Frequently Asked Questions about Shooting a Match at ENGC
Q. What time should I show up for a match?
A. Stage set-up starts around 7:30am. Registration starts soon after, and registration stops at 9:00am. If you are going to be running late, please call Terry or Tom so that we can get you registered in the computer. The first shot will be fired shortly after 9:00am, right after the shooters meeting and stage walk-through.
Q. What should I bring to a match?
A. The Eastern Nebraska Gun Club is a primitive range. There is no water, so bring something to drink. You may want to bring a snack. Dress for the weather. It is recommended that you bring twice the amount of ammunition you plan to shoot, in case a re-shoot of a stage is needed. It never hurts to have plenty of ammo on hand! Watch the website before a Three Gun match in case slugs are needed for the shotgun stage.
Q. I want to be a helpful shooter! How can I make our matches run smoothly?
A. Here's a few things to do: Show up early and help set up (not just to game the stages or bitch at the person setting up the stage!); when your squad is shooting, help paste, set steel and set the movers; help pick up brass for the other shooters; stay and help put the props away at the end of the match.
Q. I'd like to design and set up a stage.
A. Great! Send an email to Terry to get on the list. Tell me what date(s) you want, and then plan out your stage. Follow USPSA guidelines, such as "no more than 9 shots in a view" and be sure to watch for possible 180-degree problems. Rich Simandl, the Safety Coordinator, has final authority on the stages and must approve the stage before shooting starts.
Q. What does it mean to "shoot through" at a match?
A. Occasionally, a shooter has an important obligation that day that makes it vital for the shooter to leave early. This is discouraged, as it messes up the squads (it can leave them short-handed) but it happens. A shooter who shoots-through will move from stage to stage, not in squad order.
Q. What are these "match meetings" I have heard about?
A. These meetings are typically held on the Thursday before the first Sunday of the month. See here for location. At these meetings we discuss the stage set-ups, matches for the rest of the year, and all things related to our matches. Everyone is welcome to attend and give their input.
Q. What is this about "drawing a card" after a match?
A. After a match, and all the props are safely put away, Tom will spread out a pack of cards and everyone that stayed to help clean up gets to draw a card. High card (a Joker) wins a free shoot at the next match. In the case of a tie, the two people who tied will draw another card, and high card wins. Note that you must be present to draw a card!
Q. How much does it cost to shoot a match?
A. The cost for adults is either $15 or $18, depending on whether or not a USPSA classifier is shot. Juniors (shooters under age 18) can shoot for $5.
Q. Who is "Gee"? (rhymes with 'key')
A. At the USPSA Area 3 Match in 2005, a female Range Officer was calling out the squad names at the last stage. She has RO'd foreign shooters before, and thought that our own Guy Griffith was a French shooter, so she read out his name as Gee. The name has stuck! If you are squadded with Guy, be sure to ask him about shooting a compensated race gun in a barrel.
Q. I have some questions about a match. Who should I talk to?
A. Our match director is Chris Davies. For questions on matches, or USPSA matters, Chris is the guy. For questions on the Steel Challenge matches, Les Nielson is the Steel Coordinator. Tim Klepper is the Three Gun Coordinator.
Q. What are the pistol divisions in Three Gun?
A. There are no pistol divisions - everyone is in Limited, so load your magazines to full capacity.