CSA now USPSA affiliate

Sept. 26--LOGAN -- A local shooting range has made it to the big leagues joining only two other West Virginia ranges to be affiliated with the United States Practical Shooting Association. The Coalfield Shooters Association is a member and now hosts monthly USPSA matches at their range located just below South Western Regional Jail along US 119.

Their first match was held Sun., August 10 at noon, and their most recent was held Sun., September 14.

For those who don't know, practical shooting is a sport that evolved from experimentation with handguns used for self-defense. The researchers were an international group of private individuals, law enforcement officers, and military people generally operating independently of each other, challenging the then-accepted standards of technique, training practices, and equipment. The work was, for the most part, conducted for their own purposes without official sanction. Even so, what they learned changed the face of police and military training forever.

The USPSA, and inherently the CSA, provides a wide range of competitive opportunities for shooters with regulated competition in six distinct divisions:

-- Production Division is strictly limited to the use of production handguns with actions that are double-action-only, double-action/single-action or striker-fired -- mostly in the caliber of 9mm.

-- The Revolver Division is intended for stock revolvers and shooters are restricted to only six rounds between reloads. Modifications are limited and optical sights, porting and recoil compensators are prohibited.

-- The Single Stack 1911 Division caters to the traditional 1911 fan.

-- Limited Division features both wide-body, or double-stack, 1911 pistols and single-stack 1911 pistols.

-- The Limited-10 Division features both wide-body, or double-stack, 1911 pistols and single-stack 1911 pistols.

-- The Open Division allows for the greatest range of pistol and sight modification. Pistols can be custom built with parts and features specifically designed for competition.

Because CSA is an affiliate with the USPSA, any USPSA match attended at the range will allow participants to be ranked with nationwide competitors, even national and international champions. Roger Ramey, Treasurer / Chief Range Officer, says this feature is cool because it allows him, and other participants, to see how they rank with every other USPSA competitor.

"This is unlike any other sport in that I can personally compete with the greatest shooters in the world," Ramey said.

Some of USPSA's top competitors are regularly employed as trainers for elite police and military units. Today, USPSA matches are conducted every week by the nearly 400 affiliated clubs all over the United States.

CSA's next USPSA Match will be held Sun., October 12. Like all matches, registration starts at 11 a.m. and gun smoke is in the air at noon. The entry fee is $10/match.

Although participants do not have to be a member of CSA to compete in USPSA sanctioned events, the group does invite everyone to check out their facility and consider joining.

To join the club, membership is $75 per year from January through December. That price helps pay for insurance costs for the range. Membership includes a members only range that is available 24/7. The range is only closed for matches, law enforcement qualifications or maintenance, and all closures are posted in advance.

Membership extends to family that lives with you. You may have guest up on an infrequent basis.

Along with their affiliation with the USPSA, CSA also has an affiliation with the National Rifle Association. For more information on CSA, visit their Facebook page at Coalfield Shooters Association (CSA).

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