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Frequently Asked Questions About the Club, shooting, and the web page General information questions and answers, in no particular order.... Q. What shooting facilities are available at the range? A. The pistol range has 12 (or so) covered firing points with targets from 7 - 25 yards. The rifle range has firing points for 100 and 200 yard targets. 14 benches at the 100 yard half and 10 at the 200 yard half. Targets at 50 yards can be set up on the 100 yard range. The 100/200 yard covered firing points boast concrete benchrests and concrete floors. Q: Why are there events for the Simpson Range Association on the Calendar? Are RGC and Simpson the same club? A: No, they're not the same club, but RGC and the SRA put out the combined calendar to better promote both clubs competitive shooting events. The clubs get along fine, but sometimes RGC's Benchrest shooters and SRA's Cowboy Action Shooters look suspiciously at each other...Don't worry.. it's just a misunderstanding.. you see; Benchresters think a Civilised rifle should be bolted to a concrete bench, and Cowboy Action Shooters think Benchresters dress funny.... (all in good fun guys!) Q. Are shotgun facilities available. A. There is a patterning board on the pistol range, but no Trap, Skeet or Sporting Clays available. For shotgun shooting contact Humboldt Trap and Skeet Club, P.O. Box 3642, Eureka, CA 95502. (707) 839-3788. Q: How do I find out about some of the Shooting Sports listed on the Calendar? I'd like to get involved, but don't know anything about them! A: That's easy! On the calendar page, scroll down to "Contacts". Call up the contact for the sport you're interested in. You'll find everyone that's running the matches listed is very helpful and enthusiastic about their sport! Q: I'm a member and I want to know why there's never (xxx) in the Stumper newsletter? A: Well.. probably because no one has submitted it to the Stumper! Why don't YOU write something up about your favorite shooting topic, like how to get started in your favorite shooting sport! Keep it short, but informative (it's a short newsletter after all.). Submit your idea to Paul Feist (the current editor of the Stumper). Q. When is the range open to the public? A. Non-members are welcome at the range each Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4PM. Occasionally a scheduled match will delay public use until noon. Check the Calendar for Match Days. The range is also typically closed on holidays. Q. Are targets and ammunition available at the range? A. Generally no. Bring your own ammunition and paper targets. Bottles, cans and other "junk" targets are not allowed. Targets are provided for scheduled matches. Q. Is camping permitted on the range? A. Unfortunately no. There is no power or water available on the range. The gates must locked when the range is not in use. Q: Why aren't there any (insert your favorite shooting sport here) matches at RGC? A: Because no one has volunteered to run them! If you want to try and run a match that isn't on this years calendar this is how to proceed; 1) Make sure that RGC's range can safely accommodate the proper targets and course of fire... check the range rules; no "quick draw" and all shots must impact the berms.. 2) If the sport is NRA sanctioned, RGC *prefers* sports to be run by NRA rules, with official NRA approval and reporting of scores. It's not required, but whenever possible, it's nice. Sports governed by other organizations should be run by those rules if possible (and practicle). 3) Round up a few people that have the same interest. Scheduling range days for two people to shoot isn't a productive proposition for the Club. Put an article in the Stumper to see if others are as interested as you are. 4) Come to a club meeting and discuss it! Ask questions, and see if other members are interested! If it appears that your idea is within the means of the club (targets and range time), and you get some people saying "yeah! that's a GREAT idea!" then proceed to step 5... 5) Come to the annual Competitors Meeting in November and put your hand up and volunteer to run the matches, and put your matches on the next years calendar! Remember, if you decide to run a match, YOU are responsible for the safety of the competitors, and responsible to collect fee's to cover target costs (and the club appreciates any additional fees, of course). I hate to chalk it up in monetary terms, but the competitions that COST the Club the least, and MAKE the club the most get more range days! Q: I'm looking for a place to test my Full-auto weapon, can I use the RGC range? A: I'm sorry.. No. Q2: But it's a LEGALLY owned and licensed Class III weapon, with papers and tax stamp? A2: Sorry.. legal or not, our range facility is neither appropriately laid out, nor insured for ANY full automatic fire. AND if it was NOT a Legally licensed full-auto firearm, we could get in a LOT of trouble for not calling the cops on you. Don't put the club in that position! As much as we'd like to say yes, we have to say No. Q: Why does RGC Require membership in the NRA for memberships? A: You mean aside from the fact that NRA is our best tool to fight for our rights? NRA also provides great assistance in providing RGC it's insurance, and NRA requires Affiliated clubs to require membership. Without that insurance, things could get pretty difficult in a hurry. Without insurance to cover the operation of the range, members of the Clubs Board would be personally responsible for any legal difficulties that arise... and you can imagine how much that could cost! Q: But I don't like the way NRA handles it's responsibilities or it's public image! A: Well.. I could write a long rant, but suffice to say that NRA is an association of its MEMBERS, and its MEMBERS decide the direction (and the board of directors!) of the Association. A MEMBER of the NRA can vote to CHANGE the Associations direction. A non-member can't. If you don't like it, become a voting member and change it. "We must all hang together, or we will surely all hang separately".... Q: Does the Club accept Anonymous Donations? A: HELL YES! uh, excuse my language.. Yes, yes we do. (OK.. nobody really asked this question, but I thought you ought to know... you know, just in case...). Q: Why are the dues $50 a year? didn't they used to be less? A: Under the current Bylaws the dues are set by a vote of the membership. The dues were raised recently because for years, the clubs dues were the same, and the costs of range maintenance, targets, road repairs, and everything else got more expensive. It got to the point where we couldn't afford to fix up the range houses or improve the road. So it was necessary to establish a fund specifically for range improvements and maintenance. If we had more donations, we might be able to reduce dues. (Mr. Gates, Mr. Forbes, this is a hint!).

