All's Quite
 

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:

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

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

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.

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 .

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.

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’:)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 .

Good shooting with you Thursday, Craig.

here is Harold "smoking one"

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

LeFevers joining in on Parker Hawaiian Shirt Friday :cool:

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.

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

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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Quite what?

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.

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.

(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:

Mark,

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

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

And how good to see younger folks there.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 !

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.