Welcome to the
Class-3 web page of the Pelham Fish and Game club.
Machine
Gun Shoot 2007 (click for details)
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November 19, 2006. Spectators Welcome. Shooters BYOP.
See the class three guys smash/destroy some pumpkins as a Halloween treat!!
Before
After
Last Shoot Results Next Shoot Where is the club? Do I need to take a course first?
What is Class-3? How do I join? Pelham Fish and Game Main Page
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On a beautiful warm and sunny day (for November), the Pelham Fish and Game Class Three Shooters gathered on IPSC Range Number 2 and enjoyed another afternoon of fun with their machine guns.
IPSC Range number 2 is the widest of the IPSC ranges which allowed us to set up four different targets in front of the back berm. Four shooters took their positions, each in front of their designated target. From left to right, the targets were (1) 8-10 bowling pins sitting on a large wooden rail, (2) 10 bright orange clay birds arranged in rows on a target board, (3) eight clay birds sitting suspended in a row above a long wooden rail, and (4) numerous water filled jugs sitting on top of two wooden tables. Each shooter had the opportunity to fire at four different targets, each of which reacted in a different manner when struck with the fired projectiles.
Our hats off to Ron Wider - he requested that on target number three, we turn the clay bird sideways (so just the side of the birds were showing). He then proceeded to explode all of the birds with his British Sterling. Great Shooting Ron! The "group" really enjoyed the afternoon and we keep shooting until dusk. After the shooting stopped, everyone pitched in with picking up all the brass, putting away all the targets and tables, and cleaned up the area so that we left it in better shape than when we arrived.
Thank all of you for all your help! - Bob Shaunessy
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Click to view movie (these files are BIG)
Glock 18 Auto-Pistol (movie 8 meg)
John demos "safety first" (movie 3 meg)
Class Three Shooters:
On a bright and crisp Sunday afternoon (10-17-04) we held our sixth "Class Three Shoot" of 2004. Prior to the shoot we qualified eight new shooters, including our fourth woman machine-gunner.
For this shoot, we had four shooters on the line at the same time. There were four different targets; from right to left:
(Target 1) = eight bowling pins sitting on a saw horse, (Target 2) = three rows of 3 orange 4 1/2 inch sporting clays pinned to a plastic "bird board", (Target 3) = one horizontal row of seven sporting clays suspended above a saw horse, and (Target 4) = Quart soda bottles filled with water sitting horizontally on a long thin wooden table. (See the photos - when posted) After the shooters finished, they would repair/replace their targets and then the next group of four shooters would come to the firing line. We would keep rotating and repairing until all participants got to shoot at each of the different targets. During a break in the action, Jim Crump and Robert Silvers gave a demonstration of a heavy machine gun, shooting from the prone position, and of a Glock 18 full-auto pistol, shot up close to the berm for safety. A fun day for all participants and spectators.
I am thinking of changing the next shoot from November 21 to November 7 (It may get cold). Also, changing the time to 3:00 until dusk - so after our regular shooting format, we can have a "tracer shoot" at dusk (with the BOD permission). Let me hear your thoughts on this.
Bob Shaunessy
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Class Three Shooters:
On Sunday, August 29 the Class Three shooters gathered at IPSC Range #2. It was a hot and humid day, with threatening skies, but a loyal band of Class Three guys showed up to have some fun with their sub-guns.
From 12:00 to 1:00 we qualified the new shooters and at 1:00 we began the match and the fun shoot. We used IPSC range #2 because it is wider and allowed us to set up a firing line where two shooters could fire at the targets (for score) at the same time. We will have a picture of this new range setup on our website, so everyone can view this new setup. We qualified four new shooters - "new" in the sense that they had not participated in our Class Three shoots prior to this date. However, these guys were very experienced in other areas of the "shooting sports".
The top three scorers were all within one point of each other - a very close match. Bill Briggs placed first; transferring his skills from Silhouette Pistol and Match .22 Rifle to a sub-gun contest. Bill outscored his son Ben (by only 1 point), but there is a great family rivalry that carries over from Silhouette and 22 matches. Dustin Dufour finished tied for second with Ben Briggs. Very good shooting by all three men.
Then the real fun began. All the shooters, and quite a few that did not participate in the match, just had a lot of fun shooting a variety of guns at a lot of different targets. Bob Shaunessy brought his 1928-A1 Thompson, and allowed all the shooters to fire this classic sub-gun. A Thompson is probably one of the most recognizable firearms and has a certain mystique about it. Two Board members (Mitch Kopacz and Bob Greenwood) had a lot of fun with the Thompson. Mitch's son also got to fire the classic Thompson. During the "fun shoot" part of the program, we had some rain showers. However, this did not deter the shooters. Fortunately the showers were brief and the shooters just waited them out and then began shooting again. Another fun day! And thank you very much to all those shooters who helped clean up and store our equipment in the "container".
Bob Shaunessy
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Click photos for larger image
CLASS 3 – SECOND SHOOT 2004
On a beautiful sunny day (July 25, 2004), we held our second Class 3 shoot of the year.
Qualifying began at noon, and we qualified 14 new Class 3 shooters. In the qualifying group were two PF&G Board Members (we now have 3 Board Members qualified as Class 3 shooters); and we qualified our third female shooter.
