600 yard IBS matches in Western Colorado

[Mulligan]

All,
The Western Colorado Rifle and Silhouette Club will be hosting 600 yard IBS matches this year. This is new to us and we hope to expand the program in the coming years.
We will kick off the season with a demonstration/Cabin Fever shoot on Feb 9th. We have 4 registered matches scheduled for this year. We will have a meeting soon and likely add a few more matches to the calendar.

Right now we have a 100’ covered firing line with 8 benches, by mid summer we should have completed work to include extending the covered firing another 100’ and adding 8 more benches.

We will get a Facebook page going soon and I will make sure our registered matches are posted here.

Question,
What successful methods have you found to generate some funds for establishing a good facility?
What amenities would you consider a must have for a successful two day match?
Our location is a bit remote, no ele, or water at the shooting range. We are located just 20 min south of Grand Junction, Colorado, that has lots of good lodging and food options. The valley plays host to several really nice activities including the Wine Festival, Bluegrass Festival, and Peach Festival.
https://coloradowinefest.com/
https://palisadepeachfest.com/

I bet most of you didn't realize Palisade Colorado grows some of the worlds finest peaches, did you???

Thanks
Clay

Edit to include the dates for the registered matches (Second Saturday of the month).
March 9th
April 13th
May 11th
Nov 9th
Clay

 

[Mulligan]

@bbarber25 @Thumper

 

[tom]

What amenities would you consider a must have for a successful two day match?

Another 400 yards

 

[dmoran]

^^^^^ I'll 2nd that input !.!.!

---------------------------------------------------

Look forward to making it to CRSC someday.

 

[Mulligan]

Another 400 yards

I am hopeful the new range in Cameo will git the 1000 yard range developed soon. Right now they have built a stellar pistol/three gun facility. They are currently developing what will be a world-class PRS/ steel banging course. They are looking to host an ELR match there soon.
Last time I was out there, we went for a "field trip" and looked at the firing line for one of the 1000 yard ranges. They are hoping to get one developed to host some F-class matches, however the covered firing line and benches will be at a different site in a couple of years.

Edited to included the info about the 1000 yard F-class range.
CW

 

[SHall]

Colorado is a beautiful state! I fell in love with the Rocky’s when I elk hunted there in early ‘90’s. At a range I like to see a good sight in area just to the left of each target. Either a dirt bank covered with rock dust just to the left of target base and shoot at small skeet or even better a 24 diameter AR550 steel gong painted white with a small black dot in center. Shoot 2 targets at a time (stacked on top of each other). Large board to display all targets from each relay.
Toilets (of course), concrete benches with concrete blocks, concrete floor, well covered benches, covered cleaning / sitting area just behind benches. Graveled. Unloading and Parking very close to this area. Optional:electricity, food on sight, camping.
Thank you for all the hard work to provide a new range for this great sport! Samuel Hall in NC

 

[Mulligan]

Colorado is a beautiful state! I fell in love with the Rocky’s when I elk hunted there in early ‘90’s. At a range I like to see a good sight in area just to the left of each target. Either a dirt bank covered with rock dust just to the left of target base and shoot at small skeet or even better a 24 diameter AR550 steel gong painted white with a small black dot in center. Shoot 2 targets at a time (stacked on top of each other). Large board to display all targets from each relay.
Toilets (of course), concrete benches with concrete blocks, concrete floor, well covered benches, covered cleaning / sitting area just behind benches. Graveled. Unloading and Parking very close to this area. Optional:electricity, food on sight, camping.
Thank you for all the hard work to provide a new range for this great sport! Samuel Hall in NC

Samuel, thank you very much for the input.
I appreciate it.
CW

 

[Steve Wilson]

Clay,

Welcome to the IBS.

Facilities vary greatly among the Ranges that host 1 or 2 day 600 yard matches. I am listing a few observations for your consideration. These are based on my experiences at St. Louis, Vapor Trail, Memphis and Big Piney Ranges.

Parking area.
All of the Ranges I listed have gravel parking areas.

Space for Pop Up Canopies and Camper Trailers.
Most shooters use these canopies to set up their cleaning tables and to lounge around under. They are part of the parking area, for the most part. Big Piney has a large grass area adjoining the parking lot that many set their canopies on. You may likely have a few camper trailers show up also.

Restroom facilities.
St. Louis and Big Piney have clubhouses that include bathrooms. Memphis and Vapor Trail use Port-A-Potties. Either work fine.

Drinking water.
It can be as simple as a water cooler with ice added and plastic drinking cups.

Target and results posting.
St. Louis and Big Piney hang their targets inside. Memphis and Vapor Trail have outside posting areas. Neither of them are under cover and they work well, unless there is lots of wind and/or rain. Then it can get a little troublesome but it works out.

Electricity.
You need electricity to run your computer and printer. St. Louis, Big Piney and Vapor Trail have electric running to their scoring rooms. Memphis runs their's off of a small generator. Most of them can provide at least some limited electricity to those that bring camping trailers. Don't sweat this one too much.

Lodging and dining distance.
Having these available within a 20 minute drive is perfectly acceptable.

I am wishing you the very best and look forward to your participation. Please feel free to contact me for any reason.

 

[Mulligan]

We will stack two targets, sighter’s will be on clay birds. Once we bring in a bit more funding, steel gongs for sighters will be purchased.
We have a good graveled area for loading and unloading equipment however it is limited.
Shooters will likely have to move vehicles after unloading equipment. We do not have a facility for loading ammo. We may get there some day, but not now.
We have a couple of areas for primitive RV camping.
I will work on a large board for all targets to hang on....... Ideas?

