Shooter Spotlight: Bill Lange

The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 47th interview in the series.

Bill Lange

Where to you call home?
Southington, CT

How long have you been shooting?
I started shooting in the early 1960’s with my father after he got some of my grandfathers guns. I then went to the Meriden’s Boy Club once a week to shoot in their indoor range, that is where I got my Distinguished Marksman badge from. I then saw an ad in the Meriden newspaper that the Blue Trail Range was having a sign up for their junior indoor classes at the old Middlefield indoor range. I went over and saw Charlie Lyman and that’s were it all started. From there I went on to the MTU at Fort Benning, GA, the National Guard shooting teams at both Connecticut and the All Guard team out of now Littlerock, Ar. Now shoot local matches mainly out of the Bell City range.

How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
Started shooting in early 1960’s and have been to Camp Perry every year since 1965 to shoot some smallbore, prone or position. Shot for 35 years for a military team in smallbore, high power or combat rifle.

What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
None that I can think of other than I’m getting older and the front sight is harder to see now.

What do you consider your finest shooting achievement.
I really have no one other than making the MTU team, getting to shoot with a lot of great people. There are those times winning a match or winning a team match or making the Dewar Team or shooting a 400 in the Big Bore match. But they are all good days when you can be at the range with friends.

What is your favorite pre-match meal?
I eat something small before a match if I have anything at all, can’t shoot well if I’m full.

What is your favorite post match drink?
A nice cold glass of water.

Do you have a favorite shooting range?
I like Camp Perry and Bell City. Perry for the people you see once a year and Bell City because it is close.

Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
Only goals is to be able to see the front sight and keep making it to matches like Camp Perry. Just having the time to get to more matches (kids).

What shooting skill are currently focussing your energy on?
Just do what I’ve been doing, get a good sight picture (see the front sight) squeeze and follow thru. Think 10’s.

Thanks Bill for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!

About H

Dan started shooting competitive smallbore in 1986. During his Junior career, he earned two national junior team titles as well as local and regional wins. After a 10 year year hiatus to attend college and start a family, Dan returned to the sport and has added local, sectional and regional wins to his shooting resume. Dan is a Distinguished Rifleman, National Record Holder, U.S Dewar Team Member, Black Hawk Rifle Club Member, Digby Hand Schützenverein member, and is the founder of pronematch.com. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and 2 children.
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