Author: Joe MacHoll

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First ever MRPC PRS Match (NRL22 Clone)

Sunday, June 29th, 2025: What a day to remember—Metro’s inaugural practical .22 Shooting Match went off with more bangs, clangs, and yoga poses than a geriatric CrossFit class! Six stages of pure rimfire pleasure, and most of the competitors haven’t laughed this hard since someone tried to zero a scope with the lens caps on.

To everyone who said, “I’d love to shoot, but I’m scared I’ll embarrass myself”—trust me, you missed your chance to blend in. None of us had a clue what we were doing, and that was half the fun. Watching a bunch of us seasoned “vintage models” attempt to shoot from a tank trap was like witnessing a herd of turtles navigate a jungle gym. If you ever wondered whether the age group 50+ and tactical shooting mix, the answer is: not gracefully, but we nailed it!

Big thanks to Gary and Joe for the props, and Sheldon for RO’ing. We shot from ladders, tank traps, benches, and through ports—basically, if you could climb on it or crawl under it, we shot from it. We learned more about eye relief than we ever wanted to know, and a few guys discovered “stability techniques,” which I’m pretty sure was just code for “lean on the nearest sturdy object and pray.”

The best part? It was cheap, it was fun, and it was the perfect warm-up for the upcoming Hunters Cup and next PRS match. Plus, we refueled with BBQ that was almost as smokin’ as the barrels.

To quote Mike: “In summary: I left as a better shooter—mostly because I now know I can hit a target while contorted like a pretzel. That’s what matches are for!”

Results:

Bolt Action

  • Joe MacHoll: First Place (the legend grows)

  • Gary Latimer: Second (so close, he could smell victory’s aftershave)

  • Richard Young: Third (right on Gary’s heels and possibly his shoelaces)

Semi Auto

  • Mike Holland: First Place (dominated so thoroughly, we checked his rifle for rocket fuel)

Over All Winner

  • Mike Kelly (The Undisputed Master & Trophy Hoarder)
The original Text and photos
were presented by Mike Kelly
on Facebook
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Project Mapleseed Rifleman Course May 16th, 2025

Metro Rifle and Pistol Club at Cape Nova

On May 16, 2025, five enthusiastic members of the Metro Rifle and Pistol Club (Gary, Loren, Sidney, Olaf & Joe) traveled to the Cape Nova Rifle and Revolver Club’s range in Queensville, NS for an inspiring and educational day participating in a Project Mapleseed event.

What is Project Mapleseed?

For those unfamiliar, Project Mapleseed is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe, responsible, and skillful rifle marksmanship among Canadians of all ages and experience levels. Founded with the mission to foster a lifelong appreciation for shooting sports, Project Mapleseed focuses primarily on .22 caliber rimfire rifles, which are ideal for beginners due to their low recoil, affordability, and accessibility.

The program is designed to be inclusive and approachable, offering structured training and certification opportunities that emphasize fundamental skills such as sight alignment, breathing control, trigger discipline, and proper shooting positions. Project Mapleseed events are held across Canada, often in collaboration with local clubs, and aim to build confidence and competence in shooters while promoting firearm safety and ethical shooting practices.

The Day’s Activities at Cape Nova

The day started with a comprehensive safety briefing, underscoring Project Mapleseed’s commitment to safe firearm handling. Following this, the fantastic expert instructors (Guy, John and Jason) guided participants through essential marksmanship techniques, including:

  • Shooting Positions: Prone, kneeling, and standing positions were demonstrated and practiced to help shooters find stability and consistency.

  • Sling Use: Instruction on how to properly use a shooting sling to improve accuracy and reduce fatigue.

  • Fundamental Skills: Emphasis was placed on sight alignment, breath control, and trigger squeeze-key elements that separate a good shot from a great one.

These sessions were designed not only to improve shooting skills but also to instill a deeper understanding of the mechanics and discipline involved in marksmanship.

Celebrating Excellence: Olaf’s and Mike’s Achievement

A special congratulations goes to our own member Olaf from the St. Peters area, who distinguished himself by earning the coveted Rifleman Certification – the only participant to do so that day. This certification is awarded by Project Mapleseed to shooters who demonstrate proficiency in all fundamental skills and consistently meet or exceed accuracy standards set by the program.

