5-15-2025 5:32am

Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range Monthly Update and Highlights

Chris Edwards Editor

The following report from the Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range is few highlights from their most recent report to the Otero County Commission...

April was an outstanding month for the Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range. The range hosted the NRA Women on Target pistol familiarization clinic which was a huge success. The range leadership stated that their success was thanks to "the outstanding work of all the volunteers and staff" they are able to conduct two clinics each year with the gracious support from the Friends of the NRA in the form of grants for ammo and other supplies.

Later this year they will be applying for the first time to the NRA for a range infrastructure improvement grant in the amount of $25,000. This grant will be earmarked towards the needed infrastructure to increase the range’s capacity to hold more classes at one time.

Currently, there is only one classroom and with over half a dozen independent firearms instructors & multiple clubs scheduling the classroom can become quite the adventure.

For those interested in muzzleloading, preserving pre-1840 history and good camaraderie, look no further than the black powder club at the range. They conduct their monthly meeting at the Shooting Range classroom the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. Anyone interested in shooting black powder firearms whether modern or antiques are welcome.

On Saturday, April 19, 2025 the Pisagah Long Rifles Club held a Patriot Day Celebration. 250 years ago in 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the first armed conflict between British forces and American colonist Bill Powell came out from Las Cruces to participate in the in the event. Bill worked at the range several years and was very impressed with the improvements to the range and that a black powder club was now in existence at the range. Bill joined the club at this event. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of Bill at the range in the future.

The budget for 2026 began early this month. The County Commissioners showed their support to continue improving the SPG shooting range as a safe place to learn, practice and improve one’s shooting skills. They allocated $25,000 towards additional shade canopies on the facility. The new canopy would look similar to the canopy currently on the 400-yard-long distance rifle bay. The shade canopy would provide an area for shooters to rest and function as an outdoor classroom when needed. They also allocated $35,000 to be put towards another awesome grant from the New Mexico Economic Development Department. In 2022 the County received a $100,000 grant from the New Mexico Economic Development Department that was used to build five new general purpose bays and to improve the 400-yard rifle bay.

From the Women on Target grant this year, they received two 12’ NRA range regulation sized red flags. These flags are much more visible from a distance compared to the 3’ x 5’ sized flags we have used in the past. This flag can be seen from the La Luz Volunteer Fire Station, which is half a mile away.

Women on Target: Our April 12th Women on Target® Event was another huge success! We had more than 50 women participate and more than 20 amazing volunteers to assist with this event!

We want to thank Bill Farmer and the La Luz Volunteer Fire Station for allowing us the use of their classroom, kitchen, and bays for our morning instruction and lunch. We could not conduct this event as successfully or for so many women without the use of their facility!

This event could not happen without support from the Friends of NRA/NRA Foundation Grant that Ammunition for these events has been successfully provided each year, so far, by this grant.

A Huge thank you Friends of La Luz Range as well for providing lunch for participants and volunteers as well as providing several certified Range Safety Officers to assist.

That concludes a majority of the highlights visit the range on Facebook or visit to learn more.