Important Note!!! The February 7 meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. (originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m.).
Hello to all, hope you had a very good holiday! It's great to be rested and relaxed (?), and ready for another fun year of shooting, hunting, competing, reloading....whatever crimps your hull!! I think we can also expect to see a busy year relative to legislation, writing our elected officials, attending Friends Banquets; whatever and whenever we're needed to stand up for our 2nd Amendment rights. And friends, we WILL be called upon, as you'll see from some of the articles in this issue of The Shooter. Make a resolution to spend "one hour for one gun," to borrow a phrase from our WMSA friends. We hope you like this issue, and that maybe it will spark some of you into becoming more pro-active with respect to your gun rights. As always, you can send comments or input for a future newsletter to either: P. Fitzgerald at [email protected], or B. Sliger at [email protected]
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A couple of rabbits and a squirrel, maybe a few quail... Dad always called that a "mixed bag." They were the same old woods as ever, the same rifle or shotgun, the same easy-going dog, but you just never really knew what you were going to end up with... if anything. Hunting is like that. And forgive me if I ramble a while, but this past quarter has been, without a doubt, a very mixed bag.
I ended the summer by breaking my ankle (bad trampoline dismount...really bad), which I'm happy to say failed to keep me out of the November woods. Then halfway through deer season, with a spike buck at the processor, I was on my way to Arlington, TX for the (occasional) annual conference of NRA State Associations, for which NRA footed most of the bill, and MSSA and I split the rest. It was a pretty good conference, the focus being keeping lines of communication with the NRA open and working to more effectively bring the NRA programs to the local level. (All it takes is people, people...) All in all, November was a very good month.
December was... not. We lost two of our best in December, MSSA past president Walt Buemer and current Treasurer Jim Roan Sr. Walt was one of the NRA Training Counselors I went to when I decided to become an NRA Instructor, and I met Jim about 3 years ago, when I began the MSSA website, and came to the Board seeking funding. Rest in peace, my friends. We will miss you. Jim was a very capable and responsible treasurer, and the role he filled a crucial one for the Association... I will serve as interim Treasurer until the Board selects another, but I really haven't a clue who that might be. Any ideas?... call me.
December also brought a MO Legislative Issues Council (MOLIC) meeting in Columbia, with a variety of MO grassroots groups represented, along with MSSA (me) and NRA: Directors David Oliver and David Jones, and Legislative Liaison (lobbyist) Tara Reilley. Overall it was a good get-acquainted sort of meeting, with broad consensus to focus legislative efforts this year on three fronts: concealed carry, range protection and elementary safety training: Eddie Eagle. However, should anyone doubt it, I'll certainly attest that the well publicized NRA infighting most certainly has it's State counterpart... yes, we can work together for common goals if we stay focused on the issues, but we are still a collection of knuckleheaded individualists, no doubt about it. A Franklin quote springs to mind, one about hanging together, or hanging separately... (by the way, I got a trampoline for Christmas).
And now, January is in full swing as I write this, and it looks to be a typical mixed bag. Legislators are back at work competing to pass the silliest notions into law on your behalf, an ice storm has Columbia virtually shut down for three days, Secretary Harold M. is about to go in for surgery (he's NOT looking forward to it), I've dutifully bought handfuls of losing tickets for some really nice raffles the Boeing gun club and the MO Service Rifle Team (a $10 M1A!!) are conducting, the Feb 7 MSSA Board Meeting is almost here (1 pm, Runge Nature Center in J.C.), and the March 25 grassroots "Missouri Lobby Day" in Jefferson City (Capitol Rotunda, speakers begin at 10am... dress nice, and bring your family!) is coming up close behind.
Yes, we're still spooking up skunks, popping the occasional rabbit, squirrel or quail as we almost step on another snake and dream of the 14- pointer, and you're always welcome to join us... I won't guarantee the weather will be nice (this IS Missouri!) or you'll get just what you came for, but life IS a mixed bag, and that's part of what keeps it interesting. And a day afield with a partner you respect is always worthwhile, even if you come home empty handed. See you February 7?
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Tournament Sponsors: Get those match dates turned in to MSSA if you want them published. Match results also--we will try to publish every match results bulletin we receive.
Next MSSA Meeting: The Association's next Board of Directors meeting will be Sat February 7, 1 PM. It will be held at the Runge Nature Center, which is located on Hwy 179 just around the corner from MDC Headquarters, in Jeff City. All MSSA members are welcome AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!!
Newsletter: The next issue of THE SHOOTER will go out near the end of April 1998. The cutoff date for material to be sent to the editor & included is April 15, 1998.
Notice to Clubs and Other State Associations: You may reprint any material found in The Shooter, as long as you reference where it came from and the date.
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Board Members in attendance were: George Rupprecht, Harold Miederhoff, Willis Corbett, Bob Sliger, Paul Villmer, Paul Fitzgerald, Roscoe Morris, Jim Roan, and Dave Giarratano.
The Charlton Heston video "America's First Freedom" was shown and well received.
Steve explained the endorsement of David Jones for NRA Board of Directors by the MSSA. The endorsement was approved.
Steve will attend the NRA State Assn Meeting in Texas. The NRA provides the room for attendees.
Steve is available to visit clubs or other State Assn's. Contact Steve to schedule a time.
Motion by Roscoe, 2nd by Harold to accept minutes of last meeting as published. Motion carried.
Jim Roan gave the Treasurer's report. An audit was performed by Paul Fitzgerald and Marvin Behnke of the Treasurer's records. The financial books were found to be in good order. Motion by Harold, 2nd by Paul F, to accept Treasurer's report as given. Motion carried.
The resignation of Gregg Pearre and Tim Oliver from the MSSA Board of Directors was accepted.
Tom Nield is working on the history of the State Assn.
Paul F reported that a Long Range Black Powder match will be held at Marshall, MO in the Fall of 1998. (editor's note: 2nd weekend of Oct 98 is firm)
Roscoe reported that CFM is working on poultry farm pollution in S.W. Missouri, to help correct the problem.
Kent Finlay stated the Green Valley Indoor Pistol Schedule has been set, and will be published in the next newsletter.
George reported on Education/Training that problems still exist in the training of instructors. Course is now 3 days instead of two, and makes for a long weekend. Only 1 course was held in 1997, and will not hold any additional courses until the problem is straightened out.
