RELOAD!

NOVEMBER 2004 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

OCTOBERSHUTZENFEST
Millbrook Rod & Gun Club
October 17, 2004
By Lans Christensen

Cool, clear, and colorful: The crimson foliage threatened to out-dazzle the
gleaming new Ferrari in the parking lot. Nice to see a few tifosi in the
crowd..but, we digress. Eighty odd (and some only partly odd) Travelers showed
up to tackle Millbrook’s now infamous tough targets. There must be a unique
force field in place, or some other para-normal phenomenon, because everyone
seems to leave here a little smaller in stature and with a shrinking ego. This
day was no different, but the pre-shoot chatter was largely optimistic as we
headed for our stations.

Forgive the over-simplification: We thought there was one “dumb” station, many
excellent challenges, and two world-class, championship quality target
presentations.

Starting on #3, we found fast but hittable rabbits...likewise on #4 with the
high true pair from the tower..one of those cases of looking back far enough
to give you a sense of the line hence saving time when the targets hit the
window.

On to #5; one of those two championship stations. The stand reminds me of
“Chukar Gulch” at Sandanona but with a deeper valley below the box. The first
bird was fast and quartering down and away toward the swamp. Fast enough to give
you a 50yard, edge picture by the time the mount was complete. This bird was
followed on report by a climbing crosser from the right at equal distance.
Coming away with half was good, anything more was getting a jump on the field
for sure. The battues at the next station were being blown about a
bit, nevertheless, they posed only the usual challenge. Good , fair, fun and
hittable for the next few stations including the gravity rabbit at #9. More than
any other variety of target, a gravity rabbit will bring shooters close to
gun-throwing, head-banging, *#*!!@* talking seizures. And if the rabbit is
preceded by a fast bird, the effect is even more severe. Number 12 was our
other favorite: A right to left crosser followed by a fast quartering
incomer…sounds simple…so does squeezing toothpaste back into the tube. The first
bird had the most cleverly hidden trap we have ever (not) seen. The entire squad
could not consistently pick up the origin of the target…we could all find it in
the window, but not soon enough to give it two shots. Considering the difficulty
of the incomer, that would have been good strategy. Here again, more than half
was a bonus. Brilliant presentation !

We finished at #1, which all thought was the weak link…and probably because the
birds were not flying as designed. The R to L crosser over the pond was fine but
the simo dropper was seriously out of synch. It was in the water by the time the
crosser was in a fair window. A no-hoper but we figured everyone suffered the
same fate so only a minor complaint in an otherwise outstanding group of
targets.

Hot soup helped bruised self-esteem and the 50/50 raffle made someone three
hundred times happier.

Al reminded everyone about renewing CTSCA memberships. We all continue to wish
Joyce Anglace the quickest and most complete recovery from her recent bouts of
illness.

HOA DOUG MOORE 76
I-1 Larry Prather 72*
I-2 Kurt Anderson 72
I-3 Jim Muller 72
II-1 Ralph Lowery 74
II-2 Howard Weiss 73
II-3 Ted Robertson 70
III-1 Paul Ragusa 73
III-2 Auggie Roma 67
III-3 Kevin Kruleski 64
IV-1 Joe Sproviero 64
IV-2 Mike Primavera 62
IV-3 Lans Christensen 59
V-1 Kurt Willinger 65
V-2 Cato Ealy 57
V-3 T. Tice 54
VI-1 Doris Willinger 35
VI-2 G. Shawah 33*
VI-3 Gwyn Grant 33
Ldy-1 Stefanie Steinkraus 73
Ldy-2 Olive Lawlor 54
Ldy-3 Allison Sagnelli 47
Vet-1 Joe Lachick 74
Vet-2 Jim Kline 69
Vet-3 Ed Moritt 68
SVet Al Anglace 66
Jr-1 Luke Sproviero 60
Jr-2 Ben Slome 57
Jr-3 Trevor Moehrke 33
Jr-4 J. Warmon 23
Gst Keith Cagle 58
*ties decided by tie-breaker stations


THE TECHNOID CHOKES UP FOR EDGE-ON… (This is the second half of a re-run from a
1996 Reload! If you waded through the first half, you ought to get a medal. If
you actually understood it, perhaps you could drop me a note and explain it to
me. BB)

