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Hartmann’s Hint #80: Attending the NSSA Mini World and World Championships

Attending the NSSA  Mini World and World Championships

Jack Taylor and Gunnar Casey, two of the young people I’ve had a hand in training, asked me to join them for the Mini World Championships.

These two have become contenders in all of their recent shoots and were anxious to make their presence known at the Mini World, too. These are two very talented young shooters. They wanted to stay for the World Championships, but their school schedules have already been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they didn’t want to miss more of their classes.

This was Jack’s first trip to the Mini World and Gunnar’s second trip. They both have previously shot at the National Shooting Complex.

Jack evaluated various shotguns while at the shoot and he found a really nice one while there. He shot three or four different brands of loaners from various vendors and finally selected one that was an exceptional deal. Smart young man, he took his time and really made sure he got a shotgun that fit his needs. Now he has to pay his parents back for the loan.

Vendors Row had all of the great shotguns that we skeet shooters recognize, as well as just about anything else a skeet shooter might want or need.

I usually try to visit all of the stores and peruse everything offered. Jack and Gunnar and their fathers were right there, too. Gunnar was evaluating different barrels for his shotgun, and also being a smart young man, decided to wait and continue to work with his current set-up. He has shot several straights with his current shotgun.

While Vendors Row is a big attraction, the Mini and the World Shoot are also where you’ll see friends that you may not have seen since the last World Championships. Two of my friends, Jonnie and Russ Stevens, live nearby, and it’s always a pleasure to see them. I also saw many people I know from the various states I’ve shot in, and that’s always great, too.  We were squadded with some really nice people that we enjoyed shooting with. That includes Mark Knighten from Mississippi, a good squad mate.

This year, the year of COVID-19, made the shoot a little different than normal due to ‘social distancing’ and face masks, but it was still a fun and exciting event.

The Mini World and World Shoot are always fun and exciting for us die-hard skeet shooters.

The people at the National Headquarters always make these events very enjoyable and well run, from the registration process through the actual shooting and shoot-offs. If you haven’t been there, you may want to go and be a part of the excitement, see old friends and make new friends, too.

Jack, Gunnar, and I did not perform as well as intended, but it was a great experience for all of us. We saw old friends, made new ones, and we did have an enjoyable trip.

Shoot often, shoot well and stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.

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Hartmann’s Hint #77: Another Safety Item

Another Safety Item

 

Some time ago I wrote a hint about safety and the dangers of accidentally placing a 20-gauge shotshell in the chamber of a 12-gauge. It’s a safety issue and the reason most, if not all, 20-gauge shells are now yellow. Several people have told me that they still have red 20-gauge shells.

I recently received an email from a member who stated that he had read that hint and thought about sporting clays now having sub-gauge events and how the same issue might arise between the 20-gauge and 28-gauge shotshells.

I went to my shop and got out one of my 20-gauge tubes, a 28-gauge shell and a 20-gauge shell. I dropped the 28-gauge shell in and then the 20-gauge shell after it. They fit. Just looking at the shell sizes, you can see that they would fit.

The 28-gauge shells drop into the forcing cone of the 20-gauge tube and essentially disappear, making it possible to place a 20-gauge shell in after it.

While the yellow color of the 20-gauge shell should help prevent this potential accident from happening, just as it has in the 12-gauge to 20-gauge, it’s still a possible accident waiting to happen.

Two things that should make this less likely are that the 28-gauge feels smaller than the 20-gauge, and the 20-gauge shells are that nice yellow color.

So, this hint is to remind all shotgun shooters to make sure you’re only carrying the shells your gun is set up to use at that time.

Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.
 
 

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Hartmann’s Hint #76: Cell Phones on the Field

 Etiquette #29

A few weeks ago I was creating a pamphlet for instructors that they might want to give their students, something in writing to help reinforce what they were teaching. I consider it a supplement to what the instructors are teaching.

One of the items that I included was a page with skeet shooting etiquette. After I had written as much as I thought should be in the pamphlet, I consulted with Chief Instructor Ralph Aaron on the pamphlet and its content.

Ralph made several comments and one of those is what this hint is about: Etiquette item number 29.

Several hints ago I listed the previous 28 items, and then I wrote more hints about several of those 28 etiquette items.

