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Welcome to The Target Zone
The Monthly Newsletter of Center Target Sports, Inc.
Greetings! Can you believe April is upon us? This has certainly been a hectic few months. Peggy and I are excited about all that has been happening and we have lots to report about what is ahead for us at CTS.
Some exciting news! We have made a management change and are excited to introduce you to our new General Manager, Stephanie Roberts. Learn more about Stephanie below and please take the time to introduce yourself to her next time you are in the facility. She has already exceeded our expectations and to say she hit the ground running would be an understatement.
In an effort to provide more open shooting time on the weekends we are now opening at 10am on Sundays and closing at 5pm. Whenever possible we schedule our weekend classes to maximize range access to open shooters. For instance, we try not to schedule "range time intensive" classes on both consecutive weekend days. That way we typically have at least one weekend day that requires only an hour or two on the range to support a particular class. With the extended hours, open shooters will now be able to get an earlier start and be off the range before I need it for my class. The vast majority of my shooting intensive classes have us off the range by 4:00 or 4:30.
With the next issue we are starting a feature suggested by our staff that we are very excited about. It is the Featured Member Article. Each month we will be featuring one or more of our members in the newsletter so that we can all get to know each other a little better. This is so appropriate as our CTS family continues to grow and we need to make the effort to highlight the wonderful individuals and families that make us the most sought after shooting facility in the region.
We are also developing New Member Welcome packets that will be available soon. This package will include course information, member benefits, facility features, discount coupons, staff information and much more. In addition, look for the MEMBERS ONLY fun shoot that we will begin on the 3rd or 4th Sunday of each month starting this summer. This is a fun shoot that will change in format every month and will be open only to members and will be free. Shooting will start at 8am and will be over by eleven so you all can still make the afternoon church service of your choice. Come and challenge your skills in a controlled environment sharing the experience exclusively with other Center Target Sports members.
Sadly, since our last newsletter, our longtime employee Rick Misener passed away. Please see the article below for more information.
Oh yes, for those of you looking for the March newsletter...don't look too hard, time got away from us last month...sorry.
Your CTS Family.
P.S. If your friends aren't receiving this newsletter and you think they'd be interested, let us know at www.centertargetsports.com . Just click on "Contact Us". |
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MEET OUR NEW MANAGER
STEPHANIE ROBERTS
 Peggy and I are very excited to introduce our new General Manager Stephanie Roberts to you. We look for Stephanie to help us take our business to the next level. Although the youngest staff member she comes to us with many years of retail and management experience. Over the last 9 years she worked her way up through the ranks and became the store manager at ORVIS-NORTHWEST OUTFITTERS.
She without question, shares our passion for customer service and is committed to providing the balance, guidance, drive and retail insight to our facility and staff that will ensure our continued growth and development.
Stephanie is married to Mark Roberts and they have a 12 year old daughter. They live in and are refurbishing the oldest residence in the State of Idaho. She and her family love all sorts of outdoor activities. Please take the time to stop by and introduce yourself to her.
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Gun Owner Orientation Classes
As you know, Center Target Sports has always touted a free class and free range day with every gun purchase. The class teaches new firearm owners how to load, unload, operate, maintain, disassemble, reassemble, clean, operate, store and transport their firearm.
After 4 1/2 years our patrons are finally taking us up on the free class in large numbers. To reduce the potentially long wait for a class by appointment we are scheduling classes throughout the month. We are happy to announce that these specific gun orientation classes can be found on the CTS monthly calendar.
But that's not the best news. Even if you didn't buy your gun from us, you can attend these classes for $40. Admission to the class will be accepted by you providing your CTS receipt for the firearm purchase or the purchase of this class for $40.00. All members of your family may attend the class with you.
Each class is specific to a type of gun or weapons system i.e. Glock, Kel-tec, AR, revolver etc. |
In Memory
Rick Misener lost his battle with some major medical issues on Sunday March 8th. Rick was a very important part of the CTS family and we will all miss him tremendously. Prior to his passing we put him on a temporary leave of absence so he could concentrate on his physical condition.
We had the pleasure of seeing him on Thursday as he waited for one of our members to drive him to the VA hospital in Spokane. He left the hospital on Sat night and passed in his sleep.
Rick served in the U.S. Air Force and was a Vietnam veteran. Everybody on staff loved working with Rick and he will be missed and thought of often by all of us.
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CHANGES To CCW Street Survival Class
First of all, thank you for making CCW Street Survival such a popular class. I never thought that it would be so popular. Not sure if that is due to the curriculum or the fact that one of the drills requires the students to shoot the instructor with Airsoft.
I do find it necessary to establish some prerequisites to this class because in many of the classes we have not been able to get to all of the practical exercises. The reason for this is that many of the students have lacked the basic defensive firearm manipulation skills to safely accomplish the skill sets we are trying to teach in this class.
