RELOAD!

JANUARY 2004 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOOT
Mid-County, Lagrangeville, NY
December 14, 2003
By Lans Christensen

HO HO HO ! mmmm, better make that Snow Snow Snow !! There had been
ample warning of another nor’easter so the parking lot was not quite as
full as usual for this very popular event…plus there were some Travelers
who had registered but couldn’t make it. Not since our non-shoot
Christmas party of several years ago has the weather provided such a
challenge. Nonetheless, a group of extra hardy, semi-loony, and
dedicated shooters arrived for a day that will long be remembered, and
enjoyed, for a variety of reasons. The thermometer hovered around 20
degrees and the snow was pretty much horizontal, so the main issue was
really about staying warm, and upright.

Always one of our favorite courses, Mid-County did some last minute
adjustments with the conditions in mind. The targets were enjoyable and
interesting as always, but nothing flew out of sight into the blizzard.
Even though everything was within reasonable range, the tough stuff was
still there, but mixed with some neat incomers.

In these kinds of conditions, I think most of us fall back to a more
instinctive style, and less of a hyper-analytical approach. Just “get in
there and shoot em”. Interestingly, not one member of our squad changed
a choke all day, and I think most of us were on Light Mod. Sometimes it
really doesn’t matter that much. Plus it’s hard to screw them in when
they freeze to your fingers. The little hand warmer things are pretty
good too... the taste reminded me of a nice smoky, jalapeno chili.
Likewise, shell choice was not a high priority: Use the ones in the
easy- opening boxes. We all muddled through, and can now share the “do
you remember….” stories.

Not enough good things can be said about Bill and Pete, and the whole
Mid-County crew. Each trapper had a good word for every squad, and not a
single complaint was heard from any of them.

The clubhouse was a very welcome sight and we were soon thawing. Heaps
of warm appetizers appeared…and vanished, only to be replaced with more
of the same, followed by a ham & beef main course.

In an effort to give travelers time for their trips home, Al began the
festivities during the lunch. First the “Toys For Tots“program was
presented, and as always, the Travelers generous donation of toys was
gratefully, and graciously accepted.

One of the day’s special memories was seeing two very deserving people
getting recognition. First was our annual Connecticut Traveler Shooting
Sportsman for 2003. Al eloquently described the recipient’s significant
contributions to our sport, and his tireless efforts to see it grow.
Anyone who has shot at The Coon Club in Norfolk, CT, knows what a
monumental achievement it represents. Largely responsible...though he
says he “just cut down a few trees”...is this year’s honoree: Bob Busha.
Congratulations and Thank You!

This shoot is run under a Lewis Class system in the spirit of Christmas.
Even with this system the HOA Champion is just that... #1. It couldn’t
have been more deserving. He hadn’t touched a shotgun since October (you
can hear the deer breathe a sigh of relief when he shoots clays), but he
wouldn’t miss this shoot, and, despite conditions, shot great…. It’s
always true: the better someone is at a skill, the easier they make it
look….nice shooting Preston!!

HOA PRESTON MOORE 87
I-1 John Hyrncewich 86
I-2 Jeff Ledgard 86*
I-3 Joe Maresca 86*
II-1 Jim Henion 78
II-2 Ted Fedun 78*
II-3 Vince Salvo 78*
III-1 Kevin Coon 68
III-2 Lans Christensen 68*
III-3 Frank Cipolino 66
IV-1 Cyndi Dalena 59
IV-2 Joe Sproviero 59*
IV-3 Don Brenton 58
V-1 Warren Lambert 49
V-2 Bob Markarian 49*
V-3 Kip Allardt 48
VI-1 Eileen Lambert 37
VI-2 Alan Costa 37*
VI-3 Jerry Burke 36
Ldy-1 Paula Moore 67
Ldy-2 Olive Lawlor 66
Ldy-3 Pam Russo 54
Vet-1 John Lawlor 82
Vet-2 Zaid Siddig 77
Vet-3 John Mohler 76
Jr-1 Jason Lenhart 68
Jr-2 Kendall Coon 59
Jr-3 Ben Sloan 51
Jr-4 Luke Sproviero 43
Jr-5 Trevor Moehrke 30
Jr-6 Jason Costa 28
Msdms Jan Trolan 40
S.Vet Al Anglace 81
* Ties decided by tie-breaker stations

THANK YOU LANS…

The entire editorial board of Reload! wishes to thank Lans Christensen
for not only writing the recent shoot reports, but also for publishing
the newsletter last month when the editorial staff took a sabbatical.
Lans’ service was above and beyond the call of duty.

