20th Annual Spring Southern
 

Just got the save the date email for April 25 to 28, 2019. Hard to believe the Spring Southern will be here before you know it and hard to believe we celebrate 20 years!

Mark your calendar and it is never too early to decide what guns you are going to take

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/7cMRlyxf...6a587b0e#/main

Already looking forward to it, and counting down the days!! Can't wait!

Sara

Mills you must be some kind of mind reader as I have been thinking of what to take. It always seems like there are to many taken down but all of them see targets. This year I'm contemplating keeping it to one gauge the question is 20 or 16:)

The gun taken may yet to be acquired. Looking to add some small bores and early guns

That will never happen ! :rotf::rotf::rotf: You are going to shoot three flats of shells and only shooting one gauge, nope you can't do it....:rolleyes:

C.O.B

Don't you dare do that! I'd suggest you check the springs and shocks on the pickup and load her up. Just leave enough room so Opening Day can squeeze a few in. Think of it this way the more you take the less wiping down you'll have to do per gun to remove my paw prints. Truth of the matter is that between the Drake's lot event, and the Ribfest tent city affair at Ernie's is where I saw better guns and learned more than under the big white tents.

Here's the thing Brett I'll be driving this time as Eric will take his truck to Georgia as Ike will be going Quail hunting with us. The Impala will only hold so much.

At this time my thoughts are 20ga the 32 inch BHE, 30 inch GH Damascus, Boss hammer gun, Gunner's gun. 16ga 32 inch VR GHE, Purdy, 32inch grade 1 hammer gun, 30 inch CHE.

I can live with either of these choices:rotf::rotf:

And I suppose that, once again, Rich isn't buying any more guns this year

I'm really trying to quit and have even sold a bunch of rifles. Doing good haven't looked at an internet site in months:whistle:

I fell off the wagon big time this year. I did just sell one, but now looking to find a replacement for it

If your seriously considering small bores it can be a slippery and expensive slope:eek: I once considered selling a GHE Damascus 20 with a very nice piece of wood as I haven't used the gun in years but then sanity prevailed as I realized I wouldn't be able to replace it so I decided to keep it. I might even take it Quail hunting in Jan.:whistle:

I need a 16 on a 0 frame, another or 2 28 gauges and some more 20s. I added a vh 20 with a straight grip this year that I need to get cleaned up.

There was a vh 28 for 2500 at the vintagers that was awful tempting for a few minutes but it had major major problems

All in good time so they say

Looking is the fun part. Keep an eye on the for sale forum. A member called me about a VHE 28 he is thinking of selling. I have three 28's so I passed.

Will need to save up some for a 28. I would like to add a 20 with longer barrels and tighter chokes. Just looking for the right one and saving up

A member is considering selling a VHE 28? That always gets my attention!!

That's because all the wolf researchers suck up all the signal in the UP. Worth it to spend a month in Grouse camp. Now we may have to stage an intervention for our buddy Ohio SXS, because he is getting up at 3:30 am to buy Philly Fox guns. I am trying to get him to come to the Southern, because that's what friends are for.

If I go with the 20 vs the 16 for the Southern you can try out my GH with 30 inch Damascus barrels choked F/F. I bought it from a member here quite some time ago. You can shoot it with confidence as it's not for sale:rotf:

I have no internet at camp in the U.P. I didn't have TV until this year:eek:

I am thinking of being there? Do they have camping there or close to the shoots? thanks Kenny

Not sure about camping.

Working on planning and things are rocking along. Hope everyone has hotel reservations, hall of fame tickets and is working on a list of guns to bring.

This will be the 16th annual Parker-Smith Challenge and, in honor of that milestone, the challenge pins will be purple like a 16 gauge shell. Here is the proof

Mills,
I have my hotel reservations, and am very much looking forward to the Southern! Bring on the Spring weather! :)
Sara

Sara, you going to have a chance to shoot with us at Drakes Landing Wed or Thursday? It's a fun time

Eric,
Yes, I'm planning on being at Drakes on Thursday. Had a great time last year.
Sara

Bring a bunch of 'um
 

Why go to the Southern if you only plan to shoot 1 gauge? There is an opportunity to shoot 8 different gauges...shoot them all ,.. and then some more!

I'm only shooting 16's but I'll have 6 or 7 guns with me.

I mentioned this on another thread, but figured it may be better placed here. I am a newbie to the Southern. One of my concerns is the number of guns I want to bring versus the logistics of getting guns from the car, toting heavy boxes of guns around the grounds, etc. Does anyone have any good advice regarding parking, getting around whilst toting too many guns, and generally making the most of the southern. Also, shooting... how to get some shooting in would be nice. I look forward to meeting many of you. Any help you can give will be welcome.

Kindest regards,
Dean

I strongly recommend you rent a cart or bring one if you've got it.
Good luck,
Buddy

Yes, yes, and yes ! Rent or bring a cart especially if you are going to be shooting a lot of events etc as compared to just hanging out in the tents.

Best thing is to arrive early and park down near the Parker tent.

I hope you can bring your new 20 gauge lifter as our display theme is 20 gauges

I have a room, a cart and am configuring my Safari cast to carry broken down shotguns.

All 16's this trip and I've got it down to 6-7 guns. The candidates are Parker GHE 32in vent rib, 32 inch grade 1 hammer gun, GHE Damascus skeet configured, CHE 30 inch, LeFever Optimus, Purdey and maybe something else.

Looking forward to doing lots of shooting, enjoying some much warmer weather and looking at all the fine guns....but just looking:whistle:

The gun count is going up....for you Rich! :rotf:

The trunk isn't packed yet and I do need to provide room for the gun/guns I'm going to try to find new homes for.

Remember we have to fit in a Dog Box too..... and oh by the way my guns and shells...............

Rich that GHE 16 of yours sure would look nice sitting next to his twin little Brother in a 20 gauge, just sayin :)

Opening Day

You mean you won’t hold the pup on your lap?:rotf:

Randy you can make it happen:)

Randy that sure is a nice vent rib 20. I am a 20 guy!

Vent rib guns are special. Last year at the Southern I found a VHE 20 skeet gun with a factory vent rib. My first high condition gun was a 30 inch DHE 20 with a rib. That was 20 years ago and I still shoot it.