RELOAD!

SEPTEMBER 2004 © Bruce Buck, editor

GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC
ADDIEVILLE EAST FARM
Mapleville, RI
August 13~15, 2004

“Charlie my boy! Oh, Charlie my boy. You thrill me. You chill me. You fill me
with joy.” Remember that old tune? Well, this Charlie was a little different.
While Florida suffered $14,000,000,000 in storm damage from category four
hurricane Charlie, the three hundred shooters at the Great Eastern Lobster
Classic were looking over their shoulders as the hurricane moved up the coast
towards them. The entire weather map was green. New Jersey was floating into New
York.

Still, nature was a mother, not a mutha and she smiled on the northern part of
Rhode Island. In spite of dire predictions, Friday’s shooting had the slightest
damp mist while Saturday had flawless azure blue skies. Perhaps it was the eye
of the storm. The heavy rain and lighting held off until late Saturday night
after the banquet. Sunday had a bit of light rain in the morning, but then it
was just cloudy for the rest of the day. Talk about dodging a bullet!

This review will be a little different as we’ll talk about the structure of the
shoot more than the individuals and exact presentations. This was an open shoot
co-hosted by Geoff and Paula Gaebe of Addieville East Farm and the Connecticut
Travelers. It’s Geoff’s 17 Annual Lobster Classic, so he’s definitely figured
out how to do it.

I’m going to refer you to www.addieville.com for the list of finishers in the
in the eight events and classes. Listing the first through third finishers in
each event and class would take the entire newsletter. Let your computer earn
its keep. Go the website and see how all your friends did.

You could certainly get all the shooting you wanted. On Friday you could shoot
the 100 bird HiDef Spex Preliminary plus 50 bird events in 20 gauge, 28 gauge,
410 bore, SxS and pump. That meant you could shoot 350 birds in one day! The 50
bird events were on separate courses too. Previously they were on the same
course as the preliminary and that caused the preliminary to be a less
challenging setup because it had to include stations suitable for the .410. Not
this time. The Prelim was medium-hard. Just the right level to get you going.
Frankly, I’ve always sort of preferred that the subgauges be shot on a standard
12 gauge course so that you could see where you really stood, or didn’t. That’s
what’s nice about our Travelers subgauge handicap system.

You could also shoot 50 FITASC on Friday or Saturday, plus long bird,
make-a-break and five stand re-entry events if you felt that you absolutely had
to put more lead in the air.

The FITASC course was a marvel. It was set up by Geoff Gaebe, Chuck Frasier
(Promatic’s traveling traps) and Addieville’s manager Jack O’Brien. Geoff sent
Jack O’Brien to England with shooting coach Jack Mitchell to look at the English
courses and learn some of their target setting tricks. The result was a
spectacular FITASC course. Those who had been to the FITASC World’s in Signes,
France this summer said that Addieville’s FITASC was full the equal of anything
that the World Championship had. Richie Frisella, owner of the Peace Dale, RI
grounds and one of our best known target setters said that this FITASC course
was one of the best he’d seen. High praise indeed. Word must have gotten out,
because the event was held on Friday and Saturday and sold out early on. That
just shows you that there are more masochists out there than you thought.

The main event on Saturday and Sunday was also extremely popular. Each day had
three flights and all the squads were full. Thanks to modern communications via
air-horn, race prepared ATVs to hustle in the mechanics and a lot of
preparation, there were few delays or breakdowns. Each day had an entirely
different course on a new venue, not just a redo of the previous day’s stuff.

And now for the grossly opinionated political comments: Addieville intentionally
sets the Saturday half of the main a little soft and the Sunday half harder to
sort out the winners. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of soft courses.
Being firmly mired in the middle classes, I’m certainly not a great shot and
probably miss more than you do. I just don’t like the theory behnd making a
course soft. An easy course is like trap or skeet. It’s a game of misses, not
hits. You start at 100 and count backward for each miss. When you are faced with
an easy presentation, all you can do is break even (hit them all) or lose with
crushing ignominy (miss just one). You really can’t win. It’s “ho, hum” or
“#$%!*”. There is nothing to feel good about.