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Club, shooting, and the web page

General information questions and answers, in no particular order....

Q. What shooting facilities are available at the range?

A. The pistol range has 12 (or so) covered firing points with targets from 7 - 25 yards. The rifle range has firing points for 100 and 200 yard targets. 14 benches at the 100 yard half and 10 at the 200 yard half. Targets at 50 yards can be set up on the 100 yard range. The 100/200 yard covered firing points boast concrete benchrests and concrete floors.

Q: Why are there events for the Simpson Range Association on the Calendar? Are RGC and Simpson the same club?

A: No, they're not the same club, but RGC and the SRA put out the combined calendar to better promote both clubs competitive shooting events. The clubs get along fine, but sometimes RGC's Benchrest shooters and SRA's Cowboy Action Shooters look suspiciously at each other...Don't worry.. it's just a misunderstanding.. you see; Benchresters think a Civilised rifle should be bolted to a concrete bench, and Cowboy Action Shooters think Benchresters dress funny.... (all in good fun guys!)

Q. Are shotgun facilities available.

A. There is a patterning board on the pistol range, but no Trap, Skeet or Sporting Clays available. For shotgun shooting contact Humboldt Trap and Skeet Club, P.O. Box 3642, Eureka, CA 95502. (707) 839-3788.

Q: How do I find out about some of the Shooting Sports listed on the Calendar? I'd like to get involved, but don't know anything about them!

A: That's easy! On the calendar page, scroll down to "Contacts". Call up the contact for the sport you're interested in. You'll find everyone that's running the matches listed is very helpful and enthusiastic about their sport!

Q: I'm a member and I want to know why there's never (xxx) in the Stumper newsletter?

A: Well.. probably because no one has submitted it to the Stumper! Why don't YOU write something up about your favorite shooting topic, like how to get started in your favorite shooting sport! Keep it short, but informative (it's a short newsletter after all.). Submit your idea to Paul Feist (the current editor of the Stumper).