TRAVELERS’ HONORS…

Each year at the Christmas Party banquet, the Travelers name the
recipient of “The Sporting Sportsperson of the Year” award. It is given
to the one who best typifies the values and virtues that promote our
sport.

Bob Busha is the 2003 recipient. In introducing him for this, the tenth
anniversary, Al Anglace praised him for his far sighted and devoted work
in inaugurating the course at The Old Newgate Coon Club and his
attention to the needs of the junior shooters.

Bob Busha joins Ken Gagnon 1994, Dick Losee 1995, Geoff Gaebe 1996,
Richie Frisella 1997, Neil Chadwick 1998, Jack Robertson 1999, Bruce
Buck 2000, John Lawlor 2001 and Cyndi Dalena 2002.

SHORT SHOTS

OSP Clinic: Al announced that Gil & Vicky Ash of the OSP shooting
schools may be doing a multi-day clinic for us this year at a time to be
announced. It will be a great opportunity to work with highly respected
instructors.

Victory Shells: Joe Maresca still has assorted 1-1/8 oz loads at a great
price. Call him at 845-928-6407

THE TECHNOID’S HOT STOVE LEAGUE…

“Ah, Technoid! Good to see you”, burbled the editor unconvincingly as he
removed his feet from the desk. The immaculately clad editor regretfully
tore his eyes away from the panoramic vista of the little Connecticut
seaport town afforded by his corner suite in the towering Reload! office
complex.

Disheveled as usual, his rumpled lab coat stained with last week’s
Twinkies and Jolt Cola, the Technoid stood in front of the editor and
waved a little black book in his grimy hand. “The Brits do it too!”

“The Brits do what too?”

“Pattern the same way we do”, answered the Technoid. “Thanks to my
perfected stratified file system, I’ve uncovered a 1996 copy of the Eley
Shooter’s Diary. (Note: In the Technoidal filing system all reference
materials are tossed in a pile on the floor. The items nearest the floor
are the oldest. The items nearest the ceiling are the newest. Proven by
geological stratification and endorsed by Mother Nature, this system
works flawlessly.) The numbers describing pattern spread at yardage are
exactly the same in the Eley book as those used in the current Black’s
Wing & Clay and Lyman’s Shotshell Reloading Handbook.“

“And why shouldn’t they be? Three thousand miles of ocean, warm beer and
funny accents don’t change the fact that a shotgun is a shotgun”,
answered the editor. “Where’s this all going?”

“I just thought that the readers might enjoy the following, endorsed by
the printed word on both sides of the Atlantic”, said the Technoid.

Pattern Spreads with Various 12 Gauge Chokes and Distances- ALL the
following combinations produce the same 26” pattern:

Cylinder Bore (.000”) @ 15 yards
Skeet (.005” @ 20 yards
Improved Cylinder (.010”) @ 22.5 yards
Modified (.020”) @ 25yards
Improved Modified (.030”) @ 27.5 yards
Full (.040”) @ 29 yards

The editor perused the figures, removed his bifocals, cleaned them and
looked at the numbers again. “You mean to slouch there and tell me that
a Cylinder Bore choke produces the same pattern at 15 yards that a Full
choke produces at 29 yards? That means that there is only a 14 yard
difference between the most open choke and the tightest choke. I thought
that Full choke reached further than that. I thought that there was
about a 20 yard difference.”

“So did I”, confessed the Technoid, “but both Black’s and Eley’s think
otherwise. Perhaps when the weather breaks my shop assistant Forza Bruta
and I can do a little patterning and find out what gives. Until then,
we’ll have to believe what both sides of the Atlantic say.”


SPORTING CLAYS BY THE NUMBERS

by Al Anglace

“Keep it simple” has long been a good rule to follow when attempting
many things in life. Shotgun shooting would qualify as a simple
function. As we proceed you will see that I do not emphasize any of the
distracting, almost meaningless, exercises many shooters go through
while shooting. These include changing chokes at every station.

You can learn to shoot this fine game the correct way and maintain a
positive attitude towards breaking targets, and having fun, by keeping
it simple. Actually, most shooters really don’t know the results of
changing chokes because they have never shot their patterns on paper and
counted pellets. Pattern your gun at 30 and 40 yards to familiarize
yourself with pattern size, point of impact and pattern density.

You should have a properly fitting gun so that you can shoot with
comfort and accuracy. Gun fit is especially important to shooting
comfortably. Poor gun fit can cause so much discomfort in cheek and
shoulder that it can affect your performance. The first thing you do
when you get serious about shooting is make your gun fit.

Prior to starting your round, make sure that you are ready. Eye and ear
protection (make sure that you have cleaned your glasses), cartridges in
your vest pockets, etc., nothing to distract you from concentrating on
the targets 100%. Remember, I included having fun as part of the
enjoyment of breaking targets. You can be social with your squad mates
to the point where you are not preparing to enter the shooting stand.

