AZ Blogmeet & Range Trip - Update

AZ Blogmeet & Range Trip - Update

OK, according to the poll, 11 people can make the Dec. 12 date, one (1) can make Dec. 5, and six can't make either. (Sorry, y'all!)

We're going with the 12^th. Now I need to verify from the City of Casa Grande that the range is not reserved on the 12^th for Cowboy Action shooters or such. It would be a bummer to show up there and not be able to shoot!

Assuming there's no conflict, here's how I see it happening: I and at least a couple of other people need to be at the range when it opens at 7:00AM in order to secure good shooting positions. I'll be bringing my AR500 plate steel targets, and I'll need a hand setting them up - they weigh about 35lbs each, and they have to be hand-carried downrange, since there is no longer vehicle access. We'll shoot until about 1:00PM, then pack it in and go to a restaurant still to be determined. I'll be contacting other, non-gun-oriented Arizona bloggers to invite them to shoot and/or eat, too. At least this gives me about a month to get this organized.

A word or twelve about the Elsy Pearson Public Rifle Range:

1) It is an unsupervised range - there are no Range Officers, so we have to do that ourselves. I expect everyone to be familiar with the Four Rules. I also expect everyone to be familiar with firing range etiquette.

2) There is no potable water at the range. Bring fluids. (But no alcohol.)

3) There is, at least, a Porta-Potty on site now. There didn't used to be. I suggest that someone bring some toilet paper, just in case. And hand-sanitizer, too.

4) Even though it's late fall, and the firing line is covered, Mr. Sun is nasty. Bring sunscreen.

5) There are no targets nor target stands at this range. You can bring anything you're willing to clean up as a target (exceptions being glass and explosive targets - that's posted). As I said, I'll be bringing my steel targets, and everyone is welcome to shoot them. I'll also be bringing a target stand for paper targets. If you go out to pick something up, don't get the "stick in the ground" type target stands. The ground out there is caliche, and about as hard as cement.

6) There are three ranges to shoot from, a 100 yard range with covered shooting benches, a 300 yard range with covered benches, and a 25 yard range with no benches, but the firing line is covered too. I figure we'll take up one end of the 300 yard range. In addition, the backstop is a range of mountains. About 600 yards downrange on the side of the mountain someone has put some steel targets, so if you bring something with some reach, you have something to shoot at.

7) Sorry, but they don't allow .50BMG at this range. I suppose it's just slightly possible to loft a 750 grain .50 caliber projectile over the mountain range backstop and drop it onto Interstate 8, so they're verboten.

We still need a place to go after the shoot. I'm open to suggestions. I'd prefer it if it wasn't posted "No Guns," obviously. Anyone familiar with Casa Grande?