Therefore, we will now require the completion of Defensive Handgun I or approval from me in order to enroll in this course. I hope you understand and realize that many of the skills taught in this course are very advanced.
I am considering utilizing Airsoft firearms much more frequently in this course as this is a tactics and skills class that can be accomplished without the actual marksmanship verification afforded by using a real firearm. The added safety issues and the fact that most of the street tactics are accomplished at distances between 0 and 6 feet make Airsoft a very viable consideration. Not to mention the savings in ammo costs given the availability and price of ammo today.
Sign up for this course soon ...I will be a Hoot!
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APRIL is NRA Month At CTS
Join Through our Facility And We Will Pay $10.00 Towards Your Membership
As you know, now unlike any time in our history, we need to come together and be on guard of our 2nd Amendment rights. We are encouraging everyone who is not an NRA member to JOIN and if you are already a member RENEW.
I feel so strongly about this issue that if you join the NRA at Center Target Sports we will pay $10.00 towards your membership. I know $10.00 isn't much but in these economic times every little bit helps. That means instead of your one year membership costing $35.00 it will now cost you only $25.00.
This offer is good for the entire month of April. Please take advantage of our offer to pay $10.00 of your membership and Join the NRA.
Show proof of your NRA membership to our staff and receive a free target during the month of April.
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Upcoming Class Schedule
Idaho CCW - April 16,30 May 13,16,June 10,20,26
Utah 8hr CCW - April 15,18,May 20,24,June 11,21
Utah 2 hr CCW - April 28, May 19,June 23
Street Survival-CCW- April 29, May 23,29
Handgun Familiarity - May 7,9,June 6,17
Youth Firearms Safety -May 9, June 6,17
Basic Pistol - April 11, May 10,15,22,27,June 7,12,24
Kubaton - May 12,June 6
Family Personal Safety - June 9
Refuse to be a Victim - April 14,June 17
Home Defense Shotgun - June 13
Defensive Handgun 1 - May 8,17
Defensive Handgun 2 - April 26,June 27
Advanced Carbine - June 14 (held at Fernan outdoor Gun Range)
Reloading Class - June 16
Wilderness/Hunting First Aid - June 18
Terminal Ballistics - July 19
For the entire calendar go to:
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| Thoughts On Trainers
This week while teaching at the TREXPO West Law Enforcement conference in Long Beach CA, I had the opportunity to talk with fellow instructor Richard "MACK" Machowicz former Navy Seal, Author and the host of Discovery Channel's Future Weapons TV show.
I came away from our discussion compelled to write this article...Can't explain why, just feel like I need to write it. So here goes.
Instructors / trainers can be found online, in the newspapers, in the phone book, just about anywhere. However, when looking for an instructor you must look beyond the advertising. We must look at the product, the quality and comprehensiveness of the training.
Training someone for the "Ultimate Test" or to perform skill sets under uncomprehensible circumstances that could very well determine if they live or die, should never be taken lightly. I have often said that I do not have all the answers, and I don't. I do believe that I do have unmatched passion and commitment to my students survivability.
Doing what I do for a living subjects me to a process of constant self evaluation and the self impossed burden for my students welfare. If a student of mine were ever to be killed, the obvious question in my mind would be, how did I fail this student? What could I have done differently? Why didn't I push him or her harder? You get the idea.
I guess the message I am trying to convey here is that you should always seek cutting edge training from committed instructors. I encourage you to experience training at every opportunity, but make sure the training is relevent and provided by instructors that are committed to you and not the dollar. |
| Monthly Training Tip
So-called "point shooting," "instinctive firing," and other combat handgun aiming techniques are often misunderstood or misinterpreted. So that we are all on the same sheet of music, I am referring to handgun shooting techniques that you are not consciously acquiring the sights of the handgun at the moment of firing. They can be termed as unsighted as they do not intentionally make use of the sights of the pistol, at least in terms of focus. These techniques may in fact have the sights positioned at eye level between the shooter's dominant or master eye and the intended target. You could also use the term mid-sequence as this refers to any handgun firing technique or position of the weapon upon discharge where:
The handgun was either not up to the firer's line of sight,or
The handgun was brought up to the line of sight but did not receive focus on the sights, or
Where the weapon was not at full arm extension, or
Was performed at some point during a natural draw stroke, or
Where the discharge occurred in anything but a conventional weaver or isosceles.
This is a listing of some of the prevalent techniques related to unsighted and mid-sequence shooting.