Olaf’s achievement is a testament to his dedication, steady hand, and “the quality of training, profound advice and useful tips provided by his fellow club members” 😁
His success was met with enthusiastic cheers from both participants and instructors, inspiring all present to continue striving for excellence.

The next day the course was held again and Mike Kelly, our club president, showed his excellent and versatile shooting skills. Not only did he obtain a Rifleman Badge, he also was awarded the highly sought after Elite Rifleman badge! Mike’s “score” tied the Canadian Mapleseed record that is held by a young lady in Alberta. Mike shot a 247 and a 248 out of a possible 250! Congratulations Mike!

Why Project Mapleseed Matters

Project Mapleseed plays a vital role in the Canadian shooting community by:

  • Encouraging Safe Firearm Use: Through rigorous safety protocols and education.

  • Making Marksmanship Accessible: Providing affordable and beginner-friendly training.

  • Building Community: Connecting shooters across regions and skill levels.

  • Supporting Youth and New Shooters: Offering pathways for young people and novices to develop skills in a structured, supportive environment.

If you’re interested in learning more about Project Mapleseed or joining future events, please visit their official websites:

Project Mapleseed Homepage: https://mapleseedrifleman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapleseedrifleman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/876956559007450

This event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19RqobqC17/

Cape Nova Rifle and Revolver Club: https://www.capenova.com/

Photo Gallery

Photos: Courtesy of Mapleseed Project, Olaf Kuehlmann, Loren Pemberton

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2025 Provincial Spring 22LR Rifle Shoot in Stellarton

Braving the Elements to get there: MRPC Takes on the PCMRA .22LR Indoor Shoot

April 27th, 2025-A Day for the Record Books (and Raincoats)

What do you get when you combine five determined Metro Rifle & Pistol Club members, a rain warning from Environment Canada, and a trunk full of rifles and .22LR ammo? An epic road trip to Stellarton for the PCMRA’s  indoor shoot-plus a story worth telling.

The Journey: Like “The Fellowship of the Ring,” But Wetter

Our adventure began in North Sydney, where four of us – Loren, Garry, Joe, and “Big Mike” – piled into the truck (thanks Gary for taking us with you) and set out to pick up Olaf in Aulds Cove. The weather? Let’s just say Noah would’ve stayed home. But shooters are a stubborn breed, and not even a monsoon could keep us from our targets. Special thanks to John Campbell for letting us practice at the Bullet Box beforehand; his facility is so good, we almost forgot what daylight looked like.

A Warm Welcome (and Even Warmer Donuts)

Despite arriving a little later than the official 9:00 am start (thanks to hydroplaning and Cape Breton not being in the centre of Nova Scotia), Bob MacKay, the event organizer, greeted us with open arms. Hospitality was in full swing: coffee, donuts, and muffins flowed freely, fueling both our spirits and our sugar levels.

The Competition: Legends, Newcomers, and a Lot of Xs

The field was stacked with legends like Al Roland and Bill Giles, whose shooting skills and knowledge are only matched by their willingness to share tips with us mere mortals. Bill Giles, by the way, put on a clinic-60 shots, all 10x except for one “only” a ten. (We’re still not sure if he’s human.)

For MRPC, the internal rivalry was fierce but friendly. Garry Latimer clinched the gold with a stellar 593/600 and an impressive 49 Xs-congrats, Garry! Loren, who’s only been shooting for a year, took silver (watch out for this guy), while Joe nabbed bronze and Olaf, in his Stellarton debut, came a close fourth. “Big Mike” had a rough day, but made it through with his trademark grin and promises of revenge in the fall.

Supporting the Next Generation

A big shoutout to the Pictou County Military Rifle Club for their “budget class,” where rifles (including scope and accessories) can’t exceed $1,200. It’s a fantastic way to welcome new and younger shooters into the sport-because everyone deserves a shot at greatness, even if their gear doesn’t cost as much as a used car.

Behind the Scenes: The Real MVPs

Events like this don’t run themselves. Thank you to everyone who helped with scoring, range safety, and keeping things running smoothly-your work is the backbone of our sport.

