about Capitan Shooting Sports
The object of this organization shall be the encouragement of organized rifle and pistol shooting among citizens of the United States, residents in our community, with a view toward a better knowledge on the part of such citizens of the safe handling and proper care of firearms, as well as improved marksmanship. It shall be our further object and purpose to forward the development of those characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self-discipline, team play and self-reliance which are the essentials of good sportsmanship and the foundation of true patriotism.
Capitan Shooting Sports, Inc. Range History and Information
High-power rifle shooting has been around Capitan since after World War 2. The range in its present configurations was built in 1957 mostly by a rancher named Grady Eldridge. It was built in the southeast corner of the then, Spencer Ranch. Originally it had 25 firing points out to 1,000 yards, but time and weather took a toll on the pits retaining wall and we had to cut back to 15 points.
In the early 1980’s the G Bar F ranch in Lincoln purchased the Spencer ranch and a lease was worked out between the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and the ranch allowing high power shooting to continue. In approximately 2003, the G Bar F decided to sell off the Spencer portion of the ranch. We, Capitan High Power Shooting Club, Inc. became actively involved in acquiring the property that the range is situated on and was successful in doing so. Capitan High Power Shooting Club was originally a 501c4 organization. In 2018 we changed our name and reincorporated to Capitan Shooting Sports, Inc. and have an IRS designation of 501c3 which now allows donations to the club, to be tax deductible.
Capitan Shooting Sports offers several different venues for competition. NRA high-power rifle or sometimes known as “across the course” or “National Match” is shot numerous times throughout the year. A basic match consists of 20 shots for record, slow fire from the standing position at 200 yards, 20 shots for record, rapid fire, from the sitting position at 200 yards, 20 shots for record, rapid fire, from the prone position at 300 yards and finishing the day with 20 shots for record, slow fire, from the prone position at the 600-yard line. A very strenuous test of marksmanship, across the course! We sponsor a monthly league, starting in March and ending in October as well as conducting the State High Power Championship and an NRA Regional Championship during the year.
Our long-range program is geared mainly toward F Class style shooting although sling shooters are welcome to compete. A normal league match consists of 3 – 15 shot stages shot at 1,000 yds for a total of 45 shots for record for the match. We also conduct a state championship and an NRA Regional Championship each year, all shot at 1,000 yds. See programs for more information.
In approximately 2007, we built a 100-yard Smallbore range with a covered firing line. A conventional Smallbore prone match has 3 or 4 (depending on the program) 40-shot matches, shot at 50 and 100 yards, varying targets, and slow fire from the prone position. Smallbore F Class is also shot alongside the sling shooters. We sponsor a league that shoots a match once a month as well as host a State Smallbore Prone Championship and an NRA Regional Prone Championship.
As of 2025, we now have ShotMarker electronic targets for high power and long range on all 15 points and all high power and long range events are shot on these targets.
The range is available for use by members of the club when no formal competitions are in progress. Membership in the club can be attained by being first, a member of the NRA, paying yearly dues of $65, and going through an orientation at the range. Please see our schedule of events and programs for all the disciplines listed on this website. And please, feel free to contact those persons listed on the programs for more information.