2007 Range improvements:
2007 Range improvements:
2007 was a year with several short term notices that shut the range down for construction and improvements. The lease of the BLM land, directly east of your range, for long term operation of gravel mining was the reason for the closures. As you may know, Orchard Mesa Gun Club entered into an agreement with the BLM, and the lease holder regarding multiple safety improvements.
Improvements included fencing a portion of the gravel mining area on BLM property to restrict human activity, ATV’s, bikers and grazing animals from entering into the extraction area. This activity required that the range be shut down for a couple of days on short notice to allow the fencing to be installed. This fencing will help make your range safer by virtually eliminating activity on BLM land directly east of your range.
An additional issue was that signs be placed on the outside of the gravel operations on the east, south and north warning individuals that a shooting range was in the immediate area and their safety was at risk. BLM is providing the signs and Orchard Mesa Gun Club installed them and we are required to periodically to check, replace and maintain these signs for as long as the gravel lease is active.
The next portion of the improvements was the construction of the backstop berms behind the 50, 100 and 200 yard target positions and the sound barrier berms on the north property line of the range. The range was again closed on short notice for the construction to take place. OMGC was required to obtain a Colorado Storm water permit for this dirt work to be done legally. The contractor that has the BLM lease provided the equipment and man power to complete these berms at no cost to the club.The final piece of the improvement was the installation of the straw bales on top of the sound barrier berms on the north side of range. Again a short half day closure was necessary to accomplish this task. Orchard Mesa Gun Club purchased the bales and the contractor set them on the berms at no cost to club.
Your OMGC President, Irv Deines, was instrumental in getting these 2007 range improvements accomplished. Irv was project manager, gate keeper, consultant and ramrod that got things done and as quickly as possible, so the range could be open ASAP. The Orchard Mesa Gun Club membership thanks you for a great job well done.
2008 Planned Improvements:
The backstop berms are settling and will require additional stabilization , additionally areas behind target positions are getting chewed up. Our initial plan is to add material to backstop berms to medicate the settling and review target placement and height of targets . The Colorado Storm water permit is still in effect so this process will only require equipment for only one day to move material.
The other project that will be addressed this year is the road south of the east/west berm, east of the Quonset . Plans are to add material to build up road and install a “hard pan” i.e.. “Texas wash” for the drainage across road. When this is completed, vehicle access for travel down range will be terminated in the area between north end of covered firing line and current pistol pit berm.
Planning for a new pistol pit south of the 100 yard pit range are on the table for this year, as well as road improvement to access the range on the south 40 acre parcel. Funding for these projects is yet be realized but if we can get plans in place we can commit to the projects, when funds are available.
Development around range:
The property west and north of OMGC range is in the development approval stage and construction will be starting in the near future. A negotiated agreement with the developer has been completed with obligations on the part of the developer as well as the OMGC organization.
Dean Blanck has relinquished his secretarial pen after many (11) years of dedicated service to the Orchard Mesa Gun Club. Dean will continue to handle the Web site, Newsletter as well as being the Chief Range Safety Officer. Of course the compensation for these continuing tasks will remain at the same level. Thanks Dean!
Tom Matthews,
Board of Directors
Safety and target placement:
Targets are to be placed in front of the backstop berms, NOT on top of the berms.
Shooting into the sound barrier berms on the north side of the range is Prohibited.
Shooting into the straw bales is Prohibited.
Please place targets in a such a manner as to prevent your bullet projectiles from ricocheting and leaving the OMGC range property. This the reason for the backstop berms!
Notice of Discontinuance
Notice of Discontinuance
32 Road Range Phone Effective May 1, 2008
The monthly cost of the pay phone in the range house is running approximately $78.00 to $80.00. This cost is excessive and will more than likley to continue to increase in the future. The Board and officers recommended to the membership that this phone service be terminataed effective May 1, 2008. The membership agree and approved the recommendations in the February 19th meeting.
As a replacement for this phone service it was decided to place an 911 Emergency Cell Phone in the range house for a one time cost of $130.00. This phone will only work for 911 calls and will not be registered with any cell phone carrier. The phone will be tested three (3) times a year to insure that everything is in working order.
