Range Project Update

If you haven’t been to the range in the last 2 weeks, you would not recognize it today. Much has happened in the last 10 days, and it has been difficult to keep up! This report is an attempt to bring you up to date.

It has become evident that range usage, weekends in particular, has reached a tipping point, with members having to wait to shoot.  The Range Committee concluded that immediate action had to be taken.  With the backing of a previous vote of the Board of Directors, the Range Committee hired a contractor (Belknap Mtn Construction) to complete the vision of the Committee and the BCSA. BMC is fitting us in between jobs and was able to bring equipment in right away and started within 3 days. Dirt piles began to disappear, and material was delivered to make the berms safe and increase the size of the parking area.  There is much still to be done, such as correcting the drainage problem on the current 100-yard range, as well as other dirt work.  The new shooting bays are the #1 priority though and will be up and running when the contractor can return for a day or two during his next break.

The Range Committee will be meeting soon to discuss all the new changes and how it will all come together.  Please check FB and the website to check on announcements regarding the range. More detailed information will be at the range to ease the transition and maintain a safe range.

Last Saturday, the second roof work party spearheaded by Gary Cartier again, was held and 9 members came together for another long day.  We are happy to report the metal roof is up, so no more leaking tarps and an ice rink in the winter.  The gable ends still need to be finished, but this will be done on weekdays to avoid weekend range closures.  We are all indebted to the members who made this happen, several of whom attended both work details!  Thank you.

Two days prior to that, we had a short notice work party to prepare for the impending opening of the new bays. 8 portable targets bases made of Trex were built. These will be left outside on the bays, as they are weather resistant.  New appropriate target stands were also built, and we are ready for opening.  Sincere thanks to the members that contributed to this effort that will move us into a new direction.

The Range Committee