All's Quite

[Mark Britton]

All's quite on the Parker front. Guess everyone is at Hausmanns having fun . I was thinking about making the 300 mile trip up I 81 for the first time , but my Gallbladder passed away! If anyone has any extra fun or good deals that they would like to share with me /us here . Would love to hear about them.
Maybe next year ? :bowdown:

[Garry L Gordon]

You’re right, Mark, it seems those of us in the hinterlands are left out. We should hear some good stories(?):corn:

[Garry L Gordon]

Don't Waste your time! In the 16 years that I have been going, this year
''WAS THE WORST'', attendance was at a record ''LOW'', Vendors were 50% less. Empty tables every were.

Harry

So, Harry, what do you think is the cause?

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

The forecast for temps in the 90's may have been a factor, however, I believe that the lack of vendors has a lot to do with the turnout and visa versa. The course was challenging but well laid out and there were hitable targets for various skill levels. This was my 17th year attending Ernie's shoot and will continue attending as long as I can.

[CraigThompson]

Let’s be perfectly honest . I went there the past two years only because the annual meeting was in the vicinity that weekend . I went this year because Fox added an 8 gauge event at their tent . Also I spent the time with Stan , Daniel and their three sons . The trip this year was made from seeing others , I’m no fan of the targets at HHH SC . Seemed to me Parker folks were lacking in attendance and I’m sure that’s because the annual meeting wasn’t there . Just my opinion . This year for me atleast has been a lot more socializing and a lot less shooting .

[Stan Hoover]

We enjoyed our few days at Hausmans, met allot of good friends.

I cannot speak to why the attendance seemed lower again, I’m guilty of spending most of my time shooting and very little time in the tents. The weather was beautiful other than being pretty warm Friday afternoon, but the humidity was low and it was not uncomfortable.

Parker shooters were successful in a number of areas. They had the highest scoring group of 5 guys in the Main Event. A few of us shooting Ithaca’s tried hard to give them some competition, but unfortunately we were not successful in besting them.

I believe at least 4-5 first place scores were placed with Parker guns, and Parker had a big presence at the 8 gauge event put on by Daryl at the Bo Whoop event.
Thanks for all your hard work there Daryl!

It was a pleasant few days, and it was great that we had a house in the country to retire to in the evenings, we enjoyed our time with Craig.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks, Stan, for your report. I see some offspring off our esteemed colleagues did quite well—congratulations to them, and their dads. Must be fun to shoot with your son or daughter.

Anyone pick up any new guns? Surely Craig did some gun tradin’:)

[Craig Larter]

Wonderful time, had a ball, hope to make it next year. Not a place to shop, the internet and auctions killed that. It's all about good friends, shooting, talking guns and bird hunting , smoking a few cigars and drinking great bourbon. I have no idea why attendance is down but your really missing out if you don't attend.

[Pete Lester]

So who is, dare I say it, Super, Mario Barchiesi, who shot a 77 in the Main, 50 straight in 20ga hammerless, a 49 in 28ga hammerless and an unbelievable 49 in 410 hammerless.

That's only 5 lost targets out of 230 for an overall 97.8% average on 230 with four different guns!

I am going to go out on a limb and say nobody is ever going to beat that record.

[Sara LeFever]

I had a great time, as usual! The weather was hot, but not too humid, and there was a breeze. I was pleased with my shooting on the main event (41/80).

I came home with a 20 ga Lefever DS, and I also won a raffle prize (a metal plate).

It’s always so nice to see everyone, and the three days fly by. I’m looking forward to next year already.

[Chuck Bishop]

Nice to see Tad showing his old man how to shoot👍

[Mike Koneski]

Nice to see Tad showing his old man how to shoot👍

Once in a while he picks up his game while I struggle with mine and he wins. :whistle: It's all good bringing in the new breed of SxS shooters. I did give away too many "onesies" this week, that really hurt. Nothing there I shouldn't have hit. Just makes me mad and y'all will pay dearly at the Fall Southern!! :rotf::rotf:I did put up some numbers that usually win there but Mario (another PA boy that shoots Parkers) and two good guys from SD and MN or OH posted some better scores. Stan, Shane and Daniel also shot well. The top 5 scores in the Main were ALL shot by Parkers.

Looking forward to our Northern SxS at Rock Mountain, July 27-30 (nothing like a little promotion) and seeing all the smiling faces of the attendees.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

A few pics from the campground. Yea, the attendece was down, but had a great time seeing and shooting folks I only get to see once a year. This is my camping set up, and my little buddy Huck.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

A few more, including Shane giving Stan a little advice on how to shoot the target.

