Do they even have a place for it yet?
Nicest range in the US for it.
Not taking sides at all, just pointing out the obvious...
I was on the Board of Directors at the SLBRRC during the range purchase, development, and for a number of years afterward. I could relate some stories regarding the HP shooters there that would help you understand the current circumstances very clearly.
Kudos to you...seriously. Every time I think of that place, I think about the thought that went into the move and the things done to protect it and its members for the long term...even more than the far more obvious things, like layout and design. You guys did a remarkable job, IMHO.
You are correct with regards to the story as to how the club came to be what it is, and where it is today. Frankly, most people wouldn't believe the history of the BRRC if it were published. The fact that the Club even exists today is nothing short of a miracle. To say that the stars had to line up, would be the understatement of the century. I will say this, once we had the ball in our possession, we ran like hell for the end zone.
I would of hoped that the club leadership would have been more inclusive of other shooting disciplines . I shot BR matches there ( LV n HV) the moment it existed at the new location n was a member to boot . Switched to HP (XC n MR) In the mid 90s. Drove 1.5 hrs one way to practice or attend an event and supported any HP event they had. Also knew several of the HP executive board members who fought tooth n nail to get the 600 yd. berm n pits constructed.
I'm pleased that you were a member of the club and enjoyed the facilities. I would like to set one thing straight though. Your perception that the club leadership was not inclusive of various shooting disciplines couldn't be further from the truth. The only shooting sports that was not fully funded, and included equally, was the shotgun sports. We were not a shotgun facility for a number of reasons. First and foremost, we didn't have much demand from the membership for shotgun ranges. There was a first class shotgun facility less than a mile from the old club site. So it really didn't make any sense to have redundant capability at a rifle club with that range so available. If you want to measure financial support for the different shooting disciplines on a per capita basis, the HP shooters were at the very top of the list. When the club relocated to Wright City there were 9 paying club members that were HP shooters. For those 9 members we payed for the clearing and earthmoving of 300 additional yards of range length and provided the funding to build the pits, berms and target frames. Storage facilities for their target frames were bought and moved to the facility. So the suggestion that they were marginalized or underfunded is absolutely total BS. They sold the Board of Directors another line of BS by claiming large numbers of new members that would join the club because of the available facilities. The club got exactly 0 new members. What we did get was a whole bunch of freeloading friends of theirs that would line up at the gate to be let in by one of the 9 members about every Saturday. So the HP shooters kinda dug their own grave so to speak. There are other issues with that group that we had to deal with, but those are beyond the scope of this discussion.
No skill level required. Just have a legal gun, 10 1/2 lbs, and have a good time and meet some great people.
