Thursday Evening IDPA matches that have been cancelled will be made up on the following Thursday providing that we get enough volunteers to set up.
BOWLING PIN
The first, third and fifth Sunday year round except for rain, we hold bowling pin matches (lots of fun and lots of trigger time!!). We start after 9:00 am and are over by noon. Our matches are two shooters side by side, 5 pins each on a table at about 35 feet, first shooter to clear all pins off his table wins. Deadwood doesn’t count! We shoot 5-7 strings depending on how many shooters are there. (Usually 10-20) We have a revolver class and an auto class. Most of us shoot both, as it is only $5.00 to shoot a class. The minimum round count is about 50 rounds for each class, some use more. Heavy bullets seem to work better than fast but that is just my opinion. We pay first, second and third place. We also shoot lucky target at the end of the pin shoot. 5 shots into a poker target, best hand wins! $$
IDPA
International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is a practical shooting sport oriented around the defensive use of concealed handguns.
Sprague Rod and Gun Club hosts IDPA matches on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, year-round (weather permitting) as well as two Thursday afternoons per month (TBD) in the spring/summer.
IDPA Matches are open to the general public. The match schedule is available on Practiscore, here: <https://www.practiscore.com/clubs/sprague_rod_and_gun_idpa>.
Pre-registration on Practiscore is required for all matches.
SRG Sunday IDPA matches are typically eight stages–with at least six scenarios. Registration/payment begins at 8:30 AM. First shots are at 9:30 AM. SRG members and active duty military pay $20. Non-members pay $25.
SRG Thursday IDPA matches are four to six stages, depending on available light. Registration/payment begins at 4:30 PM. First shots are at 5:30 PM. All shooters pay $20.
A typical IDPA stage is 18 rounds, plus makeups as needed. Budget 20-25 rounds per stage.
Observers are welcome. Eye and ear protection are required.
Address questions via email to: <srgidpa@gmail.com>
The IDPA rules are available here: <https://www.idpa.com/idpa-match-rules/>”
Shooters can join IDPA here: <https://www.idpa.com/membership/>
Note that IDPA rules require shooters maintain a current IDPA membership after their third match.
BULLSEYE INDOOR .22 LEAGUE
NEW LONDON COUNTY PISTOL LEAGUE
Join Eastern Connecticut shooters for the 55th season of competition in the New London County Pistol League! Matches are home or away on Monday evenings from September through March.
The ten-team League uses the .22 rimfire National Match Indoor Gallery Course of 30 shots on three targets in slow-, timed-, and rapid-fire sequences, all at 50 feet. Because only the top five scores on a given evening count for the total team score, new shooters are very welcome. You will find this form of competition a helpful learning experience that is applicable to other forms of target competition.
SKILLS
Bullseye target shooting is a game of calmness and patience, self-control and concentration. Your willingness to persevere as your scores rise, fall, and rise again will be richly rewarded. Novices and intermediate shooters are always welcome. As you learn the fundamentals — and apply these fundamentals with every single shot — your overall scores will increase and you will gain confidence and team recognition. Other shooters will be happy to coach you with useful tips before or after a match. Seemingly small inputs can be of great value! As in any sport, practice is essential to skill development. You will find that the discipline of even a little match shooting will make you a far better “fun” shooter with both pistols and rifles, and add to your knowledge and enjoyment of shooting in general.
TARGET ARMS
In League shooting, just about any .22 rimfire pistol or revolver is adequate, though experienced bullseye shooters most often use optical or red-dot sights that replace the adjustable, “iron” sights that come with a fine firearm. Most shooters use semi-automatic pistols because they recover more easily in the timed/rapid fire stages — though great scores have been fired with revolvers in years past. Target firearms by Ruger, High Standard, S&W, and Browning are most common, and are often customized for their owners with special grips and sights, and tuned-up trigger pulls. Moving up in cost, Olympic-grade arms by Pardini, Hammerli, Walther, and classic Colts are occasionally encountered.
TIPS
Keys to personal success are familiarity with your particular pistol and the ability to see the front sight or red dot perfectly clearly. A crisp, fairly light, trigger-pull weight is also desirable. Top-quality bullseye pistols can often be found on the used market, or by asking other competitors. Remember that indoor target shooting does not demand extremes in equipment; skill is far more important than hardware. The patience and focus learned with a good ..22 are immediately useful in other marksmanship sports.
OTHER EQUIPMENT
Eye and ear protection are always required. A sturdy box that can hold your pistol, ammunition, spotting scope, and extra magazines helps. Take a look on a match night and observe how competitors have resolved these needs for themselves.