Club History In Photos
In 2006, a new member joined the club who enjoys taking photos at the range as much as Nat Arenson in the 1950-60s. Jim and Jill Knerr have continued where Arenson left off and are happy to share with you. Our hope is that while you enjoy the photos, you may see something or someone you recognize.
If you can help us pin point a date or year, see something or someone familiar, please share with us to complete the "picture", please feel free to send that information in an email to the editor at newsletter@pensacolarifleandpistolclub.com
The Next Twenty Years: 2000-2020
The club has continued to this day offering many shooting opportunities for improving marksmanship through competitions. Shooting competitions are a fun experience to learn something new and grow in your skills. One can never be too old and be old enough to safely handle and control their firearm to begin competition.
We have seen sons and daughters follow in their father's footsteps in competition. In more recent years, a junior who shot in our precision pistol program went on to represent the US on the world stage in the World Cup 25 meter rapid fire final (2019).
2003
This is a group of competitors who had just finished firing an NRA High Power Rifle match. Yes, she is a competitor too. Shooting is a sport that men and women can compete as equals, especially with rifles based on the AR-15/.223 platform. While still a physical match that can require endurance and stamina at times, the sport requires a strong mental discipline in addition to fundamentals.
2004: Another 40 acres added
Seeing development arrive out in the country, our club saw the need for additional land. In 2004, we were able to purchase an additional 40 acres of property. This parcel lay directly north and adjoining our original property. This opened us up to many more possibilities for what could be offered to our members.
2010: Duffner Air Rifle Match
The Duffner Air Rifle Match is a shoulder to shoulder three-position air rifle match which is held outdoors at the range. Almost all air rifle matches are held indoors, safe from any wind or other elemental conditions which could drastically impact each pellet.
JROTC teams from both Florida and area states would compete as individuals and teams to win the Duffner Match.
2013: New Precision Rifle Range Named After Charter Member Robert “Bobby” Kahn
— By Charlie Webster
Bobby Kahn was one of the original members of the Pensacola Rifle and Pistol Club. He encouraged the development of the longer distance ranges at the present range. He was the guarantor for the purchase of the second forty acre plot.
He was active in the work needed to have the ROTC air rifle matches, originated by Bill Dufner. When Bill could no longer continue, Bobby took over and made all the financial arrangements for the trophies and medals and provided the snacks and the soft drinks for those annual matches. He worked with youth programs and DCM competitions. He participated in big bore and small bore competition. He coached several JROTC Rifle teams. He encouraged shooting sports for everyone, but especially for young people; he encouraged young people in the area of arms collecting.
He was an avid hunter, an international, multi-continent hunter. His two favorite calibers were 30-06 and 300 H&H Mag. He was a Colt collector and wrote several articles for the Colt Collectors Magazine. Bobby and Brown Rainwater, another old-time member and also an avid hunter, usually supplied the venison for the annual club barbecue.
For many years, Bobby was a regular at the monthly club meetings at the old National Guard Armory when it was on Gregory Street. Major Bill Givens was in charge of the facility which, at that time, had a nice indoor range. After the meetings, there was an informal pistol and sometimes a rifle match.
Bobby was not only a smokeless powder shooter. He also enjoyed shooting and hunting with black powder guns. He was a frequent competitor when the Club used to sponsor a match between Club members and the Pensacola Bowmen group, and also at the annual Club-sponsored Black Powder matches.
He was a great supporter of club participation in the National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations. The club showed everything -- arms displays, muzzle-loader and knife making, bullet casting and reloading. Before hunting season opened, the club also had an Open House for firearms sighting-in and familiarization. Bobby supported them all. Those were the days, my friend!
2013: We held our first CMP Rifle Games
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Games, known generically as the "Garand Match", allow a variety of rifles to come out and fire in "fun" matches. The match is 30 rounds plus 5 sighters, all fired at 200 yards.
There are categories of rifles that range from the popular M1 Garand Springfield bolt actions, Vintage/Foreign bolt actions and Modern Military. Local matches are sanctioned by the CMP who supplies the awards, rules and course of fire.
2014: Last year for manually set Silhouette match targets
Since the silhouette matches began on our range, there was no way around the inevitable reset of each steel target. That meant many trips downrange, bending over to reset fallen targets. This was the last year of old school resets. A new electronic system was in the works, but the "analog" method is shown here for historical perspective.
2014: CMP Rifle Games are successful again
Members and non-members alike can't resist bringing out the old war horses to square off in a short range challenge.
We had flooding rains the night before so the range was completely soaked and puddled with water. This rifle range has a grade slightly uphill and to the left which drained perfectly into our drainage area. The range designer did a great job on this one. By the end of the day, all the water had drained off and no wading was required.
