RELOAD!

MARCH 2000 NEWSLETTER © Bruce Buck, editor

ANNUAL MEETING NOTES… East Mountain hosted the Connecticut Travelers
Annual meeting on Sunday, February 20. Over fifty Connecticut
Travelers were on hand to direct the future course of sporting clays
in the civilized world. This is your Connecticut Traveler’s thirteenth
year, for those of you who are counting.

The first topic was membership. March is traditionally the month when
new members come aboard from our waiting list. This year we were able
to take in all 56 shooters on the list. This will put our membership
over 400, but about 100 of those are only occasional shooters. We feel
that about 300 active members are the right number to keep the shoots
running smoothly without overcrowding. We will monitor continue to
monitor membership numbers to assure quality shoots. We now require
prospective members to have a Traveler as sponsor before they can get
on the waiting list. The 2001 waiting list already has a dozen
candidates. Contact Cyndi Dalena for membership information at
<shotguncyndi@prodigy.net>.

The 1999 board of directors, consisting of Al Anglace as president,
Don Brenton as secretary, Rudy Passero as treasurer, Bill Drake, John
Lawlor, Cyndi Dalena and Fran Gallogly, was thanked profusely for
their service and promptly re-elected. Our little ship of state could
not be in better hands. John Marwell, our corporation’s attorney,
Cyndi Dalena in membership, Danni Jesudowich of the Guide Book and
Bruce Buck of Reload! were also thanked and convinced to stay in
harness another year.

The treasurer’s report noted that we spent every dime we took in in
1999 so as to meet the legal requirement for a not-for-profit
corporation. In spite of being legally broke, we have arranged funding
during the year 2000 so that all Travelers junior shooters will shoot
for free until the fund runs out. The East Mountain Preserve matched
the offer by saying that they would not charge the Travelers for
juniors when we hold a monthly shoot there. Moms and dads, this is a
great chance to take your kid shooting and not put the family farm
into receivership.

TRAVELERS FITASC… As we write this, your Travelers are setting up a
first rate FITASC shoot at Richie Frisella’s Peace Dale Shooting
Grounds in Rhode Island. Richie throws some of the best FITASC targets
you will ever see- just the right blend of humor and sadism.

We are trying to find a FITASC date in late spring and will let you
know as soon as we come up with one.

SPRING TRIP…April 7,8,9 head south with the Travelers and shoot
yourself short. Friday, April 7 at 1:00 PM we meet at M&M, Pennsville,
NJ (856-935-1230) for a round of clays before gathering for dinner
that night. Saturday, April 8 its Hopkins Game Farm, Kennedyville, MD
(410-348-5287) for shooting at 9:00 AM in the morning. Then we will
drive the short distance to Chesapeake Sporting Clays, Henderson, MD
(410-758-1824) for lunch and sporting in the PM. There will be a
group dinner that evening for those who wish. Sunday at 9:00 AM we
meet at nearby J&P Hunting Lodge, Sudlersville, MD (410-438-3832) for
a morning of sporting and their killer five stand.

Even if you can’t make the whole trip, it’s just fine if you join up
with us wherever you can. If you want to make the trip, please tell
Danni Jesudowich at least a week ahead of time at
<dannij@localnet.com> or 203-783-3932 during the day. Email is much
preferred. This makes it easier to do reservations. As to motels,
you are on your own, but there are plenty in the area. Check
<www.kentcounty.com> or consult your AAA book. All the directions to
the ranges are in your copy of Black’s Wing and Clay. How simple can
it be? Really.

We had over 100 annual surveys returned and the biggest request was to
hold more clinics. So, always trying to do it right, we have contacted
Gary Philips, Doug Fuller, Steve Middleditch and Jon Kruger to see if
we can book them. We’ll know soon. We may have a chance at George
Digweed too if he visits the US at the right time. We are talking to
his agents. If you are interested in a clinic and have a preference
for an instructor, email (email only on this one) Al Anglace at
<AAA738@aol.com>.

The usual comments came from the floor about Travelers lunches and
Travelers target difficulty. The questions get asked every year and
the answer is the same every year. The Travelers are as much a social
club as they are a shooting club. Our monthly shoots are an all day
affair. They are not half day quickies. Luncheon and a chance to chat
with your fellows are part of the deal. Those who can only devote part
of the day to the shoot can always leave when they feel they must.
We’ll miss you, but we won’t give up our lunch for you.

Traveler’s Tough Targets are another hallmark of our association.
Travelers have been throwing championship class targets for thirteen
years and the great majority of the membership has said they like it.
You don’t get to be a better shooter by shooting feel-good junk. At
the same time, upon occasion target our difficulty certainly crossed
the line and the shoot organizers get an earful when they go too far.
Any member should feel free to email <AAA738@aol.com> or write (CTSCA,
91 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776) with their kudos or cuts
concerning the difficulty level of any particular course.