Tradition, Steak, and Cape Breton Pride

After three rounds of 20 shots each, we wrapped up, swapped stories, and debated the next day’s election (because nothing says “Canadian shooting sport” like a side of politics these days). On the drive home, we honored tradition with a pit stop at Mother Webb’s in Antigonish – refreshments, steak, burger, fish and laughter all around.

Rolling back into Cape Breton that evening, we agreed: there’s (almost) nothing better than a day spent with friends, doing what we love – even if it means cleaning our rifles during the coming week 😁

Until next time: shoot straight, keep your powder dry, your spirits high, and your rain gear handy

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2023 MRPC Pistol Training + Competitions (ISSF)

The Club is setting up some issf pistol training sessions for free

Our president Mike Kelly (countless National and Provincial Pistol Champion) will hold an introduction course and practise sessions for all levels – beginners to long-time shooters – on the ISSF pistol competitions 50m (Free) Pistol and Standard Pistol.

Start date: Wednesday June 7th, 5:00 pm. Limited to 12 people. Email to register at president@metroriflepistolclub.ca

Practise sessions will be on June 14th and June 21st, 2023 at 5:00 pm at our new range.

Metro Rifle & Pistol Club Match at our own range (50m Pistol and Standard Pistol) on July 19th at 5:00 pm. We will have free T-Shirts and other surprises.

The Provincials Championships (very relaxed competition for first-timers) will be held at the NSRA on Sunday, July 30th, starting at 9:00 am. We will send a team!

 

Here is a short description:

ISSF Standard Pistol 

This is a .22 caliber (22LR) 25m Pistol Match. It is shot one-handed and may be shot with either a pistol or revolver with open sights.

Target: Standard 25m rimfire pistol target

  • 20 Precision shots – 4 relays of 5 shots. They are taken over 150 seconds for each 5-shot relay.

  • 20 Timed shots. 4 relays of 5 shots. They are taken over 20 seconds for each 5-shot relay.

  • 20 Rapid shots. 4 relays of 5 shots. They are taken over 10 seconds for each 5-shot relay.

 
ISSF 50m Pistol

This event, formerly and unofficially still often called Free Pistol, is one of the ISSF shooting events. It provides the purest precision shooting among the pistol events, and is one of the oldest shooting disciplines, dating back to the 19th century and only having seen marginal rule changes since 1936.

This is a .22 caliber (22LR) match. It is shot one-handed and may be shot with either a pistol or revolver with open sights. 

Target: same as 25m Centerfire Pistol Target​

The course of fire: Unlimited sighters in a 10-minute period,  then 60 precision shots over 2 hours.

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Rifle Raffle

We have received a generous donation from John at The Bullet Box Indoor Range and Pro Shop. He has donated a rifle for the Club to Raffle off to help with fund raising for our new range construction costs.

 

The prize was a beautiful CZ 455 Evo .22lr rifle. A limited number of tickets (200) were availible and the winner was drawn live on Facebook at The Bullet Box on May 15. Retail on this rifle is approaching $700.00.

And the winner is: Bill Laurie. Congratulations.

Many thanks to John for his generous donation and for stepping in to help us fill the void from the raffles we usually have at the Outdoor Show every spring that we have been missing the last couple of years.

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PPC Match 2019

PPC Match 2019

This year we send an ambitious team of MRPC shooters down to Halifax:

  • TerryEldridge
  • Tom Kummer
  • Lars Kummer
  • Sven Kummer
  • Kirk Best
  • Ryan LeDrew
  • Joe MacHoll

As you can see in the picture below the team was in good shape, had a tremendous amount of fun while competing and it wasn’t the last time. For sure.

It was the first time for Kirk (made it to the ‘Top 15’ shooters in Nova Scotia) and Ryan (only 35 points needed to make it to the ‘Top 20’). Tom shot a 45ACP 1911 – imagine what he could have achieved with a decent competition pistol. A solid performance (as always) of Terry – only 18 points behind Tom.

We did well. Here are the results:

Marksman class
Silver for Tom Kummer
Gold for Joe MacHoll

Expert class
Silver for Lars Kummer
Gold for Sven Kummer

Team Score:
MRPC won Silver (second by only 2 points!)

The complete results can be downloaded here.

©2025 Metro Rifle & Pistol Club