CLUB Membership
You must be 21 years of age to become a member
In order to become a member of the SJCRC, you must be 21 years of age (during the calendar year).
There are three ways to join:
- Come to the club any Sunday from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm.
It would be your best time to come out and take a look at the facilities as it is open to the public for Trap Shooting….our other ranges require a membership.
Lee Ornat, is one of our Board members, and who heads up the Trap Shoots. He would be happy to answer any of your questions, and take care of your membership. - Attend a general club meetings held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7 PM.
Physical club address is: 57979 County Rd 100, Elkhart, IN 46517 - By mail:
Download the Membership Application, watch the Orientation Video (link above), fill out the application, include the Membership fee of $125.00 (made out to St. Joseph County Restoration Club) and mail it to:
SJCRC
P. O. BOX 242
Osceola, IN 46561
Sending your application in by mail could take up to a month for you to receive your membership card. A quicker way would be to do either of the other two ways listed above.
A couple of very important points regarding our Rules and Safety regulations:
- You are limited to 2 guests per visit and all guests MUST watch the Safety/Orientation Video we have posted on our
website before they participate.
You as a member are required to make sure your guests understand, agree to, and practice all of our safety rules and regulations. Especially important is safe firearm handling and keeping the muzzle pointed down range at all times.
- All firearms placed on the tables either on the firing line or behind it, are not to be handled unless being moved to the firing line. Handling firearms while someone is on the firing line in front of you puts them in danger. You are responsible to be sure all of your guests understand this very import safety rule.
- Horseplay is disruptive and dangerous.
Unruly guests or family members (children) are your responsibility. Everyone is expected to be respectful of other shooters.
Your membership card is at stake. - Shooters must stand at and on the leading edge of the concrete and not behind or in front of a table as it puts you behind or ahead of another shooter on either side of you and thus creating a dangerous situation.
- Whenever anyone is down range placing targets, ALL firearms are to be placed on the tables, muzzle pointing downrange, with the breach open and an Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI) flag inserted.
Absolutely no handling of the firearm by anyone, until everyone returns and the range has been declared as safe. - Never point the muzzle in any direction other than downrange, ever. Even if you know or think it is empty, or clearing a malfunction. This is especially important for new shooters that are excited about the opportunity and aren’t thinking clearly about the safety of those around them.
You wouldn’t want to see the person next to you pointing their muzzle at you or a family member, so be aware of how you or your guest is handling the firearm at all times.
Safety is our number one priority, all of which is discussed in detail in our Orientation and Safety Video. Please be sure to watch it.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the club open to the Public?
Only the Trap Range is open to the public, and only on Sundays between the hours of 1 pm and 3:30 pm. The use of either the Pistol or Rifle range requires a Membership.
How many guests can I bring?
2 guests can accompany you. You are responsible for your guests and their actions, so be sure they completely understand our rules and range adequately by having them watch our Orientation video on our website.
Before entering the shooting line, you must discuss the club’s safety policies regarding No Gun Handling whenever anyone is downrange…..probably one of the most abused rules we have observed with both members and their quests.
When do we need to use the Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI)?
The ECI’s are flags that all clubs use now to indicate that the chamber of your firearm is empty and safe. Anytime the firearm is out of your case (aside from firing it of course) the flag needs to be used….and as always, with the barrel pointed downrange. This safety rule is for all firearms and on all ranges…Pistol, Rifle, and Trap
How is the chamber safety flag (ECI) used?
On a semi-auto pistol, the slide must be locked back and open. Slide the base of the flag into the chamber (not the end of the barrel) so the flag itself is visible to everyone on the range. With a revolver, pop open the cylinder and slide the base of the ECI into the backside of the barrel.
What do I do when someone asks to change targets?
This is one of the most important rules to follow..and one of the most overlooked.
When someone calls out if it is OK to go down range to change targets, everyone must make their firearm safe, by removing the magazine, clearing any round in the chamber, locking the slide back (in a semi-auto), and inserting their Empty Chamber Indicator flag, and placing the firearm on the table with the barrel pointed downrange. Then and only then, is it safe for anyone to go downrange. At that time no one is allowed to touch that firearm, or ANY firearm until everyone is back on the line.
Do the hours change throughout the year?
Yes, twice a year our hours change and that is due to the fact that we only can operate during daylight hours.
Summer hours are 9 am to 7:30 pm Monday thru Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm Sunday.
Winter hours are 9 am to 5 pm Monday thru Saturday and 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday.
Can I use Steel swinging targets on the pistol range?
Yes, swinging steel deflects the bullets downward reducing the possibility of a ricochet. It is advisable to use lead bullets when possible as it further reduces deflection.
What kind of targets can I use on the pistol range?
Paper/cardboard targets are preferred, but steel swinging targets are also acceptable. Anything made of Glass or canisters of any type is absolutely not allowed and strongly enforced.
All targets must also be a minimum of 3’ above the ground to reduce the possibility of ricocheting over the backstop off of stones.