The current U Pistol Team dates from 1994. Since then we have developed a proud tradition of accomplishments. We have been represented at the Collegiate National Championships every year, including our first. The team has won Silver and Bronze medals in Air, Free and Women’s Air Pistol and a Bronze Medal in the Team Aggregate of the three Open Events (making us the third best team in the nation overall). We have won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Individual competition. We have brought home All-American honors 6 of the 8 years of our existence, with a high of 5 in one year. (As of 2004 we have a total of 22 All-American awards.) Our goal is to become the second non-military team to win the National Championship!
As specified in the Club Bylaws, Membership in the U Shooting Club shall be open to all students, faculty and staff of the University of Utah, as evidenced by a current University identification card. Up to 10% of the members may be alumni or others without current University affiliation provided they are a member of a national shooting sports governing body.
The ability to participate in Intercollegiate Competition is specified by the current NRA International Pistol Rule Book. Eligibility is limited to those who have not yet received a Bachelor’s Degree and who are currently enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits. Eligibility ends five years after the student first registers for 12 credits; time served as a Missionary or active duty military (beyond 60 days) shall not be counted toward this five-year limitation. One may compete for a total of four years.
The range at the University is located in the basement of the Naval Science Bldg. It is owned by the University and leased to and managed for the University by the Utah Precision Marksmanship Society (UPMS), a tax-exempt non-profit corporation. UPMS supports the Collegiate Team with guns, targets, equipment such as the range tables and computerized turning mechanism, coaching and some support to attend the Collegiate National Championships. The range is available for training and competition under the supervision of a Certified Range Officer.
Collegiate competition is sanctioned under the auspices of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The course of fire, called International Pistol because it is fired throughout the world, including at the Olympics, is described in a separate document. Open Air, Free and Standard Pistol competition are open to all those meeting the general eligibility requirements; Women’s Air and Women’s Sport Pistol are open to women only. UPMS hosts local competitions 10 months each year. Collegiate competitions are less frequent. The US Military Academy comes for a match in November. Ohio State came for the first time in 2004.
The culmination of the collegiate shooting season is participation at the Collegiate National Championships, recently held at Fort Benning GA. Invitations to participate in Nationals are sent to the top 10 teams and top 30 individuals (5 teams and 15 individuals for women) who participate in the Collegiate Sectional competition, typically held here the first half of February. Nationals are held the third week of March.
All-American honors are awarded to approximately 12 individuals (Five on the First Team, five on the Second team and two given Honorable Mention) in the Open events. Approximately half that number are awarded in the events for women only. The decision is based on the average of all scores from competitions fired during the academic year. A minimum of 300 shots in competition during the academic season is required to qualify for All-American, 200 in Free Pistol.
Expenses incurred by participants include membership in various organizations, supplies, match fees and travel to matches.
The National Governing body for International-style shooting in the US is USA Shooting. Membership in USA Shooting is required to participate in USA Shooting-sanctioned matches, in which collegiates compete locally 9 months of the year. Membership in the NRA is required to compete in the Open Sectional and for those receiving Individual Invitations to Collegiate Nationals. Membership in UPMS is required to compete in local matches.
USA Shooting membership: $35 per year, $20 for juniors, free for juniors’ first year
UPMS membership: $15 per year, $5.00 for juniors
U Shooting Club membership: to be determined at the club meeting, but typically $5.00 per year.
UPMS/USAS matches: $6 for USAS, $1 Range fees, $8 for air pistol, $6 for all other events. First match is free for all new shooters.
NRA Open Sectional: $7 registration, $11 for individual events, $12 per team for team matches.
Collegiate matches: Typically $5 per event.
Travel
Phoenix : About $220 if we fly, $130 if we drive.
Nationals: Airfare is highly variable. Plan $275 (last year was the record low: $144.20). Airfare obviously depends on where Nationals are held. Motel: plan $150. Cars depend on how many go. Plan $40. Plus food for five days.
Support
The team no longer receives any support from the University. In the 2003-2004 season we were fortunate to receive significant donations from the Val A Browning Foundation, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Bountiful Lions Club and UPMS. With this money we made two trips to Phoenix as well as collegiate Nationals. UPMS traditionally supports the team with $100 per participant at Nationals, guns, targets and use of the Ranges at no cost. Although we have been able to get ammunition donated in the past, we have no reliable source of .22 ammunition. In part because of the extremely cheap airfare to Nationals in 2004, the total cost to participants was about $100 for match entry fees, membership costs in various organizations and food on trips.
Because of conflicting work and school schedules it is essentially impossible for the entire team to train together at one time. Training times also depend on range availability, both the powder gun range and the “Gun Deck”, where we shoot air gun. Coaching is typically available in the early mornings (before 0800) and some evenings. Students may also become Certified Range Officers and use the Range during the school day under their own supervision.