The Junior Air Rifle program is looking for participants who want to learn gun safety and marksmanship in a friendly and relaxed environment. The program will be held at the Mount Joy Sportsmen's Association, 85 Range Road, beginning on Saturday, Oct. 9. The classes will run through Saturday, Dec. 18, and will begin at 9 a.m.
"We hope (participants) have a good time, learn safe gun handling and proper respect for guns and perhaps decide to make this a longer-term activity," said instructor Tom Amlie. "If nothing else, familiarity with shooting air rifles should take some of the mystery and fear out of the idea of guns and shooting."
As Amlie explained, air rifles propel a projectile, either a pellet or BB, by compressed air or by a spring rather than by gunpowder. "Air rifles can range from the spring-powered Daisy Red Ryder up to Olympic-quality air rifles, which use pre-compressed air and cost several thousand dollars," he stated.
The program is open to any youth age 9 and older, and it begins with an extensive safety orientation for all participants, even those who have shot with the club previously. "On the first day, we shoot at larger air pistol targets, shooting off of supports," Amlie stated. "This lets the shooters concentrate on sight picture and trigger control. The more forgiving air pistol targets also provide some better positive reinforcement on that first day." As the course progresses, the targets become more difficult, and students may advance to unsupported shooting in a prone position.
Amlie, who has been running the program for two years, said he enjoyed marksmanship activities when he was a teenager. "Air rifles ... provide a safe, inexpensive, low-key introduction to the shooting sports," he remarked. "Some of the local high schools have air rifle programs, so this also provides a nice background in case anyone wants to get involved with their school team."
The air rifle program offers an opportunity to try something new and hone skills, he stated, adding, "Shooting is a sport where competing against yourself and seeing improvement is as or more important than competing against others. Although we track the shooters' averages from week to week, we focus more on the improvements from week to week rather than ranking shooters."
He noted that he also likes to emphasize the longevity of the sport. "I always point out to our shooters that marksmanship activities can be a lifetime activity, irrespective of age or gender," he said. "One of the oldest Olympic athletes ever was a free pistol shooter - Ragnar Skanaker, who took the bronze medal in 1992 at the age of 58 - while the overall champion of the NRA National High Power Rifle Championship in 2021 was a young lady from Harleysville."
Club rifles and eye protection are available for participants, and parents are encouraged to stay and assist or observe.
There is a small fee for participation. For more information or to register, contact Amlie at 717-342-4484 or tta2@psu.edu.
Leave a Review