The meeting adjourned at 11:30 AM amid chants of "If it ain’t broke…"
and the tantalizing odor of catered brown food. After lunch, we all
went out to shoot sporting. After all, that’s what we do.

SAVE ON SHELLS AND RELOADING… The Travelers are going to use their
buying power to lower factory shell and reloading component costs for
our members. The idea is similar to a community co-op where members
pool their buying power to get volume discounts. If you are interested
in factory shells and reloading components (primers, wads, powder and
shot) at great savings, contact Walt at <molzen@us.ibm.com>. He will
give you all the price and delivery details.

VESTS…At the coming March Madness shoot we hope to be able to display
a line of shooting vests for your consideration. One of our members
owns a vest company and will be able to offer them to us at a very
fair price. Come a bit early and check them out while you have your
coffee and doughnuts.

HOWITZER SYMPOSIUM… The Relatively Royal and Somewhat Ancient Order of
Hand Held Howitzers, also called ROAR (Redoubtable Order of Awesome
Recoil) conducted its inaugural ten gauge shooting symposium at East
Mountain Preserve on Sunday, February 13.

Ted Knapp, frustrated by the lack of good goose hunting this year
goaded Al Anglace and George Holumakoff, of East Mountain, into this
high velocity target game. Dean and Keith Anglace, Lans Christensen,
Paul Elsenboss, John Mohler and Sal Renzuella were also unable to
avoid this inaugural event. They would be testing their skills on a
special course set up for ten gauge three and one half inch #2 & #4
magnum fodder.

Howitzermeister Ted Knapp called the long talked about gathering
together at 9 AM. He graciously invited a pair of wimpy 12 gauge
shooters to attend . . . only later revealing that there was a
condition. The guests would also have to be armed with howitzers,
which the Hosts generously provided, as well as the prohibitively
costly fodder. I suspect the Hosts anticipated much amusement watching
the guests grapple with the king size howitzers…one of which was so
artfully camouflaged that it disappeared every time it was propped up
against a tree.

East Mountain's usually challenging targets were rendered even more
unhittable due to the squad picking a shooting position considerable
astern of the normal stand. When this wasn't possible, traps were
moved to provide a target worthy of a $$$howitzer shot. School bus
leads quickly became U.S.S. Missouri leads. The steamship analogy fits
because a 10 ga. reminded me of a super tanker . . . it takes a lot of
energy to get one moving, but once you do, it takes even more energy
to turn or stop one.

The shots over 65 yards did not seem to challenge them as much as the
few close in-your-face targets. The extra full chokes didn't seem to
tolerate any error at all. Smoke balls were the order of the day when
they did hit them.

Follow-throughs wound up in the next county. Station six with the
hard-thrown uphill quartering away pair turned into a new game when it
was discovered that a lost bird would settle onto the new crust of
snow and ice and then slide back down hill towards the shooter like a
bobsledding kamikaze rabbit from hell. Jaeger Knapp took particular
delight in blasting these little devils amid giggles from the gallery.

One of the guests eventually declined the further use of howitzers,
proving that Minnesotans may have more sense than New Englanders in
certain matters. The other guest persisted in using the heavy ordnance
though it was clear that he was only in it for the noise.

A few other impressions of the day: The recoil really isn't that bad
(fortunately all the guns were of the automatic persuasion), but
toting around a 10 lb. gun with a few boxes of 3 1/2 magnum #2, and
then handling them with some degree of control for 50 targets is a
workout. You get reminded in a hurry when your make a bad mount.

Nothing's out of range. Score keepers and squad mates choose their
viewing positions with some care: the concussion after a shot will
blow your hat off and little foam ear plugs just aren't up to the
task. Imagine a ported 26 inch 10 gauge talking back to you that early
in the day.

Most heard comment during the day: "You can open your eyes now".
However, the guys that are good still make it look easy! More fun than
should be legal. (Article contributed by ROAR survivor Al Anglace.)

MISS MANNERS AND THE NEWBIE… Dweeble LaFarge Hanratty was new to
shooting. He had seen some clay target shooting on ESPN one Saturday
and thought that it would be great to try. "You can’t play
ball without a ball" he cogently surmised, so he trotted out and
bought a shotgun. It was one that the dealer, a man who did most of
his business supplying police SWAT teams, recommended as "general
purpose". The gun was neat and even had a place to screw on a
flashlight in front of the extended magazine. Dweeble was anxious to
try it out when he showed up at the public range.

The range owner was pretty savvy and suggested that Dweeble start out
with round of skeet. There was only one other person on the squad and
the range owner hoped that Dweeble might get a little help.

