RELOAD!

SEPTEMBER 2002 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC AND SILVER CUP

Addieville East, Mapleville, RI

August 9~11, 2002

by Vinny La Scalza

If you look up “Connecticut Traveler” in a dictionary you will see
that it is a bi-pedal animal with an insatiable appetite and a strong
desire to shoot clay targets, save money, and not travel. So, why
were so many Traveler’s present at the Great Eastern Lobster Classic
and The Silver Cup World Veterans Sporting Clay Championship at
Addieville, R.I. on Aug. 9, 10, and 11th? Because 3 out of 4 is good
in any league!

This tournament is the biggest bargain since the sale of Manhattan.
The shoot consists of 200 targets shot over two days and uses two
separate courses. This allows the course designer to use the
different terrain to his advantage, and thereby give the sporting
clays shooter the maximum amount of different target presentations.
Knowing this, and current prices of large tournaments, shooters are
pleasantly surprised to find that this shoot’s pre-registration fee is
$155.

Al Anglace, president of the Connecticut Travelers which co-hosts this
event, explains the philosophy behind this event. “In 1985, I wanted
to get people to try this new game called ‘Sporting Clays’, but when
they found out how much it cost to enter a local tournament, they
declined. Average people were being kept out of this game because
they couldn’t afford it. That was the major reason for the creation
of the Connecticut Travelers. We decided that the Northeast needed a
major tournament that was affordable for everyone. Then we met Geoff
Gaebe, owner of Addieville East Farm, and he embraced this idea.

Everyone loves “free”, and the shoot weekend began on Friday with a
free two-hour clinic with ten time national champion Andy Duffy on
“Improving Your Scores In Competition.” Fellow Traveler, Alex Kale,
attended this clinic along with 55 other people and felt that their
scores over the weekend would definitely improve due to this
instruction.

The weekend was really two shoots combined into one. The main event
was the Great Eastern Lobster Classic, but it included the concurrent
Silver Cup World Veterans Sporting Clays Championship:

Geoff Gaebe, Addieville owner and event host, describes the Silver Cup
concurrent. “We wanted to give back something to the older, veteran
shooters who helped establish this sport. What better way than run a
shoot within a shoot? If you were 55 years or older, you were
automatically entered into the Silver Cup Championship competing
against only shooters of the same age for prizes and honors. This is
separate from what the veterans may win in the Lobster Shoot Main
Event, and it costs vets nothing to enter.” Many Travelers did well in
this competition and were very pleased at their automatic Silver Cup
entry.

The match had two separate courses so you shot an entirely different
one each day. On Saturday, we shot the highly technical Traveler
Course. Station #2 had a simo pair of chandelles streaking out from
behind a bush on the shooter’s left. The two birds were vertically,
edge-on and angled almost imperceptibly to quarter to the right.
Countless shooters shot directly at them and lost birds.

On Sunday, we shot the Ruger Course consisting of targets generally
having more trap spring and a little more distance. Let’s talk about
Station #4. It was a tower presentation that made everyone comment. It
started with a 45-yard battue thrown in a high arc on the shooter’s
left, and ended with a standard that seemed to touch the clouds as it
crawled along the sky. The delay on the breaks was long and
dramatic. I witnessed one shooter run this station and thinking about
my fellow Travelers, I tried to catch him and make him reveal his
secret. Unfortunately, I lost him in the crowd.

And then there was the food. After all, it is the Lobster Classic. On
Saturday evening, 180 people elected to have their choice of a lobster
or steak dinner completewith mussels, clams, corn, salad, and
strawberry shortcake outdoors under a blue and white striped tent.

The evening’s joking and exaggerating about scores seemed to go on
endlessly and emphasized the fact that the shooting community as a
whole is fun loving and tightly knit. The cost of this dinner was $25
and included complimentary cigars and a lovely decorated box of
perfumed soaps for the ladies. The evening ended with a fireworks
display over the pond, and as the last embers floated down to the
water, I could see numerous couples walking hand in hand back to their
cars. It doesn’t get better than this.

