Range Report: Ozark Shooters Sports Complex, 1/25/25

[BassCliff]

Hey All,

I was out of town most of last week visiting friends and family in the great state of Missouri. I had threatened to stop by and see @Bassbob but the timing didn't work out. While I was visiting my brother he was kind enough to make a reservation at Ozark Shooters. I didn't realize it was an outdoor facility. It was a pleasant surprise and a very nice day.

This was the main office, full of friendly folks, where we signed our waivers.

It seems they are set up for mostly skeet and trap shooting. I don't know if they shoot from this deck or if it's for observation, probably both.

They had quite a few of these clay throwing turrets set up around the facility. In the distance you can see the Cowboy Action course. Cowboy Action seems like a ton of fun. I might have to look into that.

We signed our waivers and then followed one of the ROs in his golf cart. He took us to the pistol/rifle range and left us there.

Behind the main building a ways there was a range with four target stands set up. There was one at about 10 yards, about 25 yards, and a couple at about 50 yards, but that one seemed more like 60.

I was unprepared for an outdoor range. I didn't bring a table so we used my tailgate to prepare to go bang. With me were the VP9, XD9.3, and FPC. I taught my brother how to use an Uplula.

We purchased a couple of targets in the office but I had plenty of targets in my range bag too. I'm glad I had my stapler in my kit.

Here's brother trying out the XD9.3 with optic. His hands are huge. He tried as best he could with the XD9 but he liked the larger grip on the VP9 better. The last time we went out shooting together I had coached my brother about his thumb placement. He's a Navy veteran and he says that's how he was trained. I just concentrated on having fun today.

We started with pistols on the 10 yard targets. I tell you what, it seems more difficult to shoot at something that's closer to the ground. The berms weren't very tall. I got most of my hits on the targets. I was just shooting too fast.

We'll get no points for marksmanship today, but here is a closer look at those 10 yard targets.

This is the 25 yard target. I tried putting 10 rounds in each reactive circle using the PCC rifle while free standing. I took a little more time with the right target, hence the better accuracy.

I thought I'd try again with the FPC at 25 yards using one of the 1/3 size USPSA targets. This is usually one of my better performing targets but that A zone is hard for these old eyes to see at that distance. I'm hoping I'll do better once I get the optic installed on this rifle. At least I got all 10 hits on the paper.

I jogged out to the farthest target stand (50 - 60 yards?) and put one of the red diamond targets on it. I was hoping I could see it but, not so much.

I used my truck bed as a rest and sent 10 shots down range.

I managed to get 5 hits on the paper. (I'm sure the rest were close?)

Hmm, once I install my optic it might need a magnifier. At this distance I'm no good with MBUS sights. But I'd love to practice more!

Brother and I had a blast putting holes in the paper. We stayed long enough to go through 300+ rounds and then had to say goodbye. We were out of ammo.

It was a little odd that this place is right off the main highway between Branson and Springfield. I'm used to driving up into the mountains or way out in the sticks to shoot outdoors.

And that was our day at the range. It was good to get out in the fresh air and sunshine. I'm sure we'll go again the next time I visit down here. Thanks for coming along. Blessings to all.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[belladonna]

Good shooting Cliff! Looks like you had a great time with your brother. Any range time is a good time!

 

[Bassbob]

Hey All,

I was out of town most of last week visiting friends and family in the great state of Missouri. I had threatened to stop by and see @Bassbob but the timing didn't work out. While I was visiting my brother he was kind enough to make a reservation at Ozark Shooters. I didn't realize it was an outdoor facility. It was a pleasant surprise and a very nice day.

This was the main office, full of friendly folks, where we signed our waivers.

It seems they are set up for mostly skeet and trap shooting. I don't know if they shoot from this deck or if it's for observation, probably both.

They had quite a few of these clay throwing turrets set up around the facility. In the distance you can see the Cowboy Action course. Cowboy Action seems like a ton of fun. I might have to look into that.

We signed our waivers and then followed one of the ROs in his golf cart. He took us to the pistol/rifle range and left us there.

Behind the main building a ways there was a range with four target stands set up. There was one at about 10 yards, about 25 yards, and a couple at about 50 yards, but that one seemed more like 60.

I was unprepared for an outdoor range. I didn't bring a table so we used my tailgate to prepare to go bang. With me were the VP9, XD9.3, and FPC. I taught my brother how to use an Uplula.

We purchased a couple of targets in the office but I had plenty of targets in my range bag too. I'm glad I had my stapler in my kit.

Here's brother trying out the XD9.3 with optic. His hands are huge. He tried as best he could with the XD9 but he liked the larger grip on the VP9 better. The last time we went out shooting together I had coached my brother about his thumb placement. He's a Navy veteran and he says that's how he was trained. I just concentrated on having fun today.

