Well, what to say. This year has been jam packed so far! Its been a whirl-wind ride the last few months. Area 1 is now done and past, so weve been hitting the NRS Championship match planning hard now. Were doing our best to not let the club matches suffer, with all the “major matches” that are going on. ( I will be sending an NRS email shortly with the updates and registration information)

SO, that being said, THIS SUNDAY is our monthly CLUB match. 5 stages, 131 rounds minimum. Im sure some of you will be out of town or traveling for the holiday weekend, but those of you that are still around we would love to see you at the range !!!!

We could use help with set up on saturday. Quite a few of us will be shooting Saturday as well to support Missoula, so set up will be later than usual. Were going to start set up at 6pm. The ranges should be cleared off by then from the public, and lately with the help and planning set up has been 2-3 hours max. SO, please, PLEASE, if you can come down saturday at 6pm we can use all the help we can get !!!

You might be asking “shooting saturday?” YES, missoula has their annual multigun saturday, so its a great chance to take advantage of a fun filled shooting weekend, both days !!!

Please forward this to your friends, and presidents to your email list.

THANKS !!!! and well see you out this weekend !!!

-Tim

Set up will be saturday afternoon. As always we can use ALL the help we can get. It tends to go quicker with more people You dont need to let me know if you will be there, just show up! Lets start around noon. If you need to reach me for directions or whatever, call, email, text me. 360-3915

Registration for the match on Sunday will be at 9am, a quick shooters meeting at 10, then we burn powder !!!

We will discuss briefly club memberships, and have the forms there sunday, as well I will email them out after the match for those that didnt make it.

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday !!!

-Tim Thomas

I have a few things to discuss and bring up.

1. Match dates

We have psoted the match dates on the bitterrootblasters.org website, and there is a facebook page as well. Id like to take a quick minute and thank CARRIE J for doing ALL the website and facebook updating, ALONG with the match scoring. We couldnt be where were at without her! Make sure to say thiank you the next time you see her on the range !

2. Club Membership

This year we have decided to open up the club to annual memberships Jan1, 2013 to Dec 31, 2013. The membership fee with be $25 per person. “what does this get me?” you might ask. Well, I’ve had many people ask about practice at the range, targets, props, etc. Up till now we have not allowed the public to use any of the CLUB property. Id like that to change, SO for your annual membership in Bitterrootblasters, you will get the combination to the shed, where you have access to the club steel, the target stands, the targets, tape, paint, activators, walls, fault lines, etc. This way if you want to go up and practice on a Thursday, Friday, or ANY day, YOU CAN !!!

Were going to test this out this year on the honor system. I would hate to have to shut this down because people were giving out the combination, or if steel, or stands go missing. Im hoping that no one would feel the need to do that since they would have constant access TO these items.

Your $25 membership will go towards MORE steel, targets, tape, paint, etc. Weve been slowly growing our inventory just off the match proceeds, but i would like to do more. We are workign with BRIAN CRAFT to have more poppers, etc made up. I want to see more steel, more targets, texas stars, polish plate racks, activator boxes, new walls… I have high hopes for the club, and id like to think EACH YEAR that passes we do things a bit bigger than the last. This is a step in that direction.

If your interested in joining the Bitterroot Blasters, watch your email. Ill by sending out the registration form soon !!!

3. HELP / BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bitterroot blasters does have a small board of directors, as we are still new and growing it is small and just enough to keep the state / irs happy. BUT it is getting hard. We have a great amount of local help on saturdays with set up / tear down. BUT we are lacking with MANAGEMENT help. Right now I have to pick stages, design stages, coordinate dates, email for help with set up, do the books, order equipment, etc.

Carrie J has does all the scoring, website, and facebook updating.

Id like to see more involvement from our local members / shooters. If you are younger / older (more matured, lol). Retired or have a day job like the rest of us, and want to help, OR if you can spare even an hour or 2 a month, PLEASE consider joining in. I would love to see or have someone (or a small group) incharge of picking stage designs or designing new ones. if you have computer skills this might be right up your alley !