Sunday afternoon finally arrived with everyone awaiting the final
results. Before proceeding however, it seemed that 11 shotguns had to
be given away. Most shoots give their guns away to the best shooters.
Not this one! Yeah! For the average shooter!! Scores were written on
the backs of poker chips and were selected by random drawing. If your
score was called out, you won a gun. This lottery gave everyone in
the shoot an equal chance to take home a new gun and was
enthusiastically received.

Finally the awards were distributed. Floridian Steve Fisher was The
Silver Cup World Veterans Champion with a 163. In the Main Event,
Andy Duffy was declared the HOA with an incredible score of 181. Upon
accepting his trophy and awards, he took time out to thank Paula and
Geoff Gaebe, and the Connecticut Travelers for hosting what he felt
was one of the best shooting events of the year. In particular, he
singled out Jack Combs, the target setter, by saying that these two
courses at Addieville could have been used by any major sporting clays
tournament in the world and every participant would have been pleased.

GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER SHOOT

HOA Andy Duffy 181
RU Raymond Carey 176
M1 Jared Waitkus 175
M2 Joseph Carey 174
M3 Bob Mastroianni 172
AA1 Don Amidon 169
AA2 Bruce Galotto 167
AA3 Vincent La Scalza 166
A1 Marty Harrington 172
A2 Steve Dalena 160
A3 Lavert Cypher 159
B1 Lew Jacobs 155
B2 John Marzullo 155
B3 Doug Summerton 154
C1 Brian Griffin 153
C2 Warren Lambert 151
C3 William Pitcher 151
D1 Gary Zych 145
D2 Allen Harvey 145
D3 C. Arthur Embrey 144
E1 Paul Elia Jr. 142
E2 Estela Vaden 138
E3 William Heichberger 127
Ldy1 Patti Mastroianni 156
Ldy2 Estela Vaden 138
Ldy3 Ginny Tennison 137


SILVER CUP VETS CHAMPIONSHIP

HOA Steve Fisher 163
RU Ritchie Frisella 162
M1 Fred Abbott 162
M2 Robert Lepor 160
AA1 John Hryncewich 156
AA2 Arthur Leckie Jr. 156
A1 Robert Barlow 156
A2 Ted Fedun 151
B1 Jeff Steere 139
B2 Peter McCree 139
C1 Alex Jesudowich 150
C2 Patrick Lawler 148
D1 Gary Zych 145
D2 Bob Smith 136
E1 William Heichberger 127
E2 Eloise Newton 126
SVet1 Robert Barlow 156
SVet2 Robert Oliver 156
SVet3 Tony Restivo 140
* all ties decided by tie-breaker stations

GETTING GALS SHOOTING

by Fran Gallogly

[This is the last installment of a five part series on introducing
women to sporting clays.]

Part V: Conclusions – Where To From Here?

Over the past four months, this series has explored the many ways in
which women in Connecticut Travelers have gotten involved in shooting.
It has examined their suggestions, as well as those of some shooting
professionals, for attracting other women to the sport. It also has
provided a brief overview of a few local, regional and national
programs that attract women to shooting.

Many ideas of merit have been suggested. For men who are trying to get
a woman in their lives into shooting, provide her with a series of
lessons with a good instructor where she can master the basics far
from the scrutiny of others. Start her with a 28-gauge or 20-gauge
semi-auto that fits and light ammunition. Praise her efforts, and seek
places that will allow her to practice with other women in small
groups in low pressure environments.

For single women or women with non-shooting spouses, advertise Ladies
Charity Classic events and local women-only instructional clinics in
places where women with an interest in sports are likely to see them.
Have women shooters invite interested friends to one of these events.
Follow-up with opportunities to continue shooting, such as women’s
leagues and ladies days. Experienced female shooters can buddy-up with
novice shooters mentoring them at club events, providing encouragement
and pointers. Clubs might offer a family and friends day where members
are encouraged to bring both women and juniors to a day of instruction
and fun shooting.

What seems most clear is that female proponents of the sport will have
to become intensely proactive if they hope to share their enthusiasm
with other women, counteract negativism and change perceptions. They
must talk it up, bring friends to the shooting grounds and foster
supportive relationships on a grassroots level through positive
publicity and by making local charitable organizations the
beneficiaries of some competitions.

