Moving target: Contest hones shooting skills
Run and Gun fun matches teach confidence in handling weapons
MORIARTY — Learning to shoot at a range is one thing, but it’s different than if you have to use a gun to defend yourself in a real-world situation.
That’s why MAGS Indoor Shooting Range in Moriarty has been offering Run and Gun fun matches twice a month, said Rick Kennedy, the range’s gunsmith.
Held in the early evening on the first and third Tuesday of each month, the Run and Gun matches run shooters through a series of targets in which they often have to move or shoot from different distances, Kennedy said.
“This gives them better confidence about handling their weapons,” Kennedy said.
L.T. Guenther of Moriarty said he has been going to Run and Gun matches to improve his gun handling under more stressful situations. Because speed and accuracy is scored, it provides an adrenaline factor that normal target shooting doesn’t provide.
“You will be feeling that same kind of adrenaline if you’re having to fight for your life,” Guenther said.
“It’s a rush,” said Michelle Ummel of Rio Rancho, another regular of the matches. “You not only get to know how good you are, but also how good you are not.”
While many of the matches have shooters who have been there before, there are always people new to shooting who come, which pleases Kennedy.
“This is especially helpful for new shooters to gain confidence and competency in the handling of their weapon,” he said. The matches follows rules set by the U.S. Practical Shooting Association, Kennedy said.
Because there is often new shooters, the matches always start off with a safety briefing by Kennedy. Any deviation from the safety rules will result in the shooter not being allowed to shoot any more that day, he said.
After the briefing, shooters are then split up into two groups to fire their weapons in one of MAGS two shooting bays, where targets have been set up for different scenarios. After both groups have run through the first two scenarios, two more scenarios are set up in the bays for a second round.
Costs for the matches is a $15 entry fee for MAGS members and $20 for nonmembers. Most of the fees goes to provide prize money for the participants, Kennedy said. Prizes are given for the person scores the best, the person in the middle of the group and the person with the second-to-last score.
“That way, everybody has a chance to win something,” he said. “We want to make it fun for everyone so they keep coming back. The more they do the matches, the better they are going to be.”