"Full at 40" is easy to remember, but what about the shorter distances? For
edge-on targets you will have to tighten down there too if you want reliable
patterns. The Technoid is certainly not going to tell you that a legal shell
can fully fill a 30" pattern. The biggest circle that a 1 1/8 oz load of #8s
can properly fill to insure a reliable break on an edge-on bird is about a 24".
A one ounce load is a couple of inches less. Do the math. General experience
has shown that it takes 2-3 pellet hits to break a clay target reliably. The
profile of an edge-on 110mm target measures a bit less than 5 sq". You are
going to need a pattern that can reliably produce 2-3 hits in every 5 sq". We
will aim for a density of 3 pellets per 5 sq" as an average and hope that we get
2 pellets per 5 sq" at the edge of the pattern, knowing that the fringe will be
thinner than the center, as shown above.

Here is how to figure it out. 1 1/8 oz of #8s contain about 460 pellets. From
the table of numbers above you can see that an 80% Full choke pattern puts 50%
of its pellets into the center 20". That would be 230 #8s into that center 20"
circle containing 314 sq". Assuming perfect distribution (which we had just
shown does not exist), that works out to one pellet every 1.34 sq". That is a
little denser than one pellet for each 1.67 sq". If we increase the circle to
24" diameter it will include 453 sq". The 4" ring from 20" to 24" contains 139
sq", about 1/3 of the entire 20"-30" ring's 393 inches. It would have 1/3 of
30% of the pellet load shown in the numbers above (actually, perhaps a bit more
due to central thickening of the pattern, but let's not quibble). That is 10%
of the pellets for the 20" to 24" inch ring added to 50% of the pellets for the
20" center. Thus the central 24" of an 80% full choke pattern would have 60% of
the 460 #8s, or 276 pellets in its 453 sq". This comes out to one pellet per
1.64 sq"- just about exactly 3 pellets for the five square inches of the edge-on
target. Yes, there are tons of variables- different sized targets, targets
showing some skirt, targets with a lot or a little spin, targets retreating or
advancing. On the other side, lots of times you get a nice break with just two
pellets, but the important thing to note is that you cannot count on it. Three
is the number.

So, the biggest reliable killing pattern you can count on from your gun is 24",
IF you use 1 1/8oz shells with #8s. Sorry one ounce fans, but lighter loads
mean smaller effective patterns. Gotta be. For distances beyond 40 yards,
assuming that 80% patterns are about as full as you can actually get, effective
pattern size starts to shrink rapidly. It has been suggested that the 27 yard
handicap trap shooter, shooting a target at 45-47 yards, has an effective
pattern of about 15".

Now here is the important part: What works at 40 yards also works at 20 and 30
yards. You want to deliver about 75-80% of your shot into a 30" circle at the
target regardless of the distance. If you do this, you know that you can count
on having a good killing pattern in the center 24". Less, or more, of a pattern
spread means that you are not maximizing your pattern and will not obtain this
24" killing circle. A consistent 75% pattern at the target will almost
certainly require more choke than you are used to using. If the target is
edge-on, you will probably want to go up one degree of choke from what you are
used to. Equally obviously, if the target is a driven showing the whole belly,
or a fully turned battue, it will not need one pellet in each 1.67 sq" and you
can afford to open up quite a bit.

Looks can be deceiving. An 80% pattern on the bird means that if you center the
target, you will often puff it. It is going to look too tight, but it isn't.
You are not worried about the center of the pattern. You just want the biggest
effective fringe possible. As the Technoid has told you repeatedly, the center
of your pattern will always break the bird. Ignore it. Concentrate on
maximizing the fringe and getting that full 24". Due to central thickening,
this will always mean that the center of your pattern is too hot. No way around
it. If your center is just right, your fringe will be too thin and your
effective pattern smaller than it should be.

The fact that Brindle insists on patterning into the traditional 30" ring is
confusing. If optimum pattern size for #8s lies at about 24" and #9s at about
27", why doesn't he use the Technoid's 27" patterning circle and just study the
pattern in the 20"-27" annular ring? Sniff. N.I.H. (Not Invented Here)
probably. You, however, are under no such constraint.

Bottom line? Brindle says that you are not maximizing your fringe unless you
are getting 70-80% of your pattern into a 30" circle at the distance at which
you are breaking the bird. This will insure a properly filled 24" circle and
that is all that you can hope for. The rest of the pellet distribution outside
of the 24" circle is not dense enough to always insure a broken edge-on target.
All this will certainly mean full choke from 35-40 yards out and may well mean
modified at 30 yards, light modified at 25 yards and improved cylinder at 20
yards. This is probably one degree of choke more than you are used to using.

