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SEPTEMBER 1999 NEWSLETTER
© Bruce Buck, editor

GREAT EASTERN LOBSTER CLASSIC August 20-22, Addieville East Farm,
Mapleville, Rhode Island. Shoot report by Derek Moore.

For the first major Travelers shoot ever it proceeded so well you
would think it was a daily happening. 216 shooters were put through
their paces on two well designed courses. The "Travelers" and "Ruger"
courses were laid out by Chuck Frazier, who also brought in his
automatic traps. The result was one to savor with most stands having
a two trap presentation. For $135 you could not have asked for
anything better. Not even for $240, which seems to be the norm
nowadays. Travelers manned the referee duties saving $5000 and
helping keep the entry price low. They did an outstanding job and set
a standard to be adhered to in the future. The two courses could have
easily run 500 shooters through it with no backups. Although there was
some rain that weekend, it rain held off during the shooting periods.

I’ll analyze two stations. One was Travelers 7. I refereed it on
Sunday and therefore feel it was a good one to comment on. There was
a fast straight-away target from the top of a large van (looked like
it was left over from WW2) followed by a looper from behind it on
report. Two report pairs and two true pairs. The most effective way
that I saw was with a high gun. Kill the straight-away, which was
dropping fast and the gun was in the right place for the looper. The
true pair was the same thing, but faster. The looper took your eyes
away from the straight-away so it was best to watch it from the trap,
a quick kill and the looper was again right there. Some tried to
shoot the looper first, but by then the straight-away was in the next
state. I saw two fast shooters kill it this way, but most who tried
it went down the tubes.

The other doozy was Ruger 9. This was again a fast high driving
target that seemed straight on first looking at it. This was followed
by a low target from the front of the stand shooting out and down on
report. After seeing many 3's and 4's on this 8 target stand I put up
a straight edge and realized how fast the top target was dropping. It
needed speed and a lead on its line which was a good two feet under.
Then you had to come right back, lean forward, and keep your eyes
clamped on the second target to avoid shooting over it. Dave Tilden,
the Ruger rep with whom I shot all weekend, took the high bird right
out of the trap. Often during the weekend he would shoot the birds
before they came into focus, while they were still a blur. These
seasoned skeet guys can still teach us a thing or too.

The 5 stand competition was unusual in that for $8 you could shoot it
as many times as you wanted to (and it was tough, so you wanted to)
and the best 50 birds was your entry.

Hal Du Pont came on Saturday leaving the Grand American early to
attend and speak of the new goodwill developing between our two
organizations.

The lobster or steak dinner with strawberry sundae, clams courtesy of
Traveler John DeVito, a free photograph of you and your squad for
posterity, door prizes including a $1000 leather one of a kind gun
slip and a 3 piece (vest, hat and rock?) set worth at least $485. Yes
folks the Al Anglace and Bruce Galotto traveling road show was in fine
form.

Guns for each class were "raffled off". For each class the ten best
shooters got tickets. 1st place got ten, 2nd 9 and so on. Then the
number was drawn out of a box. The winner from each class got to draw
again to see which gun he/she won. The way Geoff put it was
"everybody pays the same money and this way everybody gets the same
chance to win".

If any of you missed this shoot put it on your calendar for next year
as Geoff and Al have committed to another one. For my money it was the
best value I have seen in years. The shoot results are in the box.

Don’t forget to give your support to all the sponsors who helped make
it possible. They were Ruger, Barin Technology, Beretta, RST shells
and Dells Lemonade.




