Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 15, 1993                   TAG: 9310270022
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Bill Cochran
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RANGES OPEN FOR SIGHTING-IN

The Roanoke Rifle and Revolver Club has set sighting-in days for next Sunday and Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Facilities will be provided for center-fire rifles, pistols and black-powder rifles. Participants should bring the guns and ammo they plan to use for hunting, along with ear plugs or muffs. Benchrests, targets and spotting scopes will be provided, along with coaching.

There will be a $2 charge per gun. Also available for an additional $1 are running deer and standing deer targets. Shotguns can be patterned for 50 cents.

The range can be reached by traveling south from Roanoke on Virginia 116 over Windy Gap Mountain, then left for one mile on Virginia 678 at the foot of the mountain and left on a dirt road near an RRRC mailbox. For additional information, call 774-6851 after 5 p.m.

The Ridge Rifle Club will have public sighting-in days next Sunday and Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $2 per rifle. Targets, bench rests, sand bags and spotting scopes are provided, along with coaching.

The range is reached from Roanoke by traveling north on U.S. 220. Turn left 4 1/2 miles past Fincastle. Additional information is available from Larry Martin, 366-6378.

A sighting-in program will be conducted next Sunday, 1-4 p.m., at a new shooting facility in the Jefferson National Forest near Blacksburg.

The range has 18 firing positions, 10 with benchrests under cover, the others for prone or standing use. Shooting distances are up to 100 yards.

The range is open to the public from dawn to dusk seven days a week. Donations are welcome.

It is located one-quarter mile east of the U.S. 460 bypass on Virginia 621 (Craig Creek Road). The intersection of U.S. 460 and Virginia 621 is about 3 miles north of the Blacksburg town line.

Range building on national forest property is a growing trend. The George Washington National Forest has four rifle ranges, including locations in Alleghany County (call 703-962-2214 for information), Augusta County (703-885-8028) and Bath County (703-839-2521).

For information on Jefferson National Forest ranges, call the headquarters in Roanoke, 982-6270.