Further, women in the sport must all resolve – as has Traveler Donna
Galotto – “to make it a personal initiative to bring at least one new
woman into the sport.” Donna further urges clubs like the Travelers
“to build women’s events that will raise the comfort level to embrace
all women who may be interested in the sport but are reluctant to
become involved because of perceived inability.”

Resources:

Becoming an Outdoors Woman www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/outdoor2.htm
dlueck@uniontel.net, 715-228-2070, 877-BOWOMAN

Fairfield County Fish & Game Protective Association, Women’s Day
,Dayna Wenzel, 203-531-4548 or turkeyhuntress@netscape.net

NRA, Women on Target www.nrahq.org/women/shooting.asp
womenontarget@nrahq.org, 800-861-1166

National Shooting Sports Foundation, Step Outside, www.nssf.org,
203-426-1320

National Wild Turkey Federation, Women in the Outdoors,
www.nwtf.org/special_events/women_in_the_outdoors/index.htm
800-THE-NWTF.

Women’s Sporting Clays Assoc., Annapolis, MD, Pam Parenteau,
President, 410-482-8862

[Reload! thanks Fran for contributing this insightful five part
series. Sporting clays has been in the forefront of the shotgun sports
in appealing to women. Fran’s article will help us continue the job.
­ed]

TRAVELERS LEND A HAND…

Not all your dues money goes to subsidizing our own shoots and prizes.
Your Travelers also believe in supporting the shooting sports in a
number of ways. At last month’s Fairfield County Fish and Game Women’s
Day, we donated the 20 gauge ammunition. It was very successful with
about 100 women enjoying the introduction to the outdoors. We did a
good thing by being a part of it. It is vital that we introduce women
to the shooting sports. Our future depends on it.

FALL ROAD TRIP…

Courtesy of leg work by Don Brenton, your Travelers Club is shooting
Eastern Pennsylvania this fall and everyone is invited- Travelers,
Georgia Social Club, Keystoners and Friends. It’s the same format as
set up by Alex and Danni on our spring trips and a proven winner.

HQ will be The Gateway in Bethlehem, Pa. where we will also host
Friday and Saturday night's cocktails and dinners. We are shooting
three clubs in area and one on way home up between I80 and I84 so it’s
an easy drive home for everyone.

Brief Details: The Gateway, in Bethlehem, PA, is at intersection of
Rt. 512 and Rt. 22. It has both a full service Holiday Inn and a
limited service Hampton Inn and Suites. Our functions are in the
Holiday Inn, but the hotels are next to each other. All rooms are
$79.99 with suites at the Hampton Inn at $99.00 Make your own room
reservations. Rooms have been blocked for our group. Call
610-866-5800. The Gateway is 154 miles from the CT/N.Y. line on I-84.

Friday, 1:00 PM, October 4. Wing Pointe. This is a 20 station 1/2 in
woods 1/2 in open with all single trap presentations $25/100, limited
carts, easy walking. Nice for small gauges or feel good 12. 50 miles
further west from hotel in Hamburg, Pa.

Saturday, 9:30 October 5, Lehigh Valley Sporting. 17 stations, many
with 2 shooting stands. Some very interesting over water
presentations, two trap stations with many autos. $30/100. Limited
carts, 5 stand, 30 minutes from hotels. Catered lunch, sandwiches.

Saturday, 2 PM, Water and Wings. 18 Stations, 100ft tower, all autos,
some two-trap presentations. A challenging course. $28/100 and 45
minutesfrom Lehigh Valley.

Sunday, 10 AM, October 6, Skytop. An Orvis sanctioned 12 stations in
the woods, all single trap, on mountaintop. Also a good small gauge
course $45/100. 1:10 from hotel. Lunch on your own and return home.

We have detailed instructions on getting from place to place that will
be sent to those who sign up. Everyone Hotel management, range
owners/managers have been extremely helpful in setting this trip up
and we have promised all of them a count at least 10 days prior so
they can prepare food, get trappers, signage etc, all those things
that make a shoot run smoothly so please return your intentions
soonest.

