The steel targets on Range No. 1 are the most popular targets for most of our rifle shooters.  Paper targets are certainly popular for zeroing scopes, testing various loads, preparing for matches and for other informal shooting.   But steel targets are the hands-down favorite.

Unfortunately, steel targets on Range No. 1 are on their way to being a thing of the past.  In spite of three separate Club rules, as well as verbal warnings given in every single New Member Orientation, we have one or more Members deliberately shooting the steel targets with 30 caliber armor-piercing (AP) ammo.  When a single hole is punched in an AR500 steel target, safety protocols require it to be scrapped.  Depending upon the type of target, the cost to replace is somewhere between one hundred dollars and several hundred dollars each.  With normal use, these targets will last a very long time, but they eventually have to be replaced.  Due to this intentional vandalism, with seven months remaining in the Club’s fiscal year, we have already exhausted the budget for steel targets.  The targets destroyed were either new targets or ones that had been online for a short while.  It is not a prudent use of our Members’ dues to continue putting up targets that are destroyed within days.  For example, some target costs $392 each, or about 1.5 Member’s dues for a full year’s membership.

The specific rules dealing with the use of AP ammo in destruction of Club property are:

• General Rule 3(7): “No Armor Piercing/steel core bullets may be used on steel targets or steel backstops;”
• Range No. 1 Rule 1(9): “Do not use armor-piercing ammo on any steel target.”
• Administrative Rule 4(E): “Deliberate destruction of Club property, equipment or facilities will result in loss of Membership and criminal prosecution.”

The Club has an extensive camera system designed to protect Club property and facilities and to help in the enforcement of Club Safety & Operational Rules.  We are in the process of reviewing the recordings for the specific times we believe the damage to have been done.  We are also interviewing our Range Officers for their input.  If/when we determine who is responsible for this damage, they will lose their membership and we will submit a criminal complaint to the Friendswood Police Dept.

If you know who is shooting steel targets with armor-piercing ammo, please provide their name and/or member badge number to any Range Officer, PSC Board Member or any of our maintenance personnel. Your report can be anonymous if you prefer.   If we cannot resolve this problem, then steel targets will be removed from Range No. 1.