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Club History

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS HIGHPOWER RIFLE CLUB

The Southern CA Golden Bears Highpower Rifle Club were formed as a not-for- profit corporation and sporting club in 1986 by a group of 17 individuals who wished to use the M1 rifles they had purchased from the Department of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) for competitive shooting.   For over 20 years the Club has met once a month, held a National Match Course competition the third Sunday of the month at Angeles Range, and had one or two social gatherings a year.  The goal of the club has always been to advance the competitive highpower rifle shooting skills of its members and to provide a venue for new shooters to be introduced to the sport.  The Angeles Range offers only a 100 yard reduced course for competition, but this has been ideal for beginners as well as for refining the shooting skills and equipment of experienced competitors.

In addition to holding high power rifle matches, the Club offers instructional sessions and supports organized shooting at the local, state, and national level.  The Club has 100% NRA membership and is a member of the CRPA.  The membership has ranged from as few as 17 members to a maximum of about 40 in the middle 1990’s.  Hundreds of shooters have taken advantage of the matches and Club meetings to learn the course of fire for Service Rifle and Regional Highpower matches and a number of the Club members have gone on to become National Level Shooters.

                              A CMP match in 1988                                                 Golden Bear AR15 Shooter at the 1998 Nationals

In the early days of the Club, the level of equipment was highly varied, with shooters firing carbines, M1’s, and M1-A, 0.30 caliber rifles.  As the new bullets and fast twist barrels became more available in the mid 1990’s, the Club members moved towards the “Mouse Gun”, the AR-15 in 0.223 caliber.  Many also adopted the coats, gloves, stools, scopes, and other critical equipment items required for truly competitive scoring.  With the sport growing in the early 1990’s, the Club started holding NRA and DCM (now CMP) sponsored instructional matches to permit new shooters to get NRA ratings and purchase CMP rifles and ammunition.  This also attracted a number of very fine shooters to the Club, who have won numerous State and National competitions and awards.

 

Golden Bears Club Member National Awards: Rumbold Cup National Service Rifle Team, First Place, Master Class DCM 3rd Place, National Match Team Trophy DCM 3rd Place, National Infantry Team Trophy DCM Individual, 1st Place, “Gold Leg” National Match Trophy National President’s 100 NBPRP Distinguished Rifleman

Six Golden Bears have been on California Service Rifle Teams at the National Matches at Camp Perry, three have won the coveted “Distinguished Rifleman” rating, one is a President’s 100 Winner, and one has won four Women’s Class 600 yard National Trophies.  Other Golden Bears have become NRA and CMP Firearm Instructors and one is currently a CMP Military Rifle Instructor training Squad Designated Marksman for the Army. 

1996 California State Team at the National Matches, Camp Perry, Ohio