Don Brenton, shoot organizer, tel: 203-888-5869, email:
captdonnie@yahoo.com PLEASE USE THE ENCLOSED COUPON TO MAKE YOUR
RESERVATIONS.

BIO-DEGRADABLE WADS…

Tamarack Preserve, Millbrook, NY has decided to require the use of
bio-degradable shotshell wads starting in September of this year. At
the moment the bio wad choice is between the old style fiber and paper
wads and modern molded plastic wads made from a photo-degradable
(light sensitive) plastic. We believe that Tamarack has inventoried
fiber wad Eley shells.

Our Technoidal testing department has not yet been able to test the
performance of fiber wads in an overbore barrel (all current Japanese
Brownings, Krieghoffs, OptimaBore Berettas and many others). There
might be gas blowby issues. Ditto potential concerns with extra long
forcing cones. Get ready to do some serious barrel cleaning and
possible rethinking of patterns.

Factory shells with photo-degradable standard shape plastic wads are
available from Baschieri & Pellagri (contact Mike Dotson at
972-726-9073) for $108/500 in target sizes, but not hunting sizes. As
of yet, we know of no source for degradable wad subgauge loads or
photodegradable wads for reloaders. Ballistic Products does not carry
any. This is going to be interesting.

MISS MANNERS ON FRENCH LEAVE.....

Do you remember the time, during your more tender and impressionable
years, when you sat squirming at the dinner table near the end of the
meal? You were waiting for a lull in the interminable, droning,
monotonous adult conversation so that you could blurt out the magic
"May I please be excused". This would enable you to bolt off to far
more important childhood pursuits.

Now that we are older, we may come and go more or less as we please,
but we have learned (generally) to commit these comings and goings
with a proper concern for the sensibilities of others.

The awards ceremony after a shoot is really the most special time of
the day. While very few of us get to walk to the front of the room,
it is always an appreciated courtesy to stick around for those who do.
Miss Manners notes that Travelers have been very good about making the
effort to stay to congratulate the winners. It is a good show of
sportsmanship and contributes to the camaraderie of the shoot. Miss
Manners says "Well done." Besides, why do you think Al always has the
door prizes after the awards? RELOAD!

TECHNOIDAL TIDBIT… Each full degree of choke adds about five yards of
range.

Cylinder Bore (.000”) 20 yards
Improved Cylinder (.010”) 25 yards
Modified (.020”) 30 yards
Improved Mod. (.030”) 35 yards
Full (.040”) 40 yards

In theory, the patterns from these chokes at these given distances
should all be about the same. Of course, you know how theory works
out. It’s a cruel world, but if you absolutely want to know how your
particular gun/choke/shell combination patterns, you have to spend a
few moments at the pattern plate.


*** 2002 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

SEP 15 FAIRFIELD COUNTY F&G, CT-SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCT 5~7* SITE PENDING-FALL TRIP
OCT 20 MILLBROOK ROD & GUN, NY- OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 17 EAST MOUNTAIN, NY-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
DEC 1 EAST MOUNTAIN, NY-KOEHLER SOC. FUNDRAISER THREE SHOT
DEC 15 MID-COUNTY, NY-DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

*** OTHER SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

SEP 7 NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619) SPORTING CLASSIC
SEP 8 MID-COUNTY, NY (845-677-5736) NSCA REGISTERED FUN SHOOT
SEP 8 FIN, FUR, FEATHER, CT (860-455-9516) FUN SHOOT
SEP 14,15 WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012) SUBGAUGE & 12 GA SHOOT
SEP 22 WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012) 50 BIRD FUN SHOOT
OCT 6 NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619) AMERICAN LEGION SHOOT
OCT 11~13 PECONIC RIVER CLUB, NY (631-727-5248) SHOOT FOR A CURE
Breast cancer takes so many of our precious mothers, wives and daughters. There is good progress towards early detection and a cure thanks to funding efforts like Peconic River’s October 11~13 Shoot for a Cure fund raiser. It’s a great shoot for a good cause. Do the right thing.
OCT 27 WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012) 50 BIRD FUN SHOOT
NOV 3 NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619) THREE SHOT CH
DEC 1 NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619) CHRISTMAS SHOOT
DEC 8 WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012) 50 BIRD FUN SHOOT


CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <CTSCA@email.com> (by far the best way) or
telephone 860-354-9351 if you absolutely must.