Anticipated dollar savings for year 2008 is $500.00 and over $900.00 for year 2009.
This phone will be in an ORANGE dry box alone with a rechargable 12V battery. A solar trickle charger will be mountd on the outside of the building to keep the 12V battery at operational voltage level. The box will be appropriately marked "911 Emergency Phone" on the outside of the box and simple instructions will be both on the inside and outside of the box.
This Emergency 911 Cell Phone will allow for additional margin of safety and provide an alternative method of contacting "911"
All members are encouraged to bring their own cell phone to the range, for their own safety and the safety of others on the range, to address any emergency situation that may occur...
SHOOTING & MATCH OPPORTUNITIES AT OMGC RANGE FACILITY
HIGH POWER RIFLE
The OMGC holds a series of 5 monthly High Power matches from May to September. They are approved by the NRA and can lead to classification under the NRA system. Participation also qualifies the shooter to purchase items from the CMP. The matches are the National Match Course reduced , and are fired at 200 yards, with smaller targets used to simulate longer ranges. There are 4 stages to the match. The first is standing slow fire 10 shots one shot at a time at 200 yards over a 10 minute time period. Next is a 10 shot rapid fire stage from the sitting or kneeling position at 200 yards over 60 seconds. The rifle must be reloaded once during this stage. The third stage is 10 shots from the prone position rapid fire in 70 seconds at a range of 300 yards. Finally a 20 shot single loading prone stage at 600 yards. Each shot is worth a maximum of 10 points and a 50 shot match total of 500. There are two major types of rifles used. Service Rifle Class is open to M1 Garands, M1A rifles and AR-15 A2 rifles. Shooters load 2 shots and then follow with 8 in the two rapid fire stages. The second type is the Match Rifle Class and is open to bolt action and semi-auto rifles of 30 cal or less. Shooters may load 2 and 8 or 5 and 5 in the rapid fire stages. Military surplus rifles with chargers or bolt actions with magazines or semi auto rifles are all allowed. Matches start at 0900 and shooters are ask to arrive at 0830 to help set up targets. There is a 15 minute practice period before the start of the match. Cost is $10.00 and includes the NRA match fee and OMGC shooters fee. Matches are usually finished by 1400. If interested please contact Jeff Howard at 464-0301 or e-mail at
HUNTER BENCHREST
This is a informal non-sanctioned bench rest competition using bulls eye targets. 50 shots total; 25 at 100 yards and 25 at 200 yards. Sighting targets are provided. The limits are no rifle over .30 caliber and maximum 6X scope.
AXIS VS ALLIES BATTLE RIFLE
This is a informal non-sanctioned match. 40 shots at 200 yards using only unmodified military rifles. Scoring is by hits in the 13 inch bulls eye target. Shooters are allowed and encouraged to wear military uniforms and gear.
SCHUETZENFEST
This modern day match is a near reenactment of the great rifle matches of 100 years ago. Shot at 200 yards using strictly plain base cast bullets and single shot rifles, it requires patience, precision techniques and a steady off-hand stance.
JUNIOR SHOOTERS
OMGC sponsors a Junior-shooting group that shoots from September to May. The group meets at the DOW Hunter Education range. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the 4-H shooters use the outdoor range every Wednesday evening. The Mesa County Fair shooting competition is held in July during fair week.
RANGE FACILITIES
Current range facilities offer a covered concrete firing line and concrete benches, with a maximum distance of 300 meters. A pistol pit is located at the north end of the covered firing line. Development of additional facilities with various shooting disciplines will be completed as funds become available.
A Friend of us All
Kenny Franklin, 53, who was struck by a single bullet in the abdomen on Saturday February 9th, is still in serious condition at St Mary’s Hospital here in Grand Junction. Anyone who has ever frequented Jerry’s Outdoor Sports on 30 Road in Grand Junction will remember this kindly, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful gentleman. It is hard to see the tremendous pain that Kenny is going through right now and to think about the expenses that will be incurred by his family because of this extremely unfortunate accident. Friends of Kenny have set up an ammo box at Jerry’s for donations to help Kenny and his family overcome these expenses. If you can drop by Jerry’s and contribute to the fund, it would be greatly appreciated.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ORCHARD MESA GUN CLUB
The club was chartered in 1949 as a 100% NRA Club and became a registered Colorado nonprofit corporation in the same year. The controlled range is located at 150 32 Road.
