Andover Club, Updated Range Rules for Revolvers

yanici

yanici

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The Andover Sportsmen's Club has edited their Range Rules, March 7, 2013.

On both the indoor and outdoor ranges revolvers will be allowed to be loaded to full capacity. Semi auto pistols will remain at the 5 round load limit on both ranges.

This is a positive step and although it's a small one it will benefit greatly the owners of 22 caliber revolvers. With fully loaded cylinders there will no longer be the occasional dry fire of an empty chamber and possible damage to the gun.

Now I wish I hadn't gone and sold my 10 shot S&W 617.
 
Finally... Now they just need to realize there are members that shoot more than 22 cal and revolvers. One step closer to meeting the needs of the masses is a big positive...+++
 
Yep, finally. Took three years and a new board, but we made a little headway. I'd love to see some falling steel plate racks on the outdoor range some day. Maybe I'll push for that next.
 
Why do people even put up with this? Is it just absolute convenience of this range being close to home? 5 rounds? This club will welcome the mag limit bans with open arms and be used as a shining example that "even gun clubs support mag restrictions." I would laugh in the face of someone giving me a club tour and explaining this rule, then take my money and support elsewhere.
 
Tiktock said:
Why do people even put up with this? Is it just absolute convenience of this range being close to home? 5 rounds? This club will welcome the mag limit bans with open arms and be used as a shining example that "even gun clubs support mag restrictions." I would laugh in the face of someone giving me a club tour and explaining this rule, then take my money and support elsewhere.
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I agree. I'm looking into clubs right now on the North Shore, and wouldn't consider one with that restriction. To each his own, but sounds way too "Fudd" to me. I have nothing but 17 round mags for my Glock 17, what fun would that be!!
 
I don't even see the point to this why 5 you think they would have set it at 6 at least thats what most revolvers take just does not make any sense to me
 
The club isn't perfect. It has gotten better and is now updating their web page more often and including pro-gun activities: Community Relations

I've also learned that they are issuing Comm2A material with every BFS certificate when a student completes the NRA Basic Pistol Class.
 
yanici said:
Yep, finally. Took three years and a new board, but we made a little headway.
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Well done. [thumbsup]

I went through this sort of change at a gun club and it also took years and a change on the board. It is a small step, but a step forward nonetheless, and I applaud your perseverance.
 
mctrinket said:
5 rounds only in a magazine? Is this Martha Coakley's club? WTF?
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It's an old NRA recommendation from way back, in the unlikely event that a semi-auto firearm has a worn sear and goes full-auto. No, I'm not saying I agree with the rule, but that's probably where it comes from.
 
Knuckle Dragger said:
How progressive. What's next? They'll allow modern cartridges like .40S&W?
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I know. It seems like nothing and it really is but it's a start. The club will never be close to what Harvard offers but it's the best for me as far as being close by and me having an old truck that sucks gas. The members are very friendly and the place is very well kept.
 
yanici said:
I know. It seems like nothing and it really is but it's a start. The club will never be close to what Harvard offers but it's the best for me as far as being close by and me having an old truck that sucks gas. The members are very friendly and the place is very well kept.
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well said. other than some rules i don't agree with i think its a fantastic club. it has a lot to offer as far as ranges, cleanliness, training courses (boating, basic pistol, archery), social events, dinners/breakfast. with this rule change its a small step to get some of the old school rules changed but its a step nonetheless.
 
I know I'm a bit late with this, but what's the deal with Andover and the 5 round limit in magazines? I read that and thought it was just some boilerplate nonsense rooted in some draconian MA law, but I assumed that once on the range I'd be able to fully load, fire, repeat to my heart's content. Is there someone really counting how many rounds I fire inbetween loading?

If so, I may have to take another at what clubs I apply to. I live in Methuen and Andover seemed like the best option (I looked into Methuen and Tewksbury also) but if there are any other suggestions, I'm open to them.
 
M1911 said:
It's an old NRA recommendation from way back, in the unlikely event that a semi-auto firearm has a worn sear and goes full-auto.
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Just keep pointing down-range? As a new shooter, I'm quite surprised at this 5-round rule. I'm trying to join Harvard even though it's an hour away.
 
kalash said:
Just keep pointing down-range?
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If a handgun goes full-auto and you are not expecting it, you are going to get quite a bit of muzzle rise and you may well throw shots over the berm. Even if you are expecting it, controlling it may be difficult in any significant caliber.

Fortunately, such incidents are extremely rare. I've never seen or heard of one.
 
M1911 said:
If a handgun goes full-auto and you are not expecting it, you are going to get quite a bit of muzzle rise and you may well throw shots over the berm. Even if you are expecting it, controlling it may be difficult in any significant caliber.

Fortunately, such incidents are extremely rare. I've never seen or heard of one.
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Makes sense then
 
Only FUDD clubs have those kind of rules. A couple of years ago I was chatting with the Pistol Chairman of Sharon F&G when the club president showed up and bragged about their 5-rd rule on the indoor range (they allowed 6 rds on the outdoor range) and he told me that the reason was because of what happened at Westfield (the 8 yr old killing himself with the sub-machine gun)!! [rolleyes]

I have no use for clubs like this. Good luck to your members at Andover.
 
I have been a guest at Andover a few times and I really like it. The facilities are decent and the people are pretty friendly. The only reason I have not joined yet is this damn rule. I give Yanici all the credit in the world for progress made, but it is too inhibiting for me for what I like to shoot. Reloading mags is not really fun, so I have eleven mags of 15 rd capacity for my favorite range pistol, and it really sucks to look at eleven mags lined up with 5 rounds apiece.
 
jeff12340 said:
I don't even see the point to this why 5 you think they would have set it at 6 at least thats what most revolvers take just does not make any sense to me
Click to expand...

Only thing that makes sense to me is that 5 round strings is kind of standard for the nra bullseye match courses. But even there you are allowed ten rounds in a magazine for slow fire.
 
While some of the mag limits are baffling to me, this place looks beautiful and is almost in my backyard. I sent my app in last week. Being able to go there at a moments notice trumps having to reload all the time.
 
It is beautiful and despite this rule, it's still a great club.

John, great job. Please let me know when you are ready to bring up another request to change this rule - I would like to get involved and help with this issue. I have spoken with many members who don't like the rule and would like to see it changed.

There are lots of reasons to eliminate this rule, but to me the biggest reason is the inconsistency of the message. We're here fighting for gun rights, fighting to keep standard capacity magazines, supporting the NRA, supporting Comm2A, etc, yet we're telling our own members that anything more than five rounds in a magazine is too dangerous even for a range? What kind of a message does that send to the public?
 
The club is great for trap, skeet, and 5 stand. Also, outstanding archery facility. The indoor range is very nice and not restrictive as far as ammo use goes (jacketed allowed but no magnum) and setting targets at various distances instead of all the way to the 50' backstop. The outdoor range is ok too but limited to paper targets, club steel targets, and plastic hanging targets. No RSO needed to shoot indoor or out or on the trap field if you want to throw your own.

If you guys really want to try to change the mag limit load, you should email the indoor and outdoor range directors and send a CC to the club president. Their email addeys are on the club web page, if you scroll down the "club News" section. The new board is receptive to club member input. I gotta say though, that it will be an uphill battle.
 
I'm a relatively new member, but I also support any efforts to change this archaic rule. I'm happy to help in any way possible. I'll send an email to both range directors to start. Let me know if I can help in any other way.
 

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