The formal part of the program began just after 1:00 PM. The shooters, first had to knock a number of bowling pins off a “saw horse”; (practicing trigger control in order to save ammunition). Then the shooter would fire the remaining rounds left in his magazine onto a paper target – for score. (practicing control of his gun during a long burst of full auto fire.) The shooter would then move to a second paper target and fire for effect (2-3 round bursts). This practices trigger control, a quick mag change, and firing for score on a newly acquired target.
On both targets, only hits in the black are counted for score. On the ensuing string, we added firing from a kneeling position – teaching a different skill.
The Match Results: 1st Place: Jim Crump
2nd Place: Dave Spinella
3rd Place: John Kelly
Wow! Those Mass State Troopers can really shoot! Of note was a fairly large crowd of spectators, who were positioned well behind the firing line.
The formal program ended and then the real fun began! Targets became a much larger number of bowling pins, milk jugs filled with water, small exploding targets, and larger exploding targets. For this “fun stage”, the shooters brought out a much different array of machine guns. There must have been at least 20 different guns in use, including the following classics: a German MP-40 (designed before WW 2), an English Sterling (designed during WW 2, and a Swedish “K” (also designed during WW 2).
On IPSC Range #2, Ron Wider and Chris Shambarger were firing a Hiram Maxim Machine Gun (designed prior to WW ONE).
The shooting did not end until after 5:00 PM and every shooter left with a big smile on his face. All in all it was a great day of shooting! (Check the Website in a few days for photos.)
Bob Shaunessy
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Click photos for a larger image.
Robt Shaunessy
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Machine gun shoot; sub-guns only (pistol caliber like 9mm, 45ACP, etc) unless stated otherwise.
Class III Committee held its first
event on Sunday October 19.
- 15 shooters
- 5 officials
- 5 experienced
- 5 newbies (experienced shooters, interested but unfamiliar
with Class 3 firearms)
- qualification began at 10:00 am
- qualified all shooters before the match
- shooters new to Class 3 were grouped and given a collective briefing and demonstration on the use of Class 3 firearms, then performed a "mini" version of the qualification phase.
- performed individual "dry runs" (with firearm, no ammo) of the qualification phase
- demonstrated their newly acquired knowledge, and of range safety requirements
- loaded 1 round; fired on target; multiple repetitions, repeated with several rounds loaded
- they then performed the regular qualification phase
- "regular" qualification was
multi-part,
- shooter presents firearm, demonstrates knowledge; gives
brief history.
- loads 1 round, fires on target
- loads 5 rounds, fires on target, 1 shot at a time
- loads 10 rounds, fires on target full auto
- approval requirements: good handling, knowledge,
control, all shots must be on-target
- qualified shooters received the C3 sticker for their PFG badges (bright
orange circle labeled "Class 3")
- C3 Committee range safety officials were issued, and are now identified by
green armbands "PFG Safety Class III"
- match began at 12:00 noon
- one shooter at a time
- qualified shooters were timed clearing 2 tables of 4x4"
wooden blocks; one table burst mode; one table streaming.
- all shooters performed well; safety continues to be the primary goal.
- raised $60 in voluntary donations
Machine gun shoot; pistol and rifle calibers, handheld only (not belt-fed or tripod mounted)
Shooting bowling pins, wooden blocks, cardboard targets, and whatever seems like fun! Registration $ donation. Shooting starts at 1:00 pm; show up at 12:00 to qualify (see "Qualification" below; ignore this if you have already passed the Class-3 qualification and have "the dot").
It is important that you bring the appropriate registration and transportation forms for each Class-3 item in your possession. You may be asked to produce it at any time. Required forms would normally be the Form-4 (or Form-3/SOT if you are a dealer) on which your item is registered with the NFA. If you are from out of NH, you will need the temporary interstate transportation paperwork.
Class-3 in general is the term given to items that are registered with the NFA. These items include machine guns, silencers, short barreled shotguns, short barreled rifles, and odd things like pen guns.
The Class-3 group at PFG will be holding machine gun shoots. In the future, we will expand to other Class-3 items.
To participate in the machine gun shoot, there's nothing to join, but you must be C3 qualified at PFG (see below). Just show up on the day of the shoot. Since there will be a limit to how many shooters can be accommodated, it's best to pre-register either at the PFG club on the sign-up sheet, or by sending an email using the email link above.
Spectators are welcome shoots, bring eye and hearing protection as per PFG bylaws.
Participants must sign a waiver and pass a short qualification test administered by one of the PFG-C3 Range Officers. It only takes about 10 minutes and during it you are required to demonstrate knowledge of your equipment through talking briefly about it's history and/or unique features, and by a live fire test in both semi, and full auto (presuming you have safe-semi-full settings). Upon successful completion, you will be given a special sticker indicating that you are now qualified.
There is no charge for this one-time qualification, although precedence will be given to those participating in the shoot.
It is important that you bring the appropriate registration and transportation forms for each Class-3 item in your possession. You may be asked to produce it at any time. Required forms would normally be the Form-4 (or Form-3/SOT if you are a dealer) on which your item is registered with the NFA. If you are from out of NH, you will need the temporary interstate transportation paperwork.
official
Updated 06/22/2007
