In search of the ‘ping’

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HURON — “Crack” is the sharp sound that happens first, followed immediately, more often than not, by an equally sharp “Ping.” Nearly a dozen men from Huron and the immediate vicinity are clad in comfortable clothing, wearing ear protection and holding pistols. They are the ones causing the sounds.
This is a normal Tuesday evening for the Huron Metallic Silhouette Club, according to club president Ray Siegenthaler. “We usually have about this many people,” Siegenthaler said. “Sometimes more, sometimes fewer. It kinda depends on what we are shooting that night.”
What they are shooting on this night is a category called “Small Bore Hunter Pistol.” Other tests are “Large Bore Hunter Pistol” and “Long Range.” While the size of ammunition may change, the targets do not. Some members arrived a bit early and carried spray paint cans downrange to do some touch-up work on the targets.
Knowing where you hit a target can sometimes be as important as simply hitting it.
At certain intervals at the Huron Shooting Range are the metallic silhouettes that give the club its name. In groups of 10 are metal cutouts of Chickens, Pigs, Turkeys and Rams. With the Small and Large Bore Hunter categories, the Chickens are placed at 40 meters, Pigs are at 50, Turkeys sit 75 meters from the shooting stations and the Rams are at 100 meters. Each competitor takes 10 shots at each group of silhouettes and their score for the night is the best of 40 shots. They shoot from a standing position, with no bracing allowed.
When the Long Range competition takes place, the Rams are placed at 200 meters. That is a long shot for a pistol.
Small bore means that the members will be shooting .22 caliber cartridges on this night. Siegenthaler said that several of the members load their own shells to save money, “but even that is getting costly,” he said with a grin.
Watching the group, you see the same thing you would with any group of friends engaged in a friendly competition. There is some gentle ribbing among the members of the group, but far more time is spent on partners spotting for each other and making suggestions on improvements.
The word “fun’ comes from nearly everyone during the course of the evening’s shooting.
The Club shoots at 6 p.m. each Tuesday during Daylight Saving Time, so the competition season will end in a couple of weeks. The guys will continue to meet and shoot, just because they enjoy it and each other’s company.
Siegenthaler has been shooting for more than 30 years and regularly hears the ‘ping’ downrange. On this night, he hit 22 of his 40 targets. Dennis Kunze, another longtime member, takes honors on the evening’s shoot, drilling 34 of his 40 targets. Kunze began the night shooting 10 straight Pigs and carried the momentum forward through the other targets.
“There is skill, certainly,” Seigenthaler said, “with a little luck mixed in. I have come out here and hit all 40, and other times I never hit a thing.” In Seigenthaler’s case, missing all the targets may be an exaggeration, but his point is clear. Everyone has good nights and bad nights.

On this night, in addition to answering questions, Seigenthaler is paired with Bemis Tschetter, who only recently began shooting.
“OK, that one was low,” Seigenthaler said to Tschetter when a shot does not generate the ‘ping.’ Tschetter adjusts his approach slightly and promptly hits the target with his next shot.
The spirit of camaraderie is unmistakable in the group.
One member at one station shouts “Line ready,” and the others at the three remaining stations wave in acknowledgement. Line ready means that shooting is about to commence. On this night, there are two stations that have three shooters. When a round has been partially completed, the call “Line Clear” goes out, and the members secure their weapons and meander downrange to reset the targets that were hit for the next round of shooting. It allows more time to visit.
“These are all just great guys,” Tschetter said during a break. “They have been very welcoming to me.”
Siegenthaler said that few young people seem to be interested in the sport, although one, Stephen Keeler, lowers the average age significantly. Keeler shoots at the Class “B” or entry level. He hits 14 targets through the evening. Tschetter, in only his third time on the range, hits three targets.
“Maybe it’s easier to shoot targets on a video game sitting on a couch,” Seigenthaler said. “But being out here in the elements is part of what most of us enjoy. For instance, tonight there will be some wind and that can affect your shooting. It’s part of the challenge.”
While the pistols are used for target shooting, Seigenthaler said that they can be used for hunting as well. He showed his single-shot model, with scope. While it was being used for the small caliber shooting that night, Seigenthaler noted that most of the pistols in use can be changed over and used for the larger caliber ammunition.
“I remove the barrel and chamber and use a different setup,” he said. “I use 30/30 for the large bore; some guys shoot .307.”
Anyone interested in becoming part of the group is encouraged to contact Seigenthaler or simply show up at the range on Tuesday evening and hear the ‘ping.’

Sept. 19
(smallbore hunter pistol)
High overall (all scores of a possible 40): Dennis Kunze 34.
Class AAA: 1, Ray Seigenthaler 22; 2, John Pawlowski 19.
Class AA: 1, Rich Presuhn 19; 2, Tom Baruth 13.
Class A: 1, John Guilford 15; 2, Bill Kerker 14.
Class B: 1, Stephen Keeler 14; 2, Bemis Tschetter 3.
Ten straight: Dennis Kunze (pigs).

Photos by Curt Nettinga of the Plainsman
Bemis Tschetter, right, a newcomer to the Huron Metallic Silhouette shooting club, watches carefully as club president Ray Seigenthaler fires at a target. A spirit of camaraderie is prevalent among the members of the group, who often mix words of encouragement and advice with some friendly ribbing. John Guilford, Stephen Keeler and John Pawlowski walk down to reset the “Chickens” that were knocked down by their rounds of shooting. Bill Kerker draws a bead on a “Chicken” target during the Sept. 19 shoot of the Huron Metallic Silhouette Club. John Guilford, left, and John Pawlowski show two different styles of target shooting.