Prepare for the target while you are in the “on deck” position. While
the shooter in front of you is shooting, you should be doing nothing but
watching and reading the target presentations. If you are the first
shooter you must learn the presentation, as well as you can, from the
courtesy presentation you can ask to see prior to calling for your first
target. Know where the trap(s) are located. You want to see the targets
at the earliest point of entry into the shooting window.

Read the target flight and determine where the best place to break the
target will be. After you have established your “breakpoint” mentally,
establish your gun “hold point” by studying the type of target, height,
speed, direction and distance of the target. A rule of thumb to consider
would be to come back about one-half the distance to the trap (or first
point of target view), from your mentally established “breakpoint.”
Keeping it simple in gun movement is important. The more movement the
more potential for mistakes. Mark the target flight on parts of trees or
anything else that will allow you to place your barrels just under that
point. It limits your upward movement and allows you to go directly to
the target.

Being prepared to break targets begins when you enter the “on deck”
position. You build a positive mental plan to break the targets there,
then carryout your plan when you enter the shooting stand. Do not have
anything or anybody interrupt this function. You will build your self-
confidence by mentally breaking each target presented to the shooter in
the stand.

Enter the shooting stand and prepare to break the targets. After getting
comfortable and loading your gun, work your plan! Establish your
proper foot position. Step into the shooting position buy simply
pointing your left foot (right handed shooter) in the direction of your
pre-determined “breakpoint”. Your right foot should be comfortably
behind the left with the toe pointing towards the area of 2 o’clock.
Your feet should assume a casual stance, as if you were chatting with a
friend. Your weight should be shifted slightly forward. A simple rule to
remember is to “align your nose and toes of your lead foot”.

Establish your pre-determined “hold point”. Remember to relieve your
eyes from the gun, once you have put it in the “hold point” position.
Bring your eyes back to the trap, or the area where you feel is the area
to establish the earliest possible sight of the target.

At this time it is very important to note that nothing moves until you
call for the target. In the game of golf they refer to a “waggle” to
assume a rhythm prior to making a shot. In the shotgun sports this is
also done to gather concentration. However, once you establish your
ready position, nothing moves. Any movement of gun, eyes, body parts,
etc., relaxes your concentration and allows the target to get a jump on
your reactive senses. This results in a game plan busting hurried chase
to catch up to the target. You have lost your starting point and
control, reducing the percentages of breaking the target.

Make a good mount. Again, to reference the game of golf, the
professional golfer strives to make the same repetitive swing time after
time. In the shotgun sports where a free mount is used, you must strive
to make a good mount every time. Your gun must engage your cheek without
moving your head forward to meet the stock. When you don’t do this your
target concentration is diminished while you make adjustments, as well
as presenting an awkward view of the target over the barrel of your gun.
While you are making adjustments to your mount, the target is traveling
and a start, stop, mental reaction replaces the smooth interception of
the target at the intercept point. Lifting of the right elbow (right
handed shooter) so it is parallel to the ground, will create a natural
pocket in your shoulder and assist in making a mount to the same spot in
your shoulder every time. A proper mount is started with the left hand
moving to bring the barrel to the target.

Position the gun to break the target. There are many ways to position
the gun to intercept and break a target. At the beginning of your
learning curve, I suggest that you use a modified Churchill shooting
method to keep it simple and get immediate results from which you will
progress.

Many have written about intercepting a target on the front edge and
accelerate the gun speed, pull the trigger and it is a broken target.
And that is very close to what I will offer as a good means of breaking
targets, with a couple of simplifications. It is very difficult to bring
the gun to the front edge of the target without much, much practice.
When a new shooter, or a non-achiever, tries to do this they normally
fail and are always finding it hard to get a consistent starting point.

I recommend that you bring the barrel to the target. Any part thereof.
Even a bit in the rear of the target is better than not having any
starting point. What that does is eliminate another point of regard that
really is not important at this time. It makes it simple. What you have
to do is bring the barrel to the target, match the speed of the target
with the speed of the barrel, accelerate the speed of the barrel so as
to establish a forward allowance (the point where the target will be),
and pull the trigger. Broken target!

John Bidwell, a well known coach from the UK has established what he
calls: “Move, Mount and Shoot.” His video explains that you move a bit
to the front of the target while you are establishing your mount. When
your cheek and the gun stock engage, you should be in a position to pull
the trigger and break the target.

