Shooting with dghboy 315...

[Dave McCracken]

315 had his 870 Express less than 24 hours this morn when we baptised it at PGC.

Note, I tried it for one shot and hit the clay. Trigger's a hair on the heavy side but clean.Expresses get bad press but this one's a keeper.

We shot three rounds of trap. 315 had a little trouble getting into it, but was hammering them nicely after warmup. I shot a little down, the lack of practice shows quickly and I had switched back to the TB. For some reason, I shoot trap better with Frankenstein lately, while a year ago the reverse was true. Best round was 21.

Then we joined with a pair of other shotgunners on the wobble trap range, and had much fun. Shot a 21 and 22, tieing and breaking my personal best at this.

Wobble's unpredictability lends itself to learning shotgunning. It breaks up the mechanical moves and forces tighter focus, both good things once the basic mount and swing are grooved in.

And 315 deserves credit. He's gotten past the Testosterone Block, done as needed to learn, and is progressing well. With less than 300 rounds total behind him, he's bordering on journeyman status.

If only I can talk him into eschewing those 3 1/4 dr eq loads.....

[TrapperReady]

Don't worry Dave. If you keeps shooting enough, he'll eschew the heavy loads of his own accord. Sounds like a fun day!

Personally, I'm shifting away from the scatterguns a bit, and focusing on HP over the summer. Just ordered a bunch of blue-colored doo-dads this evening. Now I've got the clean up the bench and make some room. :uhoh: My light reading for the next month will be courtesy of Lyman and Speer.

Don't worry, though. I'll probably still be on target (literally) to shoot through at least a case or two a month. Summer trap league is nearly upon us!! :D

[sm]

Sounds like a great time had by all.

IIRC the original load for "Round the Clock" was 3 1/4 drs, 1/1/4 oz of shot...from low gun. Yep them skeet folks kept using this load for a bit until to make things more sporting for the clays, the lesser loads of 3 dr and 2 3/4 dr were used with a max of 1/18 shot.

I can care less about the feelings of a clay bird...you can tell PETA and quote me on that. :D

I still like the 2 3/4 dr of 1/8 ( emulating the Superlight load). The lesser loading have improved. Less chance of flinch, and wear an tear on eyes, necks, vertabra...

If it breaks - it's broke.

Look at the International loadings and how well they work, with 24 grs of shot.

Not played with a reloader in a bit ( taking a break) but the 7/8 and 1 oz loads we have today, and the components we have...are very very good.

I even ran the 7/8 loads out of my SX1...what recoil? Same with the 1oz.
Competiting I stayed with the Superlight with 1 1/8 oz...just in case I did not do my part and needed that "majic pellet".

[dghboy315]

thanks for the kind words, dave m. again, it was a great time shooting with you. you really are just a fountain of knowledge. personally however, i feel like i am getting worse, not better. my highest score today was a 14. i'm sure i was doing better the first time i shot. i just don't feel comfortable with my part of my shot. but i do realize that this is natural for a new shooter. i'm practicing my mounts, racking and swinging at home.

the thing that really threw me off today was the eye dominance thing. the two times i've shot before, i shot with both eyes open. i had always been under the impression that was the preferred method. when i shoot action pistol, i shot with both eyes open. it took a while to get my self used to it, but i finally did it. then today, for some reason, my eye dominance switch, so i had to go to shooting with only one eye open. so weird. i guess i have to go back to shooting with tape over one of my lenses.

as for my choice of loads, i would love to shoot something lighter, but those heavy loads are cheapest ones. actually, the guy at sports authority said those were a light load. next time i buy a case however, i will invest in a lighter variety. What am i looking for? i've read about what all the numbers mean, but i can never remenber when i am actually at the store. i know i need 2 3/4 in., 1/8 oz., but the rest of the numbers are greek to me.

anyways, when i got home, i did a thorough 2 hour cleaning. i broke almost every down except the trigger group and fore stock. i still can't remove the nut that hold the wood stock to the tube and bars thing. i break free-ed all the major parts and relubed with militec-1. i think cleaning the choke tube area at the muzzel end of the barrel was the hardest part. there was lots of build up there that the bore brush did not take care of. i ended having to take a tooth brush to it and then wiping up with few patches.

i still feel very apprehensive about lubing. basically, i just put a few drops on every piece and use my fingers to spread it around. i let it sit for a few min. and then wipe down with a cotton rag or paper towel. i do this on everything including the out side of the barrel and receiver and the wood stocks (don't wood need love too?)

oh, and dave, i did try smoothed down those rails. i used one of the sharpening stones included in the spyderco sharpening system. i'm not sure if i did it right. t was runing the sharping stone over the tops of the rails until they felt smoother, but i ended up taking some bluing off. :eek:
but, the combination of shooting and militec must have done something right, b/c my gun feels much smoother.

[Dave McCracken]

Thanks, guys.

