Women's Pistol
Women's Pistol League
The North Troy Stag Rod and Gun Club is unique among area sportsmen's clubs.
It has a Women's Pistol League. Started in October 2003, the league has grown
and continues to do so with the support of the membership and board of directors.
Tuesday nights at 7:00 you can find us on the range honing our shooting skills in a
fun, non-competitive atmosphere. We shoot a three stage Bull's Eye relay.
Don't get intimidated by the lingo, it is easy to catch on to. The first course of
fire allows the shooter ten minutes to shoot a total of ten rounds at one slow fire
target. The target is changed to a timed fire target. The bull's eye circles are now
a different size. The second course of fire has a time limit of twenty seconds in
which you shoot five rounds. This is repeated for a total of ten rounds fired at the
timed fire target. Next, and everybody's favorite is rapid fire. Once again the target
is changed. Now you have ten seconds to fire five rounds. This also gets repeated for
a total of ten rounds fired at the rapid- fire target.
The league is over seen by two NRA certified female pistol instructors, new shooters
need not feel uneasy if they think they don't have the experience to join a league.
We all had to start somewhere. So why not with a group of women who enjoy the shooting
sports and are more than happy to work with you as you learn.
All women with a New York State pistol permit, a .22 caliber handgun and ammunition
are welcome. A relay takes thirty rounds of ammo and we typically shoot two relays a piece.
The cost for members of the club is two dollars for the first relay and one dollar for
each subsequent relay. Non- member fees are three dollars for the first relay and two
dollars for each subsequent relay.
If you would like more information please call Theresa Rowe at 233-1526 or e-mail
trowe@northtroystag.org.
Our next league starts Tuesday, September 12th and runs through to November 28th.
John Ostwald: Women who shoot guns on Mother's Day -
Published: Sunday, May 09, 2010
North Troy Stag Rod and Gun Club Women's League.
Dolores, Theresa, Jackie, Nancy and Susan.
Last week I drove to a remote area of Rensselear County to interview a group of women at the North
Troy Stag Rod and Gun Club. What are women doing here in the woods where only manly men compete with
bow, rifle, and pistol? If there are women here they surely are those often referred to as "hill billies."
Dolores, from the 'Burgh, joked, "We have all of our teeth" to make light of this misperception. The women
I spoke to were over 35, lived in nearby cities, had diverse occupations i.e. barber, dental assistant,
police union employee etc., and often had "feminine" hobbies like knitting. I interviewed them because
they fired weapons regularly at the club just like the men. When I used the word "weapons" they quickly
corrected me and said "we use the term firearms." Joe Johnson, chairman of the Board of Directors, said,
"Weapons kill people. We shoot holes in paper (targets)."
I asked each of the women how they got into competitive shooting. Nancy said that her husband got her started and that once her
curiosity was satisfied she found a desire to really "get educated and excel." She also mentioned the benefits of the camaraderie
and the personal challenge.
Susan said that her dad was a competitive shooter. Although she started shooting as a teen, she was away from it for about 30 years.
She also mentioned the fun and competitive nature of her hobby.
Jackie, from Troy, said that her dad had retired from the Army at the rank of master sergeant and is responsible for her interest
in firearms. She said that she enjoyed shooting firearms that have been a part of her family heritage. Jackie added that she is
especially fond of her limited edition sport king, high standard, and 22 semiautomatic pistols given to her by her father, who
received the gun from his father.
Dolores, said that she used to be a "Green Mountain Boy." As a young kid she marched in parades and shot muskets with lead balls
while living in Vermont. She said she started at about age 8 with a shotgun as well as other firearms. One appealing aspect of the
sport for her was being able to compete with men in an area where "size and strength didn't matter."
Finally, I spoke briefly to Theresa and Sandy who were the first female instructors in our area. Ironically, on Mother's Day weekend
in 2003 they took a three day pistol instructor course. Both women mentioned the passion for the sport and warm friendship with the
other women: "We are not a bunch of gun nuts but real friends as well."
A few minutes later, we approached the range for a round of shooting. I put on the "ears" (mufflers hearing protection) and stood
behind the women as they started their safety procedure. These procedures were extensive and the president of the club, John McCarty,
told me later, "You are never too safe."
After they fired they retrieved their targets one by one. As they held them smiling I remembered where I had seen this before. When
I was in grammar school at St. Anthony's we looked like this when we got our report cards from the nuns.
It is going to be a great Mother's Day for those moms who are lucky enough to get a new pistol on their special day.
Happy Mother's Day!
PS, for additional information about the league, please go to their website at www.northtroystag.org
John Ostwald is a professor at Hudson Valley Community College. His column appears every other Sunday.