We started with pistols on the 10 yard targets. I tell you what, it seems more difficult to shoot at something that's closer to the ground. The berms weren't very tall. I got most of my hits on the targets. I was just shooting too fast.

We'll get no points for marksmanship today, but here is a closer look at those 10 yard targets.

This is the 25 yard target. I tried putting 10 rounds in each reactive circle using the PCC rifle while free standing. I took a little more time with the right target, hence the better accuracy.

I thought I'd try again with the FPC at 25 yards using one of the 1/3 size USPSA targets. This is usually one of my better performing targets but that A zone is hard for these old eyes to see at that distance. I'm hoping I'll do better once I get the optic installed on this rifle. At least I got all 10 hits on the paper.

I jogged out to the farthest target stand (50 - 60 yards?) and put one of the red diamond targets on it. I was hoping I could see it but, not so much.

I used my truck bed as a rest and sent 10 shots down range.

I managed to get 5 hits on the paper. (I'm sure the rest were close?)

Hmm, once I install my optic it might need a magnifier. At this distance I'm no good with MBUS sights. But I'd love to practice more!

Brother and I had a blast putting holes in the paper. We stayed long enough to go through 300+ rounds and then had to say goodbye. We were out of ammo.

It was a little odd that this place is right off the main highway between Branson and Springfield. I'm used to driving up into the mountains or way out in the sticks to shoot outdoors.

View attachment 74444

And that was our day at the range. It was good to get out in the fresh air and sunshine. I'm sure we'll go again the next time I visit down here. Thanks for coming along. Blessings to all.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Good times Cliff. And good shooting.

Yeah, there’s no mountains in Missouri so we pretty much shoot wherever we want.

I didn’t see any snow or ice. Guess they got lucky down there. Two weeks later we still got ice all over up here.

My cousin lives in Springfield. When we were teenagers we got kicked out of Kimberling City.

 

[Belt Fed]

Good shootin Agent cliff, you CIA agents are pretty slick. nowhere on that truck is a sticker identifying you as a government agency. but always be careful shooting across your truck like that, especially at close range where you aim down more. i have seen a few truck beds and hoods with holes in them.

 

[somorris]

Thanks for taking us along, Cliff. Good shooting. There is a lot more room to miss when you are in big sky country! Y’all come back now.

 

[wolfpack076]

Good Shootin Sir.....

 

[SaltyMonkey]

Great post, thank you for sharing.
I don’t know if you have one but you should consider a video channel and or video blog to share your range visits and experiences. Whether that’s YouTube or Rumble I don’t know.
I would subscribe and watch.
There are a few folks up here that have a wealth of knowledge that if they don’t have one probably should.

 

[Annihilator]

As always there Deadeye, good shooting!

 

[BassCliff]

Hi guys,

Thanks for stopping by to chat.

Good shooting Cliff! Looks like you had a great time with your brother. Any range time is a good time!

It was good to see my brother out and about. The exercise does him good. He's still recovering from a bad fall that caused nerve damage. He usually walks with a cane but he had no trouble running around the range. I think target practice is good therapy!

Yeah, there’s no mountains in Missouri so we pretty much shoot wherever we want.

I didn’t see any snow or ice. Guess they got lucky down there. Two weeks later we still got ice all over up here.

I wish I could shoot off my back porch. But my neighbors are too close.

There were a few remnants of snow left around Springfield and Branson, but lots more closer to St. Louis. I thought the frozen runoff in the road cuts was pretty cool. It looked like big icicles hanging off the rocks.

Good shootin Agent cliff, you CIA agents are pretty slick. nowhere on that truck is a sticker identifying you as a government agency. but always be careful shooting across your truck like that, especially at close range where you aim down more. i have seen a few truck beds and hoods with holes in them.

The only stickers on my truck say "Trump", "NRA", "USCCA", or other pro-2A related messages. The range officer saw my bumper stickers and said, "Well, I sure do like you guys."

Thanks for taking us along, Cliff. Good shooting. There is a lot more room to miss when you are in big sky country! Y’all come back now.

Ya know, I think that may have been my problem. I'm so used to shooting indoors I just don't know how to act when I get outdoors. There's so much room. I'll have to get outside more often.

Great post, thank you for sharing.
I don’t know if you have one but you should consider a video channel and or video blog to share your range visits and experiences. Whether that’s YouTube or Rumble I don’t know.
I would subscribe and watch.
There are a few folks up here that have a wealth of knowledge that if they don’t have one probably should.

I have a Youtube channel where I've posted some of my range antics, training, practice, and even some dry fire practice drills while at home. It's just bits and pieces. I'm too lazy to edit it together into coherent episodes. Maybe someday I'll put together "The Misadventures of a Mediocre Marksman".


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff