Airgun Group- History

Field Target, the sport, was imported from the British in the mid-eighties to California and Florida. The British have gun control laws that are burdensome in that any one wanting to shoot and avoid regulation and red tape turned to airguns as an alternative. Airguns under 12 foot pounds of energy are not subject to these laws and regulations. It is even more popular now in the United Kingdom than ever before. Some of the very best air rifle shooters in the world are our British cousins.

A formal airgun program began at Western Wayne County Conservation Association in the year 1990. Prior to this an ad hoc group of shooters met on Dr. John Griebe’s farm near Chelsea, Mi. This group was led by Roz Sumpter from 1987 thru 1989 when Ron Smith, one of those shooters, was able to bring the group to WWCCA. Ron was a member of WWCCA and prevailed on the Board of Directors to include airgunning as one of the shooting disciplines offered by WWCCA. Ron began the program as the Airgun Chairman and took the lead in developing the program as we know it today. Roz Sumpter, a Tennessee resident now, has been referred to as the “father” of airgunning in the Detroit area for very good reason. Ron and Roz combined their skills and talent to bring WWCCA into the airgunning world. About this time AAFTA (American Airgun Field Target Association) came into being as the sanctioning body for Field Target in the United States.

The present air gun practice range is the third practice range we have had and was especially built for airgunners. It is over 60 yards deep, more than enough to practice for the maximum distance allowable in field target, of 55 yards. It is still being developed. It will be protected from winter wind and maybe the office will be heated as well. In the past we have borrowed various club ranges for practice.

The course we use for our monthly matches is the same course carved out of a left over area of the club. Early on, Ron Smith came up with the idea of casting cement pads to anchor the specially designed targets that are common to all field target matches now.

Rick Stoutenburg came up with the design and eventually fabricated all of the current targets we use. We have over 70 such targets for our use at local matches as well as for use in major regional matches. We have retired and sold our original targets some time ago. Rick’s targets are quality built and are used by many other clubs throughout the United States.

WWCCA has sponsored many major matches in history. The Midwest Regionals, The Great Lakes 100, the US Nationals in 1992 and 2003 and the World Championships in 1993, 1995, and 1997 to name a few. WWCCA is the only club in the US to have had been chosen to host the World Championships three times. We are honored by the distinction.

We at WWCCA pride ourselves in offering a monthly match during the season that is purposely designed for the beginner and novice shooter. We firmly believe that a shooter must enjoy their self and be able to knock down some targets with a minimum of equipment!

If you have an interest in airgunning, whether for yourself, your son or daughter, grandchild, you are invited to come out to join us or call for information to any of those listed on the contact page.