Unfortunately, that other person was Myron Sepsis. Myron had been
shooting for exactly two years and knew it all. He knew everything
about guns and gunnery. He was quick to tell you about it too. Myron
took Dweeble under his wing in his own charming way. "Boy, you sure
got the wrong gun. Why on earth did you buy a piece of junk like
that?". Dweeble was crestfallen. "Well, you’ll have to make do"
continued Myron. "Come on. Let’s shoot a round of doubles."

Dweeble didn’t even know how to mount his gun properly, much less
shoot doubles, but that didn’t stop Myron from ignoring him and
showing off. Myron was determined to impress Dweeble with just how
hard the game was and how expert Myron was. "See, that’s how it’s
done" crowed Myron at the end of the round. A crestfallen Dweeble
hadn’t hit a thing.

Dweeble slunk back to his car and put his new gun back into his new
case and took off his new shooting vest and his new shooting glasses.
Clearly clay target shooting was not the right sort of game for him.

He was about to drive off when he was intercepted by a petite
grey-haired lady with a starched lace collar. She reminded him of a
teacher he had back in third grade. "Excuse me" she said, "we were
just about to go out shooting and wondered if you might like to join
us." Her kindly grey eyes twinkled as she cradled her exquisite
Spaghettini Porchini with the marble cake walnut. "No thanks" he
said. "I’m not very good at shooting." "Nonsense" she replied in a
manner that brooked no argument. "I saw what that wretched Creten did.
You just weren’t given a fair chance."

This time when they shot the round of skeet, Miss Manners showed
Dweeble how to hold the gun and where to look. She had him shoot
mostly easy incomers from stations One and Seven. Though obviously an
expert, she never tried to make herself look good, but she did manage
to make even Dweeble look good. She was obviously immensely pleased
when he hit the bird and offered encouragement and helpful tips when
he missed. Dweeble knew that he was just shooting the easy targets,
but he felt confident that if he could just learn to hit a few that
he might get to like shooting. It was like learning his ABCs. It was
easier one letter at a time, not all at once.

When the round was over, Dweeble was elated. He had actually hit some
birds. He relished the encouragement and praise he received. He could
do this. He could be a shooter. Miss Manners smiled as she cased her
elegant gun. Another soul was saved.

NEW SOFTWARE…Clicking into the new millennium by bits and bytes, your
Travelers have picked up a copy of Skip Laughlin’s shoot scoring
software to try at the next few shoots. It was recommended by the
NSCA, so you know where to complain if scoring at our next shoot takes
longer than usual.

THEY’RE BAAAAACK…For the third year in a row Millers Gun Center, 97 W.
Jackson Ave., New Castle, DE is offering those delicious 28 gauge and
410 bore 30" Browning 425s. The 28 gauge is the same as the 425 30" 20
gauge, while the 410’s only difference is a slightly narrower rib. In
the opinion of the humble Technoid, the 30" 425 28 gauge is the best
balanced and most "shootable" 28 on the market. Of course, we haven’t
tried the new Krieghoff K-20 with the 30" 28 gauge barrels yet. That
second mortgage has been slow in coming.

Browning carries the virtually identical gun under the name Browning
XS. The only difference between the 425 and the XS is a slightly
different engraving pattern. The XS is in the Browning catalogue, but
the problem is that Browning didn’t order very many and you can’t get
one right now for love or money (maybe not even love and money).
Browning will probably get some more XS’s in the future, but no one
knows when. This makes Millers the best game in town right now. In the
two previous years, the Millers stuff sold out right away, so bear
that in mind.

Millers says that the new shipment of 30" 425 28s and 410s will arrive
in June, 2000. The price is $1,799.95 and a $50 dollar deposit will
hold your order. Millers telephone number is 302-328-9747.

You want one of these guns. You need one of these guns. You deserve
one of these guns. Line forms at the rear.

I ARE COMPUDAH LIDDERATE…

It’s gonna happen. You can’t stop it. Sooner or later, you will have
to learn how to use a computer. You need it for two reasons:

First, there is so much shotgun stuff on the Internet that you won’t
believe it. Of course you will start off with <www.ShotgunReport.com>
repository of all the past Reload!s and ether home of the ever
semi-wise Technoid. From there you can go to see the used gun lists of
virtually every major gun shop. You can download the absolutely latest
recipes from the powder makers. You can swap lies and bad advice in
chat groups where people might actually believe you because they don’t
know you yet.

Second, you need Email. You need it because pretty soon more and more
of the communications you get and send to the Travelers will have to
be by Email. A single letter can be broadcast by Email to every member
with just the touch of one button. Compare the cost and inconvenience
of having the same letter printed, stapled, stuffed, stamped and then
mailed to 400 members. No, we’re not going to stop sending a hard copy
of Reload! just yet. Too many parrot cages depend on it. But each
issue does cost us about one dollar and we send out over 5,000 per
year. Think about what we could do with that money.