The Smallbore Rifle Camp will be held June 18-21, 1998.
MSSA has 133 Life Members, 16 Clubs, and 365 Annual Members.
Bob and Paul F reported the newsletter is going well. The next edition will start carrying a message that material can be copied or printed by other state assn's or clubs, as long as a credit is given.
Willis stated that the Legislative shoot will be the 1st weekend of May 98.
Lee Koester, Silhouette Chairman, reported that silhouette is in fact taking place around the state.
Harold reported that we had the largest turn-out ever for a Prone Championship, with 36 competitors. The 3-Position Championship had a good turn-out, as well. The Prone Regional will be the 2nd weekend of June 98.
Jan Morris stated that the Youth Hunter Education Challenge Championship will be the 3rd weekend in June 98, at the United Sportsman Range in Jefferson City. MSSA sponsors the Hunter Rifle segment for YHEC.
Motion by Harold, 2nd by Paul F to accept proposal for "MSSA support for teams in National Competitions". Motion carried.
Motion by Dave, 2nd by Harold, to reimburse Grace Leinberger $95 for "Refuse to be a Victim" instructor training fee. Motion carried.
George Rupprecht and Tom Nield were elected to fill 1 year positions on the BoD. Three year Director positions were elected as follows: Kent Finlay, Lee Koester, Grace Leinberger, Roscoe Morris, John Leinberger, and Jim Roan.
Motion by Willis, 2nd by Roscoe, to adjourn meeting at 1:34pm.
The following slate of officers were presented for election: Pres-Steve McGhee; Vice Pres-Dave Giarratano; Treasurer-Jim Roan; Secretary-Harold Miederhoff; Executive Officer-Kent Finley. Motion by Roscoe, 2nd by Jim to accept the slate as presented. Motion carried.
NRA State Assoc. Leadership Conference--The NRA will provide room and meals. Motion by Dave, 2nd by Bob to provide $50 travel stipend for anyone attending the conference. Amendment by Willis to advance $100 to attendee, and the attendee retain any unused funds. Motion carried.
Discussion followed on a budget for MSSA. For now, it will be pay as you go, with no formal budget.
Motion by Dave, 2nd by Harold, for the following board meeting dates: February 7, May 2, August 1, and November 7. Start time for first three meetings will be 10am (Note: Feb. 7 meeting changed to 1:00 p.m.), and the November 7 meeting will start at 1pm.
Meeting adjourned at 2:07pm.
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The 1997 Awards Dinner was held at Veit's Restaurant in Jefferson City on November 8. State Representative Wayne Crump from Washington County was the featured guest and speaker. Representative Crump and his family are avid hunters and strong supporters of the shooting sports and conservation. His talk touched on the Missouri legislative issues related to our sport and his continuing efforts in support of sportsmen and gun ownership. In recognition of his efforts and accomplishments, MSSA presented him with a plaque naming him MSSA's Legislator of the Year.
A special award went to Jan Morris for his work with the Youth Hunter Education Challenge. He has made this one of the best activities around for youngsters in Missouri. Jan is MSSA's Sportsman of the Year.
Another special award went to Cheryl Teeters for her work with the Shooting Sports Camp sponsored by MSSA. Although a resident of Michigan for several years, Cheryl has continued to come back to Missouri every year to serve as camp manager. Cheryl is MSSA's Educator of the Year.
The 1997 Missouri State Champions recognized at the dinner are shown below:
Long Range HP Champion - Bob McCammon Long Range HP Service Rifle Champion - Phil Daniels Long Range HP Lady Champion - Shiela Daniels Long Range HP Senior Champion - Mike Barron Long Range HP Junior Champion - Ben Watkins IV Long Range HP Team Champions - Bob McCammon, Mike Barron, Ken Spears, and Jerry Bohnert Smallbore 3-Position Champion - James Schwarz Smallbore 3-Position Junior Champion - Rebecca Masser Smallbore Prone Champion - Paul Villmer Smallbore Prone Lady Champion - Sheri Volberg Smallbore Prone Junior Champion - Rebecca Masser Service Rifle Champion - Christopher Stark Service Rifle Senior Champion - Mike Barron Service Rifle Lady Champion - Shiela Daniels Service Rifle Junior Champion - Christopher Stark Jr. Service Rifle Team Champions - Christopher Stark, Jerry Bohnert, Mike Barron, and James Semmons Open High Power Champion - Mike Barron Open High Power Senior Champion - Mike Barron Open High Power Lady Champion - Shiela Daniels Open High Power Junior Champion - Christopher Stark Jr. Open High Power Team Champions - Bob McCammon, Christopher Stark, Ken Spears, and David Patrick Indoor Conventional Pistol Champion - David B. Jones Indoor Conventional Pistol Senior Champion - James Kaan Outdoor Conventional Pistol Champion - Kent Finlay Outdoor Conventional Pistol Senior Champion - James Kaan
We hope that the 1998 awards will be bigger and better. If you know of anyone deserving of special recognition from MSSA, please submit names to MSSA's P.O. box, along with a written summary of why the person is deserving of recognition.
(PageMaster's Note: See also the MSSA Hall of Fame and Champion's Row.)
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The Gateway St. Louis Chapter of "Friends of NRA" will be holding a Friends of NRA Banquet in the month of September at the Holiday Inn at Westport, St. Louis. We will provide additional details in a future newsletter, but wanted you to mark your calendar now!
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April 25-26 Spring Prone June 13-14 NRA Prone Regional September 12-13 State Prone September 26-27 State 3-Position
For more information, contact Harold Miederhoff.
(PageMaster's Note: See also the MSSA Match Schedules page.)
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At the November 8, 1997 board meeting, the following was proposed by Ad Hoc Committee action and passed:
A) MSSA will support Whistler-boy teams at the National Championships to
the extent of matching the support from the CMP (former DCM). In the
event of no CMP support, MSSA will provide funds for the Whistler-boy team
entries and mileage at the currently accepted rate.
B) 1. MSSA will set aside $2.50 per resident MSSA member competitor at
State Competitions (or a minimum of $100) to be used by that
discipline to help pay Team Match entry fees at NRA or CMP sponsored
National Competitions. The amount will be subject to review and/or
change each year by the MSSA Board of Directors.
2. MSSA's Executive Officer and the concerned shooting committee
chairs will be responsible for establishing guidelines for selecting
competitors to represent the Association at National Competitions.