Bottom line is that each year I keep biting off more and more. THIS year we are hosting the section championship. One way or the other we will do a great job, but many hands make light work….. so please. get ahold of me if your willing to help with more than just the set up/ tear down.

THANK YOU ALL !!!! This club is only here because of YOU !

Ive had some interest and questions on some sort of steel match (or matches) this winter, not necessarily steel challenge, but something with no paper targets that would require taping. Were kicking the idea around and going to see what we can all come up with. Give me some time, and also give me some input if you have ideas!?!? Rim fire only? Stand and shoot, movement, stage designs using only steel? Shoot me and email and well see what we can come up with.

Lastly, please check the scores if you havent been able to yet, weve had 1 small mistake and corrected it, just wanted to make sure were all squared away.

Thanks again to everyone that showed up ! Hope to see you all soon !!!!

-Tim

If you are traveling on Hwy 93 from Montana there is a 11 mile long 35 mile per hour zone because of the Mustang fire. It is definately being patroled…

$20 match fee, sign-up starts at 9am, shooting at 10am.

Pistol targets from 2 yards to 20 yards. Without misses 56 rounds required. Bring extra!

Rifle targets from 2 yards to 260 yards. NO tracers, armor piercing or bullets that stick to a magnet allowed. Without misses 54 rounds required. Bring extra!

Shotgun targets from 5 yards to 60 yards. At least 45 lead birdshot (lead buckshot is okay) and 2 lead slug shots. Bring extra!

Contact: Rob Harvey 208-756-1025 rharvey@wsu.edu

Our next match will be FATHERS DAY, June 17th, and we look forward to better SUMMER weather!!!!

We are having some issues with shooting 2 stages on the 1 rifle bay. We are looking into the posibilites of pushing in more “open” pistol bays. Fundage is limited through the range, so we are looking into alternative sources. We are going to try and put in a grant application from the Friends of NRA. We also have some local people that have access to earth moving equipment, and we’re seeing if we can do anything with their help. If you know of anyone or have some ideas, please dont hold them back, shoot me an email so we can chat. We are doing everything we can to not let this issue compromise the quality of our matches, or the matches themself.

Thank you all !!!!

Tim Thomas
Bitterroot Blasters

If you havent noticed already the stages have been up for this weekends match, It wil be the usual 5 stages, 128 rd MINIMUM. Were hoping for a good turnout even though its a holiday weekend, so bring your friends, spectators, and shooters !!!

Saturday we will be working on our NEW storage shed. Anyone who wants to come help is MUCH appreciated. Were using range funds, BUT for every person that is there helping we get the hours towards a GRANT that’s funding other changes you will see. (paving, fencing, etc) so we can use all the help we can get !!! Work on the storage building will start at 10am.

We will start set up for the match itself at 3, and possibly earlier depending on how quick the storage walls go up.

THANKS!!!! and if you have any questions please email or feel free to call !

The scores are up on the www.bitterrootblasters.org webiste. Please check them out and let me know if there are any mistakes so we can get them corrected.

Our next match is MAY 27th, we sure hope to see all of you there ! and please, bring someone to the range !! Wether its a new shooter, or just a spectator. I hear time and time again by new people ” I didnt know anything like this even existed” or ” ive seen this on TV, but I didnt know there were local clubs that put it on”

The only way were going to grow is by spreading the word!

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE !!!!!!!

Tim Thomas
Bitterroot Blasters

Tim please pass on to your shooting list. The club in Salmon Idaho is going to try several different types of shooting matches from cowboy to precision rifle this year. July 28th will be a 4 stage multigun match. I am the multigun match director.

Round totals are 54 Rifle, 52 Pistol, 45 Birdshot, 2 Slugs. Some of the targets will be pistol or shotgun. Stages will have lots of reactive targets (because I like them) including spinners. The longest rifle shots would be about 270 yards. All that stated I would suggest lots of extra ammo.

I haven’t read the different multigun rule books yet, so not sure which we will follow.

Rob Harvey