Our History

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The Western Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Club, formed in 1935, is one of the finest shooting facilities in Pennsylvania. The club grounds in Murrysville are referred to in their early minutes as the "Club" or the "Club Farm". In October of 1958 the "Club" grounds were purchased from the Wagner family, then increased to about 75 acres by the purchase and trade from the Glunt and Wagner families.

Through the years West Penn has been active in the PSSA, ATA, NRA, Westmoreland County Sportsmen's Association, Allegheny Sportsmen's League, Aero-game Feeding Program, All Sportsmen's Trap League and the West Penn League, as well as holding an active internal league and shooting program at the club.

The PSSA held the 71st and 75th annual Pennsylvania State Shoots on their grounds in 1962 and 1966. During the 1961 shoot, Western Pennsylvania trapshooters dominated the trophy list as Rudy Etchen established new Pennsylvania records with his 99 for the doubles title, and his 686 x 700 to win the HOA title. He also secured the HAA with a 391 x 400. Bud Ross clobbered 200 straight to win the Singles Championship and George A. Jones of Washington won the state Handicap Championship with 100 straight from 19 yards. His perfect score in the main handicap was the third in state history and has not been duplicated since.

The final state shoot at West Penn was held in 1966 and Mel Krepps won both the HAA and HOA titles. Bob Diefenderfer won his third state Singles Championship with a perfect 200. Jack Clark was runner-up with a 199. He would win the title 15 years later.

West Penn hosted the Pennsylvania Skeet Shooting Championship in 1968 and have hosted such groups as the Ruffed Grouse Society, Ducks Unlimited, the Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Federation Trapshooting Championship, Konne-Yaut Indians, Tuscarawa Indians and their annual Johnny Mock Shoot.
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Internationally, West Penn was honored in 1988 when asked to entertain a group of managers from the Russian steel industry and has hosted shooters from Spain and Germany and other countries. West Penn continues to be a leader and developer of shooters and shooting programs in Western Pennsylvania. West Penn holds shooter development courses for beginners and professional shooting clinics for the more advanced trap shooters.