Volunteers continue improvements at range
Jeff Robertson, volunteer manager at the Lincoln County Shooting Complex, holds one of the S-hooks used to hang target backstops that someone has shot in half, on April 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
Jeff Robertson, volunteer manager at the Lincoln County Shooting Complex, examines a weld he made on a crossbar to hold target backstops at the rifle range, on April 30. (Ben Kibbey/The Western News)
The unpaid, volunteer managers of the Lincoln County Shooting Complex are working on improvements.
Jeff Robertson, manager, and Gary Lamey, assistant manager, recently welded crossbars and hung new backstops for both the pistol bays and rifle range.
Robertson said he was grateful for the support of community businesses who have loaned equipment and given supplies, including TCI Thompson Contracting Inc., Remp Sand and Gravel Inc, Rick’s Rental, and Big Sky Lumber.
Robertson said that though past garbage problems have improved since the facility became gated, he would like to see more concern and stewardship from shooters at the range.
Beyond simply cleaning up after themselves and taking out their garbage after shooting, Robertson said that some shooters have unnecessarily damaged the range equipment.
The new backstops that Robertson and Lamey installed are hung by steel S-hooks from the steel crossbars they welded into place. But, some users of the range have shot S-hooks they put up last year so often that the hooks break.
“I enjoy shooting steel, but shoot steel that’s made to be shot,” Robertson said.
The public range is open to anyone, but they need to register at no cost and get an entry number for the gate.
Those interested in using the complex can register at the clubhouse Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.