Featured image: The Fort Payne Steel Shooters encourage hitting the target and firearms safety.

By Tyler Pruett

tyler@southerntorch.com

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — One group of Fort Payne parents and teens are taking shooting to another level. The “Fort Payne Steel Shooters” are made up of area teens and adults who love the sound of a bullet plinking steel. The group takes part in Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) “Steel Challenge Matches,” at the new Talladega Marksmanship Park.

On their Facebook page, part of the group’s stated mission is to, “help train, teach and inform youth and young adults in the sport of competitive pistol shooting.” The group teaches young adults things like the best thermal scopes on the market and how to safely shoot a gun.

“As iron sharpens iron, we hope to use steel to change and shape the lives of the young people in our community,” the statement goes on to say.

“Shooting Steel,” like the expression implies, refers to the shooting of steel targets for fun or competition. Many would assume that firing a bullet at a steel target would result in a potentially deadly ricochet, but the targets are made from high grade, surface hardened steel. When hit at a 90 degree angle, the bullet is broken into fragments and deflected harmlessly away from the shooter. When shooting steel targets, an audible “ping” can be heard to immediately let the shooter know the target was hit.

Heath Locklear got the idea to form the group four years ago to give his son Colt and his friends a way to continue competing after high school graduation. Many of the members are active in shooting sports with the Fort Payne High School Junior ROTC program and take part in competitions. Colt and another member, Haley Tooley, are traveling to Camp Perry, Ohio to compete in the 3 position Air Rifle National Championship next week.

The steel challenge matches at the CMP Marksmanship Park consist of firing five shots and hitting five steel targets for time. The shooters utilize a semi-automatic, .22 caliber rifle and pistol for the event. Shooters are judged not only for time, but for range safety. One of the main purposes for organizations such as the Fort Payne Steel Shooters and the CMP is to teach firearm safety.

“You have to adhere to the safety rules, or you get disqualified and go home,” Locklear said.

“It teaches them so much. It teaches them respect, it teaches them discipline, and it teaches them safety,” he added.

As many can imagine, taking part in shooting competitions requires a lot of ammunition to practice and compete, which can get pretty expensive. The group holds practice in Talladega on the first Sunday of each month and competes on the last Sunday. This can take thousands of rounds of ammunition, not to mention travel to Talladega twice a month and match entrance fees. Locklear says that private citizens are always willing to chip in to support their organization.

“The firearms community has been a huge help,” Locklear said. “You wouldn’t believe the support we get just from private individuals at the matches that want to help our organization grow.”

If you are interested in joining the Fort Payne Steel Shooters, supporting them, or just want to watch them compete, you can contact them on their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/fortpaynesteelshooters/.