[Garry L Gordon]

Thanks for sharing your photos, Harold. I like your camping companion.

[CraigThompson]

Surely Craig did some gun tradin’:)

I sold an SC and some powder . Only thing I bought were some 8 gauge ammo and some 10 gauge brass shells with tools . All of these deals were struck before the fact . There was one gun there that had my attention and I’ve known about it for 18 or so months but I never pulled the trigger to buy .

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Good shooting with you Thursday, Craig.

[scott kittredge]

here is Harold "smoking one"

[scott kittredge]

A few pics from the campground. Yea, the attendece was down, but had a great time seeing and shooting folks I only get to see once a year. This is my camping set up, and my little buddy Huck.

that is living high on the hog ! thanks again Harold !:)

[Sara LeFever]

LeFevers joining in on Parker Hawaiian Shirt Friday :cool:

[Brian Dudley]

Vendor attendance was down. There were not empty tables “everywhere”. As I recall there were 2 empty booths.

Shooter attendance was down for sure as well. A tell of that for me was that on Saturday morning i shot the 10/12/16g course in a squad of 7 people. We went out around 9:30 or so. We shot the whole course without having any shooting squads coming up from behind us!

I personally had one of the best years there by way of sales though. So it was good from that standpoint for me personally.

Remember that the G&H centennial event was also going on at the same time. I am not sure how much that may have effected the vendor or shooter turnout.

[CraigThompson]

Good shooting with you Thursday, Craig.

You as well Harold ! I just hope I didn’t cost you any targets :whistle:

[Dean Romig]

We had a wonderful time shooting and visiting with good friends. I think the G&H event may have had an impact on the attendance at Ernie’s.
It was definitely the place to be in early June!!





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[Phil Yearout]

Quite what?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Brian is correct, Id say the tents were 90% full, with only a couple empty slots. I never waited to shoot the entire weekend, good for the shooters, bad for business. I liked the concept of 3 different courses also. Last year the south or 28 ga course was a real bear, this year was challenging, but not discouraging.
I always enjoy this weekend, and will be back next year.

[Pete Lester]

Participation is down in all clay target sports and has been since the pandemic started. I see it at my club where I shoot and where I have run Wed evening trap for over 35 years. Participation is well documented and is down in all registered shooting as well. Much it has been blamed on the lack of availability of ammo and components and the high inflation of prices on components and ammo. Components and ammo are starting to be more available but prices haven't really come down much, (think about the difference in cost for factory low pressure ammo from 2019 to 2023). I was talking with the gentleman in the registration booth at HHH just before the awards and raffle. He said attendance was down and overall the people in attendance were not shooting as much. It really shouldn't be surprising to see what has affected all clay shooting sports is affecting this and other vintage double shoots.

[Stan Hoover]

(The top 5 scores in the Main were ALL shot by Parkers.) As quoted by Mike!

Slow down there Mike, there were 4 fellows shooting Ithaca's that were either tied or higher than your 5th Parker shooter:p

I'll let you guess who would have been the winning Manufacturer if Mario Barchiesi had not been shooting a Parker

Just saying:bigbye:

[Brian Dudley]

All's quite on the Parker front. Guess everyone is at Hausmanns having fun . I was thinking about making the 300 mile trip up I 81 for the first time , but my Gallbladder passed away! If anyone has any extra fun or good deals that they would like to share with me /us here . Would love to hear about them.
Maybe next year ? :bowdown:


Mark,

It is always a great event. Please do come next year. And bring a few friends.

[CraigThompson]

(The top 5 scores in the Main were ALL shot by Parkers.) As quoted by Mike!

Slow down there Mike, there were 4 fellows shooting Ithaca's that were either tied or higher than your 5th Parker shooter:p

I'll let you guess who would have been the winning Manufacturer if Mario Barchiesi had not been shooting a Parker

Just saying:bigbye:

You guys definitely had “youth” on your side :cool:

[Garry L Gordon]

You guys definitely had “youth” on your side :cool:

And how good to see younger folks there.

[Pete Lester]

Does anyone know who the professional photographer(s) were working for and where those pictures will end up?

[Mike Koneski]

Participation is down in all clay target sports and has been since the pandemic started. I see it at my club where I shoot and where I have run Wed evening trap for over 35 years. Participation is well documented and is down in all registered shooting as well. Much it has been blamed on the lack of availability of ammo and components and the high inflation of prices on components and ammo. Components and ammo are starting to be more available but prices haven't really come down much, (think about the difference in cost for factory low pressure ammo from 2019 to 2023). I was talking with the gentleman in the registration booth at HHH just before the awards and raffle. He said attendance was down and overall the people in attendance were not shooting as much. It really shouldn't be surprising to see what has affected all clay shooting sports is affecting this and other vintage double shoots.