I-1 JARED WAITKUS HOA 178
I-2 Chuck Devinne 174
I-3 Vinny La Scalza 172
II-1 Fred Wolf 159
II-2 John Hunter 158*
II-3 Richard Cook 158
III-1 Jeffery Steere 154
III-2 Marty Harrington 152
III-3 Bill Patterson 151
IV-1 Edward Finnegan 159
IV-2 Jay Colin 144
IV-3 Jim Martino 142
V-1 Larry Isaacson 134
V-2 Bob Smith 131
V-3 Robert Snow 127
VI-1 Eileen Broderick 106
VI-2 Irene Mineau 105
VI-3 Jean Blair 94
Lady-1 Rachell Glawson 157
Lady-2 Karen Unsworth 147
Lady-3 Heidi Gagnon 146
Jr-1 Jared Waitkus 178
Jr-2 Rachell Glawson 157
Jr-3 James Nicoletti 132
Sr-1 Gordon Forbes 160
Sr-2 Butch Tennison 159*
Sr-3 Joe Maresca 159
Vet-1 Al Anglace 154
Vet-2 John Hall 145*
Vet-3 Jasen Jasensky 145
* ties decided by tie-breaker stations

FALL TRIP TO CANADA… Come join the Travelers and shoot up a foreign
country! Well, actually it’s shoot clays in a foreign country. We
don’t want to rile up those Mountie border patrols. Canada will be
absolutely glorious in its fall foliage on the weekend of October 8, 9
and 10. We’ll go to the Montreal area to shoot at the lovely Club La
Roue du Roy and then the Montreal Skeet Club. It’s really just a
little bit north of the US border and not all that far from the heart
of Traveler’s turf. It’s a do-able drive and a great Fall vacation.

Guests are welcome and there will be plenty for non-shooters to do,
including shopping in Montreal at very favorable exchange rates. Use
your charge cards so that you don’t have to fuss with money rates. You
always get the best exchange that way too.

This is a big weekend in Montreal with a huge benefit going on at the
Olympic Stadium, so it would pay to get your room reservations worked
out in advance. We are holding a bloc of rooms at the Bonaventure
Hilton (514-878-2900) at about US $132 and at the Radisson Hotel des
Gouverneurs (514-879-1370) at approx. $87 US including breakfast.

There are no problems or fees with shotguns at the border. Just tell
them what you have and why. You may want to bring a sales receipt,
registration or customs slip to prove ownership on returning to the
US. Do NOT bring any pistols. They are not legal for visitors.

A flyer is included in this newsletter telling you more about it. The
flyer will have the latest information, so if there is a discrepancy,
trust them, not me. It’s just that this will be such a great trip that
we want to tell you twice. Don’t miss it, eh? Au revoir and parlez
vous.

NSCA NUMBERS NEWS… At the recently held NSCA Advisory Council meeting,
the NSCA released the following numbers recorded in July of the
respective years:

Membership:

1996= 11,838

1997= 12,188

1998= 13,467

Club affiliations:

1996= 579

1997= 567

1998= 596

Total targets thrown:

1996= 3,236,670

1997= 3,706,751

1998= 5,291,791.

As an interesting comparison, ATA (Amateur Trapshooting Association)
membership has remained constant (stagnant?) from 1996-8 at about
54,000. This is down from a previous high of 80,000. However, reports
on the recently held Grand American are that there were over 6,000
entrants, the biggest ever.

Trap shooters certainly do shoot more registered birds than sporting
clays competitors do. The number of ATA targets thrown has averaged
about 81 million per year for the three years. In 1998 the number of
ATA targets per member average was 1522 versus 393 for each NSCA
member. It is not uncommon for a registered trap shooter to shoot 300
birds per day vs a sporting event of 100 targets per day.

American-style NSSA skeet’s numbers are about the same as the NSCA’s,
but many expect the NSCA to exceed the NSSA this year or next.

You get TV reruns during the summer. Here are a couple of reloaded
Reload!s from 1994. Has it been that long?


MISS MANNERS ON PROPER DRESS ..... After clothing has kept us
warm and fulfilled the legal requirement of hiding the body parts
everyone knows we have anyway, there remains its modern function of
decor. While most of us could happily shoot sporting clays in a pair
of boots and a loin cloth, we choose not to. Some of us swaddle
ourselves cap-à-pie in garments of Sherwood green, pickle green,
cheese rind green or old sneaker green. Green is good. Others take
the more capitalistic approach by wearing brightly variegated garments
prominently touting the merits of this or that cartridge company,
landscaper or diaper service. Capitalism is good. Many even soar
into the fashion stratosphere by donning a Travelers logo cap or
sweater. Class is good.