TR, Shotgunning isn't the only way to have fun,even for me. One local club has a 30-30 match,any rifle, any iron sights, at iron silohuetas, 200 yards offhand. I may pick up a Lee Loader and components and have at it.

sm, I care not a whit about PETA's feelings, they're a cult preying on the gullible that wants to rule the world. Back when I was more contentious in cyber space I got more death threats from PETAphiles than the pinheads at Stormfront. I freely admit the PETAphiles were better spellers.

315, the bluing comes off anyway. What you did was simulate work polishing.

Keep the CLP off the wood. A little furniture wax yearly is all it needs.

As for the scores, hang in there. Oft just a little thing like adding a light jacket will throw things off. And, your gun and you are just getting introduced, let familiarity happen.

When I shoot less than well, I run through a checklist in my head. It's all the things I know I do wrong. Something like this....

Am I stopping my swing or lifting my head?

Is my mount consistent?

Am I yanking the trigger instead of a fast press?

Is my foot pointing where I want to break/kill the target?

Is my clothing binding my swing?

Am I trying to aim?

Is my focus on the target?

Am I thinking instead of letting the shot happen?

Am I using a load and choke appropriate to the shot?

There's more, but you get the idea.Note that only one is equipment related.

Two eyed shooting is best, IF we can do it. Not all of us can. I find it easier some days.

A 2 3/4 dr eq, 1 oz load will take any target we shot yesterday if WE do our part. Next time you might want to get these.

HTH....

[riverdog]

315,
I usually do my best when I don't think about the shot too much. My last round of Trap was with just one other shooter on the line and the round went fast. Not much time between shots to analyze and I did much better. Rather than thinking I was reacting and hitting the birds faster. Thinking just adds more steps to the process of breaking clay.

[dghboy315]

i answered yes to everyone of the above questions :what: haha

[dghboy315]

riverdog,

thinking too much is a new problem for me

[sm]

Here is something else to think about.

Single Stage Reloader. Not too expensive new, keep eyes open for a used one at the club, want ads or garage sales. You won't necessarily save any ammo costs - just allow you to shoot more. Be fun, educational and can load up lighter loads.

I'm sure "somebody" can assist with finding some hulls, picking components and a recipe or two.
:)

[Dave McCracken]

By George, sm, I believe you believe I'm "Somebody",heh,heh,heh...

Sure. Glad to...

[sm]

Not me. :)

Now if dghboy315 "just happened" to have "too" many rds loaded up...and...offered to let you shoot them...and this became a habit... like real often...gotta make sure the loads are reliable and all - now don't we-...well...I deny any knowledge of any conspiracy. :D

[ Us old farts got to stick together Dave...work with me here, remember how we were hoodwinked as young folks...] :p

[Norton]

ah so....a new member of the dojo:p

Welcome to our little MD THR shotgun club dghboy.....Dave has gotten quite a few of us off on the correct path. Don't fret over the scores.....like Dave pointed out..."but you're having fun right?"

I waffle from having several good rounds of 22 and then shooting a 14....must have been wind shear :rolleyes:

I'm going to try and get out to PGC this week sonce we are on Spring Break.....I got to do some hand gunning today, I'm going rifle shooting Thursday....so I've got to make some time for a few rounds of trap to make the week complete:cool:

Dave,....re: reloading.....I'm still looking to score a MEC Jr on eBay......once I land one, would you be interested in some reloading mentoring? I'm going to try to catch the class at PGC but I'm afraid the dates aren't going to work out.

[TrapperReady]

Norton - Perhaps it would be more aptly named a davejo. ;)

[Dave McCracken]

sm, (wink, wink) beta testing a few thousand sounds good...

Norton, reading the Lyman manual and going through the steps slowly oughta do it. If there's probs, you have my numbers. We're doing a major renovation here to prepare for Daughter's College and Son's High School Graduations and the house isn't fit to see. Be glad to help you set up if we can shoehorn it in.

BTW, there's a couple loaders on the BB at PGC.

TR,perhaps not. Dojo is pushing it, and I'm too realistic to believe it's my own abilities making all these shotgunners. I just show the path. I've NO desire for a personality cult. Charisma is a highly over-rated trait.

315, watch for a thread on swing. I've some thoughts that may help....

[Norton]

Dave,

I feel your pain on the renovations....amazing how a thing like that can suck up all of your time (and money in my case:( )

If I get out to PG this week, I'll check and see what loaders are still up there. It's been a few weeks since I've been out......

[MikeK]

Norton et al:

I'm planning on heading to PGC this Friday AM with one of my nephews for his Christmas present. The past few years it's been pistol and rifle, now he wants to try shotgun. I still need to clean up a few work items and check with him, but it appears pretty definite at this point.

Perhaps we can hook up.

I've been renovating a rental house for the past year (long story and lots of them) so I can feel your pain and empty wallets.

