Panola County Gun Club NRA Regional Match and CMP/EIC Match, May 5-7, 2017

 

Emily Hogg firing.

Jerry Illiff at work.

Scoring.

Madison Butler.

Alan Wilson.

Jerry Illiff.

Rol Coggins running  a bolt Match rifle.

Hogg mags for the rapids.

Friday was 4-man Team Day, Saturday was the NRA Regional, Sunday was the CMP/EIC Match.  Terrific weather and shooting conditions and a full range.  Four LEGs on Sunday.

The road goes on forever.

  Shooting was curtailed for a couple of years as my beloved Katie worked her way through the process..  First I cut out Camp Perry trips, then I stayed home from multi-day regionals and championships.  Finally I stayed home through monthly matches.  Just couldn't bear to be more than 20 minutes away in case she needed something.  She needed lots, but there wasn't anything to be done.  Just couldn't get that cancer turned.

  While I was away there were major changes.  The team has been wildly successful.  Scoped Service Rifle was introduced and took over.  New faces, new rules, the NRA moved it's championship to Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  For one year, they say.  I missed the people and the shooting, though plenty of folks stayed in touch.


 First weekend in April monthly match at Panola County gun club.  Dan Pate getting set at 300 rapid.



  First relay in the pits.


  Power Rings available on the line.


  600 ammo lined up.


  Alan Wilson, another ex-pat, back on the line.


  Dan Pate at 600.  

Daily Deercam: December action.

 Little buck and doe in heat.  He's missing a brow tine.  Had to fight during the rut.

2 1/2 year old.

He'll be a decent deer next year, but like last year's deer, we probably won't see him.

Cousin Wallace checks the shotgun stats.

Whilst awaiting my turn @ the barber shoppe I was perusin' a Field & Steam rag and read what I thought was an interesting article.

Tx PWD conducted a survey on which was more effective, lead or steel shot for dove hunters.

TPWD conducted this survey over 3 years ( I think that's what it said) with one observer going out w/one hunter to count the hits & misses and record the ranges.

Neither shooter or observer knew whether they were using steel or lead (shells were "color coded" & otherwise unmarked) 12 gauge.

Lead loads were  1 1/8oz  #7 1/2 shot @ 1200fps

Steel loads were  1oz  #7size steel @1300fps (dunno much about steel shot sizes...assuming #7 steel is deemed good for doves?)

Both loads had similar recoil so, shooter not supposed to be able to tell difference.

Article claims both loads killed about the same w/the steel load achieving 5% more hits ( I think due to shooters error in frequently not leading bird enuff w/slower lead load)

As a group, this bunch of shooters (forget how many there were but, quite a few) killed one bird for every 4.4 shells expended  (22.7%)

National average was one bird killed for every 7.5 shells ( 13.3% ) according to this article.

As a group they missed shots over 30 yards 68% of the time.

As a group they missed shots under 30 yards 57% of the time.

Average "kill" distance was 29 yards.

Now, here's what I found pretty interesting. 

Shooters used their own shotguns & had their choice as to what choke they used.

48.1% used "Modified" choke ......21% kill percentage

30.5% used "Imp Cyl" choke.........26% kill percentage

21.4% used "Full" choke ..............16% kill percentage

Note the 5% increase for each step down in choke constriction.

Kinda shows what I've been saying/thinking all these years...."Most guys would do better with a more open choke & also not shoot at birds out of range."

Many years ago I read something that's always stuck with me & I believe it to be pretty close to the truth.

"You can tell a greenhorn wingshooter 'cause he'll always shoot too long a barrel, too tight a choke, too big shot and high brass shotshells."  

I've observed this very thing over the years!

Typical rookie will say "I want a 30" barrel and full choke! High brass #6's work best! Them little ole #8's won't even kill a hummingbird."

Well, somewhere in the middle probably lies a pretty good compromise.

Rarely have I ever felt the need for a Full choke and I'd only use #6's if that's all I had....I've had pretty good success killing ducks w/#6's!

Another old saying that I've always remembered is "Pattern fails before penetration" ....Checked mourning doves killed @ 40yds & a #8 will go all the way thru sometimes.

Yep, a #6 will shore-nuff kill a dove "IF" your pattern doesn't let him fly thru without a hit....see little need for #6 unless looong shots w/full choke & your are able to hit at distance.