Miss Manners feels that the rules of proper dress for sporting clays
are extremely flexible. Both the English Country Squire guise and the
Hardened International Competitor look are completely in keeping with
the sport depending on where you are. The more serious the
competition, the better the H.I.C. look. The more serious the
luncheon, the better the E.C.S. costume.

Only when approaching the lower limits of decorum, does Miss Manners
stamp down her pointy petite size six shoe- (the one with the
retractable spike). Once, at a shoot far, far away from the haute
couture of genteel New England, Miss Manners encountered a competitor
in cut off trousers, torn tee shirt proclaiming that a particularly
basic bodily function "happens", and no shoes to cover some of the
dirtiest feet this side of a Bulgarian winery. Miss Manners plotzed.
To this day she is haunted by that vision of sartorial Hell.

Fortunately, the Travelers have more consideration for their fellow
man and are to be commended on their tasteful deportment. They know
that there is nothing wrong with shooting well and looking the part.
Miss Manners says "Well done" to the Travelers fashion elite and she
is anxious to see the coming spring styles.




THE TECHNOID TAKES GAS.....

Gas guns that is. Sporting clays both here and abroad is a game
dominated by the over and under style shotgun. Among the Travelers it
is usually one of the many Browning Citori or Beretta O/U models.
These are good guns and many of the top shooters use them. Why on
earth then would anyone want to put up with a semi-automatic that has
only one choke, makes funny noises, requires constant cleaning, jams
anyway and eats parts by the pound? Because the semi-auto is flat out
easier for the average person to shoot well, that's why.

First of all, be aware that a basic axiom of shotgunning is that the
more you shoot, the less the gun matters. Industry shooters can make
almost any gun perform. We are more concerned with the weekend warrior
here. For him a gun that is easier to shoot translates directly and
immediately into higher scores.

Actually, the current O/Us are trying to imitate the automatics.
Today's trend in sporting O/Us is towards longer barrels because the
longer sighting plane improves visual reference on long birds.
Compared to the O/U, the gas gun comes with the longer sighting plane
due to its extra 3" to 4" of receiver. A gas gun with a 30" barrel is
equivalent in length to about a 34" O/U without all the nose
heaviness.

In addition to length of the sighting plane, we should also consider
the width. A broad (hence imprecise) sighting plane is considered such
a disadvantage in sporting clays that side by side shotguns have their
own class or are given a handicap. The O/U shotgun is much better,
but the off eye still can pick up the broad smudge of the bottom
barrel. Only the narrow plane of the single barrel gun gives clean,
precise pointing. Note the dominance of the single barrel gun at
trap. Sweeping through the close birds is fine, but when the bird is
out there you want a gun that points cleanly. Long and narrow is best
here.

Proper gun fit is vital when it comes to good shooting. The semi-auto
also has the edge in this area. The simple mating between the
receiver and the head of the stock makes it easy for the shooter
himself to raise, lower or cast the stock by shimming with a few bits
of plastic. Beretta and Benelli even include factory shims for that
purpose. It can be done in two or three minutes. This means that you
can tinker with the fit of your gas gun until you get it perfect. The
O/Us require you go through the expensive trial and error of bending
and cutting by a stockmaker. Even then it is basically a one shot
affair without any fine tuning afterwards.

Repairs to the semi-auto can easily be made by any shooter. You just
shake out the old part out and toss in a new one. Parts are a lot
cheaper too. O/Us are more reliable (most of them), but require the
attention of the gunsmith when they do go down. The auto can be fixed
in minutes, the O/U in days.

If cost is a consideration, you can buy three or four complete gas
guns for the price of a single modest O/U. There is no comparison.
The money you save can pay for a season's shooting.

Then, of course, there is recoil. O/U owners backbore, lengthen
forcing cones, drill holes in the barrels, add spongy recoil pads and
leave a lot of precious shot out of their cartridges all in the name
of reducing recoil. The gas gun does not need any of this. Low
recoil is built in. It is always softer shooting, much softer. Try
an O/U and an auto with the same shell. You will see the light, not
stars.

