Air Gun clubs/training in DFW area and how to get into the sport of competitive shooting

[Harsha21]

Hello all,

Recently I've been very much interested in Olympic Air Pistol and Air Rifle shooting. I'm 21 from Arlington, TX area. I'm having a hard time finding a shooting range or club that play air pistol or air rifles in Dallas-Fort Worth region. If anyone is from there can y'all please suggest me places you might know where I can play this sport. I have reached out to the USA Shooting certified Team Shooting Stars in Carrollton, TX but apparently, they are running at full capacity and have no space to take me in. Also, can y'all tell what would be the first steps of getting into this sport and how do I navigate myself into playing this sport at a competitive level.

[ghillieman]

The best way to get started is simply buy a gun, and start shooting in your back yard. 10 meter air pistol targets stapled to cardboard and something like a log to stop the pellets are all you need. Shoot a little bit, get comfortable with the gun, and enter in one of the quarterly CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) air pistol matches. They send you targets, you shoot them and send them back. Dallas shooting stars hold a PTO Match with air pistol and are basically the only range holding ISSF air pistol matches.

[Thedrifter]

There are a lot of clubs in your area. I’m from San Antonio and we have a couple regulars coming down to shoot our events. Try searching Bullseye pistol, it won’t be air pistol, but you’ll find there are active clubs to shoot with get advise from and they can connect you with the lesser known clubs that are not affiliated with nra, cmp, or usas.

Of all else fails, stmtc.org is our page and you can come to our events but that’s a 4hr drive.

Keep in mind I drive 3-6hrs sometimes to get to larger tournaments so that’s not uncommon.

~Cam

[Thedrifter]

Also… how did this post get into the buy/sell section?

[m1963]

Moderator edit- moved to Shooters Lounge.

[BrazosbyNemo]

There is a group of guys at Haltom City Rifle & Pistol Club that shoot 10M rifle & pistol on Thursday nights. You can lookup their website and find contact info there (if you can’t find it PM me and I will send the guy’s phone number). I think it 4-5 guys on a regular basis but it is a start. There is a lot of 10M rifle going on all around you but it’s high school teams. Typically JROTC programs. TCU has a handful of open matches each year. It’s all HS kids that enter but I don’t think there is an age restriction. Shooting Stars sounds like what you are looking for but sounds like they are full. 10M is a great sport but it is tough to find places that do it.

[BrazosbyNemo]

To follow up I tried to PM you with the contact info for Haltom City Rifle & Pistol club and my phone number if you have questions. I can’t tell if my PM went thru.

[BrazosbyNemo]

I will add one more post as I thought of something else. Since you live in Arlington you need to go see Neal Stepp at International Shooting Sports in Fort Worth. Neal’s number is (817) 595-2090. The address is:
2319 E Loop 820
Fort Worth, TX 76118
Neal will have everything you need. You need to call him in advance to tell him you are coming. He is 80 and doesn’t do the internet though he does have a website. Just make sure when you go see him you have a a couple hours because he is a great source of knowledge and you will get plenty when you are there. He is a great resource in the DFW area. He has an actual store and am pretty sure he is there 7 days a week. It’s not a normal store as there is no sign, etc. just a locked door and tinted windows. When you go in there is stuff piled up everywhere. He has everything for the Olympic rifle & pistol sports. He is a wonderful person and it’s always an experience when I go visit.

[Rover]

I buy my pellets, targets, and assorted pieces of gear from him. We have a very cordial relationship.