based on speed (with a time penalty for missed targets) it has grown into a very fun and fast paced “gun game”. Some events are ideal for using a self defense pistol, others allow the use of highly modified firearms known as “race guns”. 2-gun and 3-gun matches add stages for Rifle, shotgun or both. Practical pistol is actually quite easy to get started in. You need a suitable pistol, that 9mm or .40 will do,a holster, several extra magazines, eye and ear protection, and the willingness to perform some physical exercise. Judging by the numbers of shooters this is one of the most popular shooting sports today. Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, PRGC, TRC and other ranges

12. Tactical Precision Rifle A new sport that has grown as practical shooters moved towards precision shooting. Like other practical events, the “scenario” changes with every match. With distances known or unknown and a limited time window providing pressure for precision hit/miss targets. Rifles tend to be upscale and custom bolt actions with heavy match barrels, adjustable scopes, bipods and match ammo. Look for this sport in Arizona at PRGC and other ranges

13. Metallic Silhouette Shooting Metallic Silhouette Shooting, sometimes called “Siluetas Metalicas” originated in Mexico, legend has it with Poncho Villa’s troops. It started out as a live animal shoot and evolved into the falling steel plate sport we know today. The animals are life sized Chickens, Javelinas, Turkeys and Rams from 200 to 500 meters for High Power or Black Powder rifle, 40 to 200 meters for Centerfire pistol and smaller animals at nearer distance for rimfire rifle or pistol or air gun. In fact the first ever Silhouette match in the US was held at Tucson Rifle Club, here in AZ! Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, TRC and other ranges

14. Black Powder Cartridge Rifle Black Powder Cartridge Rifles are most commonly represented by the “Buffalo” rifles used by market hunters in the 1870’s in the American West. You may remember the 1874 Sharps rifle that stared in the Movie “Quigley Down Under” (co-starring Tom Selleck). This hugely popular sport supports numerous custom and factory makers of replica 1874 Sharps, 1885 Winchesters, Remington Rolling Blocks as well as driving a strong demand for shootable originals. The events range from a variation of Rifle Silhouette to 500 meters and Long Range Rifle to 1000 yds. Most shooting is prone with crossed sticks. Most of the rifles are chambered in the huge old .40 .45 or .50 caliber cartridges Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, and other ranges

15. Image: unknown Muzzleloading Muzzleloading or black powder shooting is very popular among all ages and with both target and hunting participants. These guns are replica or original “musket” type rifles, pistols and shotguns, loaded from the muzzle with black powder. The most popular annual muzzleloader events are held at Ben Avery and Williams, Arizona. Participants dress in period costume, typically from the “Fur Trapper” era of the early 1830’s and the first opening of the American Frontier. These events include shooting matches, vendors, historical education and displays. Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, and other ranges

16. Cowboy Acton Shooting Often claimed to be the fastest growing shooting sport, Cowboy Action Shooting evolved from practical shooting by shooters who wanted try out their single action revolvers. Men, women, boys and girls, all with a chosen “Alias” name they use in the sport, reliving the clothing, firearms, music, and cooking of the wild west. Scenarios with Old West themes abound in a friendly, family oriented get-together. All ages are welcome! These are not really matches but EVENTS! Arizona hosts many of these shoots annually including the Winter Range, one of the top 2 cowboy shoots in the world. Main event shooting stages are set up to use a pair of single action revolvers, a lever action rifle and an 1800’s shotgun. Side events included “Mounted shooting” from horseback and longer range rifle shooting. Image: unknown Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, Tombstone,TRC and other ranges

17. Full Auto Full Auto matches and events are happening almost every week in Arizona. Most of these matches are a history lesson into many of the military firearms that were used in country’s armed forces. Safety is always first, as is with most matches and families are usually welcome. If you attend a match, you will find the participants eager to explain their firearms and you just might be able to shoot that favorite machinegun you have seen on TV for years. The full auto season culminates with the Big Sandy match in northern Arizona. The largest machinegun event in the United States. Image: mgshooters.com Look for this sport in Arizona at Wikieup, RSSC, BASF and other ranges

18. Shotgun Sports • There are 3 major shotgun sports, 4 if you include dove and quail. • Skeet – standard clay targets at various angles coming or going. • Trap – standard clay targets moving away. • Those two sports are very standardized and every skeet field in the nation is identical in layout and presentation, same with trap. • Sporting Clays – considered to be “golf with a shotgun”. Various sizes of clay targets at various presentations. No two stages are the same, no two fields in the world are the same and often they are reconfigured to add challenge. • The Game and Fish department offers a huge Scholastic Clay Target program for juniors. Image: RSSC Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, Dewey and other ranges

19. Junior Programs Arizona has some fabulous junior programs. Traditional NRA style .22 programs both weekend and evening are conducted by dedicated volunteers at several ranges. The state Junior High Power Rifle team sends 10 to 20 teenagers armed with AR-15 rifles to Ohio every summer to compete in the National Championships at Camp Perry. Wickenburg High School has a High Power Rifle shooting team. Many other high schools have Junior ROTC air gun programs. The Game and Fish department offers a huge Scholastic Clay Target program for juniors. Look for this sport in Arizona at BASF, RSSC, PRGC, and other ranges

20. ASRPA Hunter Division • ASRPA supports the hunting sports in Arizona. We have many resources available for the hunter. ASRPA’s Hunting Division Director actually works for the US Government as a trapper and consultant on various state hunting programs.

21. ASRPA Concealed Carry Division • After leading the movement to establish a Concealed Carry of Weapons (CCW) licensing mechanism in Arizona in the 90’s, ASRPA still supports the program with education and training of citizens and trainers. • Today there are over 100,000 CCW holders in AZ. Image: unknown

22. Ben Avery Shooting Facility • ASR&PA’s Has been an active partner in the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, supporting the AZGFD from the very founding of the range. • The legistlative arm of ASRPA has been at the forefront of range protection, leading to several statewide laws affecting Ben Avery in particular and other ranges too. • ASRPA volunteers still run the Ben Avery Range Fund, a mechanism established to allow the sale of targets, ear plugs, tee shirts and soda’s at BASF (as a state government agency AZGFD cannot operate such retail sales), rather than let a commercial vendor perform such sales, the all-volunteer, non-profit Range Fund channels all money back to Ben Avery, typically for expenses that improve the range, everything from rebuilding range facilities to installing water fountains. Even purchasing firearms for education class use at BASF.

23. ASRPA Legislative effort • ASR&PA’s Legislative Division is an active organization in the legislative arena. Many shooters and citizens of Arizona owe a lot of their firearm freedoms to the efforts of our skilled Legislative Response Team. • ASR&PA is always on the watch for legislation that would constitute an assault on your second amendment rights. When these rights are threatened, we inform the shooting/hunting community with our extensive data base. • ASR&PA is constantly watching out for YOU, the sport shooter, hunter, and outdoorsman. • Now is always the best time to join. If you do not help us in this fight their might not be a second opportunity. • Please join us today!

24. Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association’s Bullet Trap Magazine Image: ASRPA

25. Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association 100 years of service to Arizona shooters! www.asrpa.com Join Today! Except as noted, all images by Poole