Welcome
to the
Utah Gun Collectors Association
May 2002 Picnic and
Historic Arms Shooting Session
Celebrating our 42nd year of service 1960-2002
 Click here for date and location of our next picnic and historic arms shooting session

Here are some samples of the fun enjoyed by UGCA members and their guests.
While it is an interesting academic exercise to debate the relative merits (or flaws) of famous old or new firearms, the best information comes from actually firing them.  UGCA members bring a wide variety of guns to these sessions and everyone usually gets a chance to share in the experiences.
(This is also a chance for people with no shooting experience to learn how to safely handle a gun under close supervision.)

If you collect guns, we invite you to join UGCA.
Membership benefits include for free admission to all UGCA shows, reduced table rates, and a great newsletter.
 Click here for membership information and application

Copyright 2001 by Utah Gun Collectors Association.  All rights reserved.  Box 711161, Salt Lake City, UT  84171


Let's go to the UGCA Picnic and Historic Arms Shooting Session, May, 2002

Before we shoot, we need to have lots of targets.  George, our offical Range Officer did a lot of the preliminary work, and club members all pitched in to post and change targets throughout the afternoon.  The younger participants thought this was great fun!  Besides children and grandchildren of club members we also had an Israeli guest, who is quite familiar with firearms, their use and necessity for self defense..

Some of the Shooters


Shooting and Gun Collecting are safe, family activities.  Here we see some wives shooting a custom sporting rifle and a self defense handgun.  If she has a permit to carry a gun for self defense, you will never see this gun unless she is threatened with death or serious bodily harm.  Would you feel safer withher driving the soccer team home from practice, or a Mom who thinks no one should be able to protect themselves?


A Dad supervising his teen age son shooting the M1 Garand rifle.  This young man has been shooting since age four, and is a superb shot, often sought out as a team member by adult "Cowboy Action" shooters familiar with his skill. He is still a couple of years younger than the Americans of the "Greatest Generation" who used this type rifle to win World War Two.

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Steve is a Police Officer using this Mauser "Broomhandle" or "C96" pistol.  This is a very historic type of gun, the first practical semi-automatic pistol, invented in 1896 and made in huge numbrs for sale all over the world.  This was imported from Germany by a New York firm around 1910.  Sir Winston Churchill carried (and fired) one identical to this in the Boer War in South Africa in 1898.  Note that he is using the wooden holster that doubled as a shoulder stock for greater accuracy at longer ranges.  Trivia buffs will note that there is only one screw in this pistol, to  hold the grips on.
 


Some of the historic guns


Gun collectors like guns from all periods of hstory.  One member is firing a single shot .54 caliber smoothbore percussion "horse pistol" made about 1840 and likely carried inthe Civil War.  (The "horse pistol" refers to the fact that these were carried in holstered attached to the saddle, unlike smaller "belt" or "pocket" pistols carried on the person. So what is a "deer rifle"???)
The collector in the center is trying out a properly registered full automatic MP5 submachine gun, widely used by our law enforcement and military "Special Operations" units.
The rifle in the foreground is a bolt action 6.5x55mm Swedish rifle, a slightly shoerter version of the one adopted in 1896.  THese have been availalbe from surplus dealers for several years ar incredibly cheap prices, and are exceptionally well made and accurate rifles.  Some collectors specialize in just Swedish rifles, and can find about a dozen different variations.
Note that shooters should always wear appropriate eye and ear protection, like these members.

(No photo) One of our Doctor members specializes in WW2 German semi-automatic rifles.  (He is also a talented sculptor in his spare time.)  One of his patiens found out he was interested in guns, and brought him a German G43 rifle that he had taken from a German soldier during WW2.  This was a nice rifle with a known history to add to his collection.  And, for the first time in 57 years, it was fired.


This members brought a wide variety of World War 2 vintage rifles.  He is firing a German K98k 8mm Mauser rifle, with the bayonet attached.  On the shooting bench you can see the Mauser along with a .303 British Lee Enfield rifle, and a U.S. .30 caliber M1 Carbine. WHen not being used, they should have the action open to show that they arenot loaded and are safe.


One of the great things about freedom is that you can collect whatever you like.  This member is a serious pistol competitor, as shown by the nice assortment in the case on the bench.  However, he also took a liking to the semi- automatic version of Belgian made FN-FAL 7.62mm rifle.  THe tru :assault rifle" version which also has full automatic capability is the standard service rifle of numerous nations, inlcuding many NATO allies.  Only a few were imported into the US and he hope that this will increase in value. but meanwhile is enjoying its splendid shooting capabilities.


One member specializes in variations of the M1 Carbine, and brought these two.  Everyone enjoys shooting htese great little guns, and he used up a LOT of ammunition.
 


Some assortedguns brought by mameber for shooting enjoyment.  These include a lever action Model 1894 Winchester .30-30 deer rifle (invented by John M. Browning about 60 miles fromthe range we were using), a Marlin .22 semi-automatic rifle, a target pistol and a custom sporting rifle still under construction.  (Made from a 1916 vintage british rifle, a new barrel, and a U.S military sniper telescope!)


Using a two hand grip resting on the bench for accuracy, this member is trying out a top grade target pistol.  He and the pistol both performed well.

A historic full automatic weapon

(Note all machine guns shown here are properly registered with BATF and owners have passed the FBI background checks and have permission from local law enforcement authorities to own these.  Since 1934 there has only been a single incident where a legally owned machine gun was used in a crime- and the individual who did that was a police officer who decided to break numerous laws.)

A club member trying out the H&K MP5.  This was a popular and easily controlled gun, which has earned a lot of respect from military and law enforcement users.  A local law enforcement officer owns this one.



Following the shooting session, we enjoyed a great picnic meal catered by Meiers Prime Catering.  Remember, if you join UGCA you can participate in our next session!
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