2021 Trap Season started out.....wet

[PapaG]

Dang! Got the o.k. from cardio to shoot (after three procedures including pacemaker). Made a couple changes, new pad and ejector on the old '75 TB and a new mag follower on the 1100 if the recoil is too much (I'm sure it won't be a problem).
So, fresh ammo loaded, Good night's sleep, nice morning at church, wife felt well enough to be alone a few hours, and....rained out.
Tues night we start high school league, I'm coaching, and Peoria league behind Thurs. So, first time out will be in four days. Exciting.

 

[Armored farmer]

Sorry for the bad weather PapaG. I was in Peoria/ Galesburg a few weeks ago. I should have looked you up. I was in farming mode, looking at a new(used) tractor in New Boston.

I feel your pain. I drove myself and three other flintlock shooters to Pall Mall, Tennessee for the Alvin York memorial chunk gun match on March 27th. It started sprinkling during the safety meeting.
Then it hailed, and rained, all morning. The shoot was cancelled. We drove home.
I found some small pistol primers, and a new ultralight crappie rig at bass pro in Owensboro....so, a consolation of sorts.

 

[PapaG]

Dang! You want my phone number? I swapped for a long 50 cal poor boy that would make a light chunk gun(about 10 pounds). We will cross paths.
Stan

 

[entropy]

We start Apr. 29th. I've been shooting Jackpots all winter at Mpls and Hudson Gun Clubs. Got one coming up at Hudson if either of you want to swing up this way next Sunday.

 

[PapaG]

First night of Peoria league. I had only shot one round since October. A little rusty. 16 yard on a hazy, breezy night got me a 22. 25 yard brought a 20. I was not at all disappointed. Had our "A" team on hand and we did 44, 44, 42, 42, and 39. The team that edged us out of first in Div 1 was five behind us. Old 870TB, and new glasses helped a lot.

 

[PapaG]

Wow! A new team shot a 233, and the caps were at 27!

 

[mokin]

First night of Peoria league. I had only shot one round since October. A little rusty. 16 yard on a hazy, breezy night got me a 22. 25 yard brought a 20. I was not at all disappointed. Had our "A" team on hand and we did 44, 44, 42, 42, and 39. The team that edged us out of first in Div 1 was five behind us. Old 870TB, and new glasses helped a lot.

Glad you're on the mend.

A rusty day for you is a typical day for me.

 

[PapaG]

Second competition night for my high school team was cold/snowed out. Tomorrow would have been my little brothers birthday. I'll use his TC for league tomorrow.

 

[PapaG]

Late little brothers gun pulled through tonight. High gun for team with 25@16, 23@hcp. 223 for team, possibly high team in Div 1. Little bro would be proud.

 

[PapaG]

After five weeks my team has taken over first place in Div 1, ahead of the perennial first place team. Puts us back at 25 or 26 but we're getting used to that. 217 average.

 

[entropy]

Our attendance is so down that my team had to combine with another (up to 8 on a team, only the top 5 scores per week per team are recorded for team score) we were down to 3, from 8 last year. Even the Team Captain dodn't show up the year. The three of us were the top shooters for our team and the other team has 3 strong shooters also, so we might go up from 3rd to 2nd. My first six scores; 19, 21, 24, 20, 25, 22. The first 3 determined handicap. Ours is a mathematical h'cap, it's all shot at the 16. I wish it were yardage, the only practice I get for H'cap os Jackpot shoots and Annie Oakleys.

 

[George P]

Our attendance is so down that my team had to combine with another (up to 8 on a team, only the top 5 scores per week per team are recorded for team score) we were down to 3, from 8 last year. Even the Team Captain dodn't show up the year. The three of us were the top shooters for our team and the other team has 3 strong shooters also, so we might go up from 3rd to 2nd. My first six scores; 19, 21, 24, 20, 25, 22. The first 3 determined handicap. Ours is a mathematical h'cap, it's all shot at the 16. I wish it were yardage, the only practice I get for H'cap os Jackpot shoots and Annie Oakleys.

Is that because of Covid issues or ammo ones?

 

[entropy]

Mostly ammo issues. Even the 'old retired guys' who come in early and set up (of which I am the youngest, though not retired) weren't worried about Covid. Two of the ones from my team who aren't shooting Trap this year are saving the few shells they managed to get for Sporting Clays, that's their passion. I've heard a lot of "We just can't find shells" (code for "we don't want to have to go out of our way and don't think we should pay those prices for boxes from the club"), but most of those who are shooting this year are the ones who are bit more competitive and not just there to drink beer and get away from the wife. We all found a way to get the shells for this year's leagues. (in my case, loading them.)
I shot all winter at least once a month at Jackpot shoots at two area clubs, though less this winter than last. I averaged six boxes (three 50 rd jackpots), but I did shoot 10 at the Jackpot I went to on Apr. 18th, because one of the shooters, who is sponsored by Nobel Sport, gave me some of her ammo to shoot two more jackpots. I have enough for leagues, Annie Oaklies, and one ATA shoot (2x200 16 yd & H'cap) this year. I had hoped to shoot more than last year, not less.

