Monday, April 29, 2013

Trap League, week 4 of the spring league


Hi!!

I've had such a busy week since the last Wednesday Night Spring Trap League shoot.  The ranking finally came out over the weekend.  My team has moved into a tie for 7th place out of 12 teams.

I had a good evening, shooting an 18 on the first round and a 19 on the second.  I must protest a bit on the 19 score.  I was very sure I hit another clay bird.  I did not hear the scorer call out a miss, or I could have asked for a review.  A review would have consisted of asking my team members if they saw a hit or miss, plus my view on the hit.  But, after completing the round, it seemed to me to be to hard to ask for a review of something that happened many rounds ago.  My error I guess in not listening better to the scorer.  Stupid ear plugs! But the good news is I am high scorer overall for the ladies.

My husband shot a 22 and a 23.  He is still looking for that round of 25.  I sure hope he gets it at least once during this season.  Several would be ideal.  We'll see.

Our team mate with the skeet barrel shot gun did not get the new trap barrel in time for this week shoot.  He shot a bit better for him this week. He now knew that he must be much quicker on pulling the trigger, since the shot pattern from the skeet barrel is not ideal for trap.  I know the new trap barrel with the correct choke should help him with his scores.  I hope that he has it by next week.

We want good weather and excellent shooting for the rest of the league. I cannot believe we are halfway through the spring league's season.  I am having a good time.

If you get the chance to shoot trap or skeet do so.  It is challenging and fun all at the same time.

Side note:  I saw a turkey in full strut and fanned tail feathers in the woods this past weekend.  It was a wonderus sight.

Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Trap Shooting Week 3 of the League


Hi;

Week three of the league saw me do not so well in the first round.  I was a bit upset over the misses.  My scores for the two rounds were a 15, and a 19.  Fortunately I managed to recover in the second round.  My husband shot a 21 and a 24. He was okay, but not totally happy with his shooting.  We both were shooting behind on the clay targets.  I'm sure I will get the hang of it with enough practice.

I remember when I started out on the bowling league many years ago.  I was not very good. In the first year of the league my score per game averaged in the 80's.  Before the next season began my dad gave me a book on bowling techniques. I did better the next year with my average, bringing it up to around 110.  By the time I stopped bowling my average was around 135.  For Trap I am listening to the help I am being given.  I am going to look for a book or tips on the internet.  Something that can give me a boost in my game.

My team moved up in the standings.  We are now in seventh place.  Our team member that did so badly last week, shot with his repaired gun, and he did so much better.  He did order a trap barrel to replace the skeet barrel he currently has on his shotgun.  That too should help him with his scores.

It was a pleasant night, around 70 degrees with a light wind. So, the weather was not a factor in shooting tonight.  I love getting out in weather like this. But, I know hot and humid is coming!!

Take care,  good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Bowling Pin Shoot April 2013


Hi;

Sundays April 2013 Bowling Pin shoot was a fun time.  The day was a bit chilly, but the sunshine made it bearable.  There was a nice size crowd.  I believe everyone shot several rounds. This is typical, because it is so much fun to run the round of 6 bowling pins at 7 yards, then 6 bowling pin steel plates at 15 yards.

I posted this event on the Shooting Diva's web site, trying to get more women to participate.  It worked.  There were nine ladies, plus one lady brought her teenage daughter.  The daughter told me she was having a great time and excited shooting her .22.  One of the men let the teen try his .22 with a dot scope.  She did so well, I think I see a new scope being bought before the next match.  I heard from many of the ladies that they enjoyed the day, spending time with the other women and men there, plus getting to shoot at a fun event.
Below you can see that we also had a youngster shooting his .22 very well.  His score was 16.94 sec.


 
I had a great day.  Everything fell into place as I was shooting.  My .22 score was 10.86 sec. and my 9mm score was 16.51 sec.  I've shaved off 2 - 3 seconds on my .22 time from last year.  And, on the 9mm I've reduced my time by around 6 - 8 seconds.  I love my new Springfield Arms 1911 9mm.  The extra weight of it over the Glock I used last year makes it so much easier for me to recover from the recoil and sight in on the next bowling pin.  The better .22 time is just due to practice.  I came in first in both the rim fire and center fire ladies category.  But, because I was helping with running the match this time, I was not eligible for any prize. One of the men who would have helped with the event had a commitment at a 3 gun shoot. He had forgotten about it.  So, my husband asked if I would help them with running the timer. 

