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The Quantico Shooting Club is a Chapter 501C Non-Profit organization operating on Marine Corps Base Quantico. Club membership is open to active duty and retired service members, Department of Defense personel and their families as well as civilians in the surrounding community, with the aim to promote exemplary marksmanship among all eligible members and their guests. They teach small arms firing techniques and marksmanship training methods as well as encourage small arms competition among civilians, military organizations and DoD personnel. Pictured are some of the ranges used by the Club.

Photo by Quantico Shooting Club

Quantico Shooting Club: A gem to civilians and military alike

27 Mar 2017 | Jeremy Beale/Staff Writer Marine Corps Base Quantico

Founded in 1948, Quantico Shooting Club (QSC), located on the west side of Marine Corps Base Quantico, is a non-federal, non-Department of Defense entity which once attracted more than 1,000 active duty and civilian members to its competitive and recreational ranges.

After many years of non-profit work and competitive shooting events on their seven unique ranges their membership has declined by half.

“It is amazing how many people don’t know they can join the club and all the good work we do here,” Steve Mullins, president of QSC said. “Over the years we have seen a decline in membership and we want the public to know we are open to both active duty and civilians.”

Club members have access to seven different ranges aboard Quantico where members and guests can shoot at various distances, with several types of ammunition and weapons.

Ranges are typically open Saturday and Sunday, 9a.m. to 3p.m. However, when classes are held, sanctioned matches scheduled or ranges are in use for training, some ranges may be unavailable.

Mullins says the club calendar, available on the club’s website, provides the schedule for recreational fire and other club events.  Recreational fire events are the best way to try out new types of marksmanship.

Members can shoot under pistol, rifle and shotgun marksman styles. For experienced and new marksman enthusiasts QSC offers an array of match- style shooting and marksmanship training.

For the rifleman, QSC offers across the course matches and long range disciplines such as full bore, Palma, high power, F-class, black powder and even .50 caliber matches.

Pistol shooting ranges from conventional bull's eye pistol to international-style pistol and action pistol.

Shotgun sport shooting includes international bunker trap, American wobble trap, American skeet and international skeet.

But, it is important to note that where QSC offers a vast range of marksman style shooting, the safety of their patrons and the base remain their number one priority.

According to Mullins, the club works closely with the United States Marine Corps to provide a safe experience for all, but safety is everyone's responsibility.  The biggest emphasis to range safety procedure is the presence of a Range Safety Officer (RSO) as shooting cannot occur on any of the ranges without an RSO present.

“Our Club has a very aggressive safety program designed to educate members and train qualified Range Safety Officers to oversee Club activities,” Mullins said. “Over the years the volunteer RSO position has mostly been active duty Marines or Emergency Medical Services, but it is important to note civilians are welcome to take the class as well. We are committed to encouraging and ensuring safe small arms handling and storage practices and good sportsmanship.” 

According to Mullins, over the years there has been a decrease in volunteer RSOs and as a result the club has had to work closely with Marines on post to subsidize the lack of hands.

However, in 2016 the club initiated a volunteer stipulation to their membership requirements, stating all members must log at least six to eight hours of volunteer time on the range or affiliated competitions.

Any member who chooses to become an RSO, can easily fulfill the Club volunteer requirement by logging the six hours a year as an RSO to meet their minimum requirement.  If the member logs 30 or more RSO hours, they will receive free membership the following year. If no volunteer hours are logged then the member will be asked to pay a $50 fee at the end of each membership cycle.

According to Mullins, stipulations such as these are not meant to deter members from joining the club, but to help extend the longevity of the club’s life on Quantico, as well as actually make opportunities for more people to join.

QSC regulations state club membership is open to anyone as long as they meet the age restrictions and as long as the club can maintain at least a two-thirds ratio of service members to one-third civilian members.

Mullins said anyone who wants to participate in shooting at the Club ranges must be 12 years or older and must be a member.  Guests are also welcome, but must be accompanied by a member to use the ranges at Quantico.

Yearly membership is divided into regular membership for active, reserve, retired military and DoD employees, and associate membership is open to all civilians in the surrounding community.

Membership costs vary depending on rank and type of membership, but don’t go over$120 for the year.    It is easy to join the shooting club and applications can be found on the membership page of the QCS website.

With club membership, members will be able to aid and compete in the various shooting competitions they help host throughout the year, including rifle, pistol and shotgun-style shooting.

 “One of our most popular events is the annual Memorial Day, Remember the Brave Match,” Mullins said. “This will be the seventh year of us hosting this three day event and it will be held May 26-28.”

The event is held to honor fallen service members through more than 17 different shooting competitions, with the winner’s name being engraved on one of the 17 uniquely crafted trophies in each category—each trophy representing a fallen service member.

For more information on joining the club or inquires about lessons and competitions, contact the Quantico Shooting Club at 703-463-8214, visit their website at www.quanticoshootingclub.com or view their YouTube video at  https://youtu.be/jdd32rr22_A


Marine Corps Base Quantico