 

[Mulligan]

In the post above the third and fourth pictures down the skylined ridge is the western edge of the worlds largest flat top mountain. It is the Grand Mesa. The edge you can see is right at 11’000’ in elevation.
There are 300 lakes on top and unlimited camping opportunities. Just across the valley is the Uncompahgre Plateau, both mountains are home to very large elk and deer populations. Grand Junction is just 20 minutes away and has all the amminites you would expect from a metropolitan area.
Early spring and Nov have provided some really calm conditions for shooting at this facility. Lots of cleans in f-class have been shot during the Nov matches.
CW

 

[Mulligan]

Clay,

Welcome to the IBS.

Facilities vary greatly among the Ranges that host 1 or 2 day 600 yard matches. I am listing a few observations for your consideration. These are based on my experiences at St. Louis, Vapor Trail, Memphis and Big Piney Ranges.

Parking area.
All of the Ranges I listed have gravel parking areas.

Space for Pop Up Canopies and Camper Trailers.
Most shooters use these canopies to set up their cleaning tables and to lounge around under. They are part of the parking area, for the most part. Big Piney has a large grass area adjoining the parking lot that many set their canopies on. You may likely have a few camper trailers show up also.

Restroom facilities.
St. Louis and Big Piney have clubhouses that include bathrooms. Memphis and Vapor Trail use Port-A-Potties. Either work fine.

Drinking water.
It can be as simple as a water cooler with ice added and plastic drinking cups.

Target and results posting.
St. Louis and Big Piney hang their targets inside. Memphis and Vapor Trail have outside posting areas. Neither of them are under cover and they work well, unless there is lots of wind and/or rain. Then it can get a little troublesome but it works out.

Electricity.
You need electricity to run your computer and printer. St. Louis, Big Piney and Vapor Trail have electric running to their scoring rooms. Memphis runs their's off of a small generator. Most of them can provide at least some limited electricity to those that bring camping trailers. Don't sweat this one too much.

Lodging and dining distance.
Having these available within a 20 minute drive is perfectly acceptable.

I am wishing you the very best and look forward to your participation. Please feel free to contact me for any reason.

Thank you for the information.
This is good stuff!
CW

 

[Evlshnngns]

Ill have to plan a trip, you're only 4 hours away. Keep us updated on the great work your doing.

 

[JCardenas]

Clay, can you post some pictures of the pits and also post the 4 known 600 ins matches to date.

Jaime

 

[Zilla]

Clay, can you post some pictures of the pits and also post the 4 known 600 ins matches to date.

Jaime

Jaime
There are no pits at this range.

 

[bbarber25]

Clay does his homework and has tremendous drive, aptitude and fantastic leadership abilities. I’ve known him better than 20 years. I can tell you these matches are going to be well organized and thought out, and a heck of a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to them. I’m a newb to BR, but, I’m looking forward to using these matches to fine tune my rifle and load for F-class matches (And to get more trigger time). I encourage anyone to attend that can and know I would love to shoot with some of you veteran BR guys to school me.

 

[Mulligan]

Clay, can you post some pictures of the pits and also post the 4 known 600 ins matches to date.

Jaime

Good Morning
the dates for the registered shoots are
March 9
April 13
May 11
Nov 9
They are all posted on the IBS Long Range website
https://internationalbenchrest.com/events/category/long-range-schedule?page=2

I posted the link above because we plan to get the group together soon and add a few more dates.... We are hoping to host a two day shoot with a sight-in period on Friday. Will keep you posted.

As David posted earlier, this range does not have pits. We will be shooting our sighters at clay targets placed about 10' behind the targets on a earthen berm. In the next couple of years as funding becomes available we plan to purchase steel plates for sighters.

Clay

 

[243BR]

Is the IBS site correct about no SOY points?

 

[Mulligan]

Is the IBS site correct about no SOY points?

Yes Sir it is.
At this time we are holding those for the two day shoots.
After we get the group of shooters together and decide how many more shoots we will host and when the two day events are we will post the new data to the IBS webpage after we get approval of those dates from the IBS.
CW

 

[bpmoss1]

View attachment 1086505 View attachment 1086504 We will stack two targets, sighter’s will be on clay birds. Once we bring in a bit more funding, steel gongs for sighters will be purchased.
We have a good graveled area for loading and unloading equipment however it is limited.
Shooters will likely have to move vehicles after unloading equipment. We do not have a facility for loading ammo. We may get there some day, but not now.
We have a couple of areas for primitive RV camping.
I will work on a large board for all targets to hang on....... Ideas?

View attachment 1086506
View attachment 1086507
View attachment 1086508

You may consider @alloy targets for your ar500 steel gongs as he is a great sponsor of this site as well as the sport.

 

[X-Caveman]

You may consider @alloy targets for your ar500 steel gongs as he is a great sponsor of this site as well as the sport.

Thanks!

Yes, Clay, we'd be willing to work on some brother-in-law pricing for you guys for sighter plates. We have done it for several local ranges that host competitions here in TX, and we even helped @BT1 & Co in Manatee. We can't afford to give them away, but we can cut it pretty close to the nubbins. You may reach out to Steve and see what, if any, changes he would make if doing it over. They just held their big Florida Championship, so their should be plenty of opinions on their system. As for the ones we use at 500M Fly Shoots here in TX, I sometimes wish they were a little bigger. I know this guy that's missed the whole damn thing!