With a tough course, it’s different. When you hit a pair, you really get a
boost. You’ve accomplished something. There’s an upside. When you miss one, you
can shrug it off because they are hard targets and everyone is missing some. You
can come off a station feeling that you have accomplished something even though
you don’t get them all. .

Of course, much depends on why a course is hard. If there are “sight shots”, bad
visibility, unfair short windows or ridiculously long shots that a SAM couldn’t
hit, then it’s just a bad course. Hang the course designer and get on with life.

Geoff made an interesting comment on hard vs easy stations. He recently
installed target counters at each station on his daily courses. During practice,
the shooters can go out and shoot as much as they wish at any particular
station, paying for only the birds they use. When Geoff totaled up the usage at
the various stations, he found that the hard stations threw far more birds than
the easy ones. Apparently the majority of his customers find the challenging
stations more interesting and fun to shoot than the easy stations, so that’s
what they pay their money for.

The Saturday course wasn’t really easy, but it wasn’t that hard either. It just
didn’t have all that many stations that made you feel really good about hitting
them. Sunday’s course was a different story. Most people felt that it was about
10 birds harder, but it was a world apart. Comments from those who know were
that it was a championship course the equal of anything seen anywhere. There
were several 50 yard shots that you could actually hit (some of the time). There
was sleight of hand, trickery and some just plain magical stuff, but it was all
fair. There wasn’t one target on either day that you could describe as unfair.
They were just a lot trickier on Sunday.

It was interesting to note that many of the very best shooters used a gun mount
that was just shy of fully premounted. It was sort of like premounting and then
backing down an inch or two. It definitely wasn’t as low as under the armpit.
That just goes to show the law of unintended consequences, just like most of our
tax laws. It was originally suggested that US sporting abandon the low gun
requirement to encourage the newbies coming from trap and skeet to try the game
premounted. As it turns out, most of the new shooters shoot low gun so that they
can look like seasoned vets, while the pros shoot high gun to take every
advantage they can get.

As to shooting techniques observed, I think that lesson that stood out the most
was that the longer you rode the bird, the less chance you had of hitting it. Of
course, that’s simple to say. It was particularly true of big, arcing loopers.
There comes a time when you just have to go for it and yank the trigger hard. I
find that if I squeeze the trigger, I’ll ride that big looper into the ground
before I fire the gun. A crisp, decisive trigger pull avoids indecision and at
least gets the dirty deed over with.

There was heavy use of rental golf carts at this shoot. I’m always ambivalent
concerning them. The shooting stations become parking lots with lots of backing,
filling and jockeying for a place. On dusty days, they churn up clouds to choke
you as you walk along. The fact that some adults with the adolescent intellects
drive them like amusement park bumper cars doesn’t help either. Still, for some
shooters with difficulty walking, the golf cart lets someone enjoy our game who
would otherwise be unable to participate. That part is certainly fair.

And while in a critical mode, it unfortunately appears that gun draping has not
been totally eradicated. It was interesting to note that none of the Travelers I
saw at the shoot committed this particular sin, but many of the outlanders did.
You’d think that people would know better and would care a little more about
those standing nearby. But do give them the benefit of the doubt. As Miss
Manners is wont to say, “Never attribute to malice that which can be logically
explained by total stupidity.”

Addieville’s pricing structure deserves praise. In a time when we are being
gouged $225 for 200 birds at some big shoots, Geoff has kept things in
perspective with a 200 bird main event cost of $159 and a 100 bird preliminary
cost of $70. The 50 bird subgauge events were $25 each and the FITASC was $50.
The fabulous lobster or steak Saturday night banquet, complete with a serious
fireworks show was $29. Cash payouts in each and every class were $400 for class
1st, $300 for 2nd, $200 for 3rd, $100 for 4th, $75 for fifth and $50 for 6th.
Plus trophies! Plus piles of shotguns and other stuff by lucky draw. You
certainly got your money’s worth at this shoot.

The Technoid saw his first Browning Cynergy in use. The owner was a good shot
and said that he liked the gun. He felt that it kicked less than his previous
Citori. It really isn’t as ugly in person as it is in the photographs. At least,
it’s not so ugly that it will turn you to stone like Medusa did with that head
full of snakes. Still, we didn’t get too close because you never know.

