2017 Duluth Double Gun Classic

[Dean Romig]

Did any of our PGCA members go to this event?

Haven't heard a word about it...





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[Wild Skies]

You must have blown right on by this thread Dean: http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=21890

The Duluth Doublegun S X S Classic is held on the Old Vermilion Trail Hunting Preserve located about 20 miles North of Duluth. The Sporting Clays course is one beautiful course, the only other course that I've shot that may be its equal is/was Orvis Sandanonna near Milbrook, NY - but, I haven't shot them all.

There were only a couple of PGCA members in attendance that I know of Dean, myself and Len Wurman. Len is a member, but doesn't own a Parker--yet. There may have been others in attendance that I don't know, for which I apologize if there. Ex-PGCA member Rich Anderson traveled to the shoot with friend Richard Nethers, they were a joy to be around and kept us entertained. In all, I believe there were 87 registered shooters, down 3 or so from the last couple of years. The event is consolidated into just one day of actual competition in which they offered 88 Sporting Clays targets, a 30 bird Pigeon Ring and a 30 bird Hunter's Challenge 5-Stand. There were also some side events available on Friday and Sunday forenoon. I shot a 28-ga. DHE Repro 26" choked IC/M for the entire event, there wasn't a target I couldn't hit. The 5-Stand was somewhat of a challenge because you didn't know which of the five traps the birds were coming from and the Pigeon Ring, as always, was a hoot. Speaking of the PR, there was one shooter that broke a bird in the far side of the PR separating the ribbon, air currents lifted the ribbon straight up to well over tree-top level where it then began drifting over to the near side of the ring dropping down to about 10' off the ground when the air currents lifted it all the way back up and then drifted to the backside of the ring where it then began to settle, ever so slowly, back down landing just inside the far side of the ring. In all, it took all of 5 minutes for the ribbon to drop in the ring--never seen anything like it. Rich shot well and placed quite high in the overall competition.

Incidently, my travelling companions Wurman and Simpson, friend and Parker shooter Kent Corning, as well as Anderson and Nethers met up Friday at Puglisi's. The inventory of Puglisi's has changed dramatically from that of year's past. Very few English, Italian and Continental guns are to be found, they have been supplanted by American guns--a boat load of Parkers, a vault full of Smiths, a long rack of Ithacas and a bunch of Foxes are now their emphasis. Scot had asked about their website photos that make every gun look great, the pics are taken by a professional, that's all he does, photographer.

P.S. I overheard Mr. Anderson mumbling to himself and any others within earshot that he's only hauling two, maybe three guns up to Duluth next year. Things just won't be the same.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Greg - I had been reading that thread but there was nothing about what actually happened and I was disappointed.

You have given a great report... almost like I was there. Nice to read about it and I would have loved to have been there to witness the ribbon aloft for five minutes - What a hoot that must have been!

The market has (unfortunately) become flooded with Parkers. There are so many available for sale right now at prices affordable to a very wide range of buyers and I fear many of them will be for sale for a long time. It seems a bunch of the older collectors are anticipating their own mortality and rather than stick their families with the daunting task of selling off their guns and related stuff, they are offering them up for sale now, all at once.

The smart thing to do would be to put them up for sale or auction just one (or a small few) at a time, thereby NOT flooding the market.

Thanks for the Duluth report Greg.






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[Wild Skies]

There is another PGCA member in attendance whose name I embarrassingly failed to mention above, that being Mike Koranda. Many of you know Mike through several of the big shoots that he attends and as one of the four organizers that put on The Duluth Doublegun Classic. It was readily apparent that Mike and his crew worked tirelessly making sure this event ran smoothly and that everyone was felt welcome.
Thank you Mike!

[C.O.B.]

Even though this is only a one day shoot it's a lot of fun. As Greg mentioned there are several side events to keep ones trigger finger in proper working order. I especially liked the blind 5 stand course and the sporting clays course was one of the best I have shot. Also they made 95% or so of it true pairs.
The trip to Pugs Guns cut into my shooting time some but 3hrs never passed so quickly. If I was a little better off financially (well ok a LOT better off) they have Gary Coopers CHE two barrel set, I don't remember if it was a 16 or a 20 but I'm thinking 16 with 26 and 30 inch tubes. Also an AAHE 12 was on the same table.

I shot the whole event with a variety of 20's. The blind 5 stand and the sporting clays course I used the BHE 32 inch choked F/F, the all bore course (a side event) was the Boss 20 hammer gun and the pigeon ring I used a 30 inch DHE 20.

[Wild Skies]

Hey, another PGCA member in attendance just occurred to me . . . how could I have forgotten Mark Beasland? Sorry Mark and my apologies to any others I may have missed.

[C.O.B.]

Bill Grill from Marquette is a member and he was there also.