Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
Most Saturdays WW has things for me to do. She had to work today so I was able to help out with the Junior Shooters Program at PGC.
It was serendiptious. Bob Willard, the instructor, wasn't able to make it today, and Gerry, his assistant, would have been kinda swamped had I not lumbered in at the right time.
The program started with 5 kids. Today, there were about 16. Some had their own shotguns, but most used rental 391s. Some of these were quite dirty, but only one had issues.
The program provides instruction, use of a shotugn if needed and 50 rounds and targets a week.
The personal shotguns ran to a mix of pumps,all 20s and one Browning Gold used by a Steely Eyed Target Shark in training.
Ages of the shooters ran from maybe 10 to 17, and sizes from Pixie to almost adult near 6 feet.
Abilities varied also. Some kids were in the program 2 years now, and some a month.
Since the trap and skeet ranges are being rebuilt, the kids shot Sporting Clays.
How, you may ask, do you get through a course of SC with 16 newbies?
We didn't shoot the course. We camped on two stations and other shooters rotated around the kids. It should be noted that these were not gimme targets. These were the same that adults shot, same positions and presentations.
The first one had a steep L-R crosser and an outgoing quartering target from the right. On pairs the outgoer had to be taken first and the crosser was launched into a headwind that made it jink hard and drop like a stone sometimes.
The second station was feather and fur. The rabbit was about as straightforward as they get but ran downhill. The bird was almost like High 7 at skeet but 5 yards further and edge on for most of the flight.
At the end, since all had repeaters, we did a slight variation in the program. Everyone loaded up three shells. That last bird was repeated as fast as the trapper could hit the button.
The high point for me was watching a pre pubescent hammering that presentation thrice with a well worn 1200 with short Winchoke barrel sans bead. The grin afterwards was mirrored by mine.
The only downside was on the trip to the stations. The kids schlepped past the two remaining trap fields and the regulars stood around shooting the bull as we passed.
I noted one former state champ in the groups and knew some of the others. There was a couple centuries of accumulated experience there pretending the kids were invisible.
Some of the kids will be able to vote in the next election. Most the one following.
That is the future of shooting here, if there is one.
Perform a political act. Teach someone to shoot....
It was serendiptious. Bob Willard, the instructor, wasn't able to make it today, and Gerry, his assistant, would have been kinda swamped had I not lumbered in at the right time.
The program started with 5 kids. Today, there were about 16. Some had their own shotguns, but most used rental 391s. Some of these were quite dirty, but only one had issues.
The program provides instruction, use of a shotugn if needed and 50 rounds and targets a week.
The personal shotguns ran to a mix of pumps,all 20s and one Browning Gold used by a Steely Eyed Target Shark in training.
Ages of the shooters ran from maybe 10 to 17, and sizes from Pixie to almost adult near 6 feet.
Abilities varied also. Some kids were in the program 2 years now, and some a month.
Since the trap and skeet ranges are being rebuilt, the kids shot Sporting Clays.
How, you may ask, do you get through a course of SC with 16 newbies?
We didn't shoot the course. We camped on two stations and other shooters rotated around the kids. It should be noted that these were not gimme targets. These were the same that adults shot, same positions and presentations.
The first one had a steep L-R crosser and an outgoing quartering target from the right. On pairs the outgoer had to be taken first and the crosser was launched into a headwind that made it jink hard and drop like a stone sometimes.
The second station was feather and fur. The rabbit was about as straightforward as they get but ran downhill. The bird was almost like High 7 at skeet but 5 yards further and edge on for most of the flight.
At the end, since all had repeaters, we did a slight variation in the program. Everyone loaded up three shells. That last bird was repeated as fast as the trapper could hit the button.
The high point for me was watching a pre pubescent hammering that presentation thrice with a well worn 1200 with short Winchoke barrel sans bead. The grin afterwards was mirrored by mine.
The only downside was on the trip to the stations. The kids schlepped past the two remaining trap fields and the regulars stood around shooting the bull as we passed.
I noted one former state champ in the groups and knew some of the others. There was a couple centuries of accumulated experience there pretending the kids were invisible.
Some of the kids will be able to vote in the next election. Most the one following.
That is the future of shooting here, if there is one.
Perform a political act. Teach someone to shoot....