Membership, Address Changes and Shooting Class status: Contact Cyndi
Dalena at 860-582-3142 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Leave message.
Or Email shotguncyndi@prodigy.net

Guide Book questions, contact Dick Orenstein at <rho@usa.com> or call
203-454-4724.

To place an ad, post a shoot date in Reload! or simply heap abuse on
the editor, contact Bruce Buck at tel: 203-454-1080 (worst way), fax
to 707-215-0668 (adequate way) or email <bcb23@columbia.edu>
(marvelous way, you clever Traveler you!).

The current and previous issues of Reload! are posted on the internet
at <www.ShotgunReport.com>. You will also find megs and megs of other
useless Technoidal drivel there. Great literature never dies. It just
sort of lurks around.




**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2002
THE TRAVELERS SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIP
FAIRFIELD FISH & GAME CLUB, MONROE, CONNECTICUT

Yes, the Connecticut Travelers actually do shoot in Connecticut. Not
often, but when we do, it is really worth it. We started our very
successful sub-gauge championship at Fairfield four years ago and
found their course ideal for the little guns.

This shoot is for sub-gauge guns ONLY. You can shoot your 12, but it
will only be for practice, not for prizes. Your choice. The prizes
will go to the sub-gauge guns. The course will be built for sub-gauge.
If you use a 12, even if it is a 12 gauge SxS or a pump, it’s for
practice only. Of course, you’ll still have just as much fun and enjoy
a delicious lunch.

Don’t have a 20, 28 or 410? Not to worry. We will make an effort to
put you in a squad with a loaner gun or with someone who is willing to
share. One way or the other, we will get it done. Remember, this is
for fun. You will be amazed at what you can hit with a sub-gauge gun.
When you send your reservation, if you don’t have a little gun check
the box that mentions that you will need to share a gun and what gauge
you prefer. Bring ammo for that gauge. No ammo is available at the
club.

In addition to separate prizes in each gauge, we will also award
prizes based on our normal handicap system. We simply add the
particular sub-gauge gun handicap to the actual score. The handicaps
are: 20 ga=5, 28 ga=10, 410 bore=20, pump and SxS get an additional 5.
Example: if you shoot a SxS 28 gauge you get 5 birds for the SxS and
10 for the 28 gauge for a total of 15. Pick whatever you feel will
give you the best chance or the biggest fudge factor. Shells are
limited to standard target weights for the gauge: 16- one oz, 20- 7/8
oz, 28- 3/4 oz and 410- 1/2 oz.

It’s all the usual drill. Arrive by 9:00 AM and check to see which
squad you are on. Squads marshal after the safety lecture. Everyone
will be presquadded because you will have preregistered and prepaid by
Thursday, September 12. If you haven’t, we look forward to seeing you
at the October shoot, but not at this one. Suck down some high-test
coffee and doughnuts as the Amazing Travelers Shoot Machine ramps up.
Lunch and lavish prizes are included. Guests are welcome at this
shoot. All of this for only $55. Oh, yes, Juniors (under 18) and
junior guests shoot FREE! How small gauge can you get?

Directions to Fairfield County Fish & Game, Monroe, CT: Merritt
Parkway (Route 15) to Exit 49 North “Rte 25 North, Danbury”. Take Rte
25 North for 5.3 miles to Route 111 North “Monroe”. Turn Right onto
Route 111 North and go another 5.3 miles to Hammertown Road on Left
(white house with white picket fence on left). Turn Left on
Hammertown Road and follow Hammertown Road 1.3 miles to club entrance
on Right. Clubhouse is .3 miles up the driveway. If lost, strayed or
stolen, call Fairfield County Fish & Game, Monroe, CT at 203-426-9400.

REMEMBER, EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS SHOOTS.