action pistol fun shoot?

[Joe]

I recently visited a buddy in Montana and the local range hosts an action pistol fun shoot every Friday. The atmosphere was very relaxed and there were no prerequisites. Everyone had a blast. I'm wondering if something like that exists out here. I'm new to Sacramento. Any input is appreciated.

[aaRdog]

It's a little bit of a drive, but Sac Valley is an excellent range. They host a variety of events including action pistol, I believe.

http://www.sacvalley.org/index.html

For local fun, you can try Oak Park in the late evenings... just kidding

[Joe]

Thanks for the reply. We'll have to check out sac valley.

[JDay]

Shoot IDPA or USPSA at Sac Valley.

You *want* there to be prerequisites. It's safer that way. They'll require you take a 1 day safe handgunner class to participate.

Are you sure about that? I've only seen a requirement to get there early for a safety briefing for the events I've considered going to. Hopefully I'll have time to actually attend a competition sometime soon.

[Pardini]

Oakdale Sportsmans Club has a Fun Shoot every first Sunday IIRC.

[Joe]

Thanks again for the responses. Pardini, sucks oakdale is so far but thank you for the information. I'll check it out.

[3GunFunShooter]

Sac Valley IDPA had new shooters showing up with NO gun handling experience, no understanding of the rules, no safety training, no correct gear, that is why they went to the mandatory clinic. Most all clubs, IDPA, USPSA, are requiring some kind of pre match safety training, way too many unsafe new shooters were showing up to shoot. Got kind of scary at the matches until the required clinic.

[BonnieB]

Sac Valley requires a minimum of a (about) 2 hour orientation for the action pistol range. (It's scheduled monthly, call the Range Office for dates/times.) The Range rules and safety issues are discussed in the orientation and the instructor watches each person shoot from the holster and you have to hit the target X number of times from X distance (I forget).

This is all done for safety's sake, of course, but mainly because the action pistol ranges don't have RSO's on them, unless an IDPA, SDPA, etc, event is going on. Shooters act as their own RSO's and are expected to do the range rules. The public is not allowed up there without a member or unless there's an IDPA, SDPA, etc. event going on. Only members and members guests can go up there alone (no event). You can only go up there with a partner, never alone, since they can't tell if you've shot yourself in the foot.

Not to discourage anyone, Action Pistol is great fun. But it's not for total newbies, you should have some training and experience first. But they'll see that you have SOME experience, if you don't. If the instructor thinks you're not safe up there, he won't certify you.

The only non-competitive action pistol events that I know of at Sac Valley is Deadeye Dames, (monthly) but there may be others. Call the Range Office or go to the website http://www.sacvalley.org/.