They will also determine how the funds will be disbursed to team
members. It is required that the following be incorporated into the
guidelines:
a) The money is to be used for National Competition Team Match
entry fees only.
b) The team must enter as a State Association Team. If there is
not a State Association category, the team will represent
Missouri.
c) Members of the team must be Missouri residents and members of
MSSA.
d) Team members will be allowed to keep any awards.
e) There will be no discrimination toward any qualified
candidate for participation.
f) State Championship sponsors will need to file reports that
will provide information about the number of resident MSSA
member participants.
3. MSSA's treasurer and executive officer will keep track of the
funds and let the team representative know how much is available for
the team. No amount greater that what is in the team fund will be
disbursed.
4. In the event of any dispute, the MSSA Executive Officer will rule
with the right of appeal to the MSSA Board of Directors, whose
decision will be final.
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I just happen to like double barreled shotguns. I don't own any "best" guns, but I do have a 12 ga. Aya in 3" and a 2-3/4" Aya, both side by sides. I also have a 2-3/4" Beretta over and under. These three have been on the sidelines since steel came in for waterfowl.
I decided to put them back into action in the 1996 waterfowl season. In August of 1996 I ordered two ten round boxes of 3" BB's and 2-3/4" #4's to test. It was not then, and is not now cheap! The cost per shell was about $1.30 for the short 4's, and about $1.60 for the 3" BB's, as I recall.
I didn't know much about bismuth at the time other than it was close to lead in density and wouldn't hurt the older shotgun barrels and tight chokes. I began to learn about Bismuth when I opened some of the new "store bought" shells before taking them to the range to pattern. The shells were "not exactly" what they were labeled to be. The 12 ga 3" buffered 1-5/8 ox BB load turned out to be a 1-1/2 oz load of 80 BB's. This included the weight of the buffer. The 2-3/4", 1-1/4 oz load of 4's turned out to be 1-1/4 oz of #5 shot with a count of about 224 pellets. While "not exactly" what I ordered, and contrary to their labels, I remained optimistic and went off to the range.
The 3" Aya choked full and full patterned 51 of 80, 49 of 80, 69 of 80, and 51 of 80, or 63%, 61%, 86%, and 63% respectively for the first four shots at a measured 40 yards inside a 30" circle. The first, second, and fourth shots revealed 12 ga wad sized holes thru the 1/2" black board target backing at 40 yards. The recovered wads on these shots showed embedded BB's still in the wad base with shot perforation holes thru the base of the wad into the powder chamber. The wads also showed that the top 1/8" had been crimped over the shot column. This was discovered when I cut the unfired shells, but I didn't think it to be a problem at the time.
The 2-3/4" Aya, right barrel modified and left barrel full, patterned 171 of 224 (mod), 187 of 224 (full), 173 of 224 (mod), and 191 of 224 (full), for 76%, 83%, 77%, and 85% for the first four shots.
The 2-3/4" Beretta patterned 161 of 224 (mod) and 160 of 224 (full) for 72% and 71% respectively.
I had had enough after 10 shots. I would have to classify all of the loads as attention getting in terms of recoil. However, the 2-3/4", 1-1/4 oz load in the six and one-half pound Beretta was down right "brisk."
You may say that ten rounds fired, four in one gun and six in two others, with two rounds cut up in each loading, is not much of a test. I agree. However, at about $1.50 per pop, a poor man can draw some conclusions!
The short shells patterned well in both guns, ie.., well centered and even, with at least full choke performance out of both barrels. I do not think #5's are the thing, however, for large ducks in all conditions. What would #4's do?
The long shells patterned poorly except, of course, for the one shot where all or most of the pellets had escaped the shot wad collar. The wad was obviously not cushioning the shot long enough to keep it from embedding in the plastic wad, and the wad was too long for the shot column. What would a proper wad column do?? I had not reloaded for shotgun in many years. I was convinced however that if I was going to shoot bismuth it was time to start.
The place to start is with Ballistic Products, Inc, Box 293, 20015 75th Avenue North, Corcoran, MN 55340-9456, phone 888-273-5623. I can only say that the folks at Ballistic Products are absolutely first class!! they answered all my questions, even the stupid ones, and made great suggestions that made sense. The only items that I did not need to begin, were a powder trickler and a good scale. I have a Pact PBK electronic scale and I highly recommend this instrument. If you have ever tried to weigh and sort a great number of bullets for match use, you know what I mean. It's much faster than a balance beam scale.
I did not take the advice of the folks at Ballistic Products on one item. They recommended that I buy a Ponsness/Warren press. This may be an excellent press, but being from Missouri, I was too cautious for that and started instead with a Lee Load-All, which incidently, is not a bad way to start at one-fourth the cost. I have produced a lot of good loads on the Lee but have now upgraded to a Mec Size-Master. The Mec is probably easier to use, more convenient and more flexible and it is equipped with a universal charge bar. This charge bar is adjustable for both powder and shot, instead of fixed inserts present in most other presses that I know about.
The choice of a press is the ONLY advice that I did not take from Ballistic Products. In all other things I followed their advice very carefully; I cannot stress enough following their EXACT recipes for bismuth loading. You cannot use lead or steel recipes for bismuth loads. Bismuth shot produces higher pressures in a given load than lead shot does. You cannot use "on hand" lead/steel bushings for bismuth shot. It is not the same volumetrically. If you do not have bismuth specific bushings or an adjustable charge bar, you must weigh each charge.
With the above caveats, what have I learned in the past year??
1. Is bismuth shot round? Not exactly
2. Is bismuth shot smooth? Not exactly
3. Will bismuth shot kill ducks and geese? Yes, like a hammer!
4. Can you get good patterns with bismuth? Yes; near 90% with BB's, and consistent 80% with the guns I tested.
5. Can you meter large size bismuth shot thru your charge bar as you would lead shot for trap loads? No, not very well at all. With BB's it's better to count them. Tip: Use an empty CCI primer box with a 3" x 5" card cut and taped on top to cover the holes not needed. Two BB's fit in each hole and you can strike off the excess with a straight edge. (I should patent this!) I still weigh each charge and correct it to the nearest BB. Then I store the charge in an empty 35mm film container. With #4 shot I meter it thru the press, but I still weigh each charge and correct it to the nearest single pellet. A pair of long 5" or 6" tweezers helps with this and I again store the charges in 35mm film containers.
