We had an open house at our local gun club last weekend. It was a time for members to get together, renew memberships, have a bit of a swap meet and some grub, as well as engage in a bit of rimfire competition.

Whether or not competition is your thing, whether or not you “have the time” to go all the way out to the range to shoot, whether or not you’re a “joiner,” you should absolutely join your local gun club. These are your people. This is a place to shoot – in a country in which there are far too few places to shoot based on the numbers of gun owners there are. Supporting that effort is smart for the long term survival of private firearms ownership.

CCGC has been here a long time.

When we moved to Topeka all those many decades ago, I joined the gun club – it was the only place to shoot. I came from a place where there was abandoned strip mined property out in the county. People went to them to shoot. After I left, the land was “reclaimed” – meaning it went to individuals to develop into residential properties. 

Progress.

My sister got a gun club membership for Dad, who still lived in that previously mined land. I believe he actually attended the club a few times. It lacked the casual nature of our recreational shooting from an era that had disappeared, but it was still a place to shoot – only safer. 

I have renewed my membership annually by mail – and now, online. I normally don’t attend the open house, but I decided to go this time. 

I’m glad I did. I got to see some friends, I wandered through the impromptu “swap meet” where members were moving off some of their reloading gear – and I saw my first ARA BR50 Sanctioned Match, something an organizer told me happens monthly at the club. 

Above, the Highpower range saw some 100-yard use during the Open House. Below, the BR50 Match was outfitted with a 50-yard target line, intermediate range wind vanes; they take this rimfire match seriously.

I was surprised at the wind vanes staked out at various yardages between benches and the fifty-yard target line. I saw a Ruger 10/22 with a large variable optic – and a custom bolt gun, with a match stainless barrel fitted with a muzzle device. And many others. 

There was everything from “reasonably stock” to “high-end” match guns that had arrived to take part.

The local club also schedules Steel Challenge matches, USPSA, various Highpower - 300yd matches, including the Team Infantry Match, NRA Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette, IDPA, Cowboy Action – and even the 4H Shotgun State Qualifier. 

The Capital City Gun Club is a busy place. 

There are also quiet mornings – and sometimes late afternoons – during which I’m able to ply my trade by shooting guns belonging to others. 

Our gun club is a private membership club with a board of directors. Officials include various ranges – Pistol, Highpower, Shotgun, Smallbore, as well as discipline directors (USPSA, IDPA). To join, a member candidate (1) must be able to legally own a firearm in the United States, (2) must have two current member references, and, (3) must be an NRA member. 

In addition, applicants must pass a background check by one of the state police agencies prior to acceptance.  Members are issued an identification badge that allows access to the club.   

Sound like a lot of trouble to go to? Maybe, but it becomes your club. 

There are gun clubs like this across the country – too few, but they’re out there. Do yourself a favor and join. 

Even if you don’t use it, you’re giving back to a community that leads the way in keeping the armed lifestyle alive. 

— Rich Grassi