Q. When is the range open to the public?

A. Non-members are welcome at the range each Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 4PM. Occasionally a scheduled match will delay public use until noon. Check the Calendar for Match Days. The range is also typically closed on holidays.

Q. Are targets and ammunition available at the range?

A. Generally no. Bring your own ammunition and paper targets. Bottles, cans and other "junk" targets are not allowed. Targets are provided for scheduled matches.

Q. Is camping permitted on the range?

A. Unfortunately no. There is no power or water available on the range. The gates must locked when the range is not in use.

Q: Why aren't there any (insert your favorite shooting sport here) matches at RGC?

A: Because no one has volunteered to run them! If you want to try and run a match that isn't on this years calendar this is how to proceed;

1) Make sure that RGC's range can safely accommodate the proper targets and course of fire... check the range rules; no "quick draw" and all shots must impact the berms..

2) If the sport is NRA sanctioned, RGC prefers sports to be run by NRA rules, with official NRA approval and reporting of scores. It's not required, but whenever possible, it's nice. Sports governed by other organizations should be run by those rules if possible (and practicle).

3) Round up a few people that have the same interest. Scheduling range days for two people to shoot isn't a productive proposition for the Club. Put an article in the Stumper to see if others are as interested as you are.

4) Come to a club meeting and discuss it! Ask questions, and see if other members are interested! If it appears that your idea is within the means of the club (targets and range time), and you get some people saying "yeah! that's a GREAT idea!" then proceed to step 5...

5) Come to the annual Competitors Meeting in November and put your hand up and volunteer to run the matches, and put your matches on the next years calendar!
Remember, if you decide to run a match, YOU are responsible for the safety of the competitors, and responsible to collect fee's to cover target costs (and the club appreciates any additional fees, of course). I hate to chalk it up in monetary terms, but the competitions that COST the Club the least, and MAKE the club the most get more range days!

Q: I'm looking for a place to test my Full-auto weapon, can I use the RGC range?
A: I'm sorry.. No.
Q2: But it's a LEGALLY owned and licensed Class III weapon, with papers and tax stamp?
A2: Sorry.. legal or not, our range facility is neither appropriately laid out, nor insured for ANY full automatic fire. AND if it was NOT a Legally licensed full-auto firearm, we could get in a LOT of trouble for not calling the cops on you. Don't put the club in that position! As much as we'd like to say yes, we have to say No.

Q: Why does RGC Require membership in the NRA for memberships?

A: You mean aside from the fact that NRA is our best tool to fight for our rights? NRA also provides great assistance in providing RGC it's insurance, and NRA requires Affiliated clubs to require membership. Without that insurance, things could get pretty difficult in a hurry. Without insurance to cover the operation of the range, members of the Clubs Board would be personally responsible for any legal difficulties that arise... and you can imagine how much that could cost!

Q: But I don't like the way NRA handles it's responsibilities or it's public image!

A: Well.. I could write a long rant, but suffice to say that NRA is an association of its MEMBERS, and its MEMBERS decide the direction (and the board of directors!) of the Association. A MEMBER of the NRA can vote to CHANGE the Associations direction. A non-member can't. If you don't like it, become a voting member and change it. "We must all hang together, or we will surely all hang separately"....

Q: Does the Club accept Anonymous Donations?

A: HELL YES! uh, excuse my language.. Yes, yes we do. (OK.. nobody really asked this question, but I thought you ought to know... you know, just in case...).

Q: Why are the dues $50 a year? didn't they used to be less?

A: Under the current Bylaws the dues are set by a vote of the membership. The dues were raised recently because for years, the clubs dues were the same, and the costs of range maintenance, targets, road repairs, and everything else got more expensive. It got to the point where we couldn't afford to fix up the range houses or improve the road. So it was necessary to establish a fund specifically for range improvements and maintenance. If we had more donations, we might be able to reduce dues. (Mr. Gates, Mr. Forbes, this is a hint!).