6. Can you meter the powder thru the press as you would with trap loads? Yes, if that level of accuracy satisfies you. I weigh each charge and correct if it is out by more than one tenth grain. These are hunting loads, remember; I only fired 150 of these in "anger" last season.
7. Have you discovered any general rules? Yes, I believe that bismuth to be effective, but it must be kept fast; remember, it weighs about 8% less than lead, but 19% heavier than steel. Bismuth in 12 ga at 1-1/8, 1-1/4, or 1-3/8 oz should be above 1300 FPS. If you can't get that speed within the printed recipes for the shot you want, drop back in weight and look for a recipe that is at or above 1300 FPS. The shot should be buffered and there ought to be a cork wad under the shot column inside the plastic wad. Remember, buffer adds pressure, so stick to the recipes.
8. With all this weighing and counting, is reloading a box of bismuth shells very fast? No, more like very slow. You are, however, looking for that last 5% in performance. I haven't mentioned the Motor Mica dust on the hulls and wads, or how you have to tap each shell about 100 times on the bench top to settle the buffer before crimping, or the fine art of wad splitting.
9. Have you discovered the "perfect" bismuth load for ducks and geese? Not exactly, but I am pretty close based on last years success, and I can't wait to try the seven pound 2-3/4" Aya in the goose pit this season. It is pretty consistently putting an average of 50 of 59 BB's listed at 1320 FPS inside the 30" circle at 40 yards. I think I'll be a lot quicker getting on the birds than when I was shooting the heavier guns. Incidently, the above load is right out of the Ballistic Products "Handloading Bismuth for Performance, Vol I," 1996, recipe book. I won't, however, tell you how many times I slit the wad, and how far down. That's a trade secret!
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A highpower rifle shooters clinic is planned for April 11 at 9am at the St. Louis Benchrest Club, to familiarize interested shooters. The clinic will cover the basics of high power rifle competition, rules, equipment, range procedures, safety, and a demonstration of the shooting positions. In addition, a 50 shot "practice match" will be fired. The clinic is free, and targets will be provided. Anyone interested in coming to the clinic must signup beforehand, by contacting Phil Daniels. This is a great way to get ready for the upcoming shooting season. Juniors, 12-19 years of age are highly encouraged. This is a great father-son, father-daughter activity. Moms too!
(PageMaster's Note: See also the MSSA Match Schedules page.)
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The Shooter sadly reports that we have lost a valued Board Member and Officer, Jim Roan. It is with regret and sympathy that we pass along the following article, which appeared in the Dec 30 Post Dispatch:
James C. Roan Sr. and Marguerite L. Roan had been married 66 years. They died in a one car accident; their car crashed about 3:30PM into a street light at the intersection of Clarkson and Manchester roads. James Roan may have had a heart attack, the couples son speculated. James Roan was 85; Marguerite Roan was 87.
The couple lived in the 700 block of Reinke Road. They had been returning to Ballwin from the Lake St. Charles retirement home in St. Charles.
Mr. Roan had been a lawyer for the old W.C. McBride oil company of Clayton. He joined the company about 1931 as a draftsman, graduated from St. Louis University Law School and eventually became head of the land department and assistant secretary of the company. He retired when the company was sold in 1990.
Mrs. Roan attended Washington University's School of Fine Arts. She was a commercial artist and also a receptionist at the old Stix, Baer & Fuller store downtown. During World War II, she was an inspector on an assembly line at the Wagner Electric plant.
Mr. Roan was in the Army coastal artillery during World War II and served as a First Lieutenant in the Missouri National Guard.
He was a founder and past president of the Greater St. Louis Revolver Club and past president of the Missouri Gun and Quail Club of Wright City. He was treasurer of the Missouri Sport Shooting Association and president of the Lion's Club in Ballwin and the Ballwin chapter of the AARP.
The couple were life members of the Third Baptist Church in St. Louis. They lived in Ballwin since 1960.
Survivors include a daughter, Marguerite G. McCormick of Lake St. Louis; a son, James C. Roan Jr. of Warren County; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
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Just before Christmas, we lost a very active supporter of hunting, shooting, and hunter education, Walt Beumer. Thanks to MDC Regional Program Supervisor Bill Seibel for the following, originally published in the January 1998 issue of The Hunter Educator:
Charter member of the Missouri Hunter Education Instructor's Association Walter E. Beumer died in December of infirmities caused by his long battle with diabetes.
Walt is survived by his wife of nearly 32 years, Judith B. Beumer, his daughters, Laura Beumer and Lisa Masters, and son Jeffrey Beumer.
Following a Funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Dardenne, the internment was at St. Charles Memorial Gardens in St. Charles.
Walter was well-known for his involvement with the Missouri Hunter Education program, and along with the late Kenneth Andersen, helped draft the first charter and bylaws for the MHEIA. He was a volunteer hunter education instructor in Missouri for nearly 30 years and was one of an early group of volunteer instructor-trainers for the Department of Conservation in the 1970's.
Walt was named Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor-of-the-Year by the Conservation Federation of Missouri in 1991 and was named Instructor-of-the-Year for the St. Louis region in 1992 by the Department of Conservation. He had received numerous certificates of appreciation and achievement from the Department over the years.
He also was very active in the National Wild Turkey Federation on the local, state, and national levels, the Conservation Federation of Missouri and the National Rifle Association.
He served on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Federation for more than a decade, served two terms as president of the Missouri Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, several terms as president of the Gateway Long Spurs Chapter of the NWTF, president of the Missouri Sport Shooting Association and was an instructor trainer for the National Rifle Association.
Walt also has served as a volunteer instructor at the shooting range of the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area.
Walt had received the Gateway Long Spurs George Carson Memorial Award, the prestigious Missouri NWTF George Clark Award in 1992 and the Roger M. Latham Sportsman Service Award from the NWTF in 1987.
Known for his dedication to training young hunters, Walt received the NWTF Hunter Apprentice School Hall of Fame Award in 1997. He also was honored by the City of St. Peters in July, 1997, for being one of several volunteers teaching hunter education in that city. In addition, he received a Certificate of Merit from the NRA in 1991.
Those who wish may make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Walt's name.
