Here is what we have in store for you at Rio Salado during April:


Multigun/3-Gun Match: Saturday April 9th
A multigun match will be held on the second Saturday this month, with registration opening at 7am. New shooters should come in time to attend the New Shooter Orientation at 7:30am before they shoot. We run this match under these IMA rules. Check out this video from a recent match. This month we will not have a long-range rifle stage, so instead we will have 4 short-range rifle/shotgun stages. This means that we are going to allow competitors to run .22LR or pistol caliber carbines in addition to the usual rifle calibers. We usually try to include a small amount of pistol too so folks can practice their transitions, but this is always optional. Bring 150 rounds of rifle ammo, 50 shotgun birdshot (#6 or smaller) and a few boxes of shotgun slugs and buckshot.

Coming to multigun matches can be daunting for a first-time participant, but rest assured you are completely welcome no matter your skill level or equipment - just take it easy and concentrate on being safe for your first match. SinistralRifleman has written a great primer for newbies.  If this is your first time trying multigun, just bring whatever kit you have - DO NOT SPEND ONE RED CENT ON NEW EQUIPMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE A MATCH UNDER YOUR BELT. If you are short of equipment, there is usually someone willing to loan you something to get you through the match. Anyone who wants me to walk them through their first match, stage by stage, just shoot me an IM and I will be more than happy to do so.


Tactical .22 Rifle Match: Tuesday April 12th & 26th
The "tactical" .22 rifle/carbine matches will be held on two Tuesdays this month, starting at 5:30pm. Location is the Smallbore Range right behind the Activity Center. The rules are simple: its a straight time match with penalties for misses. Pretty much any .22 rifle is OK - the most popular guns are AR15-clones and Ruger 10/22s. We have two divisions: iron sight and optical sight. Our typical match format is two stages shot twice each: two runs on a "long range" stage out to 100yards, and two runs on a short-range hoser stage. Check out this video of a recent match. This match is more fun than a barrel of monkeys... bring a bulk pack of cheap ammo and you will leave with a smile a mile wide.


SubGun and Pistol Caliber Carbine Match: Thursday April 14th
A subgun & pistol caliber carbine match will be held on the second Thursday evening this month, with registration at 4:45pm and shooter meeting at 5pm. We run this match under these rules. You may shoot this match with any submachine gun or semi-auto pistol-caliber carbine, although .22 rimfire is not recommended due to the large amount of knock-down steel we use. Our typical match format is three run-n-gun stages with targets ranging from 1 to 50 yards away, and 200 rounds of ammo should more than suffice. Check out the many photos and videos on our division website. This is a great opportunity to run those pistol-caliber semi-auto carbines you have gathering dust in your gun safe.


SubGun and Pistol Caliber Carbine Match: Saturday April 30th
Another subgun & pistol caliber carbine match will be held on the fifth Saturday morning this month, with registration and shooter meeting at 8am. Format, rules etc are the same as for the Thursday match above, except that there will be 4 stages.

Will there be a buckshot/slugs option this weekend?
Is there a pistol option too?

Straight from the horses mouth:

"No slugs or buckshot. There will be a pistol option on Stage 2. The pistol and rifle stuff can be .22LR."

UPDATE: This month's match will be very rifle-heavy. Stages 1, 2 and 3 will be shootable with a rifle only, and furthermore you can run a .22LR or pistol caliber carbine as well as the usual .223/.308 rifles. Maximum distance to targets will be only about 50 yards. This is a great opportunity for new folks to try their hand at 3-gunning and not have to spend a lot of money on equipment or ammo. Come this month if you can - this match format only comes around about once a year.

The match is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Aw man... I understand though, it's been raining like crazy all night!

I didn't get the memo in time and went out.  A few brave souls made it out and we were allowed to shoot stage 4 - shotgun only.  Loading a shotgun with cold hands is always fun.  I was looking forward to shooting my 22lr since we are only allowed to do this at this match once a year.  Shooting in bad weather is good practice for the big matches because they don't stop due to a little rain.

REMINDER: Subgun/SemiAuto Pistol-Caliber Carbine match tomorrow morning.

I'll be there with the PPS43.

Hope to meet a few others there.

You will.

I'll be wearing an AJI tshirt. Say hello if you see me.

Good to meet you there Tim.  Nice job on over killing of the targets.

double tap, something my gun would not do today,  or even run right.

Those targets, and the Hostages on Stage 4 deserved to die.

I had a good time, but I think that stage design should allow for more full-auto shooting (duh! Subgun match)). I felt like I was double-tapping all day since none of the stages were particlarly well-suited to FA bursts. On stage 4 I just let it rip on the plate rack because I could.  

All I can say is that swinging hostage on stage 4 (I think) got what he deserved.. I had a great time today and Tim I know your ammo is cheap but that much fun should be LEGAL... Oh it is this is AZ!!