Lower recoil means less fatigue, cumulative injury, flinching,
bruising and general bodily abuse. It means that you do not have to
decide between pain and performance when you buy shells. The gun
remains more controllable and is easier to keep on target for a second
shot.

The gas gun does have its downside. The semi-auto only has one choke,
so you may want to use two different types of shell for some pairs.
Some people do not find gas guns to be very pretty or prestigious. A
few trips to the winners circle can cure that. If not kept clean, the
semi-auto will jam. It may jam anyway. SCA and NSCA both take this
into account and allow a couple of malfunctions per shoot.

(*Technoid's tip: if your gas gun jams in cold damp weather, try
applying a healthy amount of Break Free CLP to the moving parts in the
gas piston area. Shoot the gun wet, do not wipe it off. Trust me.)

The semi-auto has its place in sporting. It may not be for everyone,
but many weekend shooters might be surprised at their scores if they
gave one a try.

So remember, when the Technoid recommends that you take gas, he says
it with the best intentions.


And just in case you didn’t get enough Miss Manners, here’s another
dose. Of course, it’s just here to fill up space, not to preach or
anything like that..

MISS MANNERS AND INTERNECINE STRIFE

Contrary to popular opinion, Miss Manners herself was actually a child
at one time. When she was coming up through the ranks, her parents
called her Missy.

One day Missy, about age seven, was playing out back and got into a
dispute with her older brother Sigismund about the ownership of a
particular Red Flyer wagon. In the primordial jungle of the
playground, might makes right. Nine year old Sigismund simply clopped
her one upside the head and commandeered the aforesaid vehicle.
Brothers can be a pain.

Later in the afternoon a neighboring nine year old thug, Poston,
joined them in play. Missy, having cleverly bided her time, had
repossessed the wagon and was enjoying it to the fullest. Poston, who
envied the red wagon when Sigismund took it, pushed her off and
started to trot away with it. The much wronged Missy next looked up
to see Sigismund descend upon Poston with all the fury of a brother
whose sister had been wronged and who knew his duty when he saw it.
So far so good.

Brothers might pick on sisters a bit, but they will always stick up
for them. Alas, in the real world that does not always help.
Unfortunately, Poston was the larger of the two and drove Sigismund
into the ground like a tent stake before making off with the wagon.

In the adult play ground of the shooting sports Miss Manners has noted
something similar in the fratricidal competition between shooting
organizations and their various supporters. Fans of the various
shooting sports care only for their sport and none for the others.
Many shooters become partisan in this civil war. Everyone loses.
There are enough outside interests working against shooting as it is.
Divisive squabbling can attract the attention of some very unwelcome
outsiders.

Miss Manners looks favorably on all shooting sports and positively
beams on any organization that puts the good of the sport ahead of
petty politics. She is pleased that her little class of Travelers has
left playground politics where it belongs- buried in the sand box.
She remembers when a little petty quarreling between siblings resulted
in an outsider taking it all away.




*** 1999 CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SHOOT SCHEDULE ***

SEPT 19 FAIRFIELD F&G- SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIP
OCT 17 MILLBROOK R&G- OKTOBERSCHUTZENFEST
NOV 21 FRIAR TUCK- CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
NOV 28 EAST MOUNTAIN- HAROLD KOEHLER SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT
DEC 12 MID-COUNTY-CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOOT


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

SEPT 12 BLOOMING GROVE ANNUAL AT HAWLEY, PA (570-226-2622)
SEPT 17-19 ADDIEVILLE SxS CLASSIC, RI (401-568-3185)
SEPT 23-6 VINTAGE CUP AT SANDANONA, NY (413-339-5347)
OCT 3 MONEY SHOOT AT PECONIC, NY (516-467-3965)
NOV 13,14 SCI/FITASC-STYLE REGION 1 AT PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730)
NOV 20,21 FALL "3 SHOT" AND OPEN CH AT PEACE DALE, RI (401-789-3730)



GOING TO A SHOOT? WHY NOT ASK A FELLOW TRAVELER TO JOIN YOU? ALL THE
NAMES AND ADDRESSES ARE IN THE TRAVELERS GUIDE BOOK.

