Western Mass. Pistol League

The Holyoke Revolver Club has been a member of the Western Massachusetts Pistol League (WMPL) for several decades. The League consists today of six clubs – Agawam Revolver Club, Nenemesek Sportsmen’s Club, Smith & Wesson, Swift River Sportsmen’s Club, Westfield Revolver Club, and of course, Holyoke Revolver Club. Starting in early fall, the teams compete on a weekly basis, traveling to each club in turn. With six clubs in rotation, a complete cycle consists of five matches, which is repeated through the winter months. This year, twenty matches were fired by each club. A match consists of the .22 National Match Course. Three different targets are shot by each competitor. The first stage is Slow Fire. Ten shots are fired on the target with a time limit of ten (10) minutes. This target is then replaced with a Timed Fire target and two five (5) shot strings are fired on it with a time limit of twenty (20) seconds per string. The last target is a Rapid Fire target. Again, two five (5) shot strings are shot, but with a time limit of ten (10) seconds per string. A total of thirty (30) shots are fired by the shooter, with a possible score of ten (10) points per shot for a maximum score of 300. No one has yet to score a perfect score, although there are a number of shooters during each season who will score 100 on a individual target, usually a Timed or Rapid target. Although extremely rare, perfect Slow Fire targets have been shot. Regardless of what an individual shoots for score, a minimum score of 235 is posted towards the team total. This is to encourage new shooters to join in the fun, and not feel that only after they have become proficient in marksmanship would they be welcome. The team welcomes everyone to participate. This is a social activity, and Holyoke has for years fielded the largest contingent of shooters by far. Total team roster usually numbers somewhere in the 40’s. The cost is only $1.00 per week, which pays for targets, coffee and doughnuts. Doughnuts seem to play an important part in Holyoke Revolver Club activities.

At the end of the season, a Banquet is held. Great food and good times are had by all. Awards are presented after dinner for excellence in a number of categories, both at the individual and team levels. A raffle of dozens of shooting related items takes place, with a high probability of success for each attendee.

A Range Officer oversees all firing during the matches. If interested in joining the Team and the League, just show up on match night. The Club also has instituted a Buddy System for new shooters who might like some practice before actually shooting a match. Nate Silverlieb has set up a team of experienced shooters who will meet with you at your convenience to do some initial familiarization with the course of fire and the commands given during a match. This is a great opportunity to become comfortable with shooting a match. Observing a match from behind the firing line also enables a new shooter to see what a match is all about. Since several lines are shot during any given evening, one can observe and then decide to compete in one of the later lines. We have ten shooting ports and usually run five or six lines during a match. Matches start at 7:00PM and will run to completion, usually about 9:00PM. Even if you have not obtained a target pistol, come on down, someone will loan you one to get you started on your new career as a member of the Holyoke Revolver Club Pistol Team.