[Norton]

MikeK...I'd love to hook up on Friday, but Spot77 and I had to move our outing to Hap Baker to Friday.

Check your PMs

[dghboy315]

i may be free friday morning.

[MikeK]

dghboy;

I plan on being there ~ 10:30. 6'2" 225, 52 Graying hair and goatee. Nephew is 6'5" and 14.

Hope you can make it.

[Norton]

Nephew is 6'5" and 14

:what: He might have me beat when I was at that age........another candidate for the MD THR basketball team!

[Dave McCracken]

Norton, we're cashing in some equity by doing a refi(Courtesy of Rupe of this BB) and ending up with "Free Money". This house will suck it all up. New deck, new bathrooms, kitchen floor, counters, dishwasher, you know how it goes.

I can't make it this Friday,but there's a good chance I'll be out there on Saturday or Sunday morn. I've a new wad to test, and some stress management is definitely in order.

Norton, I think you're the tallest shotgunner I've taught.

Mike, 14? What ARE you feeding that kid?...

[Norton]

Norton, I think you're the tallest shotgunner I've taught.

:D I'm usually the tallest person most people know. It's a drag being huge sometimes (clothes, shoes, etc) but it comes in handy when people are feeling a little aggressive.

I used to have a Ford Escort in college. On several occasions people got lippy with me in a parking lot or something. I had perfected this "unfolding" move getting out of that little car:evil: It maximized the shock value of 6'7"/240lbs getting out of the car and usually convinced folks that it wasn't that important that they beat me to the parking space.

Just the other day at Blockbuster, a bunch of kids were feeling their oats yelling at people in front of the store. I was in full "Spring Break/not going to work" mode.....unshaven, boots, torn jeans, sun glasses....general state of yahooness. They were yelling at some lady and I came around the corner behind them without their noticing. You have to love the look on some 13 year old brat's face when Norton the Thunder God (tm) lumbers up behind them and says something like "you talk to your Momma like that?"

[dghboy315]

MikeK,

i'll probably be the only 5'10 asian guy on range 8 with a 870. i just turned 28. i'm going to try to get there around 10am (friday).

i'll confirm with you later this week.

[Dave McCracken]

"Norton the Thunder God" has a nice ring. Anyone who has worked in prison knows big Rollers have an intimidation factor smaller ones do not.

[Norton]

Anyone who has worked in prison knows big Rollers have an intimidation factor smaller ones do not

I always have to balance that "intimidation factor" with not being intimidating when it comes to my students. In fact, I usually sit down when talking to kids. It sure does come in handy for the kids who misbehave though:evil:

Can you believe I had a kid raise his fist to me once?!:what:

I told him he had about 2 seconds to reconsider his future...whether it would be eating solid food or through a straw:p

[TrapperReady]

TR,perhaps not. Dojo is pushing it, and I'm too realistic to believe it's my own abilities making all these shotgunners. I just show the path. I've NO desire for a personality cult. Charisma is a highly over-rated trait.


The definition of a dojo is "a school for training in the Japanese arts of self-defense". THR members meeting you at PGC are most certainly getting some training. That doesn't make it a cult. BTW, I used to have a karate instructor who used the exact phrase "show the path" with regards to what he did.

In many respects, this forum is like the best of my college classes, with you acting as the TA (your ego's not big enough to be the professor ;)). You bring a lot of valuable knowledge and experience to the table, and we all discuss topics from our own perspective and in that way contribute to everyone's learning.

With the weather getting better, maybe we could work out a way to have class outside!

[Dave McCracken]

I usually sit when talking to kids too, Norton. Looking up gets quite tiresome, and like you there's times when I don't want to intimidate.

TR, thanks for the kind words. Classes will move outside shortly. Mayhap a Redneck Jamboree at PGC is in order...

[Norton]

Classes will move outside shortly. Mayhap a Redneck Jamboree at PGC is in order..

Yeehaw:D

I can not begin to tell you how anxious I am for this summer. I have my On Target membership, my Hap Baker range badge, 6 hundred AA hulls to reload, and an 870 begging for attention.

Last summer was basically a lost cause with the move and subsequent manic remodel. Lots left to do, but I think that there will be lots of time for shooting....particularly at PGC.

[Calanctus]

Norton, I'll run you through a shotshell reloading lesson as soon as I get my house back in order (finishing up laminate flooring install). I've lost count of how many hulls I have to fill back up; had all 25 of my office mates turn in their hulls to me after a company outing at Pintail Point.

You had a Ford Escort? I thought it was bad fitting my 6'10" frame in a Honda Civic...

[dghboy315]

MikeK,

i will definately be at PGC at 10am on friday. probably on range 8.

all else welcome

[MikeK]

dghboy;

See you there. My nephew and I probably won't be there until around 10:30. I'll look for you on range 8 or thereabouts.