At Älmhult's Shooting Association, one shot follows another. They echo in the modern facility. It started with a safety inspection. The association needed to renovate one of the shooting ranges to get it approved for use. Then the idea of a larger investment took off.
– Yes, it was the idea of electronic marking that started to play, says the association's chairman Thommy Jonasson.
The previous shooting facility had classic, analog systems. There, several people from the association were needed to help replace targets and manage the scoring at the marker pit during shooting. It was quite personnel-intensive for an association of about 70 members.
– The problem was getting so many people, finding volunteers who do not shoot. It was often uncertain whether we would manage it with the number of members.
After tips from the municipality on how to realize the ideas, the association got in touch with Leader Linné Småland.
– We first started to consider whether we should only have two electronic ranges. Then when this got rolling, the project grew.
It ended up with a total of eight electronic ranges of 300 meters. Additionally, there is now a monitor where scores are clearly displayed for both participants and the audience. The system can also be followed from home.
– Grandma and grandpa, anyone, can check the results online. If I am alone as a leader one evening, I can still have two or three young people and help them with, for example, adjusting the sights. Otherwise, we needed, in addition to the shooting leader, two or three more who managed marking and record-keeping.
The investment has also allowed the association to hold larger competitions.
– At the facilities that exist in Kronoberg, we now actually have a really good facility. In some neighboring associations, it is almost hunting shooting that keeps shooting ranges in the villages so that hunters can sight in their rifles before the hunt. At the same time, we have some active competitive shooters who have increased thanks to this.
Thommy shares that five from the association competed in the Southern Swedish Championships in field shooting, and two participated in the Swedish Championships.
– It is the right development. We might be able to host the Småland Championship in the Swedish Championships at the end of summer. That wouldn't have happened if we hadn't had this facility, says Thommy Jonasson and continues:
– We have taken a huge step forward. I would love to see more people start shooting. We have some trial evenings coming up and are trying to attract more to the association.
Want to know more about Älmhult's shooting association? Visit their website or follow them on social media!
Published: October 17, 2023