ALL-GIRL PISTOL TEAM UNIQUE

    On Sunday afternoons this spring, starting at about 4:30 p.m., you would be able to find 10 area girls all shooting air pistols in a building on the south edge of Britton.
    It’s part of the Marshall County 4-H shooting sports program and for the first time in a number of years the county has fielded an air pistol team that can include kids ages 8-18.  It’s also the first time it has included all girls.
    “The unique thing about this year is that the team is all girls,” said Coach Ray Effling, who is assisted by John Burger, Victor Rapkoch, and some of the Dads.   “It is purely by accident that there are no boys, and a lot of these girls also participate in other aspects of the shooting sports program like air rifle, archery, shotgun, and BB gun.”
    The air pistol program has also garnered community support.  The Britton Area Foundation, VFW, and Marshall County Healthcare Center have all contributed. 
    Air pistols are similar to BB guns in that they fire BB’s using air pressure, and they give the shooter the feel of firing an actual pistol, minus the recoil.  Competitors fire at targets 33 feet away, which also simulates a typical distance a pistol may be fired.  Shooters up to age 10 use a table to support the gun while firing, but the older kids shoot from a standing position.
    The team began practice on Jan. 10 and competes with other teams by shooting at home and posting scores online.  There are just a few tournaments culminating with the state 4-H shoot the last weekend in April in Pierre.  
    Effling stressed that air pistols require different skills than rifles or shotguns.
    “Shooting a pistol is way different from a shotgun or rifle, and it’s a learning process for kids and coaches.  You need to hold the gun steady and how you release the trigger is important.  I’m a firm believer, whether it’s a shotgun, or anything, if you get the form right the scores will take care of themselves.”
    Members of the team had different reasons for wanting to become part of the air pistol team.  Gun safety, being a part of something with their friends, learning about self-defense, and having fun were all mentioned.  But the shooters were in agreement that the most important thing is safety.
    “Even with an air pistol the BB will go three inches into a cantaloupe at 10 meters,” stressed Effling.  “If you have an accident it may not kill somebody, but it will hurt them.  The most dangerous thing is a loaded gun, but the most useless is an unloaded gun.  If you use the tool you have to have it loaded, but you have to respect it.”
    Coaches spend the first part of every practice talking safety and the principles and responsibility of gun ownership.  Effling said part of the purpose of the program is to educate kids who may someday use or carry a pistol.
    “If some of these girls decide to carry a gun someday they need to know how to use it.  Otherwise, they probably would do more harm than good.  So we spend a lot of time teaching them how to handle guns.  If you are going to have a gun you need to know how to use it, and it all really comes down to safety.”
    Effling said he has seen solid progress from his squad.
    “They are all getting better.  We did a base line when we got started, and their marksmanship and how they handle the guns are all getting better.  Some of our shooters are also doing very well in our competitions.”
    Effling said a Fun Day is planned following the 4-H shoot in Pierre with details to be determined.  He encouraged anyone who had an interest in becoming part of the team to attend that event.