It’s going to happen sooner or later. Stay ahead of the curve. Buy
that computer and learn to use it. You don’t shoot with a flintlock.

*** 2000 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

MAR 19 MID-HUDSON-MARCH MADNESS
APR 7-9 SPRING TRIP TO MARYLAND
APR 16 PECONIC-TAX TIME REVOLT
MAY 21 TAMARACK-MAY MINUET
JUN 18 MID HUDSON- BUSTIN’ OUT
JUL 16 ORVIS/SANDANONA-SUMMER TIME, SUMMER TIME
JUL 30* MID-COUNTY-DICK LOSEE MEMORIAL CLAMBAKE
AUG 12,13 ADDIEVILLE-GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC
SEPT 17 FAIRFIELD F&G- SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIPS
SEPT 30,1* FALL TRIP TO CANADA
OCT 15 MILLBROOK R&G-OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 12 FRIAR TUCK-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOV 26 EAST MOUNTAIN- KOEHLER SOCIETY FUND-RAISER
DEC 17 MID-COUNTY- CHRISTMAS PARTY

* signifies a proposed date and venue. As we confirm additional
dates, we will note it on the schedule.

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

MAR 26 PECONIC RIVER SPORTSMAN, LI, NY (no tel # given) FUN SHOOT
JUN 10 TAMARACK, NY (803-637-3106) NATIONAL WILD TURKEY S.C.
JUN 17 FIN, FUR & FEATHER, CT (860-429-6566) D.U. SPORTING CLAYS

Call (203-454-1080) or Email <bbuck@juno.com> if you know of any open
shoots in our area which might interest our members.



CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <AAA738@aol.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 860-584-1083 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Leave message.
Or Email shotguncyndi@prodigy.net

Reload! To place an ad or post a shoot date, contact Bruce Buck at
203-454-1080 (worst way) or <bbuck@juno.com> (best way). The current
and previous issues of Reload! are posted on the internet at
<www.shotgunreport.com>. You will also find megs and megs of other
useless Technoidal drivel there. Great literature never dies.


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


SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2000
MARCH MADNESS SHOOT
MID-HUDSON GUN CLUB
NEW PALTZ, NY

You have all heard the phrase "mad as a March hare". Well, it is
March, we are dealing with some rabbits and besides, a little
eccentricity is good for the soul. As Montaigne essayed four hundred
years ago- "A man must be a little mad if he does not want to be even
more stupid." The Frenchman poses a Hobson's choice if ever there
was one.

Mad or not, March is always an interesting time to hold a shoot. This
will be the Travelers first visit of the year to Mike Maglio’s most
excellent Mid-Hudson club in New Paltz, NY. We will visit it once
again a little later in the year, so if you memorize the course this
time, you ought to be in great shape for the next shoot. Right? Well,
if you think that Mike doesn’t change his course on a regular basis,
you satisfy both of Monsieur Montaigne's requirements.

Registration opens at 9:00 AM and we will move mountains to get on the
course at 9:30 AM. In the interim you can tank up on high test java
and little doughnut belly bombs guaranteed to improve your center of
gravity. For those who want to try sub-gauges in the March wind, our
usual gauge handicaps will be in (gale)force: 16 ga =+3, 20 ga =+5, 28
ga = + 10, 410 bore = + 20, pumps and SxS get another +5. Saner
people will use 12 gauge and the heaviest #7_s they can get their
hands on when those March winds blow.

The cost is $55 and will include continental breakfast, challenging
targets, sumptuous lunch and the usual lavish prizes from Tiffany’s
and Harry Winston’s. Suchadeal! Naturally, you have to get your
prepaid reservation in to the home office no later than Thursday,
March 16. Same with cancellations. No-show’s entry fees are donated
to our children’s charity. GUESTS ARE WELCOME AT THIS SHOOT.

Directions to Mid-Hudson Trap and Skeet Club, New Paltz, NY: Take the
New York State Thruway to Exit 18 "New Paltz". After the tollbooth go
100 yards to the traffic light on Rte 299. Turn Right onto Rte 299.
Go about _ mile on Rte 299 to the next traffic light. Turn Left at
that traffic light onto N. Ohioville Road. Go 2.7 miles on N.
Ohioville Road to the Mid-Hudson club entrance on your left. If lost
call the club at 914-255-7460.


NOTE: EYE AND EAR PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS’ SHOOTS!


Internet readers: The Connecticut Travelers is a private membership
club. Our membership roster is closed for 2000. A waiting list has
been drawn up for admission in 2001 depending on space available. The
shoot notice above is included for the benefit of our members.