“Every Marine is a rifleman:” a foundational ethos that illustrates the lethality of each Marine and is practiced regularly throughout the Corps. On MCB Quantico, this extends to those with base access, as the Quantico Shooting Club provides opportunities to hone their marksmanship skills with recreational shooting.

“We're proud to have supported our Marines and Sailors, the active and retired force, federal workers and civilians since 1948," said John Monaccio, president of the QSC. "The QSC has continually evolved and while still offering excellent ranges for recreational fire, we've included match fire, which adds the dynamic of action shooting. QSC delivers opportunities to safely practice fundamentals while increasing skills to heighten proficiency and lethality.”

Some such opportunities Monaccio explained are small arms firing techniques, marksmanship training methods, and a shotgun sports mentorship program.

While the shooting club provides competition opportunities, it also provides recreational and skeet shooting to its members and their guests every Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. The club welcomes anyone with base access in the National Capital Region looking for a place to train, connect and keep their foundational marksmanship skills sharp.

“The shooting community is one of the most hospitable and welcoming communities around," said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jeremy Lutz, a member of the Marine Corps Shooting Team. "It always takes in new people with enthusiasm and will teach them the ropes in no time.”

Members and nonmembers of the club can shoot on a variety of ranges that permits a range of calibers, distances, and courses of fire:

• Range 1: features 21 covered firing positions (seven to 320 yards from targets) with permitted caliber use of .50 BMG.
• Ranges 2 & 3: features 50 shooting positions located at 100-yard increments up to 600 yards and permits caliber use of .50 BMG.
• Range 4: features 50 shooting positions up to 1,000 yards at 100-yard increments. Heavy calibers up to .50 BMG, including the .338 calibers, are allowed.
• Ironman Range: A 450-yard multipurpose range with targets with steel in the tree line out to 700 yards. This range is for rifle, pistol and shotgun recreational fire and competitions such as multi-gun and two-gun matches. Calibers up to .338 Lapua Magnum and .50 BMG are allowed.
• SAT Range: The Small Arms Training Range is a 35-yard, four-bay complex used mostly for matches and occasionally recreational fire events. Due to the distance between the firing line and the backstop, only select ammunition is permitted. Authorized rounds include all pistol calibers, all shotgun gauges (including birdshot, buckshot and slugs), and 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rifle calibers.

Those who participate in the recreational fire must bring their own weapons, stands, targets and ammo. Per base policy, firearms must be placed in a locked case or the trunk of the vehicle, on safe, with no magazine inserted and separate from ammo.

If you’re a member of the shooting club and do not possess a valid Common Access Card, you must visit the Visitor Control Center located at 27031 Telegraph Rd. The VCC operates Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and is closed on Sundays.

For more information on joining the club or inquiries about lessons and competitions, contact the Quantico Shooting Club at 703-463-8214 or visit their website at https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fquanticoshootingclub.com.