[Dave McCracken]

This is my day off this week. I had some errands to run, like Doctor's office, post office, pharmacy, you know how it goes. I ended up with enough time for a fast trip tp PGC with 200 loaded hulls, a couple 870s in need of exercise, and a full bore case of cabin fever.

The weather's not bad for February. Some sun, not enough wind to justify a wind chill rating and dry enough.

The range was nigh empty. I took my shooting box to the bench behind Range 7, uncased Frankenstein, dumped a couple boxes of reloads into my pouch, stretched a little and commenced.

The trap was set to Wobble. I shot gun down, stance with weight well forward, and vision focussed on the area past the trap.

The first round was a basic drill. Shoot at a target. If it breaks well, move to the next station. If not, either a miss or a chippy hit, stay there and shoot until a good hit is made. Then move on.

Second round had me moving the post 5 mike over near Skeet 6 and shooting near crossers.

I got more shells and tried moving the Post 1 mike over to Skeet 2. This saw me run about 10 straight, miss one and then another, I had to stop, get things under control, and mutter a mantra.

This one was "Use the Force, Luke".....

Eventually I got back into the groove and busted most of them nicely.

I took a short break then and strolled down to range 6. A solo shooter I knew slightly was trying out an old shotgun he had reconditioned at skeet.

A Clark and Sons, made 1860-70, it had new 12 gauge barrels instead of the original 10 bores, outside hammers standing up proudly, pretty lumber and so on. A very nice sidelock with a bit of engraving and elegant lines, it also had Briley screw in chokes to help it as a Sporting gun.

You'd like it,trust me. I didn;t know the owner well enough to ask the price, but all told it probablty went into 5 figures. Worth it, IMO...

After a few mintues admiring it, I took Frankenstein into the clubhouse and enjoyed a break, snack and diet cola.

I then sacked up Frankenstein and broke out Number 6. It took a few shots to adjust to the longer barrel and slightly different timing.

After one round, I decided to try something new. Moving the Post 3 mike up to Skeet 8, I had more acute angles,shooting a round and taking the birds as close to the house as I could. Great practice for quail, woodcock and grouse hunting. Even with my LM choke and scant loads, the targets broke nicely, often with smoke

I was now down to 50 rounds and decided to finish as I started from the standard positions, moving after each good shot and repeating when things didn't go well. All shots were from low gun, shooting as the stock touched my cheek.

Then, I stumbled into The Zone. The targets looked like washtubs, moved slowly like Justice, and shattered into myriad bits at my bidding. I missed a few of course, but most gave a picture perfect explosion out there.

The center of the pattern was finding that leading molecule I rant about, time after time. For a few brief moments, I was doing something as well as it could be done. Knowing that made me be better and feel better.

Clay shooting probably has little Cosmic meaning. The interception of clay discs by clouds of shot does not change the roll of the Great Mandela, Karmic Burdens or the makeup of the Supreme Court. It does, however, count with me.

I've said it before.

Destroying things loudly is Stress Management of the best kind.

Loud Zen.....

[KriegHund]

Sounds good. I have to admit im jealous.

I should try skeet shooting sometime.

I may just have to spend my cash this week on ammo for my Mini-14 and go shoot a few mags. Sounds real tempting.

I need to check and see if there are any public ranges around here too.

[Preacherman]

Aaaahh, yes... recoil therapy! :D

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying being able to shoot again after almost two years on doctor-enforced layoffs, due to my back injury and subsequent surgeries. I'm even going to use it as an excuse to get into clay shooting, which I've never done much of before.

(The latter is all Dave's fault, with significant contributions from sm, Larry and others - the guilty parties know who they are! :D )

[BozemanMT]

Hmmmmmm
good
I love blowing $hit up. :D

[Rupestris]

Day off? :confused:

You lost me on that one Dave (as I log in from a hotel room somewhere in the flight path of inbound planes heading to Philly International :rolleyes: :p )

Great post. How was the ride home?
The reason I ask is, Whenever a good day at the range is had, it usually sets in about half way home when I realize I'm moving slower than usual and don't really care.
Its amazing what some recoil therapy, GSR (thanks CSI) on the clothes, and that smell can do for the soul. :D

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, folks....

Kreighund, skeet's a different game, but also fun. Go shoot some..

Preacherman, it's glad I am to hear that you're up to it. BTW, your skeet barrel left here this morn.

