Ongoing Activities
At present we have regular year-round ongoing activities, as well as some special shoots and other events.
Sundays starting at 10:00 a.m. we shoot on both:
Range 1 (rimfire at 50YD through ports from indoor benches) and
Range 2 (centerfire and rimfire at 100YD through ports from indoor benches in winter, and also at outdoor positions in better weather).
Tuesdays starting at 9:00 a.m. we shoot on both:
Range 1 (rimfire at 50YD through ports from indoor benches) and
Range 2 (centerfire and rimfire at 100YD through ports from indoor benches in winter, and also at outdoor positions in better weather).
Thursdays starting about 7 p.m. in the same locations. Ever since the first after-dark shoot in 2017, members have been taking advantage of the increased daylight and our new spotlight to add Thursday evening shooting to their schedule. Note: when there is a conflict with F&G Executive Meetings at the Club House on the second Thursday of each month, TBBC will instead shoot the Wednesday evening immediately before such a Thursday.
Other weekdays starting at 9:00 a.m. (when not booked by other clubs) some members on mutual arrangement meet to duplicate Tuesday activities.
Members regard these shooting days as pot luck affairs, where we bring a variety of snacks to share.
Thunder Bay Benchrest Club members are also general members at large in the parent Thunder Bay District Fish and Game Association; consequently they can also use any of the other ranges, when not booked by other clubs. Hence some of our benchrest shooting can also take place beyond 100YD.
So yes, that all can mean a great deal of regular practice (and lots of rounds expended) in any year.
TBBC Trophies and Our 2020 Shoots -- Some General Info
In 2020 TBBC planned to hold seven trophy shoots, whose details are listed below. Note: due to COVID-19 restrictions, some shoots were delayed or cancelled. Consult the main Fish and Game website calendar for revised dates.
For all these shoots we have annual trophies. In each case, the winner will have his/her name imprinted and the trophies will remain on permanent display in the TBFG Club House (they are currently on top of the new locker system).
Rifle Support. For TBBC formal shoots, there are two general methods as to how the rifle might be supported off the bench. Each match will specify which method is allowed for a particular event.
If the term "rested" is used, that means any type of mechanical or bag or physical rest supporting the rifle is allowed.
For some events, the term used is "with no rest other than elbows (and no use of a shooting sling)" meaning exactly that.
TBBC Easter Rimfire Shoot
Open to all current members of Fish & Game.
This shoot will be rimfire rifles rested on the 50-yard Range 1 and the targets will be affixed to paper plates.
We have a trophy for this event and the winner's name will be imprinted.
TBBC Rimfire 50 Yard Benchrest Shoot
Open only to current members of Thunder Bay Benchrest Club.
This shoot will be with rested rimfire rifles on the 50-yard Range 1 and the targets will be our current regular rimfire competition targets for score.
We have a trophy for this event and the winner's name will be imprinted.
TBBC Centerfire 100 Yard Benchrest Shoot
Open only to current members of Thunder Bay Benchrest Club.
This shoot will be rested at 100 yards on Range 2, using benchrest rifles or heavy-barrel varmint rifles with any sights.
Each contestant will shoot five 5-shot groups to be averaged for final result.
The original Benchrest Club trophy for group is now being used in this annual event. The winner's name will be imprinted.
TBBC Jug Shoot
Open to all current members of Fish & Game.
This shoot will be rested at 100 yards on Range 2. The rifle can be any centerfire using iron sights (open or aperture) and lead bullets, with gas checks okay, but no jacketed bullets. A contestant can optionally compete instead with a traditional muzzle loader [no inline models] and iron sights. Targets will consist of plastic water-filled jugs.
In the initial round each participant may fire at their jug up to 3 times; if they miss all three times they are out. The moment the jug is hit, they can stop shooting and advance to the second round.
In the second round each participant may fire at their jug up to 2 times; if they miss both times they are out. The moment the jug is hit, they can stop shooting and advance to the third round.
In the third round each participant may fire at their jug only once; if they miss they are out. If the jug is hit, they can advance to the elimination rounds.
Any remaining contestants will participate in elimination rounds determined by the Contest Director until only one person is victorious. These elimination rounds may involve smaller targets.
There is a trophy for this event and the winner's name will be imprinted.
TBBC Black Powder Shoots
Open to all current members of Fish & Game.
This Black Powder Shoot has 3 different events.
1. With no rest other than elbows (and no use of a shooting sling) at 50 yards on Range 1 with a traditional BP [antique or reproduction] muzzle loader [no inline models] and iron sights.
2. Rested at 100 yards on Range 2 with a traditional BP [antique or reproduction] 1800s' cartridge rifle loaded with lead bullets and BP and using iron sights; or with a traditional BP [antique or reproduction] muzzle loader [no inline models] and iron sights.
3. Rested at 100 yards on Range 2 with a traditional BP [antique or reproduction] 1800s' cartridge rifle loaded with lead bullets and BP and using traditional [antique or reproduction] scope sights.
If you have a question about the suitability of your proposed particular rifle or sights, please speak in advance to Dale Z. whose contact information is on the TBBC About Us webpage.
There are trophies for these 3 events, and in each case the winner's name will be imprinted.
TBBC 200 Yard Sporting Rifle
Open to all current members of Fish & Game.
This annual shoot for sporting rifles at 200 yards has no time restrictions and uses a sighter target with no ammunition limit, along with a score target for 5 rounds. In the event of a tie score, the winning order would be determined by the shot closest to the center of the X.
Rifles will be rested, for paper targets at 200 yards, using iron sights or scopes up to a maximum of 10 power (the top power available on the scope must be 10 or less if it is a variable scope), on a genuine hunting type sporting rifle, meaning no benchrest types or heavy varmint barrels.
If you have a question about the suitability of your proposed particular rifle or scope, please speak in advance to Dale Z. whose contact information is on the TBBC About Us webpage.
There is a trophy for this event and the winner's name will be imprinted.
TBBC Harry Whitney Memorial Benchrest Shoot
Open only to current members of Thunder Bay Benchrest Club.
This shoot will be rested at 200 yards on Range 10, using benchrest rifles or heavy-barrel varmint rifles with any sights.
Each contestant will shoot five 5-shot groups to be averaged for final result.
There is a new trophy for this event and the winner's name will be imprinted.