Finally, the best closing comment on shooting was one I heard from George Olsen
of RST shells. I asked him, “Did you shoot today?”. He responded, “Kinda.” I
feel that way myself sometimes.

OSP SHOOTING SCHOOL…

On October 14, 15 and 15, 2004, Vicki and Gil Ash, will make a return engagement
to present a second Shooting School for the Travelers. The first school was sold
out early and many members requested slots for this second school.

It’s a one day school, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, five people to a class. Lunch and all
range fees are included in the price. Students are asked to bring 8 to 10 boxes
of ammo. Cost is $350.00 for one day. The school will be held at the East
Mountain Preserve. Please call 1-800-838-7533 for a personal interview and
receive instructions to reserve your position for the day you prefer.

Additional information about the OSP School is available at www. ospschool.com.

The first school was a successful and many attendees have secured a spot in this
second school. If you want to improve your personal ability in shotgun shooting
this school will bring you to new heights.

MISS MANNERS ON PROPER DRESS...

After clothing has kept us warm and fulfilled the legal requirement of hiding
the body parts everyone knows we have anyway, there remains its modern function
of decor. While most of us could happily shoot sporting clays in a pair of
boots and a loin cloth, we choose not to. Some of us swaddle ourselves
cap-à-pie in garments of Sherwood green, pickle green, cheese rind green or old
sneaker green. Green is good. Others take the more capitalistic approach by
wearing brightly variegated garments prominently touting the merits of this or
that cartridge company, landscaper or diaper service. Capitalism is good.
Many even soar into the fashion stratosphere by donning a Travelers logo cap or
sweater. Class is good.

Miss Manners feels that the rules of proper dress for sporting clays are
extremely flexible. Both the English Country Squire guise and the Hardened
International Competitor look are completely in keeping with the sport depending
on where you are. The more serious the competition, the better the H.I.C. look.
The more serious the luncheon, the better the E.C.S. costume.

Only when approaching the lower limits of decorum, does Miss Manners stamp down
her pointy petite size six shoe- (the one with the retractable spike). Once, at
a shoot far, far away from the haute couture of genteel New England, Miss
Manners encountered a competitor in cut off trousers, torn tee shirt proclaiming
that a particularly basic bodily function "happens", and no shoes to cover some
of the dirtiest feet this side of a Bulgarian winery. Miss Manners plotzed. To
this day she is haunted by that vision of sartorial Hell.

Fortunately, the Travelers have more consideration for their fellow man and are
to be commended on their tasteful deportment. They know that there is nothing
wrong with shooting well and looking the part. Miss Manners says "Well done" to
the Travelers fashion elite and she is anxious to see the coming spring styles.

A SPORTING TRIP TO ENGLAND

What follows is a note from Fran Gallogly after she returned from shooting clays
in England this summer. We want to share it as it provides an interesting
vignette of the sporting scene over there. ­Ed.

Just returned from 12 glorious days of shooting in England, even the weather was
perfect. I took some lessons in tower birds. Why don't we have 125-ft. towers to
practice on? Here we encounter these only at competitions. In England, I shot
these towers at Southern Counties, Roundwood, Bisley and West London. In fact,
the tower at Roundwood is a whopping 128-ft. They are way ahead of us on this
score. I also enjoyed shooting their grouse butts.

The World Sporting was an incredible experience with targets on the blue course
at FITASC level of difficulty on every stand. It was certainly the toughest
course I've ever shot. The setting was magnificent, high on a hill overlooking
rolling meadows of hay and corn fields. The targets were either high in the sky
or far below your feet. There were a lot of midis. There were difficult angles
to read and many changes of speed (fast/slow targets).There are some interesting
differences over there. They shoot black targets, not orange. If the targets are
orange, they are indicated as "blaze" on the stand. Shooters may not preview
targets in the shooting stand. They stand outside the stand.

There is a dress code like the one for FITASC for major competitions. I wore a
sleeveless shirt as it was very hot, and a referee indicated to me that I was in
violation (but was excused for being an ignorant Yank!). They don't provide
water coolers on the course, but have tents on each course where you can
purchase refreshments. There are no golf carts. You walk and lug your stuff
around, including your water.

