Vandergrift Sportsmen Association

Vandergrift Sportsmen Association operates a multi-range facility in Apollo, Pennsylvania that serves competitive shooters, hunters, and recreational gun owners across Armstrong County and the surrounding region.

The club maintains dedicated ranges for:

• •Rifle Range - 50-yard target stands with backstops (ongoing improvements to weather protection)
• •Pistol Range - Dedicated pistol bays with new frame systems and silhouette targets
• •Combat/Silhouette Pistol - Separate discipline-specific setup
• •Trap Range - Clay shooting ($5.00 per line as of 2025)
• •5-Stand - Seasonal operation (April-October, $6.00 per line as of 2025)
• •Archery Range - 3D targets available seasonally
• •Shotgun Patterning - For hunters preparing for season

The club reports approximately 700 active members with ongoing membership renewals. Junior members under 16 must be accompanied by an adult club member. Membership benefits include access to all ranges, participation in special events, and a portion of dues allocated to the annual Youth Day.

Their flagship event draws dozens of kids annually with door prizes, demonstrations, and hands-on shooting instruction. August 1, 2026 marks the next Youth Day. The 2025 event cost the club $6,892.66 to operate—that covered insurance, staffing, and prizes. Local businesses sponsor participation: Schultz Sportsmans Shop, Sky Zone (trampoline park VIP passes), Rivers Edge Canoe Rental, and others donate either cash or raffle prizes.

The club actively recruits NRA-certified range instructors—contact Larry Laurenti to get on the list. Special training operations:

• •SWAT Training - Multiple sessions throughout the year (2-10pm night training, full-day sessions 9am-5pm)
• •Hunter Education - Coordinated through Pennsylvania Game Commission (typically June)
• •Sight-in Days - Regular weekend events for bore-sighting and rifle zeroing
• •Washington Township Training - Periodic law enforcement training use

The club completed a new garage building in late 2024 with electrical service now operational. Ongoing projects include:

• •Securing 50-yard target stands against wind damage
• •Weatherproof backstop designs to prevent rain warping
• •Keypad gate access with codes changed seasonally
• •Well water system maintenance scheduled for spring
• •LED parking lot lighting upgrades

Members pay annual dues. Range usage is included with membership. Visitors and non-members can shoot at ranges like trap for per-line fees. The club operates on volunteer committees (Buildings, Grounds, Range, Archery, Trap, 5-Stand) with elected officers managing operations.

Located in Apollo, Pennsylvania (Armstrong County). Monthly meetings held on Tuesday evenings. Parking available with ongoing light upgrades. Washington Township coordinates with the club on facility use.

The club takes range safety seriously. All members required to maintain clean ranges—brass buckets provided at each station. Recent accidental discharge incident prompted safety video review and reminder protocols. Junior shooters must have adult supervision. Proper target disposal (not in brass cans) and trash management enforced.