Sarah Brewer with her awards from Flushing Match

Sarah Brewer Receiving her Distinguished Pistol Expert Award

The DSC Jr. Pistol Shooters at Flushing Gun Club March 2008.

This year, The Detroit Sportsmen's Congress is again sponsoring a Junior Pistol Team. This team, which is comprised of youths 10 to 18 years of age, is being coached by Bill Malopolski, Doug Godwin, Gary Malsom and John Barber. This year our coaches's goals are to put together a competitive Junior Team for this year's upcoming Bullseye Matches.

At the present time, the National Rifle Association's "Bullseye Pistol - Stage Skill Course" is being used to train new pistol shooters during the weekly sessions, which are held on Fridays from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. To take part in the qualification course of fire, the shooter fires 10 shots at each target; a minimum score on a set number of targets is required for each rating stage (Pro-Marksman, Marksman, Marksman 1st class, Sharpshooter 1 through 9 and finally Expert). At each rating level, shooters are awarded certificates, badges and medals.

Each shooter needs to provide hearing and eye protection; At the current time, pistols are being provided by parents, and coaches, and ammunition is available for the sessions at $1.00 per box.

All team members are required to attend an NRA basic pistol safety course and to pass the safety test given at the end of the course. The Education Committee at Detroit Sportmen's Congress presents this course at regular intervals during the calendar year and each class lasts for about 6 weeks (one night a week for an hour). Safe firearms handling is taught as well as proper use of firearms and marksmanship.

Basic Pistol Course attendees take part in "hands-on" exercises, while supervised by NRA certified instructors at a recent DSC class session.

If you are interested or have young adults who are interested in pistol competition, please stop by the shotgun range house on a Friday evening or contact Bill Malopolski at (586) 247-7266.

updated 05-18-08 ejs