All fired at 200 yards, the match includes five sighters, 10 shots prone, 10 shots rapid prone and 10 shots standing. The match runs fairly quickly allowing competitors to cycle into the match multiple times with different rifles from different eras.
2015
Maintaining the range
While not a glamourous part of our history, those who work behind the scenes to keep out range looking good should not be overlooked. We have many facilities and equipment available which means a lot of maintenance. Our members have been the custodians of what was built for us so many years ago.
Dave (black hat) and Rick spent many hours across several days patching, priming and painting the shooting surface tables.
Replacing the deck at the 200 yard target line. Without the deck, it may become very muddy. Also, the deck runs along several target stands which are permanently embedded in the ground.
New electronic scoring for silhouette matches
Since the origin of the sport, competitors would shoot to knock down steel targets and then have to reset them after each string of fire. A system was developed that would all a target to be hit by a bullet, but instead of falling down, the target would remain in position and a light would flash to indicate a hit.
Not only do the matches run faster, competitors are able to fire multiple matches. More shooting less target repair, what could be better?
This new system was submitted for approval by the governing authority over the matches, International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association (IHMSA).
Trap shooting experiences a resurgence
The Annual Meeting: MORE LAND!
In 2015, an opportunity was presented to our club. Land adjacent to our northern (second purchase) 40 acres came up for sale and was offered to us for purchase. Always mindful of encroachment, we did purchase this land and added an additional 60 acres to our total property bringing us to a total of 140 acres.
Our club president at the time, Don Moak, is discussing the new land with club members at the Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting is where elections are held for the board of directors and this year membership renewals were available for pick up. Here Bert who was our membership director and his wife Yolanda are getting ready for the membership rush.
2016
Our Trap program started the year off with an open house. Being the end of January, lots of cold weather treats were planned, but it ended up being an unusally warm day. We'll take it!
Bill Duffner Memorial Air Rifle Match
The Duffner Memorial Air Rifle Match brought together JROTC rifle teams with 39 total competitors for a rare outdoor match. High School NJROTC teams from Milton, Pine Forest, Washington, Northview and Pace participated this year.
Club members Charlie Webster and Tom Skinner coordinated the match, Harry Stover helped Charlie install the target frames and Jim Knerr called the line commands.
The Annual Meeting
The annual meeting is where elections are held for the board of directors and this year membership renewals were available for pick up. Members receiving their new membeship card, key and copy of the range and club rules.
The 3rd CMP Rifle Games were held in May
How often does one see this many M1 Garands on the firing line at one time? All of these rifles fell into the "as-issued" category having no match grade parts installed and being chambered in 30-06.
Taking care of buildings for the long haul
This building was built many years ago by a club member, pretty much by himself as the story goes. A group was supposed to get together to put the building up and upon arriving found this other gentleman had the building almost finished. On this day the walls were covered by metal which has weatherproofed and protected it for many years to come.
Rodents would get into the building making nests from targets in this target house at the 200 yard line. Snakes would soon follow taking care of the rodents. It is a bit unnerving when one walks into the house and gets the feeling they are being watched, finding a rat snake at eye level on a shelf or in a box full of targets.
The new metal siding to this day has prevented both rodents and snakes from being found in the building, but one still checks before placing their hand inside a box of targets!
2017
We built a new road
A new road was built across our new 60 acres property running along the north border which allowed us to install a fence along the property line.
Building, repairing and replacing
A work party got together to repair and rebuild around 90 target frames. Some of these frames were installed on the Arenson pistol range which sees a lot of use with matches every week. This work is typically done before the "Fiesta Match" when visitors from all over the southeast visit our club.
2018
A new trap machine
A new trap machine was installed along with a major update to the building that houses the unit.
The top photo is the old machine and the building which required a person to crawl down into the building to load the machine with clay targets. When the new machine was installed the roof of the building was removed and rebuilt allowing open access during use.
New range built: Harry Stover Silhouette Range
A new range was cleared for the dedicated use of sihouette shooting. The distance is 200 meters. In the photos above, the land has been cleared and below the the range is taking shape with a firing line built and target locations in place. These photos were taken just as the testing phase was occuring, the range is not in regular use.
2019
Rifle matches draw full firing lines
The rifle matches were well attended all year with many new shooters coming to try out the match. In reality, it is surprising that many more people who shoot Appleseed Events do not shoot high power rifle which is the most natural progression after shooting to earn the rifleman badge offered by that program.
The shooter below is showing that the M1 Garand is still a lot of fun to shoot. The top photo shows how NOT to get what is called the "M1 Thumb". One can easily get their thumb caught in the bolt as it moves forward quickly. Holding the bolt handle with the side of the hand is key to enjoying your day without pain.
Pistol competitors don't care what the weather brings
