Tucked away one mile from Route 93 in Davis, you will find TC’s Shooting Range, a well-designed rifle range and an equally well designed pistol range.
Recently,T.C. Helmick hosted a shooting match conducted in conjunction with the International Defensive Pistol Association. Local people as well as people from as far away as Uniontown, Pa came to be a part of the first competition held at TC’s Shooting Range.
The International Defensive Pistol Association is the governing body of a shooting sport that simulates self-defense scenarios and real life encounters. This sport is geared toward the new or overage shooter, yet is fun, challenging and rewarding for the experienced shooter. The main goal is to test the skill and ability of the individual, not equipment or gamesmanship. Jay Ofsanik, from Uniontown Pennsylvania, said “You can go online to idpa.com to order a rulebook. Various categories such as novice and marksman are included.”
Scoring for this sport is very interesting, timed-speed is important, but accuracy is even more important. Bullets hitting a zero ring on the target do not add time to the score. Bullets hitting a one ring on the target add one second to the score. Bullets hitting a three ring on the target add three seconds to the score. A total miss adds five seconds to the score. A bullet that hits a non-threat – signified by drawings of hands – also adds five seconds to the score. The goal is to be accurate without adding time to your score.
Tyler Wilkins planned staging and sets up targets for the shooting range. Wilkins said, “I started shooting when I was a teen. I took around fifteen years off before I started back. T.C. Helmick and I had to earn safety officer certificates in order to do this.”
Safety is of utmost importance at TC’s shooting range. Earplugs must be worn at all times. The shooting area is surrounded by high banks of soil and grass so bullets cannot travel out of the range. Targets are shot at in a direction away from the highway. There are strict rules for all participants.
Only the person who is shooting has a loaded gun. If you are not shooting, your gun is to be unloaded. Also, your gun, unloaded or not, cannot be pointed away from the actual targets. Anyone who violates these rules is automatically disqualified from the competition.
Helmick said, “This shooting range has been in operation for one year now. People can purchase a day pass for twenty dollars per person. A year pass can be purchased for one hundred twenty-five dollars per person. One family member can be added for fifty dollars. Additional family members can be added for twenty-five dollars per person. These passes are available at TC’s Gun Shop located at 102 Pancake Lane in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.”
TC’s Gun Shop has firearms, ammo, accessories and gunsmithing available. In addition, it has a craft corner where items such as crochet blankets, stuffies and origami boxes can be purchased. Another competition is being planned with a tentative date will be the fourth Saturday of September.
TC’s Gun Shop’s TC Helmick was on of the recent winners of Tucker Community Foundation’s Entrepreneurial Pitch Contest TC’s Gun Shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. The shop can be contacted by calling 304-614-6462 and by going online at tcsgunshopwv.com.
