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Hi guys,
I contacted the MCFG Safety Coordinator, Chris Pope, and asked about the clay pigeon rule I've heard rumors about. Chris said there was discussion about such a rule, but he was not aware of such a rule being passed or added to the rule book. I asked him to chime in here, when convenient, to clarify.
Please keep in mind that Chris is likely not the Safety Officer at the range during the week (Chris is about 35 years old with short brown hair).
Sincerely,
Chuck
I looked the rules over, and it's not very clearly explained. They could have said laying clay birds on the dirt is expressly prohibited, if that's what is meant. Instead, clay targets are merely included in the list of "targets of opportunity," and the word "aerial" is included in front of clay targets in the section covering clay shooting on the main range. I think I know what the rule means, because it has been verified to me by two club representatives. However, if I had not had that explained to me, I can see how somebody would not gather from the rules, as-written, that intentionally-placed clays on the berms is prohibited. After all, the bullet is going in the berm anyway; who cares if it passes through a clay target one inch beforehand?
I appreciate Chuck taking time to respond here. If in fact he is right, and there was no intention of prohibiting clays in the berms, then the two gentlemen who spoke to me over the course of the past couple months certainly got that impression from the discussion they witnessed. Perhaps an internal "clarification" is needed? Vagueness is an invitation to selective enforcement. If I had to guess, I would surmise there are certain folks who might be, shall we say, more "anal-retentive" than others on the subject of "debris" being left on the berms, presented it for discussion as a "safety" issue, but failed to prevail on the matter, and then one or more attendees who overheard the discussion got the wrong idea that it was a done deal, but weren't present for the final vote?
Again, I appreciate the efforts of the club in improving the facility. I am in a situation where I find the club only useful for taking newbies there a few times a year, and shooting stationary clays is one of the things they really seem to enjoy. It's quick to deploy, gives satisfying immediate feedback on their marksmanship, and is easier and leaves less mess than things like balloons. I have turned a couple formerly anti-gun families around through such activities, and although I find other facilities better for my competition practice, it's nice to have a close-by place to take newbies that doesn't require a 90-minute drive. It's not a make-or-break, but certainly takes away one of the pleasurable options that kids and others sure seem to enjoy. I hope saner heads will prevail.
I simply fail to see how shooting at a paper target in a _metal_ frame placed a couple feet in front of the berm, gives less chance for deflection than a clay target placed directly _on_ the berm. If this is in fact the correct interpretation, then I think somebody erred on this one.