Pete, here at The Rock numbers have been up high since the two month Draconian shut-down in March-April 2020. Foot traffic is strong, fun shoots draw good numbers and corporate/fundraising events are so busy we have to use 25 stations and for some events an AM and PM rotation. Ammo has been easy to find for over a year (except for 16g) and that’s beginning to change.

[Mike Koneski]

Does anyone know who the professional photographer(s) were working for and where those pictures will end up?

They will be using the photos and video on the HHHSC website.

[Pete Lester]

Pete, here at The Rock numbers have been up high since the two month Draconian shut-down in March-April 2020. Foot traffic is strong, fun shoots draw good numbers and corporate/fundraising events are so busy we have to use 25 stations and for some events an AM and PM rotation. Ammo has been easy to find for over a year (except for 16g) and that’s beginning to change.

You are fortunate and bucking the trend. Trap and Skeet participation remains down at my club. ATA and NSSF shoots are not as well attended as they once were. Ammo availability is better in my area but very pricey. You might have to shoot another brand rather than what you might like, Gun Club vs. Top Gun vs. Winchester Super Sport, all about $90 a flat. Premium ammo like STS and AA is harder find and quite bit more money. For the reloader powder is limited on store shelves to mostly 1 pound bottles in a limited variety at very high prices $43 to $52. Locally lead is about $78 a bag in very limited quantities. Our club sells ammo to shooters to use but not take home and not trying to profit from it, $10 to $13 a box depending on brand and gauge.

[Dan Steingraber]

I was there from Thursday afternoon through Saturday and then shot a round at Rock Mountain on Sunday before driving 7.5 hours home. I had a fantastic time shooting and spending time with friends, meeting new friends and continuing to learn about these wonderful guns. Besides the courses and a great 5 stand Daryl and a lot of the "Fox" guys work their butts off to provide some unique, fun and incredibly challenging shooting opportunities. If the Good Lord is willing, I'll be back next year.

[Frank Srebro]

Pete, here at The Rock numbers have been up high since the two month Draconian shut-down in March-April 2020. Foot traffic is strong, fun shoots draw good numbers and corporate/fundraising events are so busy we have to use 25 stations and for some events an AM and PM rotation. Ammo has been easy to find for over a year (except for 16g) and that’s beginning to change.

I live nearby the Rock and shoot there once or twice a week, year round, with a regular group of friends. I've been shooting sporting at the Rock for almost 25 years now beginning with its original owner and thus have a good handle on shooter number progression and trends at the facility. All that Mike wrote is true. Mike, Susan and Tad own a top shelf and very welcoming club and they set excellent targets and change the presentations often. They also keep making improvements as with the satellite/subgauge woods course that was in disuse when they bought the facility, constant trap improvements, now three traps per station, initiating the super sporting concept, new electronic clickers, constant landscape, habitat and roadway inprovements, etc. It’s no wonder to me that the Rock is the place to be for the many who are into sporting clays. Are all things more expensive than in the past? Yes of course and that’s not likely to revert. Grin and bear it.

[Mark Britton]

I would like to Thank everyone for their response to my pour me question. The answer is in my shell pallets. I still have a few of the 60 flats at $30 a flat. Some Gun Club $56 a flat receipt from June 2017 I kept because its 12 feet long $60 a flat.The last $80 a flat.I don't shoot ! (another story) I was at a shoot in late April (a lot of yall were there) $180 a flat. It's not just shells it's EVERYTHING ! There was a lot more money at my house 5 years ago than there is today.I will take a steak over a mess of Clay Birds any meal.Old saying: You never know a hayday till it has passed. I pray I am WRONG !

[Mike Koneski]

The "specialty" ammo will definitely cost you $40-$60 per flat more than the standard target ammo of 1 oz (or less) at max 1200-1220 FPS. It is what it is. Reload, shoot regular target ammo or bite the bullet and pay boutique prices for shells. With so many components being used for Ukraine, this isn't going to change anytime soon.

BTW, AGC ammo is a low pressure shell throughout their lineup of shot shells. Morris confirmed that.

[Dan Steingraber]

The "specialty" ammo will definitely cost you $40-$60 per flat more than the standard target ammo of 1 oz (or less) at max 1200-1220 FPS. It is what it is. Reload, shoot regular target ammo or bite the bullet and pay boutique prices for shells. With so many components being used for Ukraine, this isn't going to change anytime soon.

