Hillsdale College Opens Ailes Action Shooting Range

Hillsdale held a dedication ceremony for the new Ailes Action Shooting Range—home to the college’s Action Shooting Team—on Sept. 30.

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posted on October 21, 2024
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Ailesdedication 1
Hillsdale College officials and members of the national championship-winning Hillsdale Action Shooting Team join Elizabeth Ailes at the dedication ceremony of the new Ailes Action Shooting Range, located at the college’s Halter Shooting Sports Education Center on Monday, Sept. 30.
Photo courtesy of Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College held the dedication ceremony for the new Ailes Action Shooting Range at the John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center on Monday, September 30.

With five 30-yard pistol bays, a 40-yard pistol bay and a 100-yard rifle bay, the new Ailes Action Shooting Range can handle USPSA, three-gun, Steel Challenge and other disciplines.

Elizabeth Ailes
Elizabeth Ailes speaks at the dedication ceremony for her namesake range at the Hillsdale College Halter Shooting Sports Education Center on Monday, Sept. 30. (Photo courtesy Hillsdale College)

 

Besides serving as the home range for Hillsdale College’s top-ranked Action Shooting Team, the Ailes Action Shooting Range is also used for youth and community education, Hillsdale College Liberty Shooting Camps and action-shooting leagues.

Construction of the new Ailes Action Shooting Range was made possible through a leadership gift by Elizabeth Ailes, a key supporter of Hillsdale College.

“The shooting sports stand for the independence of the human being, for the responsibility of the human being,” Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn said. “Elizabeth Ailes and others have helped us pursue this activity as an act of love. We are grateful to them, and we are very proud of our shooting sports teams.”

Hillsdale College, in collaboration with Springfield Armory, recently hosted a United States Practical Shooting Association collegiate competition at the Ailes Action Shooting Range from September 28-29. At the match, members of the Hillsdale Action Shooting Team placed in the top three in five of the six divisions.

In addition, Hillsdale College has been the home of the USA Shooting National Team since 2019, and the Halter Center has hosted USA Shooting Junior Olympic trap and skeet championships, along with development camps.

Plus, Hillsdale College is not finished expanding the Halter Sports Education Center—a 62,000-square-foot rifle and pistol building is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in May 2025.

Learn more about the Halter Center and Hillsdale College at shootingsports.hillsdale.edu.

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