Point shooting
Instinctive shooting
Hip shooting
Retention shooting
Speed rock
Hip thrust
Full thrust
Applegate Technique
Israeli Instinctive Shooting Technique
CQB Shooting Technique
Cirillo Technique
Close-Hold Technique
Target focus
POINTERS ON POINT SHOOTING:
Components of the unsighted shot or mid-sequence engagement:
- Having the handgun in the field of view or cone of vision
- Ideally, having the handgun (and thus the sights) up to the line of sight Having a DYNAMIC grip and bore alignment with the shooter's forearm, with the axis of the bore parallel to the forearm, especially in the case of one-handed shooting
- Even rearward pressure on the trigger, with the uptake of trigger slack continuous on the draw stroke and throughout the extension, where the shot breaks right at the moment of full extension of the handgun to where it is aligned on the target
- Eyes focused on the target, preferably on a pinpoint object or other part of the opponent in the vital area, synchronized with the trigger press, giving a finite point by which to ensure hand-eye coordination
- Firing the gun in one motion, with one set of synchronized muscular contractions
- Do not shove the gun, as this may cause jerking or bucking of the gun
- Lock the wrist
- Lock the elbow(s) if possible
Don't limit all firing to one unsighted or mid-draw positions. The shooter may be able to engage with the first or a few follow-up shots, then attempt to finish firing at a more stable or sighted position
With any shooting where the handgun is not within the line-of-sight to the target, the shooter will need to establish muscle memory and subconscious memory to ensure that the technique will work under stress. Those of you that have taken my defensive level classes have experienced this reality when I covered your sights with black tape. With your sights taken away by the tape you soon realized the importance of the dynamic grip.
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Carbines...Carbines...Carbines
You have been asking for it... and, now it's back. We have an Advanced Carbine class scheduled. With all the basic classes we have had since the last advanced class, we anticipate the next advanced class to again sell out.
As you know, I teach the Advanced class at the Fernan outdoor range. It will go rain or shine. Let's all pray for a dry day. However, with the covered shooting stalls and the emphasis on longer range target engagement, the rain will not be much of a factor.
There are already a number of people enrolled in the June 14th class.
The emphasis of the Basic course taught indoors is CQB and the development of basic carbine skill sets that can then be enhanced and built on in the advanced course. The advanced course requires shooting out to 400 yards. A wide variety of targets from paper to steel will be used in this course.
The advanced course will go rain or shine so be prepared to be challenged in many ways. This is an exciting class that will prove once and for all the tremendous versitility of the AR Platform. We will also include some penetration experiments in this course. | |
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We're having a Kubaton Class on a Saturday! Don't miss it if you can't make weekday classes.
June 6
2-5pm
sign up today!
Don't forget Center Target Sports for your Mother's and Father's day presents and gift certificates.
Good in 34 States
Remember if you take your Utah CCW training with us it is all inclusive. Our Fee Includes the Notary Service, Fingerprinting, Passport Photos and Even a Pre-addressed Envelope.
Truly, One Stop Shopping!!
For a complete list
CTS The Only Place
To Try
Before You Buy...
Remember Bullseye Every Thursday Night at
Friday Night
Date Night (all day)
Unlimited shooting for both you and your date only $22 and 10% off Ammo and Targets
Women shoot free with the purchase of a box of ammo all day on Thursdays.
Refuse to be a Victim Class
All proceeds go to the Post Falls Woman's Shelter
5:30-8:30pm
June 6 2:00-5PM
Repeat any class completed, forever for FREE!
CTS, The Only Place To Try Before You Buy...
Women shoot free with the purchase of a box of ammo all day on Thursdays.
Friday Night Date Night Unlimited shooting for both you and your date only $22 and 10% off Ammo and Targets
FREE 1 Hour Class and Range Day with every firearm purchase.
A $57.00 Value
UTAH CCW
Good in 34 States
Remember if you take your Utah CCW training with us it is all inclusive. Our Fee Includes the Notary Service, Fingerprinting, Passport Photos and Even a Pre-addressed Envelope.
Truly, One Stop Shopping!!
FREE 1 Hour Class & Range Day with every firearm purchase.
A $57.00 Value
Next GSSF Match
April 18
9am - 2pm
Remember Bullseye Every Thursday Night at
5pm & 6pm
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Get Your Mother's and Father's Day Gift Certificates Today
UTAH CCW
Good in 34 States
Remember if you take your Utah CCW training with us it is all inclusive. Our Fee Includes the Notary Service, Fingerprinting, Passport Photos and Even a Pre-addressed Envelope.
Truly, One Stop Shopping!!
CTS The Only Place
Women shoot free with the purchase of a box of ammo all day on Thursdays.
Friday Night Date Night
Unlimited shooting for both you and your date only $22 and 10% off Ammo and Targets
Refuse to be a Victim Class
All proceeds go to the Post Falls Woman's Shelter
Women shoot free with the purchase of a box of ammo all day on Thursdays.
Repeat any class completed, forever for FREE!
Friday Night Date Night Unlimited shooting for both you and your date only $22 and 10% off Ammo and Targets
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