The ten-team New London County Pistol League was established in 1954. Most league teams

have 15 to20 shooters who compete weekday evenings during the late fall and winter. Several

of the clubs had long been in existence when the league took shape in the early 1950’s, and the

bullseye-match format itself is an American refinement of centuries-old competitions

conducted worldwide by civilian-sportsmen, police, and military organizations. The teams

and clubs welcome interested people from all walks of life.

The New London County League teams are:

The Metropolitan Revolver League of Hartford was established in 1938 and now has 13 teams

or clubs representing some 280 shooters.

The teams are:

Six of the teams operate the nonprofit Metropolitan Shooters, Inc. range in Manchester. In

addition to hosting many Metropolitan League matches, MSI also holds a variety of

competitions and classes including 900’s, 1800’s, air-pistol matches, state championship

matches, pistol-permit courses, the Loomis Chafee (high school) Rifle Team, and the Pratt &

Whitney summer pistol league.

Structured differently from other Connecticut Leagues, the Bridgeport Rifle Club runs a

Spring and Fall Wednesday Night Pistol League in which competitors shoot individually, not

as teams, in the bullseye-match format. Every year the club hosts a major sporting event -- the

NRA Indoor Pistol Sectionals -- in which hundreds of competitors from the Tri-State area

compete. Originated in Bridgeport, the club is now based in Stratford and was established

more than three decades ago.

The Revolver League of Connecticut, located in the New Haven area, was incorporated on

September 3, 1937. This League was formed when revolvers were commonly used for pistol

competition. Over the years, more than 100 shooters have participated during a season; the

League is actively seeking new members and clubs to participate in this well-established match

format.

Matches are held Tuesday evenings beginning in October and ending in April. There are

about 25 matches during each season. For the 2006-2007 season, two indoor ranges are in use.

They are located at the West Haven City Hall (West Haven Police Range) and at the Yale

University Armory. Several other ranges are used occasionally throughout the season. In

June of each year, a picnic and awards ceremony is held at the East Haven Gun Club’s outdoor

range.

Six teams currently compete; they are:

Over the years competition groups have included the New Haven Register Pistol Team,

Branford Gun Club, Marlin Firearms Pistol Team, Armstrong Rubber Pistol Club, U.S. Army

Reserve and Horse Guard, the High Standard Manufacturing Company Gun Club, Winchester

Gun Club, Hamden Police Department, Milford Gun Club, and others.

The Southwest Connecticut Pistol League (SWCPL) is possibly Fairfield County’s area’s most

venerable shooting sports tradition, having run continuously since the 1930’s. League matches

are friendly; in fact, the scoring system encourages beginner participation. Neophytes have an

opportunity to shoot shoulder-to-shoulder with seasoned competitors without pressure, and

can learn from both observation and coaching.

The league is open to any area club that wishes to sponsor a team and is willing to host

matches at its range. There are currently five teams sponsored by three clubs with ranges in

Cos Cob, Ridgefield, and Upper Westchester, NY. Competition is open to all members of

participating clubs.

Current teams represent:

Member teams are open to new participants throughout the year, and clinics are held in the

fall to acquaint new competitors with the nationally standardized match procedures. All

competitors’ scores are reported to the NRA for recording and credit towards national

classification.

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