[ShouShu]

I live in the Central Valley of California and cannot find a club around here that I can join that will qualify me for a Garand from CMP. Does anyone else have any suggestions as to what I can do?

The only club that I have been able to find has a 2 to 4 year wait just to become a member.

Thank you,
ShouShu

[Jim Watson]

CMP has a list of affiliated California clubs at
http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/clubSearchSubmit.cgi?state=CA

You may have to travel a bit.

[Mac Attack]

Try the Garand Collectors Association. Being a member of the GCA will cover your firearm membership requirement.

[ocabj]

http://www.crpa.org/

[Matt-man]

Can you make it out to the Bay Area for a day? There are quite a few clubs out here that will fulfill the CMP requirements.

[Trebor]

The Garand Collector's Assoc is your best bet. It's only $20 or $25 a year.

[Cortland]

The membership requirement can be fulfilled by joining one of a number of groups which require you to only send off for a membership card. The Virginia Citizen's Defense League (http://www.vcdl.org/) is a CMP-affiliated club and costs only $15/year to join. You don't have to be from Virginia.

The marksmanship activity requirement can be fulfilled with a results listing from just about any marksmanship activity (doesn't have to be a CMP or high-power match). A C&R FFL, or CCW permit also counts as marksmanship activity.

[ShouShu]

Matt-Man,

Yeah I am sure I could make it out for a day. Are there any shoots comin up anytime soon? And where?

[Matt-man]

The San Jose Zouaves (http://www.zouaves.org/) have a rifle clinic (bring your eye and ear protection, you can use a club rifle and buy club ammo) on the first Saturday of every month. They shoot at the Santa Clara County Field Sports Park (http://www.parkhere.org/channel/0,4770,chid%253D16490%2526sid%253D12761,00.html) just south of San Jose.

Santa Clara Valley Rifle Club (http://www.scvrc.com/high_power.htm) shoots high-power at the same range on the third Sunday of the month.

Chabot Gun Club (http://www.chabotgunclub.com/) has high-power matches on the 4th Saturday of every month at their range in Castro Valley.

You'll need to show up fairly early, registration/squadding usually starts about 8am.

I shoot regularly with the Zouaves, but I have never shot with the other organizations. We love helping out new guys, and I'm sure the guys in the other clubs do too.

[natedog]

You can also shoot 50 rounds in the presence of a range officer or LEO to fulfill the shooting requirement. They have to sign some forms, available on the CMP website.