If you know of any area shoots which might be of interest to your
fellow Travelers, get in touch with RELOAD! and we will post them to
the world.


CONTACTING THE TRAVELERS...

CTSCA Home Office: Email <AAA738@aol.com> (by far the best way) or
telephone (860) 354-9351 if it is urgent.

Membership 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 or <bbuck@juno.com>.



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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 THE TRAVELERS SMALL GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIP FAIRFIELD
FISH & GAME CLUB MONROE, CONNECTICUT

Yes, the Connecticut Travelers actually do shoot in Connecticut. Not
often, but when we do it is really worth it. We started our very
successful sub-gauge championship at Fairfield two years ago and found
their course ideal for the little guns.

RULES CHANGE: This year the shoot will be for sub-gauge guns ONLY. You
can shoot your 12, but it will only be for practice, not for prizes.
The prizes will go to the sub-gauge guns. The course will be built for
sub-gauge.

Don’t have a 20, 28 or 410? Not to worry. The Travelers will have half
a dozen loaner guns. We will also make an effort to put you in a squad
with a loaner gun or with someone who is willing to share. One way or
the other, we will get it done. Remember, this is for fun. You will be
amazed at what you can hit with a sub-gauge gun. When you send your
reservation, check the box which mentions that you will need to share
a gun and what gauge you prefer. Bring ammo for that gauge.

We probably won’t use separate classes for the gauges, but you just
never know if the award-gurus will change their minds. It’s an added
element of suspense. In the past we used the normal classes and simply
add the particular sub-gauge gun handicap to your score. The handicaps
are: 16 ga=3, 20 ga=5, 28 ga=10, 410 bore=20, pump and SxS get an
additional 5. Pick whatever you feel will give you the best chance or
the biggest fudge factor. Shells are limited to standard target
weights for the gauge: 16- one oz, 20- 7/8 oz, 28- 3/4 oz and 410- 1/2
oz.

It’s all the usual drill. Arrive by 9:00 AM and sign in on the Big
Board. Everyone will be presquadded because you will have
preregistered and prepaid by Thursday, September 16. If you haven’t,
we look forward to seeing you at the October shoot, but not at this
one. Suck down some high test coffee and doughnuts as the Amazing
Travelers Shoot Machine ramps up for the squadded start. Lunch and
lavish prizes are included. Guests are welcome at this shoot. All of
this for only $55. How small gauge can you get?

Directions to Fairfield County Fish & Game, Monroe, CT:

Merrit Parkway (route 15) to Exit 49 North "Rte 25 North, Danbury".
Take Rte 25 North for 5.3 miles to Route 111 North "Monroe". Turn
Right onto Route 111 North and go another 5.3 miles to Hammertown Road
on Left (white house with white picket fence on left). Turn Left on
Hammertown Road and follow Hammertown Road 1.3 miles to club entrance
on Right. Clubhouse is .3 miles up driveway.

If lost, strayed or stolen, call Fairfield County Fish & Game, Monroe,
CT at 203-426-9400.

REMEMBER, EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY AT ALL TRAVELERS SHOOTS.



PRE-REGISTRATION FORM

CTSCA SUB-GAUGE CHAMPIONSHIP
FAIRFIELD COUNTY FISH & GAME
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Send your paid reservations (check for $55 made out to "CTSCA") for
the Sunday, September 19 "CTSCA Sub-Gauge Championship" at Fairfield
County Fish & Game, Monroe, CT to:

CTSCA, 91 Park Lane Road, New Milford, CT 06776 Your check and
pre-registration must be in our hands no later than Thursday,
September 16. Cancellations will not be credited after that date.
GUESTS ARE WELCOME AT THIS SHOOT.

NAME: _________________________________________________________________________

SUB-CLASS: __________ Lady (under 50), Mesdames (ladies possibly over
50), Veteran (men over 55), Super Vet (men over 65), Junior (under 18)

I will be shooting my own ____________ (16, 20, 28, 410) gauge gun.
Would it be convenient to share your gun with another member of the
squad?

I do NOT have a sub-gauge gun and would like to share a _________
gauge gun.