North Texas Airgun Militia shoot

[Jerrycup]

We had just a perfect day shooting today. Fifteen of us set up in a beautiful creekside tree-lined field. I cannot imagine a better shooting venue, and my imagination is strong.
Great weather, a great group of guys. We had an array of targets ranging out to 100 yards and a row of huge trees to provide shade.

Joel Lively put up some great photos and comments on his site:

http://airgunartisans.com/OctoberShoot2008.htm

When I got there, the first guy I met was David Enoch, and we find we live on the same street in Dallas.

It was a real pleasure to meet a bunch of good guys in such a setting. My thanks to Joel, Dan, and Roald for setting this up. The militia was well regulated today!

[DanoInTx]

It was  pleasure seeing you again Jerry.  We sure did have a great group of people out there today, the weather was perfect, the location was beautiful, the food was expertly prepared by our team of BBQ chefs, and this was by far our best shootout EVER!  Thanks to you and all of the other guys for showing up to enjoy the day, we WILL do it again soon!  ...............I think myself and Dave Dunn may drive over there again tomorrow morning before he has to catch his flight back to Washington State:)

Take care!

[TexasShooter72]

It was a perfect day all around.  Much a pleasure meeting you Jerry!  The shooting was good, the fishing was good, the "que" was good, not too hot, not too cool outside...    and a buncha great guys to jabber with!  I'll be attending from here on out.  The drive back home here went quickly and painless(no traffic).

Dan, it's always nice to put a face with the words I read day-in, day-out.  Joel found ONE SWEET LOCATION for the perfect day.

Gentlemen, it was a pleasure, thankyou.

Matt

[JOHNNY QUEST]

I sure wish i could have made the drive from down here..  Its about 6hrs from my place.. sounds like i missed a good time..  Matt that was a nice perch....

[tyrrund]

I got caught at work. I also didnt realize there was a shoot till friday or I could have scheduled work easier. Is there a place you guys are posting upcoming shoots?  Sounds like I missed some good food, fishing, and airgunning. Damn my luck  :p

[TCups]

Jerry:

Sounds like a great time.  Thanks for the pictures.  Looks like a really great place to shoot.  You still thinking about selling your CDT Whisper Dlx .177 and crossing over to the Dark Side?

[DanoInTx]

Tommy, it was a GREAT shootout, I really wish you could have made it out here for it.  There IS hope though, I spoke with Joel this morning and it looks like we may start planning the next shootout pretty soon.  How does your schedule look in about a month or so?  We want to do another before it starts getting cold and if you could make it that would be great!

I don't think Jerry shot any of my PCP's this time out, but he may have shot DaveD's.  I have been working pretty hard to get EVERYONE I know turned to The Darkside....mwahahahaha!!!!!  Having said that, I think my next airgun will be a springer, have a TX200 on the brain and can't quite shake it:)  I actually started the shootout by shooting my R7 and stayed shooting it for almost an hour I think, then I did one air fill through my B51 (about 40 shots), then shot my AA S400C for two airfills(about 100 shots), then went with my trusty QB78 for the rest of the day.  So one springer, two PCP's and a CO2 gun, I am an Equal Opportunity Shooter:)

[DanoInTx]

tyrrund - 10/12/2008  9:08 AM

I got caught at work. I also didnt realize there was a shoot till friday or I could have scheduled work easier. Is there a place you guys are posting upcoming shoots?  Sounds like I missed some good food, fishing, and airgunning. Damn my luck  :p

Well I didn't post this event anywhere this time because I didn't really know the location all that well till a week prior.  As I have exchanged PM's and emails over the last few months with interested parties I have saved those emails in a folder in my email client.  So when the shootout came up I just went through those emails and added anyone that was interested into the email loop.  I had probably 20+ people interested total, and when it came down to the date we had 15 shooters total.  Now that we've held an event at this location I am pretty sure that we could handle a few more shooters so I will post the next event in the Regional Shooting Events forum for anyone who hasn't contacted me.  This time I just had images of more RV's and crowd barriers than Texas Motor Speedway on race weekend in my mind and didn't want that to happen, especially since I'd like to shoot there again someday:)  The property owner is a SUPER nice lady, and she even came down and put a shot or two through one of DaveD's PCP's.  We did a great job of leaving the place the same way we found it also, so I think they will be happy to have us back again.