Previously, the Technoid had recommended skeet (.005") to 20 yards, light
modified (.015") to 35 yards and full (.035") thereafter. These are still good
all-around chokes for the wide variety of targets we encounter. That said, when
the bird is edge-on and you just have to break it to win, remember the
mathematics of the situation and choke down.

Many people happily go through their shooting careers using less than optimal
choke for the edge-on birds. They break enough targets to have faith in their
choke selection. When they do not break a bird, they assume that they have
simply missed. They never consider the fact that a little tighter choke might
have given them a slightly larger effective pattern and that might have given
them the bird. Remember the words of John Satterwhite, US Olympic Skeet Team
1976, who was quoted here before: "I want the best pattern I can get because
when I miss, I don't miss by much."

Do a little experimenting on paper and warm up your calculator. Do not be
misled by the heaviness of your target breaks. If you center the bird, you
should puff it. If you center the clay and just crinkle it into five or six
pieces, you pattern may be a little too open to give you the most efficient
outer ring possible at that distance. It does not sound right, but it is. Just
always think in terms of filling out the fringe as much as possible. The center
will take care of itself. You want to get your full 24" of effective coverage
to ensure the hit you deserve on a edge-on target.

So, after wading through all of this (The Technoid makes Brindle much clearer,
right?), you should come away with one lesson: Use extra choke for edge-on
targets.

Next month we will go into what happens to the effective part of your pattern
(that 24") before and after it reaches optimal range. You may be in for a
surprise. Bet you just can't wait.




*** 2004 CTSCA SHOOTING CALENDAR ***

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 our version of it at this
particular time…



*** OTHER 2004 SHOOTS OF INTEREST ***
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM

NOV 7 THREE SHOT SHOOTOUT -NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619)
NOV 20 COUPLES FUN SHOOT- ADDIEVILLE EAST, RI (401-364-8849)
DEC 5 CHRISTMAS SHOOT -NEWGATE COON CLUB, CT (860-738-3619)
DEC 12 50 BIRD FUN SHOOT-WALLINGFORD R&G, CT (203-265-1012)




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 or email: <bcb23@columbia.edu>.



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

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2004
DR. RUDY PASSERO MEMORIAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
EAST MOUNTAIN PRESERVE
DOVER PLAINS, NY

Dr. Rudy Passero was one of the original Travelers and was our Treasurer from
Day One until he died in 2000. His contribution to the Travelers was simply
beyond measure. In gratitude we have dedicated our Club Championships to his
memory. Rudy, here’s a tip of the cap to you. Thanks for everything.

Rudy did everything with style and this is just that- The Summit Meeting. The
Travelers Club Championship is when the big dogs bark. You have had all year to
practice up for it, so don’t hold back now. Come on out and strut your stuff.
Being a Traveler’s class champion is the peak, the pinnacle, the paradigm of
plu-perfection. You don’t want to miss this one.

It’s all the usual drill. You’ve been doing it for years. Arrive by 9:00 AM and
check at the desk to see which squad you are on. Then get your gear ready to go.
Load up on that cup of coffee and doughnut so that you will have enough fuel to
schmooze with your buddies. This way you’ll not only be ready when the whistle
blows, but you’ll also have a howling sugar high, vibrating with caffeine and
full of good advice when you hit that first station.

As befits such a momentous occasion, nothing but the best will do. East
Mountain’s newly tweaked course is guaranteed to be Travelers Tough, yet also
caring and supportive with just the right touch of maudlin sentiment to properly
mix the yin and yang of clay target shooting. That ought to do it for your
inner shooter, you Champion you.

The price is $55. Juniors under 18 years of age are free. So are junior guests
under 18. Guests are welcome at this shoot.

Directions to East Mountain Preserve, Dover Plains, NY:

At the junction of Rte 84 and NY Rte 22, take Rte 22 North for about 27 miles to
the town of Dover Plains. Turn Right on Mill Street at the first traffic light
in Dover Plains, just before the Citgo station, and go straight for one mile
directly into the East Mountain driveway at the top of the hill. If lost,
strayed or stolen call East Mountain Preserve at 914-877-6274.

REMEMBER, EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS SHOOTS.