 

[George P]

I have more ammo now than before Covid as I started buying Nitros before the BK of Remington and was nice and left a lot each time I found some. I hit several Walmarts, Bass, Academy and anything else in between every time I head to town and take what I can get. While not as much as I would like, I have 10 flats of 20 and over 30 flats of 12 plus my components to reload another 10K - should cover me for the rest of the year as GAS is now the limiting factor

 

[PapaG]

Just over the halfway point in three leagues and I have to take a ten day break. Had to have surgery this morning to repair the incision site from last December's angio/stent/aortic valve replacement. Just wouldn't heal and had develop a granuloma. Sitting here with a burning right lower abdomen and feeling sorry for my wife. She found out yesterday that when they reduced her dislocated hip in March they finished off her slightly arthritic knee. Replacement upcoming.. The "practice" of medicine. We have been lucky to alternate the problem periods. Shoot again about 7/4. Could always be worse.

 

[Thomasss]

Bad weather can be good scores for trapshooting. The targets are not totally glazed, so they collect moisture. The tend to fly low and slow. They also break easier.
Adjust your point of aim and have some fun!!!!

 

[entropy]

I've shot many a 25 in the rain or on a humid night; shot one last night, it was very hot and humid.

 

[PapaG]

Four weeks left in the big league. We are now a close third in to div. Picked up a little ground in the rain last night with a 225 team score. 48, 47, 46, 43 and 41. I had a pair of 23s. We will be moving back to 25 or 26 net week.

 

[entropy]

My team has held 3rd the whole season, only 5.5 birds out of first, 1 bird behind 2nd. The team in second was the perennial winner, but the team now in first has a guy who's shooting hot. He ran a 50 last night, then dropped a bird in the third round, 3 birds from running 75. I am top gun on my team, which is sad because I only have a 22.5 avg. so far.

 

[PapaG]

Shot in the "little" old timers league this afteroon. 88 degrees and humidity off the charts. They have my son an honorary eleven additional years so he'd qualify as 60. Next week ends the season and we wouldn't be able to field a team so we shot twice. If say, not counting son John, we are an average of about 72 or 73. League scoring is inventive, giving bonus points for beating your previous weeks score and other tricks. Your sixteen yard score determines your handicap yardage. Had to beat 212 from last week. We shot 213. Then we shot 218 for next week. I had a 44 (25 hcp yds) and a 45 (26 yds). I also almost fainted from the heat. Sitting here sucking down water. Other league tomorrow and a couple weeks off to take care of my wife who gets a new knee Friday. I love trap. I also think the days of my carrying a 96% average are in the rear view mirror.

 

[PapaG]

Dang! In the biggie league Thinking all the time about Jan's knee surgery tomorrow I dropped one on station 1, one on 2, zero on three, two on 4, and none on five. First 20 at 16 in years. I did smokeball all five on five. Then, head on halfway staight, 23 at 25 yards. Off next week for her rehab then final two weeks. 55 years together and I love like we were newlyweds. Sort of. Wish I could compartmentalize.

 

[PapaG]

Next to last week of league in the books. Doesn't look like we will even take second. Guys are having trouble with 25-26 yard handicaps. I did get a 25/25, 23/25 for high gun but the team only got 205. As the Cubs say, "wait til next year".

 

[entropy]

Our team is 3rd, 10.5 targets out of first, .5 targets behind 2nd. I shot decently Thrursday, maybe we can take second. That would be nice-the team currently in second has taken 1st for as long as I can remember. The team in first has a ringer, and the rest have been shooting way above themselves. Half of my team is sitting out this year, we combined with another. Scorewise, it was a wash-we lost two good shooters, and gained two.
I knocked 4 shooters out as the 5th last night in the Oakleys, and won one. (Ironically not that one. I got down to one guy and I, and I went over to the left. (We call it skeet practice) I forgot he has an O/U, and shot the Mod. barrel, the Ljutic's pattern over on that side is small......

 

[PapaG]

Club championship is in the books. In 41 years I've taken first ten times. Had an excuse this year. Wednesday I found a blur in my right eye. Like a line from top to bottom. Eye Dr said "get in here now!". After a bunch of tests he gave me he good/ bad news. No torn retina which he had feared. Bad news, cataract needs gone and I have a huge floater just right of center.
Fast forward to today's match. 16 yard, 25. 20 yard 24. 16 yard, 18----couldn't see the bird. 20 yard, 23.. Like the Cubs, "Wait'll next year."

 

[entropy]

For an old geezer with the health problems you had this year, I'd say you still had a very good year.

I've only been shooting leagues at my club four years since I started shooting trap again, the 2nd and 3rd years I barely made the top ten, this year I did not. My scores were about the same, actually the 3 in the beginning of the season that determined my avg. (Mathematical, it's all shot from the 16) were too good, they screwed me out of making the top ten. We had a lot of people who shot above themselves this year, which was great to see, but it would have nice to be one of them. If we'd have shot actual yardage, I think I would have easily made it.

Here's how weird it was this year; One team always wins first. They did not this year. The team that won (by 10 birds) is usually in the top 1/3rd, but below mine, which for the 4th year is 3rd. (20 birds out of 1st) The team that won 1st all shoot hunting guns, mostly 870's, 1 Beretta 303, one Rem. 11-87 slug gun (the thumbhole stock version, but with a 28" VR barrel) and 1 BPS.
The guy who took the winning team to the top, shooting an 870 with synthetic stock, ended up second with a 24.0 avg.

I've been doing OK in the meat shoots; took home some hamburgers 3 weeks ago, and $85 from an Annie Oakley at one last week. Got another one coming up Sat. where you shoot doubles for shootoffs. I haven't shot doubles in almost 40 years. . I'm bringing all 3 repeaters with; the 870 TB, the Model 12, and the 1100 Comp.

I'm going pheasant hunting in about an hour, so gotta suit up. I'll be hitting the Jackpot shoots this winter, can't wait for leagues next year.