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We have reported previously in The Shooter that the Benchrest Rifle Club of St. Louis has plans to add a 600 yard range complete with pits similar to Bucksnort Range, Marshall, Missouri. We are happy to report that work has been started in this regard; a status follows:
All of the concrete work on the pits have been completed, and some backfill remains. The area in the pit for target frames has been prepared, and a contract has been let for the construction of the moving frames. Work on the frames will begin as soon as weather permits.
The 200 and 300 yard firing line berms have been rough graded. The 200 yard berm now needs finish grading, while some more rough work needs to be done on the 300 yarder. An informal High Power Rifle Committee has been formed to address issues such as match scheduling, fee structure, etc..From a schedule standpoint, it is hoped to have working pits in May 1998, weather permitting.
There have been a number of people donating their time and efforts to this project, but the following deserve special recognition for their part: Mike Barron, Phil and Shiela Daniels, Larry Weidell, Jeff Chosid, Al Bayliss, Mark Germer, and Dan Johanningmeier.
Additionally, the Benchrest Club of St. Louis currently has a fine facility to handle all shooting needs, including a pistol range with 40 covered points, with target frames out to 50 yards; a multi-purpose range with 20 benches with target frames at 50 and 100 yards; a shotgun range; and a 60 bench rifle range with target frames at 100, 200, 300, and 600 yards. Shooting is permitted from dawn to dusk, 365 days per year.
Directions to the range (near Wright City, MO) are: Interstate 70 to exit 199, get on North Outer Road, then west to Bell Road. Turn right (north) on Bell Road, 4.2 miles to Zoar Church Road; left on Zoar Church 2.4 miles, range on right. For more information on the club, or to join, call the club Hotline at 314-928-7094, or visit the Benchrest website.
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(NOT the actual rifle; still, makes your mouth water, don't it?)
The Missouri State Rifle team is sponsoring a raffle to benefit the MO Junior Rifle Team, as well as the State Service Rifle Team. The "Giveaway" prize is a M1A National Match Rifle, in .308 cal. It has a McMillan fiberglass stock, Douglas Match Heavy barrel, all GI national match parts, 2 twenty round magazines, and a sling. The raffle tickets are going for $10 each, or $40 for 5 tickets. The raffle was started in 1997, and only 500 tickets will be sold; many of those have been sold, but a few tickets DO remain. If you are interested in participating in this raffle, contact Shiela Daniels or Steve McGhee, or visit the MSSA M1A Raffle Page!
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What is Long Range 22 cal Silhouette, you might ask? Well, we started shooting this type of match because we thought it would be a great training aid for black powder cartridge silhouette. And while it does this very well, it has also developed a following of its own; many people who due to size or age might shy away from the recoil of the big rifles find this to be a very exciting and challenging match.
We use black powder cartridge rules and rifle types (with the exception that we allow the use of hammerless actions). Chickens are shot offhand, while all other targets are shot with the use of cross sticks. The chicken is fired at 80 meters, pig at 120 meters, turkey at 154 meters, and the ram at 200 meters. We chose these distances because the wind affect is almost identical to that encountered with black powder cartridge rifles at full silhouette distances, and the sight picture is identical.
If any individual or club is interested in putting together this type of match, I would be more than glad to help them out with target patterns, backer designs, etc...Contact Lee Shaver.
The following match results were from a match held at the Muddy Creek Muzzleloaders Range, near Lamar, Missouri, on Nov 8, 1997:
Name Chick Pig Turkey Ram Total Lee Shaver 6 7 7 7 27 Ron Harris 3 9 8 7 27 Terry Steward 3 8 9 7 27 Craig Weaver 1 7 8 9 25 Jeret Bradbury 3 9 9 3 24 Dean McKibben 2 8 6 6 22 Tristan Windsor 4 8 4 5 21 Richard Windsor 4 9 5 2 20 Bryan Finney 2 7 6 5 20 John Obannon 1 5 7 7 20 Bernie Drummond 3 8 3 5 19 Reed Myers 1 7 7 4 19 Dale Wrenn 2 8 7 0 17 Russ Patteson 2 5 4 3 14 Randall Miller 2 4 5 2 13 Roger Miller 1 7 3 0 11 Bob Shaw 1 7 0 3 11 Susie Finney 0 3 2 1 6
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The following matches are scheduled to be conducted at the Busch WA Range, Weldon Spring, MO, in 1998. All matches are 7-10AM. PPC matches for club members and law enforcement and/or security only.
LRBP (Black Powder) Apr 25
High Power Apr 26
High Power May 23
PPC May 30
LRBP Jun 13
High Power Jun 14
Smallbore 3-Pos Jul 12
PPC Jul 19
PPC Aug 22
High Power Aug 29
LRBP Sep 5
High Power Sep 20
High Power Oct 17
Contacts:
High Power and Smallbore, Shiela Daniels
PPC and LRBP, Paul Fitzgerald
(PageMaster's Note: See also the MSSA Match Schedules page.)
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OK, the stage is set; we're going to have a Long Range Black Powder Match (LRBP) at Marshall, on Oct 10-11, 1998. Details are being worked out, but the date for the range has been committed. The match will be 60 shots total, at 200, 300, and 600 yards. It will be an NRA Registered match; watch for it's announcement in "Shooting Sports-USA," and other publications that carry Black Powder stuff.
In a previous newsletter, I mentioned that I had purchased a T/C Maxi-hunter mould for the 50 cal "Hunter" bullet. Some experimentation showed that pure lead did not cast very well, but a mixture of 20/1, lead/tin cast nice looking slugs. Didn't know at the time how they would load, or fire. Well, it turns out that they load fine, shoot fine, and I collected a doe with one in November; the doe did not notice that it was 20/1 rather than pure lead. Slug exited, deer ran about 40 yards and piled up. You could not have noticed the difference between this and a deer hit with a 30-06. I was satisfied with the cast bullet performance, and will continue with the current casting recipe.
Speaking of large lead slugs, I recently loaded some black powder 45/70 cartridges with Lyman's Long Range High Performance (LRHP) lead bullets. One test was with the 480 gr Schmittzer design, the other was with the 535 gr Postell. Both bullets had Lyman's lube already applied. The Schmittzer did not group well at 100 yards (about 4 inches), but the Postell did pretty well (about 2 inches). I seemed to me that Lymans lube did not work as well as SPG, or the kind that I currently use, Long Knife Lube. Cleaning the barrel after about 5 shots was more difficult; barrel badly fouled, and it seemed to be dry. Moulds are available from Lyman for both of these bullets, and it is likely that casting your own and applying a decent lube could improve their performance. Additionally, one could experiment with all the usual variables (seating depth, powder charge, primers, etc..) and surely get better performance. For the present, my favorite bullet and one I see used very often in matches is Lymans #457125, a 500 gr round nose.