BTW, AGC ammo is a low pressure shell throughout their lineup of shot shells. Morris confirmed that.

Mike, I recall that when speaking with Tim from AGC at the Southern, that the 12’s and 20’s were low pressure (4,600 psi +- and 8,550 psi +-) but as of that point the balance of their production were “standard” pressures. I can confirm that the 12’s and 20’s shoot nicely with reduced felt recoil and the 16’s I shot at the Southern felt a bit stiffer.

[Pete Lester]

I would like to Thank everyone for their response to my pour me question. The answer is in my shell pallets. I still have a few of the 60 flats at $30 a flat. Some Gun Club $56 a flat receipt from June 2017 I kept because its 12 feet long $60 a flat.The last $80 a flat.I don't shoot ! (another story) I was at a shoot in late April (a lot of yall were there) $180 a flat. It's not just shells it's EVERYTHING ! There was a lot more money at my house 5 years ago than there is today.I will take a steak over a mess of Clay Birds any meal.Old saying: You never know a hayday till it has passed. I pray I am WRONG !

I should have taken a picture but didn't. Just arrived at the Kittery Trading Post, 1 pond bottles of Alliant Unique and E3..... $57.99 plus 5.5% sales tax each.

[Jim McKee]

The lowest prices for ammo, powder and shot I am seeing currently is listed at Dawson's in northeastern Ohio.
That is a 2 hr drive for me but no help in you live farther away.
Last summer they had a case of Rem SP-10 wads. I bought a few bags then watched their web site show they were all sold a few weeks later.

[Pete Lester]

So who is, dare I say it, Super, Mario Barchiesi, who shot a 77 in the Main, 50 straight in 20ga hammerless, a 49 in 28ga hammerless and an unbelievable 49 in 410 hammerless.

That's only 5 lost targets out of 230 for an overall 97.8% average on 230 with four different guns!

I am going to go out on a limb and say nobody is ever going to beat that record.

I saw Mario at the Vintage Cup and I remembered his incredible performance at Hausmann's. His performance at Warrington was even more amazing.

He brought his A game or maybe his AAA game to the preliminary events at the Vintage Cup; 12ga Hammerless American Classic (50), 16ga Hammerless American Classic (50) 20ga Hammerless American Classic (50), 20ga Any Maker (50), 28ga Any Maker (49), 410 any Maker (49).

That's a 99.33% average for all events, 298 out of 300.

He did not shoot in the 80 target main event, which had trappers at every station, but if he had I suspect the only possible trophy for anyone else would have been second place as I doubt anyone could beat him.

[Dean Romig]

Truly world class❗️





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[Chuck Bishop]

So has anyone actually talked to him or watched him shoot? Seems to have come out of nowhere. If he shoots a Parker, why isn't he a member?

[Pete Lester]

Truly world class❗️

.

Certainly is, he would give George Digweed a run for his money for sure.

[Dan Steingraber]

So has anyone actually talked to him or watched him shoot? Seems to have come out of nowhere. If he shoots a Parker, why isn't he a member?

I shot part of an unremarkable round of 5 stand with him at Hausmann's. He quit about half way through the round. My recollection was that he had missed a couple of targets at that point. I don't recall what make gun he was shooting but I believe it was a small bore gun. For reference, I think the best scores shot on the 5 stand that week were around 20 (+-).

[Stan Hoover]

So has anyone actually talked to him or watched him shoot? Seems to have come out of nowhere. If he shoots a Parker, why isn't he a member?

I observed him shooting the long bird at the Vintagers event, the far trap distance with a rangefinder was measured over 70 yards.

Mario was shooting a 20 gauge and he shot it more than once, his best round was 9 out of 10, great shooting with a 20 gauge on those long targets.

I do know of a LC friend who shot with Mario on at least 1 event, possibly more, I didn't have a chance to chat with him

[Daryl Corona]

Certainly is, he would give George Digweed a run for his money for sure.

I'd put my money on King George.

[Mario Barchiesi]

I shot part of an unremarkable round of 5 stand with him at Hausmann's. He quit about half way through the round. My recollection was that he had missed a couple of targets at that point. I don't recall what make gun he was shooting but I believe it was a small bore gun. For reference, I think the best scores shot on the 5 stand that week were around 20 (+-).

I shot a LC Smith on that 5 Stand, it was given to me by a LC Smith Ass. member to try, he also handed me 12 shells to shoot it. When I shot the 12 shells I moved off of the stand. Quit? And yes, I recall missing more than a few on that 5 Stand, I believe I missed most of them. But anytime I shoot a Vintage SXS, it is never unremarkable.

[Mario Barchiesi]

unremarkable