And I don't know whether ti's best to deny wrongdoing or take credit....

Boze, instant gratification. When all is done right, Kabloooie!!

Rupestris, a day off is a rare occasion when one doesn't have to work. If you eat all your veggies and keep your room clean,maybe you'll get one sometime....

[P95Carry]

Your ''therapy'' Dave - is worth more than any med's:D

Good you managed it and weather was kind - we have been quite lucky in that respect.

[Larry Ashcraft]

Great therapy!

Time and money (and weather) have kept me from shooting clays for a couple weeks...

That should change soon. The cabinet is stocked with 28 ga reloads. I still need to bring that 12 ga press home from the shop and set it up here at home.

[IDriveB5]

Its amazing what some recoil therapy, GSR (thanks CSI) on the clothes, and that smell can do for the soul.

how very true. nothing comes close.

[sm]

Ashes to Ashes
Dust'em to Dust 'em Must We
Go Busting Clay Them Birds



Dave to PGC
Stress Dripping off he oh yeah!
Left grin ear to ear


:D

[Dave McCracken]

OK, Shotgunning is loud therapy as well as Zen. Still feelng pretty good.

Yes, Chris, we've been fortunate so far, though February is always our worst month.

Larry, bad weather is Heaven's way of making sure we have time to restock our ammo stores.

B5, it hasn't taken long for you to get hooked.

Steve, thanks. Does Arkansas have a Poet Laureate, yet?

[sm]

I can't even speak English. I do Southern - remember?

Laureate- that is what folks up North call a Lasso - right? :p

Re: Antidotes.

I got a real hankering to Antidote something.
My Lady Student may get lessons on how to string up a two legged critter using Cat 5e cable, see how a Cisco Series 2600 Router reacts to 12 ga slugs, use a 8.5x11 sheet with the wrong IP Addresses and submasks for grouping slugs, and some other stuff. And learn some new language she may not know of yet in regard to me not being able to access a online class.

I knew them submasks were wrong...still I/we had to use them for...I/we aren't going to partner with that person again...trust me. Instructor is very clear on this and had one of them stern talks with said idiot...err...classmate.
I know the difference in mouthwash and booze too...classmate reeking, and escorted out of the bldg.

I admit I do not know a lot of stuff. I have the ability to ask questions and listen. Heck I even ask for further instructions and clarity.

You do not "unplug" another persons Router while they are configuring it. You do not "steal" another's homework with IP/Submasks, and for darn sure you keep your greasy paws off their personal laptop.

Add...

Get ready to laugh - I was teaching - teachers, some have PhDs. I do better teaching shotgun stuff than some other "subjects". Don't they teach PhDs what "tump" means? What is so hard about understanding "I'd appreciate folks with open top coffee containers putting them on this empty desk <pointing> from computers so they don't "tump" by accident and damage the PCs..."

So while I give them a test I take a test...and seems the test I took was for another version of material I studied. [ Read - where in Haydes did this stuff come from?] Needless to say I did not do my ususal grade and it takes an act of CyberSpace to get this deleted and the correct test re-administered to me. I managed a grade of C on something I have never heard of, much less read the material over...

I gotta an idea. If I ever get through my IT studies, I am going to come up with a Shooting Range for CIS/IT folks.

Shotguns of course. Invent a clay thrower to toss Routers, Switches, Hubs...

Handgun and Rifle too...

Forget using these studies for a job in that field. Use my shotgunning/ shooting stuff, coupled with CIS/IT studies and make a fortune providing a way for CIS/IT folks to Anitdote.

Handgun is for one to fight their way away from a PC so they can get a shotgun to shoot a Transmission Closet and the Model 70 in '06 is to shoot the Satellite up on the roof.

I got this figured out...:D

I gotta go rant, fume and fuss - if being diplomatic don't work, plan B is always an option...plan C is a real hoot, if matters get to plan G, "all she wrote".

[RonB]

Dave,

How right you are. I just recently took up skeet shooting (shotguns and rifles in general) with the worst possible shotgun and it is still incredibly enjoyable and relaxing. It *almost* matches my other vice in life. Drag racing at the local 1/4 mile dragstrip.

Same things.....its too loud.....smells too bad.....and when I crack off a better time than the last round.....all the planets align and a feeling a euphoria wraps you like a warm a blanket.