Also picked up some Pyrodex Pellets just before Christmas to try out. The box I bought had 100 pellets of 50 gr each, which translates into 50 shots. At a price (with tax) of $24.54, that's almost 50 cents per shot for powder, whereas you can get a pound of FFG for about $12, or a pound of regular Pyrodex for $12-14. With the loose stuff, the price per shot is about 20 cents for powder. Oh well, one should not quibble about price when on "the quest for knowledge" (and fun!). Upon opening the box, I noticed that the cylinders of powder have one end that is a bit darker than the rest of the pellet; this is the end to load towards the primer; no doubt a little easier to ignite, maybe a finer granulation, or something. Anyway, one thing that caught my eye is that the instructions included with the pellets says that they are to be used with a saboted bullet, and nothing else. Hmmm...being a fan of large lead slugs, I don't like that. Wonder if it's really a safety issue, or they're in cahoots with a sabot manufacturer? I haven't used them yet, but will report later when I do.
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The Morehead State University Rifle Team is looking for women shooters to compete at a Division I NCAA level. We would be interested in hearing from any woman who has competed in indoor smallbore rifle and/or air rifle. Scholarships and financial aid may be available to qualified applicants. Men are also welcome to apply.
Morehead State is a four year accredited university of 8600 students with a broad area of study to suit a wide variety of academic goals. The programs available include 72 undergraduate programs, 24 graduate programs, and 10 pre-professional programs in the colleges of Business, Science and Technology, Humanities, Education, and Behavioral Science.
The university rests within the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest and is recognized as one of the safest campuses in the country. If you are interested in being a part of our developing shooting program at a great school, please contact:
Morehead State University
Academic-Athletic Center
Morehead, KY 40351-1689
606-783-2000, or toll free 1-800-585-6781
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Recently, it was brought to my attention by MSSA member Dan Johanningmeier that the Chicago Tribune was doing a "Series on Guns," and I was provided with copies. Very interesting, but not surprising, and qualifies the Chicago Tribune, and staff writers Melvin Claxton and William Gaines for the "Stupid Biased Journalism Award." The series started on Dec 27, 1997, and ran for several days. It's basic message was to say that U.S. military arms such as the M-1 Carbine and M-1 Garand were the weapons of choice by criminals, and they told the story in a very biased, Clintonian, stupid manner which unfortunately, typifies most major metropolitan newspapers. They also stated that the U.S. Army (CMP/DCM) was responsible for putting these weapons on the streets of America, and it needs to be stopped, now!
Article titles, and dates of publication appear below:
Military Scrap Heap, No Farewell to Arms, 12/27/97
Carbine Pointblank, 12/27/97
Built for the Battlefield, Bound for the Streets, 12/29/97
M-1 Garand Cuts a Violent Path, 12/29/97
At Gun Shows, Criminals Step Right Up, 12/30/97
Killer Covered Tracks at Gun Shows, 12/30/97
Despite 'ban,' Assault Weapons Still Menace, 12/30/97
Thirteen Bullets From an SKS, 12/30/97
Blagojevich to Press for Assault-Gun Hearings, 12/31/97
The last article in the series states that due to the Tribune investigation that shows that criminals can get assault weapons with ease, US Rep Rod Blagojevich, Dem-Ill, will ask for a hearing when Congress reconvenes at the end of January. He was quoted as saying he will try to abolish the Civilian Marksmanship Program. (Your tax dollars hard at work!) You can access and read the articles yourself; they are at: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/news/guns/top.htm.
(PageMaster's Note: See also the CMP Support Page.
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Over the Christmas holidays, I visited relatives in Laramie, Wyoming, to exchange gifts, visit, try some cross-country skiing, etc.. While there, I took the local newspaper into the "thinking room," and noticed an article that I liked so much, I brought it back to Missouri with me. The newspaper, "The Laramie Daily Boomerang," dated Dec 30, 1997, had an article entitled, "Wyoming gets poor grades from Handgun Control." There were several things I liked about this, and therefore, the prestigious Common Sense Award. First, the officials interviewed gave a no-nonsense explanation, and second, the newspaper printed it, without twisting the words or meaning. Although the actual article was much longer, here are a few tidbits from the article:
"Handgun Control, in a 50 state 'report card' on concealed weapon permit laws, gave Wyoming a D minus for its law. The group specifically criticized the state law for what it said was a lack of discretion for local officials to deny an application for a concealed weapon permit. But Wyoming Div of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Director Tom Pagel said under the law, local officials DO have an opportunity to provide input on applications. 'The statement is wrong, but I would expect that out of Handgun Control, he said. Handgun Control is very restrictive, they don't like anyone who doesn't see things their way. We are a very pro-gun state, we have had guns for years, and we will continue to have them for years. Our basic philosophy does not jive well with Handgun Control, but not many of us are losing sleep over that fact.' OK, way to go Tom !! (Touche', Chicago Tribune)
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Indoor Pistol (1800) Feb 15 State Indoor Pistol (1800) Mar 15 Outdoor Pistol (2700) Apr 19, Aug 16, Sep 20, Oct 18 State Outdoor Pistol (2700) Jun 21 Contact: Kent Finlay
(PageMaster's Note: See also the MSSA Match Schedules page.)
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It's that time of year, it seems. Have you been called by one of the many law enforcement groups soliciting annual donations, fundraisers? I got called one evening a couple of weeks ago by one of these, let's just call them the 'Fraternal Order of Just the Facts Mam'. Anyway, I have been on my high horse of late, and generally donate to such causes, anyway. "Yes, yes," I told the man on the phone, "I'll donate; just send me the material in the mail. However," I told him, "when I get the material, I'm going to look into it, and if I find that your organization does not support the 2nd Amendment, your material will go straight in the trash." "Oh, no problem about that," he said. Well, I got the material, and what I found out wasn't very good. I sent him a note with the invoice that said, "I have decided NOT to donate to your cause, and I wanted you to know the reasons why. Your group has endorsed Bill Clinton and Mel Carnahan in the past, and they have been shown to be anti - 2nd Amendment. You might as well have endorsed Sarah Brady and Handgun Control. Get your money elsewhere." Sometimes, little things make you feel good. It's a great day for Liberty!