Everyone I talked with was lamenting the shortage of ammo.  They could not practice like they want to, or just go out for a good time at the range.

My next event is the Wednesday Night Trap League.  I would really like to shoot a 20 or 21.

Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Trap Shooting this week

Hi.

Trap league shooting this week, weather wise, was so 180 !  Last week I needed long johns, gloves, hat and heavy coat.  This week I needed shorts and a t-shirt.  It was around 82 degrees while shooting.

I did well.  My first round was a 19.  I really thought I'd shot a 20 but the score keeper said otherwise.  My second round was an 18.  I realized a bit to late to pick up a better score, but I was leading the bird to far. That is unusual for me.  If I miss it is usually because I am behind on the clay bird.  Maybe the nicer, warmer weather made me limber and I was swinging too fast.  Who knows??  I will keep it in mind for next week's round.  I do know that I was concentrating much more on keeping the barrel down by sighting the gun where I could only see the bead.  That has been one big improvement in my success ratio.  Last year I sighted down the barrel where I could see some of the barrel rib as well as the bead.  Turns out that is not to correct way to sight and shoot.  That style of sighting does well for squirrel and rabbit hunting, but not nearly as accurate as it needs to be for a clay bird.

My husband had two rounds of 23.  He has not yet determined why he is missing. Personally right now, I would be happy to have a score of 23.  I am working on it, and I'll be very happy the day that that happens!

Unfortunately one of my team members had a really, really bad night.  Two low scores (10 and 10), and a broken shotgun.  He finished the last station by using my husbands gun. The good news is he shot 4 out of 5 on the last station with the borrowed gun.  The bad news is the barrel on the broken shotgun is a 'skeet' barrel.  Not appropriated at all for 'trap' shooting.  The choke on a skeet barrel throws a wider pattern of shot, where the trap barrel will keep the shot in a tighter group.  The tighter group will have a much better chance of hitting the target.  My husband is taking with him about getting a new barrel.  Oh by the way, my husband fixed the broken shotgun.

Take care,  good shooting and good hunting.
M.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Spring Trap League Begins!


Hi;

Last Wednesday night was the beginning of the eight week Spring Trap league.  Well, we thought it was Spring, but the weather was Winter with a big W.  Cold and blustery.  It made for a challenging two rounds of Trap.  About 40 degrees at dusk when we started and probably 33 degrees when we finished.  The winds were blowing pretty hard at times.  The wind caused the clay birds to wobble and float up or down.  I think this type of challenge is part of what the game is about. The better your shooting skills the better you adapt to the conditions you have no control over.

I had a fun evening. I was bundled up with long johns, heavy socks, heavy boots and my hunting coat. Only my face was cold.  Everyone was in the same boat so there was no advantage gained or lost.

In my first round I shot an 18, which for me is good.  I was happy with that.  Last year my average was 16, so I am improving. My husband did better by shooting a 22 that round.  There are five on my team, the other three guys did well shooting in the 14 to 18 range. Now in the second round we were all really ready to get out of the cold, so no fooling around. We got down to business.  I shot a 19!! My husband really had a great round, a 24.  He was a bit upset that the missed shot was the second to last shot.  He is really looking forward to getting a perfect score of 25.  I am confident that he will get that score this season. The other three team members did well.

My scores gave me high lady for the night.  I'd like to keep that going for the whole season.  This year there are 5 ladies, vs last year during the Fall Trap league when there were only 3.

Out of the 12 teams we came in 5th place.  This is so much better than last year.  We did no better that 8th place and I think we ended the season in 10th.  Maybe I shouldn't say anything.  It is only the first shoot, and with seven more to go, we will see our standing change several times, I'm sure.

Well, I'm looking forward to next weeks shoot.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Take care, good shooting and good hunting.
M.