Club meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at the Division of Wildlife, 711 Independent Ave., Grand Junction, CO. Members are not required to attend meetings, however; this is where the business of the club is conducted and all attending members are encouraged to participate in the decisions of the club. This provides an opportunity to be acquainted with the other members.
The controlled range is open to member use EXCEPT during a scheduled match. A match director may, at their discretion, allow open shooting only when such shooting does not interfere with the scheduled match proceedings. The locks on the gates and buildings all have the same combination which is changed periodically for range security. The controlled range is not open for public use. You may use the facilities at your leisure. Please lock up when you leave. If the public does venture on to the range facility when the gates are open, invite them to join the club and participate as a member. This is your club. You have paid for the privilege of using the range and facilities. Please protect and maintain it for yourself and other members.
Entry fees at scheduled shoots are established by the match director. A portion of this fee is turned into the club’s general fund and is used for capital acquisition (future growth), range maintenance and improvements.
Target frames are located in the clubhouse. Club money is used to maintain these frames. Please do not destroy them. The wooden storage shed has two sections, that contain match targets. These areas are not for general membership use, due to the expense and possible damage to targets when not used properly. (1951) The steel building located west of the pistol berm is used for the storage of silhouette targets. Access to all of these targets storage facilities limited to specific members and match chairpersons.
Range facilities consist of a single steel gong mounted on a permanent frame at 300 yards on the southeast end of the range. Please do not use armor piercing or military ball ammo when shooting this gong. Additional facilities consist of backstop berms located behind 50, 100 and 200 yard target locations. The 300 yard target position uses a hill for a backstop. Please set targets in front of these berms to prevent bullet projectiles from skipping out of OMGC range property. It is mandatory that all bullets launched on this range find their final resting place on the range. None can be permitted to leave.
The ‘U’ shaped berm located at the north end of the firing line is the ‘pistol pit‘ for pistol shooters only. This ‘pit’ allows pistol shooters to practice and set their targets without disturbing the rifle shooters. The rules for safe use of ‘pit’ are posted behind the pistol pit firing line. No metal targets of any kind are permitted in the pistol pit.
Pistol shooters may place metal targets at 50 yards or less on positions 1 and 2 of the covered range only and are required to observe rifle firing line operations. This is temporary solution to metal targets for pistol shooters.
Failure to comply with these simple safety rules displays poor common sense, and shows no respect for your fellow members and shooters. Violation of safety rules will result in termination of your club membership. The club cannot afford to have any individual on the range who cannot follow basic safety rules. An accident, of any kind, puts the entire club in jeopardy.
In the past, several organizations have used the range facilities without any charges or fees. Commencing in 1993 , all organizations who request use of the range will be charged a fee of $3.00 (minimum) per shooter per day. Junior and youth groups are excluded from this fee schedule. Additional charges or fees may be incurred based upon the activity. Other fee arrangements can be made upon approval of the membership at a regular club meeting. Contact any OMGC officer for more information or to schedule an event.
Please do not bring cans, bottles or other junk to the range for plinking. This is just something else to haul away to the dump. This is your range. Please clean it up when you leave. When it is wet and muddy, do not drive your vehicle down range.household. Associate members are non-voting and non-office holding. Associate members MUST be accompanied by an active member when using the range.
Enjoy YOUR gun club facilities.
Your membership includes the privilege of bringing guests with you when you shoot. Your membership is for an individual, not a family pass. If you have family members or friends that are shooters, invite them to join. The club has an Annual Associate Membership for active club members that includes your spouse, and/or dependent children living in your
Please obey common sense safety rules and courtesy. OMGC Range Safety Rules are posted at various locations on the firing line and in the clubhouse. Please take a minute to read them. They are there for our safety, your safety and the safety of other shooters. Badges are provided for all members and are required to be displayed at all times when on the range.