Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI) for Rimfires
Larry Medler has come up with another smart little invention–a simple, inexpensive Empty Chamber Indicator for rimfire rifles. It is made from a section of plastic “weed-wacker” line and a wooden ball from a hobby shop.
Larry explains: “At all Highpower rifle matches, silhouette matches, and other shooting events I have attended, Open Bore Indicators (OBI), or what are now called Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI) have been mandatory. The NRA’s yellow ECI for Highpower rifles is easy to use and has been well-received by the shooters. However, I have not seen ECIs used much for smallbore matches. In fact I had not seen a truely workable ECI for 22 rimfire rifles–until I visited Michigan’s Washtenaw Sportsman’s Club where I saw juniors using ECIs for their 17 Caliber Air Rifles. Someone at the club made the empty chamber indicators by attaching an 8″ piece of weed wacker line to a 1″-diameter wooden ball, painted bright yellow. I now make similar ECIs for the 22 rimfire silhouette matches I run.”
Construction Method: First, drill a 7/64” diameter hole all the way through the 1″-diameter wooden ball. Then enlarge half of that 1″-long hole using a 13/64” diameter drill. Next insert an 8″ piece of heavy duty (0.095″ diameter) weed wacker line through the ball, leaving about 2″ on the side with the bigger-diameter hole. Then, with the short end of the line, fold over the last half-inch so the line is doubled-over on itself. Then slide the line into the ball, stuffing the doubled-over section through the 13/64″ (large) hole. Finally, pull the longer end of the line until the doubled-over section is flush with the outside of the ball. This gives you a sturdy line attachment without messy adhesives. When the assembly’s complete, hold the ECI by the tail and dip the ball in yellow paint. If you’re making more than one ECI, you can drill horizontal holes in a spare block of wood and use that as a drying rack.
Hello Sportsman, and Target Shooter,
Today I received my Monthly News Letter (MARCH 2014) from, Washtenaw Sportsman’s Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan……As read through the News Letter I noticed a Important Short Paragraph Highlighted in Bold Dark Ink that read, RANGE REMINDER!……It read as follows:
WSC requires the use of Open Bolt Indicators (OBI) or Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI) on the Rifle and Pistol Ranges to indicate an unloaded safe firearm anytime the firearm is not in use and uncased……I am not a active member of the W.S.Club due to many years of out-of-state employment obligations and serious “ON THE JOB INJURIES”……But hopefully this year will be my year to get to the shooting range a few times with the help of Two Young Friends (Father & Son) that have A Budding Stirring Interest to learn the Basics Of, Safe Target Shooting, and I plan to Instruct both of them in safety skills, and Target Shooting Techniques, a while we still have plenty of snow on the ground, that gives me time to make or purchase several ECI’s to use at WSC….Now, What I have To Say Is The Only Important Subject of this Letter……
SUBJECT: Larry Medler!
Mr. Larry Medler is: The Unsung Hero Of The Entire Shooting Fraternity, To Include All Public And Private Shooting Facilities…I do-not believe Mr. Larry Medler knows me or even knows my name, but that is of “No Consequence”..
I remember observing His Safe Firearm Handling technique’s and shooting skills all the way back to the Year of 1970 at a Private Shotgun & Archery Club In Downriver Mi….That Club allowed Lead Bullet Indoor Pistol Shooting One Night Per Week…Mr. Medler would frequently show up at the pistol range, with a shooter’s self- improvement or public safety gadget that he was developing….I have not seen him , in over the past 15-Years, but, as I saw him last at WASHTENAW S.C., he created a unique brass catching device that he was using on the Outdoor Pistol Range……Also, the more I think about it, in the 1970’s, 80’s, and the 90’s, when I was assigned to be in Mi….I would visually see him at FIREARM Shooter’s Matches At Gun Clubs All Over The Entire TRI-COUNTY AREA (MANY DIFFERENT CLUBS), and what was Mr. Larry Medler doing when he was not scheduled to shoot or working on his Target Shooting Equipment, he was helping his fellow shooting competitors so that they would be able to compete against Mr. Medler….I know there are many other people that will say, well, what about all the other John Doe’s out there, that, In The Past, Present, and in the Future, That Have, And Are, And Will Be, Or Do All The Same As Mr. Larry Medler……I say to them, Pick Out A Public News Media, and Write And Give Praise Where It Is Due!….I DID, AND IT MADE FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF….
I do-not know where this writing is going, even if goes anywhere at all……”WHEN I HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON WITH MY CURSER”
I do-not have any other replies to give……
Thank You, To anyone who might read what I had to say about, Mr. Larry Medler……