When you get along a bit I suggest that this form is advantageous. You
always have a starting point for barrel control. While you are learning,
and making mistakes with your mount, etc., I recommend that you refer to
what I call the “Four B’s of shotgun shooting”. As I said, a beginner
has a hard time reacting to the target and it usually travels beyond the
shooters perceived “break point” which results in a missed target. Using
this simple form you always have the target as your hard focus point,
bringing the barrel from behind the target (you will be there anyway so
why not make that your mind set), to the BUTT, pass through the BELLY to
the BEAK, and BANG. One continuous smooth, unhurried move. You are
always in control because your hard focus is not distracted by a bunch
of small orders to account for. Simple?

Control you emotions when you miss! You can’t do anything about it so go
right on to the next target with your full concentration. Practice!
Practice! And, more Practice is the only way you will reduce your
misses. Anger or the wrong attitude will not help at all. It might
present a good front, in your mind, to your fellow shooters but it is
contrary to what good shooting mental behavior is all about. Focus full
concentration on each target!

Questions? You can write me at "RELOAD!" With any questions about the
contents of this article or any future articles you may want to read
about. Send them to: RELOAD! 91 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776 or
email ctsca@email.com.


*** 2004 CTSCA SHOOTING CALENDAR ***

JAN 18 MID WINTER MARTYDOM- EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, NY
FEB 15 ANNUAL MEETING- EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, NY
MAR 21 MARCH MADNESS - MID HUDSON SHOOTING GROUNDS, NY
APR 2~4 NORTH SOUTH SKIRMISH-SPRING TRIP TO MARYLAND
APR 18 TAX TIME REVOLT- OLD NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT
MAY 2 COURTING CLAYS- EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, NY
MAY 16 MAY MINUET- TAMARACK PRESERVE, NY
JUN 13 NAT’L. WILD TURKEY FED. SHOOT- TAMARACK PRESERVE, NY
JUL 18 SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME- ORVIS/SANDANONA, NY
AUG 13~15 GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC- ADDIEVILLE EAST FARM, RI
SEP 19 SMALL GAUGE CTSCA CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS-FAIRFIELD CTY. F&G, CT
OCT 8~10 ANNUAL FALL TRIP- PA & NY WEEKEND TOUR
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 as we see it at this particular time…


*** OTHER 2003 SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

NO LISTINGS YET. PLEASE LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN SPREAD THE WORD


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, fax: 707-215-0668 or
email: <bcb23@columbia.edu>.




PLEASE READ: 2003 memberships expire as of January 31, 2004. If we have
not received your 2004 renewal by that date, we will reluctantly give
your spot in the Travelers to someone on our long waiting list. You
should have received two renewal forms by now. Please renew for another
year of CTSCA fun and frolic. The Travelers are absolutely the best deal
in town.


**** THE UPCOMING TRAVELERS MONTHLY SHOOT ****

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2004
MID-WINTER MARTYRDOM
EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE
DOVER PLAINS, NY

Start 2004 in the sensible way. Come shoot your gun up in the air and
freeze your fanny off! Yessiree, mid-winter is when the tough shooters
become flaky, snowflaky that is. No hunkering down on the divan, petting
the poodle and nibbling sugarplums for us. Besides, football season is
over and there is nothing left to do but watch people in their underwear
heave some stupid ball through a hoop. It makes ever so much more sense
to stand out in the freezing cold, dressed like the Michelin man,
whupping up on some defenseless piece of clay.

As always, arrive at nine to consult the stars and see which squad you
are on. Then you can have some high test Java, Dunkin’s fat pills and
schmooze a bit until Simon Lagree forces you and Little Eliza out into
the cruel winter snows. Actually, looking over past records, we usually
have pretty good weather for our January shoot. Usually. Well,
sometimes…

Winter Rules: Everyone will appreciate it if you shoot with all
deliberate speed. Fidgeting and dawdling around on the stand keeps
everyone out on the course a bit longer. Even though the days are
getting longer, they are also getting colder. You might consider wearing
ice creepers with metal cleats, as the trails can be slippery. A little
Thermos filled with warm bouillon might be nice to bring along also.

After the shoot, there will be a nice warm fire and a delicious hot
meal. We promise that there will be hot brown food and plenty of it.

The entry fee for this shoot is $55 and GUESTS ARE WELCOME. Invite
everyone. More bodies equal more warmth!

DIRECTIONS to East Mountain Preserve, Dover Plains, NY:

At the junction of Interstate Rte 84 and NY Rte 22, take NY Rte 22 North
for about 27 miles to the town of Dover Plains, NY. Turn Right at the
first traffic light in Dover Plains (a few hundred yards after the
McDonalds on the right) and go straight for one mile directly into the
East Mountain driveway. If lost, call East Mountain at 914-877-6274.