Shooting (skeet or range) and drag racing are the ONLY two things in life that get my mind off everything else.

I am thankful I have found shooting as another vice.

[Dave McCracken]

Steve, a small trebuchet would work to toss all that stuff, about a 12 foot bar and say, 100 lb counterweight. It'd be fun.

Ron, worst possible shotgun? With all the good shotguns out there for a pittance, there's no reason.

Racing is expensive, but a good shotgun suitable for clays and much more will cost about what you spend on a Sunday for gas, entry fees and tires....

[RonB]

Steve, a small trebuchet would work to toss all that stuff, about a 12 foot bar and say, 100 lb counterweight. It'd be fun.

Ron, worst possible shotgun? With all the good shotguns out there for a pittance, there's no reason.

Racing is expensive, but a good shotgun suitable for clays and much more will cost about what you spend on a Sunday for gas, entry fees and tires....

Maybe not worst...but by far not ideal. Mossy 590 20" HD no choke. Bought for the HD purpose and just shoot clays for the sake of shooting. Actually if I get a jump on the clays out of the thrower I get most...anything about 1/2 a second later...chances goto 50/50...another 1/2 a second and I am lucky to get anything. Pick up my father in laws 12 gauge Ithica with 26" barrel and mod choke...hit just about anything I want anywhere I want.

Yes...my goodness racing is expensive...this season will prove very expensive as the car is shortly (hopefully in a few weeks) will be nothing but a race car and I will treat it as such...

But as this thread says...The Antidote...I do love shooting. :)

[Dave McCracken]

A second barrel with chokes will fix you up nicely. Or, a Mossy 500 on sale from a box store.

Good luck with the car....

[sm]

Seems I have another glitch in the get-a-long. Gremlins have decided to not allow me access to one of my online class sites. I only need this to participate in class discussions, view the online texts, resources and turn in assignments...

My Antidote?

Gonna sound dumb, but I did not actually shoot a live round today. Instead my Lady Student was ...well...she is really a good student. She is coming along so well. Really proud of her.

So she shot and I played instructor. We got wet, it rained of course, didn't matter. She is not going to be a fair weather shooter. So getting out of myself and passing forward did me a lot of good.

Older I get and the more I think about it - no wonder my Mentors & Elders had that smirk on their faces.

We both had a hard week, still we continue to find / make time for this - 30 days goes by fast!

Went to a small town "diner", to get something to eat. The smells, the warmth felt good. We arrived after the rush, rain had stopped then started back up Hard!

Fed the jukebox, found some great tunes, playing with hulls and one 28 ga shell...watching the rain...

Waitress noticed we were off somewhere else...and let us be. Just kept filling the coffee , or hot tea...

"My daddy shot them 28 gauges, he liked them on quail and doves..." she remarked.

I shared with a student, ate a Chicken Fried Steak, Coffee, Good Company, watching/listening to rain, and ..."you really have great taste in company and
tunes " ...Seger, CCR, ZZTop, Pink Floyd, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw...

I like simple , how raised, how taught, and am to blame for my student needing more Seger for her collection.

Sometimes getting the blame is a good Antidote too.

Okay...truth is my Seger is on Cassette , my truck came with a Cassette and her vehicle has a CD...err...yeah well it helps to feed the right stuff to what needs feeding.

I attempted to feed her CD myCassette twice... "maybe if you try again - third time will be charm".

Students...I swear! :p

She gots herself a shotgun! Getting fitted up to her. She got the Pachmyer Decelarator in earlier ...

HBR is a bit excited to say the least! :p

[Dave McCracken]

Teaching's an Antidote too,Steve. No doubt about it. Also good Karma.

Was listening to Seger yesterday, and Martina. Great singers both.

[RonB]

A second barrel with chokes will fix you up nicely. Or, a Mossy 500 on sale from a box store.

Good luck with the car....

Wait...huh??? *Again read my sig* but I thought the 590s barrell was not removable. And from what I gather on shotguns that have exchangable barrels...its not that hard....right?

[bcolorado]

Hi All

I am new to the twelve guage antidote. I do find that it clears the mind and settles the soul.

Now Seger, thats another story. First saw him in the mid seventies as back up for bto.

[Dave McCracken]

TTBOMK, the 590 barrel is removeable. Someone will be along to correct me shortly if I'm wrong.

870s, 500s, 1300 etc, have interchangeable barrels. Newer 37s also.