I consider etiquette as the second most important aspect of skeet shooting, coming in right after Safety, the most important aspect of skeet shooting.

The new etiquette item in my pamphlet, # 29, deals with technology, our cell phones. Almost everyone I know has a cell phone. Shooters who have cell phones need to turn them off before stepping on the skeet field, or, better yet, leave them someplace other than on the skeet field. There are not many things I can think of that are more annoying than having a phone ring as you’re about to call for your target, or someone having a phone conversation as you’re mentally preparing to take your turn. Please be considerate of your fellow shooters!

So, the next time you’re heading out to shoot, leave your phone somewhere other than on the field, or turn it off. Your calls should be able to wait until you and your squad have finished their rounds.

Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.

 

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Hartmann’s Hint #78: Visiting Various Shooting Venues

Visiting Various Shooting Venues

 

I have been lucky enough during the years that I’ve been shooting skeet to have shot at many venues. While these have all been great places to shoot, there are also some that had beautiful facilities.

Among these beautiful facilities is The Red Chute Shotgun Sports Club at Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, Louisiana.  In fact, until I was able to shoot in Springfield, Missouri, at the Springfield Rod and Gun Club recently, I had considered Red Chute as the most beautiful venue that I had been to.

The Springfield Rod and Gun Club is located north of Highway 44.  It is located on 119 acres of forest with an area of what looks to me as over 20 cleared and mowed acres where the very nice club house and their skeet fields are located.  They have four fields. I shot on field 2.  The targets were outstanding and easy to see.

For several years I had heard about this club, but this was my first visit there. I only had time to shoot the 20 gauge, as I had booked four people for lessons the next day.  It was a 2 1/2-hour trip each way from the Tulsa area.

After seeing the Springfield club, I have to imagine there are many other venues that are just as beautiful that I just haven’t been able to visit yet.

The shoot was run like a well-oiled machine. Everything ran smoothly. The people were as friendly as any place I’ve shot.

I was treated as well as if  I had been a four-gun shooter. I got lost on the way to the club and called for directions.  Micah Gibbs, one of the gentlemen running the shoot, was more than helpful in getting me there.

I believe that everyone should visit all of the clubs within two or three hours of where they live. Maybe you’ll discover a hidden gem like the Springfield Rod and Gun Club. I will be going back.

Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.

 

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Hartmann’s Hint #75: COVID-19 and The Mental Game

COVID-19 and the Mental Game

While my wife and I have been staying home and away from people that may have COVID-19 and be contagious, we’ve fortunately been able to keep in touch with friends and family electronically. We’re able to deal with this self-imposed social distancing better than some of our friends because we enjoy each other’s company, and we have a large enough area where we can  do many things. My wife has her arts room, and I have my shop. We also have our Labrador retrievers that I spend time with. They love swimming in our pond.

The hint I have is for those skeet shooters who are in a similar quarantine situation but may not have the distractions I have.  Those of you who want to keep your competitive edge in skeet shooting can work on the mental aspects of the game.

The mental part of our game is arguably the most important part of skeet shooting. The physical aspect is important, too, but it is much easier to learn and to master than the mental part. We have to keep our focus on what we’re doing at the specific time we’re doing it; we can’t think about how we miss a certain target or how we just hit a target that has always been our nemesis. We have to concentrate on the target we’re about to shoot, and only that target.

During the period of time when most of us are unable, for one reason or another, to be physically practicing our sport, we can work on our mental game. We can visualize each move we would make and see the targets breaking in our mind. Visualization is a tool used by athletes in most sports who want to gain and keep skills they’ve already developed or are in the process of developing.

I try to visualize getting on the station, putting my feet where I want them, mounting my shotgun properly at my hold point for the shot, looking at my “look point,” and telling myself, look at and see the target. I then see the target turn to dust as I execute the shot.

I continue this exercise until I’ve gone through at least one round, sometimes several rounds. I have two other positive pre-shot thoughts that I’ll also use: I tell myself, “It’s like me to hit this target,” and also, when shooting doubles, “one target at a time.”

During this stressful period for mankind, practice mentally what you can’t do physically.

Stay healthy and Stay safe,

Barry Hartmann

Barry Hartmann is an NSSA Master Level and NRA Certified shotgun instructor who teaches American skeet and wingshooting. You can contact Barry at threeat8@aol.com or 918-803-2393.