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According to an Industry Circular sent out to all FFL holders last week by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, muzzleloaders "with in-line firing mechanisms designed or redesigned to use modern conventional firearm primers DO NOT meet the definition of antique firearms, and are therefore now subject to regulation as a firearm." The issue revolves around the definition of "modern ammunition," in which BATF classifies a primer, by itself, as ammunition. BATF is operating under the premise that if a "modern primer" is used anywhere in the firing mechanism, then the firearm is "modern," and thus, not subject to the 1898 exemption for antiques and replicas. "Primers are not an antique ignition system and are ammunition subject to regulation," BATF says, seemingly forgetting that "modern primers" were invented in 1858. Under this brand of reasoning, BATF stands on the threshold of regulating ALL muzzleloaders as "firearms." This is yet another example of the Clinton-Gore administration's agenda to restrict the lawful activities of America's shooting community. And just as NRA-ILA has been saying all along, the anti-gunners will not stop at "Saturday Night Specials" or so-called "assault weapons" in their efforts to disarm law-abiding Americans. NRA- ILA has sent BATF Director Magaw a letter urging him to reconsider and reverse this ruling. (from a NRA/ILA Fax Alert)
(PageMaster's Note: See also the BATF Industry Circular.)
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The results below are from a match fired on Dec 21, 1997.
Name Class Aggregate Award Dennis West EX 1679-44X Match Winner James Scott EX 1628-26X Buddy Sombart SS 1480-19X Charles Dyer SS 1475-18X Donald Collins SS 1417-12X Gary Martin MK 1598-27X 1st SS
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Well, I've done it again and managed to get myself in the dog-house with my wife over something related to shooting, or hunting. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about; you entered a match on Mother's Day weekend; you cut short that Thanksgiving visit with the in-laws so you could go rabbit hunting; you went ahead and bought that new rifle "on the sly" because you just had to have it, and now she found out; the yearly vacation will have to be a bit shorter this year because you bought a jon boat & motor to support your duck hunting habit. Any of these sound familiar? I could go on with more examples, but you get the picture.
So just exactly what was my "crime" this time? Putting a framed picture of Charlton Heston on our fireplace mantel, alongside the family photos. No, it wasn't because I'm a big fan of the actor, and it's not because I've finally inhaled too much gunsmoke and gone wacko. I'll explain why I did it a little later.
As a gun club officer, semi-active competitor and hunter, FFL holder and editor of a gun related newsletter, I guess I would say that while I may not have the absolute latest info on gun related subjects, I probably DO have a bit more than the average Joe. Let's just say that my exposure to this type of info is reasonable; my circle of friends are firearms buffs, and I pay attention to firearms related material in the media. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's very frustrating.
Well, anyway, the month of November was somewhat typical for me; trips to the range to finalize sight-in, reading magazines about how to get the "big one;" going deer hunting and missing the "big one." Everything was going normal except for the fact that I was somewhat over- whelmed with instances of receiving "disturbing information." Matter of fact, it was enough to P.O. a person. Here's some of the things I was confronted with:
1) I was phoned at work (airplane factory in St. Louis) by a co-worker who is also a club member and competitor in our matches, with some disturbing information. Seems he had gotten the "purchase bug" to add to his gun collection, so he went down to Clayton to apply for a Purchase Permit. Now one would think this should not present a problem, since this person holds a Secret security clearance with the DoD. But he was refused a permit, on the grounds that "he didn't have a good reason" to own that 1911 Government model. Hmmmm....He is following the appeal process on this, and I'll keep abreast of the results.
2) I went to one of my favorite hardware stores in West St. Louis County to have a propane tank filled. I really like this particular store because they have been in business for over 100 years; 4 or 5 generation stuff. Their store is "old time," with hard wood floors, etc..., and they always have an interesting collection of used gun trade-ins on display. This time, I did not see the guns, and asked about it. The answer was they had lost their FFL (after holding one for approx 40 years) at renewal time because the ATF didn't think they had a good enough reason to be licensed. Say what!!?? You got to be kidding me!! No, they returned our application and check for $500 (SAY WHAT!!??) and gave us that line as the reason. What about the $500 part; that was the renewal fee? Hmmm..our club renewed it's FFL this summer, and it was still $90 for a 3 year license ($200 for a new license). When did I miss the announcement that renewals cost $500?? But also, if this storefront business doesn't qualify for a license (assuming no infractions), who does? (Incidently, since the Clinton Administration started the policy of reducing FFL's in 1993, the number of FFL's has been cut to approx 25% of what it was prior to then. The BATF has used harassment, deceit, threats, etc... to carry out this mission. I better not get started on this train of thought, or I'll launch off on Waco, Ruby Ridge, and who knows what else!)
3) I was walking through an airport on a business trip one morning when I saw the headlines about the 14 year old who opened fire on his class mates at a school in Kentucky. Naturally, these kind of stories captivate my attention, not only for obvious reasons, but to see what develops and what action is then taken after the incident. Have you followed this story? The accused boy carried several guns to school in his back-pack, and then decided to start shooting his classmates. While they debate on whether the perpetrator gets treated as an adult, it's interesting to note what action the school is taking; in the spirit of the "new American way," all the other 999 kids will no longer be able to carry their books and lunches to school in backpacks; that's it, punish the innocent with additional restrictions, while we provide counseling to the guilty. Oh boy, that's sure to modify behavior patterns of one or two bad apples! I say, why don't they re-institute the paddle and "tan a few hides" when necessary.
4) I recently received an e-mail from our Association President. More bad news, I think. MSSA has received official correspondence from the Director of the BATF, Mr. John Magaw, and he is saying that they are expanding the list of semi-automatic rifles that are currently banned. Director Magaw wants to know the opinion of the MSSA on this matter; do said rifles (a list was provided) have any legitimate sporting purpose? Would MSSA object if these rifles are added to the banned list?
Three recent instances locally, one nationally, that cause the dander to flare a bit. And let's not forget what was reported this summer in this newsletter about the United Way, and Missourians Against Handgun Violence. Then one day I got in the mail a large white envelope from the NRA that had Charlton Heston's picture on the outside of the envelope, and a color photo inside suitable for framing. Now I had been reading in the Rifleman about Heston joining the NRA crusade to restore our 2nd Amendment rights for some months, but as of yet, I had not done anything "over and above" the usual to support this cause. I looked over the material with interest.
