All's Quite

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

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.

[Cold Spring]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

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.