[Dave McCracken]

Today was a very satisfying day. I had it off, always nice, and I had 5 boxes of shells loaded, and I had a kitchen pass. So off to PGC went I.

THR Member Calliope was to meet me there with her new (to her) 1100. She has just started shooting, and had been using a 1400 her SO had lent her. She had also shot Frankenstein and acquitted herself well.

So, I lurked around Range 7 until they showed. I had time to shoot a round and was able to help out a young man who was a rank beginner. I wish all students picked it up that fast.

I also enjoyed talking to a group of young men who all showed up to shoot their 870s These ranged from a new Express to a nifty old but excellent WM and a couple well used but cherished WMs, one sans finish but free of rust.

Calliope and her SO soon showed up, but there was a worm in their apple. The prior owner had extended the stock to a 16" LOP. Calli is no behemoth. They had pulled the extension and oversize pad but hadn't gotten further,

Calliope shot a round with her 1400 and another with Frankenstein, but seemed reconciled to not shooting her 1100.

That was a shame. The thing looked new, had a 28" Full choke barrel and shell catcher.

I was mulling this over when the Inspiration Genie grabbed his sledgehammer and popped me between the eyes.

I went over to my Jeep and searched the wayback. In between the space blanket, jumper cables and old shell boxes, I found both a Rempad and a slipon pad left over from some teaching done last Fall. I donated them to The Cause, and shortly thereafter Callliope stood on the 16 yard line with her new 1100 and an economy size grin.

The 1100 liked her. The first clay exploded and so did the second. Hitting them hard mostly, she shot a decent round and near the end started getting them closer to the house.

She SMOKED one. Her face was radiant. A couple shots later she did it again.

By and large, I don't want to see smoke when I hit them. It's overkill, and that kind of density means the spread suffers.

But for building confidence, there's nothing better.

So, I shot OK, had lots of fun, helped a friend and helped a stranger.

Like I said, a very satisfying day....

[sm]

:D

Dave,
Thanks my friend. I just got a great feeling reading your post.

Calliope , I thank you as well, this is what "it" is all about.

Steve

[kudu]

Well done Dave, another feather in the cap of the shooting fraternity.

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, folks. Every new shooter is an ally and possibly a friend...

[sm]

Need to share and this thread seems appropriate.

Young lady recovering from detached retina, surgeries on shoulder and knee I have mentioned before. Now listening to Doctor's orders and Physical Therapist, is real important , especially when it comes to recoil. So this young lady has been doing things to learn shotgunning, without shooting a shotgun.
Great lady, great attitude and she understands all the correct basic fundamentals and how all the things we have been doing, are of a benefit to her.

She still does not own a shotgun of her own.
She is going to wait until fully healed and able to actually try a variety shooting them before she does.
Oh - she , myself and my lady friend have a pretty good idea what will work, still she will wait.

She cannot shoot what I would prefer for her to learn on, she just cannot.

Loaded up some really really light .410 shells and using a Remington 1100. These loads will not cycle the action. Idea is weight of gun with really light loads for "zero" recoil.

She went 3/3 on clays. Portable trap, like low 7. Her first time getting to shoot "live shotgun shells" :D

No way to express the feelings we three had, even the dawg was excited for her. :p

All them repetitions with just a stock, later a single shot .410, then a 28 ga single shot, then 20 ga single shot, then a Remington 870/ 1100 in .410. Just correct basic fundamentals of mounting gun to face, stance and all, dry-fire. Not allowed to fire a live round due to Medical orders and limitations. Get permissions as we go along ....

NO sights on BBguns, or single shot .22 rifle with .22 shorts, and hitting ping-pong balls, tennis ball, and golf balls.
Marlin 60 and...all proving their worth.

Handguns with .22 rim-fire. Now she was familiar with handguns and rifles (mostly .22 rifles), and never got into shotguns.

I'll say one thing, her handgun skills have skyrocketed not being able to shoot much else. Lots of .22 rim-fire and she is really wicked with a .22 handgun!
All she could use for so long healing up.

Smoking 3/3 with a shotgun...yeah, very very special!

Steve

[IDriveB5]

Another shooter on their way to becoming a shotgunner, thanks to Dave.

Thanks Dave.

[Calliope]

Dave,

You are a great mentor and I am glad to call you a friend. I love Frankenstein but after shooting the 1400 and then trading over to Frankie baby, the acclimation took some getting used to and I didn't shoot very well, but THEN my 1100. Holy Moly what a piece of work!! I can't wait to get the stock fitted just right. I am looking forward to spending some quality time with him for sure!! Not that I wouldn't lovingly borrow Frankie another time or two for old times sakes (wink) Safe travels this week my friend. Hope to see you when you return!

This shooting thing has been very interesting and I love the opportunity to meet new people. I have been fortunate to meet some really good people and Dave is at the top of the list.



Calli

[theCZ]

The prior owner had extended the stock to a 16" LOP.

Holy moly! How tall would that guy have to be? I am probably as close to the much touted "average spec" shooter that the gun industry builds guns for, 5'10" normal build and anything from a 14" to 14.5" LOP is pretty comfortable, but just imagining a woman trying to shoot a 16" LOP gun, it sounds very awkward!

[Calliope]

theCZ,

The guy who sold me the gun was very nice. He's in NY and drove to meet me in PA to sell me the gun. It was his first trap gun that he bought used and he never did anything to it, bought it the way it was. He admitted he never was very good with it, which was one of the reasons for selling it. No wonder, with the LOP at 16 inches who could be, right?!?! I am VERY pleased with it and having taken off the spacer and put the end piece that Dave lent me on it for now, it's almost perfect. My SO is having it fixed properly for me in the next couple weeks. But you have to wonder who would have put a spacer on a straight field stock that was already 14 inches to make it 16!!

Calli

[only1asterisk]

No wonder, with the LOP at 16 inches who could be, right?!?!

I'd bet Norton could. At 5' 19" it would come pretty close. Was the spacer well made?

David

[Dave McCracken]

Norton and his brother Spot 77 could use a 16" LOP, and B 5 is not that much smaller.

The TB is currently at 15.5" and is a trifle long for aught but premounted trap for me, but in T shirt weather I COULD use it.

Calli, Aw shucks....

[Hawk]

Just out of idle curiosity, when one references PGC, is that the Goodluck Road PGC in Glen Dale?

[Calliope]

Hawk,

Yes the Prince Georges Gun Club off of Good Luck Road.

[cee_squared]

Good evening everyone!
Please forgive my ignorance. But when you say;

She SMOKED one. What do you mean? How does one "SMOKE" a clay target?

If that's what you're referring to.

Thanks!

[Dave McCracken]

Cee, when a target is hit very hard by a lot of shot it turns into a puff of smoke. Come on out to PGC and Calli will be glad to show you....

[billp]

Sometimes you see broken pieces depart from the clay bird.

If you hit them directly, then a black cloud appears.

I call this "dusting them."

regards from senior citizen (http://www.prosefights.org/reigps/reigps.htm).

[Calliope]

*blush* I dunno if I can do it on command, but it was sure cool shooting that's for sure!!

I found a monte carlo stock for the 1100. Hoping to have it in my hands this week. Once I get that, me and the 1100 will be spending some quality time. lol

[Dave McCracken]

It'll come easy, Calli. Trust me.....

Monte Carlo? Lessee how it fits. I hope your SO is going to install it. He knows a lot.

[Calliope]

Yes the SO is going to install it and check it. Supposedly it's an aftermarket with no alterations. So it should fit. (crossing my fingers)

Safe Travels!!

Calli

[Dave McCracken]

Good, Enjoy and I'll see you when we return.....