My Perazzi got impounded by Customs at Heathrow when we arrived on Sat. It was
my fault. I got my permit ages ago and forgot to add on the serial number of the
Perazzi. It only had my two Brownings listed. Fortunately, we went straight to
the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace and located the CPSA, and they got an amendment
to the permit from the Surrey Police first thing on Monday. On Sunday, I was
slated to shoot the Avon County Championships at Wylye Valley. I phoned Ian
Stones, the owner of Wylye Valley, and he kindly lent me his own Perazzi. I also
called Andrew Litt and he let me use one of his used Perazzis on Monday from the
shop at Royal Berkshire.

One of the interesting things about the World Sporting was it wasn't over when
it was over. After the two courses are shot, they select the top seven shooters
and hold a Super Shoot-off. This consisted of 25 targets on one of the two
FITASC parcours. The score each shooter shot on these 25 targets was added to
his score on the two courses, and this determined the winners Digweed was HOA,
Kruger second).

The two FITASC parcours were shot as pool shoots, not as a full-fledged
competition in its own right. Each day the three top shooters got some
percentage of the entry purse. I entered it on Sun. as a warm-up for the blue
course and ended up in a squad of three--me, Anthony Materese and Cory Krauss.
That was a bit intimidating!!!

We stayed at some lovely B&Bs, farm houses and even on the grounds at Bisley at
St. George's Lodge. The food has improved significantly since our last visit
four years ago. I'm hoping to return next July for the World FITASC. I only hope
the exchange rate is more favorable. Ammo at 30 pounds per flat is close to $60!

DID YOU KNOW…

Yeah, you probably knew that.

So, for your next assignment use the rest of this blank space for your own
personal treatise on the theory of how chokes work. Email it to
TheTechnoid@juno.com We’ll publish it in the next issue.




*** 2004 CTSCA SHOOTING CALENDAR ***

SEP 19 SMALL GAUGE CTSCA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS-FAIRFIELD F&G, CT
OCT 8~10 ANNUAL FALL TRIP- PA & NY WEEKEND TOUR
OCT 14~16 OSP CLINIC- EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, NY
OCT 17 OCTOBERSHUTZENFEST- MILLBROOK ROD & GUN CLUB, NY
NOV 14 DR. RUDY PASSERO MEMORIAL CTSCA CLUB CH.- EAST MTN, NY
NOV 28 KOEHLER SOCIETY FUNDRAISER-EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, NY
DEC 19 DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL SHOOT /CHRISTMAS PARTY- MID COUNTY, NY
* Shoot schedules are subject to last minute change. Always consult the current edition of “Reload!” Therein lies the truth. At least our version of it at this particular time…

*** OTHER 2004 SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

AUG 28,29 NSCA CT STATE CH -FAIRFIELD COUNTY F&G, CT (203-426-8508)
SEP 4 5TH SPORTING CLASSIC -NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619)
SEP 8~12 NSCA NATIONALS- SAN ANTONIO, TX (210-688-3371 x107)
SEP 9 JACK ROBERTSON INVITATIONAL-PAWLING, NY (203-264-7390)
SEP 11 NAT’L INJURY PREVENTION FNDTN-PAWLING, NY (800-844-6556)
SEP 11 KING OF THE MTN:100 MIXED BIRDS- THUNDER MT, NJ (973-962-6377)
SEP 16~19 VINTAGERS’ CUP- ORVIS SANDANONA, NY (413-339-5347)
OCT 24 50 BIRD FUN SHOOT -WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012)
NOV 7 THREE SHOT SHOOTOUT -NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619)
NOV 20 COUPLES FUN SHOOT- ADDIEVILLE EAST, RI (401-364-8849)
DEC 5 CHRISTMAS SHOOT -NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619)
DEC 12 50 BIRD FUN SHOOT-WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012)

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. Or Email <shotguncyndi@prodigy.net>.

Guide Book questions, contact Dick Orenstein <oren@umich.edu> or call
203-226-5251.

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 or email: <bcb23@columbia.edu>.



**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2004
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 in 1997 (has it been that long!) 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 just
be for practice, not for prizes. Your choice. The prizes go to the sub-gauge
guns on this day. 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’ll try 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 Wednesday, September 15. 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 onto 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 203-426-8351.

REMEMBER, EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS SHOOTS