Handgun marksmen hope ‘X’ marks spot
Photo by Scott Jorgenson
The odor of gunpowder lingers in the air, as blasts echo off the hillsides and metallic pings ring out.
Walker Mountain stands tall in the background, providing perfect scenery for members of the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association (IHMSA) during their annual shooting competition.
For most of last week, approximately 23 IHMSA members converged on the 320-acre Josephine County Sportsman Park in Merlin to gauge their marksmanship skills. They came from Washington, California, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho and Indiana.
The rules for target shooting are simple, according to Steve Ware, Josephine County Sportsman’s Association Public Relations director.
“If you hit it and knock it over, you get an X,” Ware said. “The guy with the most Xs wins.”
Participants are given 30 seconds of preparation time, then have two minutes to fire five shots. They compete according to categories based on gun type and skill level. Ware said that the ultimate goal of the event is to have fun.
“A lot of good-natured and jovial heckling goes on,” Ware said. “Sometimes, we’re better hecklers than shooters.”
Competitive shooting is an easy hobby to get into, Ware said, and is also fairly inexpensive.
“You can buy a decent air pistol for $150, or spend thousands on a custom gun,” he said.
IHMSA originated in Tucson, Ariz. during 1976 when a group of hand-gunners gathered to share their hobby. The object of the sport is to knock down metallic silhouettes of chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams, at distances ranging from 50 to 200 feet.
Since inception, IHMSA has spread around the world, and holds events in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, the United States and Canada.
Last week’s event was the second-largest match to be held in the United States this year, Ware said.
Traditional trophies are not issued winners. Instead, Ware said, they get “bragging rights until next year, when someone beats them.”
Sportsman Park features 10 shooting ranges; three for rifles, three for archery, two for pistols, an indoor range for pistol or archery, and a law enforcement range.
Police officers from Gold Hill, Rogue River and Grants Pass, plus Josephine County deputies, and other agencies use the range.
The park hosts approximately 14 affiliated clubs, and is open most days, except for major holidays. Two full-time managers live on the park property, and countless volunteer hours go into maintenance.
The site is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to dusk, and features a park area with barbecue pits, picnic tables, horseshoe pits and a fishing area.
“It’s one of the best ranges in the U.S.,” Ware said.
Sportsman Park is owned by the county, but funded by membership, and fees for day use and events. As such, it is completely self-sustaining.
“It’s a county park that the county puts no money into,” Ware said.
Memberships are available. For more on IHMSA, visit IHMSA.org. To learn more about Josephine County Sportsman Park, visit Jcsa-shootingsports.org or phone 476-2040.
