Marty Brown Memorial Open Ohio Pistol – One Day (Milan, OH)

Marty Brown Memorial Open Overview

The Marty Brown Memorial Open™ event honors Marty Brown, an instructor with Revere’s Riders who lost a 40-month battle with ovarian cancer in 2017. You can read more about Marty as well as Ovarian Cancer Connection on the Marty Brown Memorial™ page of our website.

50% of ticket revenue (after deduction of range fees and lunch costs) will be donated to Ovarian Cancer Connection to assist in their programs to support women diagnosed with ovarian cancer as well as funding ovarian cancer research. If you would like to make an additional donation, please visit the Donation page for Ovarian Cancer Connection.

Swag Bags, Give Aways, Prizes, Auctions

We are compiling the list of donated products that will be available as part of the swag bags, give aways, prizes and silent auction. Details will be posted to the 2025 Marty Brown Memorial Open Ohio Rifle Swag Bags, Give Aways, Prizes, Auctions page as they are finalized.

Sign up for our email newsletter using the form in the website footer to be notified of items as we receive them.

Event Overview

This event will follow the outline of a Basic Pistol event, our introductory pistol marksmanship course based on traditional American service pistol fundamentals. This course lays a sound foundation for students to shoot groups under time pressure from a practical stance. Basic Pistol includes classroom and range time learning to safely and effectively shoot handguns. Students will learn:

• Rules for safe gun handling & range rules
• Pistol parts and operation & ammunition
• Shooting fundamentals: Five steps to firing each shot
• Two Handed Grip & Stance: Isoceles, benchrest, and low ready positions (Weaver may also be taught)
• Natural Point of Aim
• Shot Group Analysis
• Clearing Common Stoppages
• Whittemore’s Stand Pistol Qualifier
• Classic WW2 Pistol Qualification Test (optional)

Prerequisites: None – but some prior experience shooting handguns is recommended

Estimated Ammunition Required: About 200 rounds of pistol ammunition.

Pistol Requirements: You will need a safe pistol with at least five round capacity to fully participate in this course. Pistols should be of a modern, drop safe design.

Older single action pistols manufactured before the 1980s and lacking a transfer bar safety are the most common type of pistol that lack drop safe design features, as do some military surplus imports from Eastern bloc countries and Taurus PT-series pistols not fixed during an international safety recall in 2015. These pistols may discharge if dropped and pose a potential safety hazard to our volunteers and students, and are not permitted. If you have concerns about the safety features of your pistol you should have it inspected by an armorer or gunsmith before class.

Required Equipment: Please review our suggestions for appropriate Basic Pistol equipment and plan to bring the following:

• at least two magazines for your pistol
• a way to take notes
• hearing protection
• eye protection
• plenty of your preferred method of hydration (both plain water and something to replace electrolytes you will lose via sweating is ideal)
• clothing appropriate for the weather (loose fitting clothing, especially around the neck, is discouraged as hot brass can lodge against the skin and cause a burn)

We will not be drawing from the holster in this class and we will run a “cold range.” You will not need a holster to participate in the class activities.

Optional Equipment: The following equipment is not required but may come in handy at the event:

• case for your pistol
• stapler (and extra staples) to attach your target to the backer board
• hat with a brim (to deflect flying hot brass)
• folding chair
• lunch
• snacks
• sunscreen and/or bug spray

Loaner Firearms: loaner firearms suitable for use at this event are generally available but limited. Please contact the Event Director prior to the event if you would like to request a loaner firearm.

Age Limitations: Attendees between ages 14-18 years must be accompanied by a parent for the entire event.  If under age of 14, contact the Event Director to review their participation.

The Pistol in American History

During our breaks, we will share some stories of the pistol in American history.  These will include the role of the pistol in the story of April 19, 1775, the birth and development of the revolver, stories of Sam Colt and the Texas rangers and John Browning’s development of the iconic 1911 automatic pistol.

These exciting tales will be woven throughout the day’s marksmanship activities.

Additional Event Information

Spectators are welcome but will be asked to remain a safe distance from the firing line (ear protection is required for all spectators; eye protection is optional).

Your ticket price includes range fees and lunch.

Event Sponsors

We would like to thank the following event sponsors for their generosity in helping to make this event possible.

Gun Storage Solutions

Wheeler Tools

KelTec

Meprolight

CRKT

Swampfox Optics

Timber Creek Outdoors

Glock

Tipton

Ruger

OLFA Works

Holosun

Voodoo Tactical

ProMag/Archangel

Crossbreed Holsters

Streamlight

XS Sights

Timney Triggers

Caldwell

Tasmanian Tiger

Mossberg

Eva-Dry

Vortex Optics

Crimson Trace

Mantis

Wilson Combat