[Jerrycup]

Yes, I am tempted. They are so darned accurate...but I have a new acquaintance - David Enoch - who has offered to consult with me. He has a big collection and a lot of experience. Turns out he lives down the street on the same greenbelt! He has a range setup shooting down toward the creek, and has invited me down. He is very serious about the hobby and a nice guy.

I'm not sure that the pictures do this place justice. It's an airgun shooting park. Huge shade trees, long open range with nothing behind it, big patio for cooking and sitting around, with a beautiful creek next door. I'd guess you could park a couple of dozen vehicles down by the creek and accommodate that many shooters without crowding. But I know all of us North Texas Airgun Militia members are hopeful we can do this again and avoid any risk of wearing out the welcome.

[TexasShooter72]

I have to agree...  I have yet to shoot in a more beauteous place.  It was tranquil, comfortable and at one point had lost all ideology of the free world.  What a wonderful escape!  Sherri sounded very open to the idea of having us back.  What a treat!  Or re-treat.  The water was crystal clear...  the range was nothing short of puuuuuurfect!

We had mild winds...  slightly cloudy skies...   and the cameraderie of true gentlemen.  Boys, I had one of the best days of my life.  

I certainly hope we can do it again.  Only this time...    having mentioned the probability of bringing a few of the finer brews...  next time I'll bring what God himself certainly would.  Not in excess, of course.  I brought NOTHING this time.  It'll be nice to taste the finer ones...

Ladies and Gents...   may we one day soon shoot again!

Matt

[Rixtrix]

Wow, guys, what a fantastic place for a shootout! Wish we had a placelike that here in AZ, but shooting up in the Nat'l. Forest isn't too bad. Just a long drive. Thanks for the great pics. How about some downrange shots next time?

Ric G

[DanoInTx]

This is actually a downrange picture.  A little hard to see the targets in thye photo because of the shade trees, but they are there:)  We had almost exactly 100 yards from the shooting tables to the far fenceline.  We could have moved the shooting benches back another 40-50 yards, but it would have put us in our parking area, 100 yards is plenty for most of us.

[daved]

To the NTAGM, and especially Dan and his family.  They took in this poor Northerner and treated him like family.  It was great actually getting to meet Dan, we've become pretty good friends over the last couple of years via the forum and email, but I really never thought we'd get the chance to meet face to face.  Hope I can return the hospitality sometime.

It was a fantastic shoot, and an equally fantastic day and place.  It was a lot of fun being able to put faces to some of the names from the forum, and I really had a good time.  Definitely worth the trip!  I also got the chance to see and shoot some guns I've heard about, and was able to return the favor for a few.  And someone let Roald know that if I ever decide to sell the Cyclone, I'll give him first dibs :-).  I just wish the day could have gone on longer, and that it wasn't quite so far away.  I'm afraid it's going to be awhile before I can make the trip again!  Guess I'll have to start a Northern chapter of the NTAGM :-).  I know they don't hang out here, but I also wanted to say a special Thank You to Joel for finding the place and making it happen, and to David Enoch for bringing all the targets, especially the Caldwell Target Gallery.  I've GOT to get me one of those :-)!  Later.

Dave

[Jerrycup]

We're sure glad you came down, Dave. I enjoyed all the conversation, and your marksmanship is like those beautiful rifles you brought. We may need to go to eastern Washington sometime. I'm saving AAdvantage miles...

Jerry

[danpate]

The shootout last weekend was really great. The location and the weather were as perfect as I can imagine. I really had a fantastic time. It was good to be able to put some faces with the names I have been seeing over the past year on the GTA. I also really enjoyed seeing all the different guns that everyone brought.

The most memorable part IMO was Joel's .50 cal Dragonslayer. Every time it would get shot we would all start giggling like schoolgirls. That gun is just plain wrong! The report from it I have yet to be able to accuracy describe. It is like something between a 30-06 and a kazoo. I really appreciate Joel letting me take a couple of shoots with it. I may have to get a PCP now.

I would like to offer a very sincere "Thank You" to the guys who organized the shootout and for inviting me to participate.

Last, but certainly not least I want to say thanks to the property owner Sherri. I know everyone who participated appreciates her allowing us to use her property. Thanks Sherri, and I hope we were half as good as guests that you were as a host.