Cherokee Gun Club IDPA

Chelsokee Gun Club started in 1968 with 21 acres on Buckhorn Mountain and a mission: create a place where hunters, shotgunners, pistol shooters, and black powder enthusiasts could practice their sport. Today, CGC operates on 115 acres (64 acres purchased in 1986, expanded with 51 more in 1991) just off Candler Road near downtown Gainesville.

This is a working competitive shooting facility, not a retail shop. CGC hosts:

• •IDPA Matches – First Sunday of every month. International Defensive Pistol Association events that focus on practical self-defense scenarios rather than gaming the equipment. $20 for men, $15 for women, $10 for CGC members, $5 for safety officers, $10 for juniors.
• •USPSA Steel Challenge – Semi-auto pistol competitions
• •Trap & Skeet – Shotgun sports with dedicated fields realigned in 1992
• •Sporting Clays – Expanded course with new stations added in the 2000s
• •Tactical Rifle – Rifle-based courses of fire
• •Rimfire Silhouette & Handgun Bullseye – Precision shooting events
• •Youth Program – Getting the next generation involved

New shooters get special treatment. First-timers to IDPA can register for free safety briefings at 11:30 AM on match days. You can shoot 3 matches as a non-member before needing to join.

Matches run the first Sunday of each month. Setup starts at 9:00 AM with volunteers shooting for free. Registration opens at 10:45 AM. New Shooter Briefing at 11:30, main shooter meeting at 12:15 PM. Registration closes at 11:45 AM, and matches happen at the Pistol Bays.

All pistol ranges operate as a cold range – firearms stay unloaded and holstered until a Safety Officer gives you the word to load. This isn't optional.

Competitors match up against others using similar equipment, not just skill level.

• •Eye and ear protection (mandatory)
• •Pistol or revolver that meets IDPA specs
• •Strong-side hip holster
• •Magazines, speedloaders, or moonclips
• •Magazine pouch(es) or speedloader holders
• •Sturdy gun belt
• •Cover garment (vest, jacket, coat, long shirt)
• •Ammunition (12–18 rounds per stage, 6 stages typical)
• •Range bag
• •Hat, water, snacks, sunscreen

Active duty LEO can wear duty belt and skip the concealment requirement.

Register through Practiscore.com. Tell them if you can help set up (match fee waived for volunteers and CGC members helping with setup). Choose your squad and save. On match day, check in at the IPSC Shack and pay. Scores post to Practiscore shortly after the match ends.

This is a cold range. The four cardinal rules apply:

1. Treat all guns as if they are loaded. 2. Never point a gun at something you're not prepared to destroy. 3. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it. 4. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.

No shooting before the match. No handling firearms in parking areas. No driving around the facility unless accompanied by a CGC member. Children under 8 not permitted on ranges. 10 MPH speed limit.

Observers must sign a waiver, have eye/ear protection, and stay in the pistol bay area.

IDPA started in 1996 and emphasizes self-defense scenarios—the kinds of situations a lawfully armed citizen might actually face. Unlike some competition formats that reward equipment and gamesmanship, IDPA tests individual skill and ability. The sport works for new shooters (that's actually the design goal) and stays challenging for experienced competitors.

You can shoot 3 matches as a non-member. After that, you need IDPA membership. Check idpa.com for details or watch YouTube videos to see what the sport looks like before you show up.

CGC caps membership at 700 and is currently full. There's a waiting list. To join, you need two current CGC members to sponsor you. Requirements:

• •U.S. citizen
• •Current membership in an approved 2nd Amendment advocacy group
• •Copy of valid driver's license
• •For 21+: proof of valid weapons carry permit, LEO credentials, or active military status

CGC started with 21 acres and hand-thrown clays in 1968. The first gun shows (1969) paid for early improvements. The club incorporated as non-profit in 1974 and built its first clubhouse in 1983. When Buckhorn Mountain became unavailable, members voted in 1986 to fund the move to Candler Road—each member paid $150. The new facility opened in 1987 and has been continuously improved since. Registered NSSA skeet shoots started in 1989. Sporting clays followed. Skeet and trap fields were realigned in 1992. The 2000s brought membership growth to 600, new sporting clays stations, new trap field construction, and equipment replacements.

Sign up for monthly emails about matches, weather cancellations, and club news. Follow the Facebook page for announcements.

Mike Miller (Match Director) 678.462.2101 [email protected]

1700 Candler Road Gainesville, GA 30507 770.531.9493

P.O. Box 941 Gainesville, GA 30503