As for me, I much prefer #7 1/2 as my "do all" shot size with #8's in the smaller gauges and earlier season, especially on the smaller mourning doves.

Whitewings are bigger & tuffer so it's # 7 1/2's for them too. ( This goes for the Eurasian Collared doves too).

Steel vrs Lead.....gimme the lead every time!!!!  Surely hope the gubmint don't force us to use steel on doves like they did ducks....I'd be bad mad!

Everyone has their favorites I'm sure....and, there are always exceptions...shooter skill (or, lack thereof) can certainly change these stats...just found this article very interesting! 

As always, I'd like to hear everyone's opinions!

Daily Deercam: Not much shaking.

It must be over.

One doe

Little buck. 

The rest were rabbits, squirrels and raccoons.

Daily Deercam: Not very fancy.

Can't get the date set on the cam, nor get the feeder working, so there is only corn when the coons or I shake it out a bit.  Still there is a little traffic.

Not legal but he is cute and reliable.  Wonder where last years versions are?

Creatures of the Earth.

Whales still carrying flint harpoon points, 80 year old parrots, 64 year old Albatross.....and a 502 year old clam.

  Flint and slate points in Bowhead Whale.

Daily Deercam: Bad Moultrie.

Little Buck.

Mr. Coon.

Doe and twins.

Big Buck.

Cousin Wallace forwards an account of the Holy Lands.

  Edited to delete the writer, but here is a contemporary account of what its like on the ground in Israel and Jordan:

We have now been in Israel / Jordan for 3 days.  My biggest takeaway is the absolute belief that these countries want peace.  They are tired of war and ever-present terrorism.  We have spent hours with the Israeli National Police, Border Police, retired Mossad, military units, and even the GID of Jordan (the equivalent of our CIA), and all have expressed a desire to live in safe communities, raise their children, and coexist. 

 

The holy sites are difficult to appreciate, in my humble opinion, because they are so commercialized and so well attended.  We will hear from the Police Commander tomorrow about the difficulties of policing the Temple Mount, and we will visit it during the daytime. 

 

Israel has less population than New York City, as does Jordan.  They both lament that they live in bad neighborhoods.  Except for Amman, you do not get the sense that these people fear for their safety.  In fact, it is just the opposite.  They go about their business, whether work or recreation, in small and large groups.  I thought I would see police everywhere, but that is only true for the Old City, which is where the holy sites are.  I seldom see officers elsewhere on the streets. 

 

We spent a day in the West Bank (Occupied Territory) visiting a training site for the Israeli Border Police.  The people were fantastic.  We saw them accomplish riot control, bus assaults, and shooting demonstrations.  I left with a BP green beret. 

 

Amman, Jordan, was a different story.  The city has 3.5 million people, and it is in the desert mountains.  Traffic was horrible!  I will never complain about Austin again.  We had armed escorts the entire time, and they weaved us through and almost into traffic repeatedly.  We were inches from colliding, and no one seemed to care.  We met with the King's brother and spent an hour with him and the Director of Military Intelligence.  Following this, we traveled to a Special Forces compound that was largely paid for by you and I.  I'm betting Lt. Watson has trained at this site, which is home to the KASOTC.  Afterwards, it was off to the 1,200 person SWAT unit that serves the city.  They have two operations a week, mostly related to criminal offenses (armed robbery and homicide).  They take tremendous casualties.  They had an active shooter just last week, when one of the local police officers opened fire at a training site, killing several.  This unit is committed to the fight!  I left with their trademark black beret. 

 

Both countries are very troubled by Da'esh...what we call ISIL.  Russia's involvement, they fear, will cause even more foreign fighters to join, thus escalating the violence.  The Jordanian GID (CIA) correctly pointed out that Syria does not have security forces to keep the country afloat should Da'esh be defeated, so they are worried about long-term plans, or the lack thereof.  Everyone agrees that Russia's involvement changed things.  The refugees are overwhelming everyone!

 

By the way, we have now run into two NYPD detectives.  One is assigned to Jerusalem and the other to Amman.  NYPD's chief is with me on this trip.

 

It is now 10 pm in Jerusalem.  I have an early morning run awaiting me!