I'm not going to elaborate on standard NRA platforms, however, I am impressed and happy that we have someone such as Charlton Heston on our side in this cause. Heston is a retired millionaire, who could be out playing golf, or some other similar endeavor. But he has committed to work for restoring the 2nd Amendment. I think that's credible; I liked him as Moses, and I like him even more now for spending his time trying to improve something that affects me personally.
Briefly, he claims he wants to do three things in the next couple of years: elect a pro-gun President, elect a pro-gun Congress, and launch a massive education program for the next generation. He is trying to raise $100 million "over and above" what the NRA normally pulls in. And the mailing was soliciting funds for this cause.
So here's what I did: I cut a check for a donation to this cause, I gave a gift NRA membership to one of my nephews, and last but not least, I put the Heston photo in a frame and hung it on the mantel. Like I said earlier, the wife doesn't like that last part. However, what it has provided is quite a bit of conversation; everyone who sees it and asks about it gets to hear an ear-full from me on how the current administration is trying to take away our guns. Actually, what it really does is serve as a reminder to me everyday that something dear to me is in jeopardy; gives me motivation as a gun club officer, newsletter editor, etc.. I feel pretty good about participating in Charlton Heston's crusade. What about you? What have YOU done lately to help retain your gun rights? Did you respond to "your" letter from Chuck Heston, or did you pitch it? You can get another one by calling 1-800-792-8100.
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How many of you know what Missouri law says about buying a handgun? The following was taken from the Missouri Government Internet website, and is included for your reference:
Permit to acquire concealable weapon, requirements, contents--sheriff to issue, when, fee--ineligible persons--denial of permit, content--appeal procedure, form--violation, penalty.
571.090
1. A permit to acquire a concealable firearm shall be issued by the
sheriff of the county in which the applicant resides, if all of the
statements in the application are true, and the applicant:
1) Is at least twenty-one years of age, a citizen of the United
States and has resided in this state for at least six months;
2) has not plead guilty to or been convicted of a crime punishable by
imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under the laws of any
state or of the United States other than a crime classified as a
misdemeanor under the laws of any state and punishable by a term of
imprisonment of two years or less that does not involve an explosive
weapon, firearm, firearm silencer or gas gun;
3) Is not a fugitive from justice or currently charged in an
information or indictment with the commission of a crime punishable
by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under the laws of any
state or of the United States other than a crime classified as a
misdemeanor under the laws of any state and punishable by a term of
imprisonment of two years or less that does not involve an explosive
weapon, firearm, firearm silencer or gas gun;
4) Has not been discharged under dishonorable conditions from the
United States armed forces;
5) Is not publicly known to be habitually in an intoxicated or
drugged condition; and
6) Is not currently adjudged mentally incompetent and has not been
committed to a mental health facility, as defined in section 632.005,
RSMo, or a similar institution located in another state.
2. Applications shall be made to the sheriff of the county in which the
applicant resides. An application shall be filed in writing, signed
and verified by the applicant, and shall state only the following:
the name, social security number, occupation, age, height, color of
eyes and hair, residence and business addresses of the applicant, the
reason for desiring the permit, and whether the applicant complies
with each of the requirements specified in subsection 1 of this
section.
3. Before a permit is issued, the sheriff shall make only such inquiries
as he deems necessary into the accuracy of the statements made in the
application. The sheriff may require that the applicant display a
Missouri operator's license or other suitable identification. The
sheriff shall issue the permit within a period not to exceed seven
days after submission of the properly completed application excluding
Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays. The sheriff may refuse to
issue the permit if he determines that any of the requirements
specified in subsection 1 of this section have not been met, or if he
has reason to believe that the applicant has rendered a false
statement regarding any of the provisions in subsection 1 of this
section. If the application is approved, the sheriff shall issue a
permit and a copy thereof to the applicant.
4. The permit shall recite the date of issuance, that it is invalid
after thirty days, the name and address of the person to whom
granted, the nature of the transaction, and a physical description of
the applicant. The applicant shall sign the permit in the presence
of the sheriff.
5. If the permit is used, the person who receives the permit from the
applicant shall return it to the sheriff within thirty days after its
expiration, with a notation thereon showing the date and manner of
disposition of the firearm and a description of the firearm including
the make, model and serial number. The sheriff shall keep a record
of all applications for permits, his action thereon, and shall
preserve all returned permits.
6. No person shall in any manner transfer, alter or change a permit, or
make a false notation thereon, or obtain a permit upon false
representation, or use, or attempt to use a permit issued to another.
7. For the processing of the permit, the sheriff in each county and the
city of St. Louis shall charge a fee not to exceed ten dollars which
shall be paid into the treasury of the county or city to the credit
of the general revenue fund.
8. In any case when the sheriff refuses to issue or to act on an
application for a permit, such refusal shall be in writing setting
forth the reasons for such refusal. Such written refusal shall
explain the denied applicant's right to appeal and, with a copy of
the completed application, shall be given to the denied applicant
with a period not to exceed seven days after submission of the
properly completed application excluding Saturdays, Sundays or legal
holidays. The denied applicant shall have the right to appeal the
denial within ten days of receiving written notice of the denial.
Such appeals shall be heard in small claims court as defined in
section 482.300, RSMo, and the provisions of sections 482.300,
482.310 and 482.335, RSMo, shall apply to such appeals.
9. A denial of or refusal to act on an application for permit may be
appealed by filing with the clerk of the small claims court a copy of
the sheriff's written refusal and a form substantially similar to the
appeal form provided in this section. Appeal forms shall be provided
by the clerk of the small claims court free of charge to any person:
(Sample Form)
10. The notice of appeal in a denial of permit shall be made to the
sheriff in a manner and form determined by the small claims court
judge.
11. If at the hearing the person shows he is entitled to the requested
permit, the court shall issue an appropriate order to cause the
issuance of the permit. Costs shall not be assessed against the
sheriff in any case.
12. Any person aggrieved by any final judgement rendered by a small
claims court in a denial of permit appeal may have a trial de novo as
provided in sections 512.180 to 512.320, RSMo.
13. Violation of any provision of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
Article I, Bill of Rights, Section 23: That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons. (source: Constitution of 1875, Article 11, Section 17)
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