THE NOREASTER SIXGUNNER HOLIDAY WEEKEND
by Deaf Smith
Wow what a weekend. We had a blast and I am sure there will be a second weekend in 2001.
The festivities actually started on Friday night with Lynn Halsted (bullets & bait) and his friend Jamie Jared arrived after a 12 hour drive from West Virginia. They got to the farm house just minutes after I arrived from Trenton. A bit later Joe Wicen showed up (he lives there). Joe was our host for the weekend as it was on his family’s farm and commercial shooting range we would be on all weekend. Thanks again Joe for a great place to do all this. After introductions we sat around the kitchen table discussing the coming weekend while Joe prepared a great venison stew for our evening repast. Raves all around for the stew. We talked guns of course and brought out our friends to show off a bit. Lynn’s model 28 converted to 44 special became even more special as he related that it was done by MMC in New Mexico and that Skeeter Skelton had actually test fired it himself on a visit there. I also gave Lynn the grips I had gotten for him at a local gun show (N-frame Magna style) and we quickly put them on his 4 inch 29 with a Tyler T-grip. Glen (better known to the board as CAS) arrived some what later that evening from Long Island. He joined the round table discussion on guns and shooting as well as the history of Joe’s farm house. (17th & 18th century construction). We all headed for sleeping arrangements about 1 am. Lynn and Jared opted for setting up their cots in Joe’s living room while Glen set up his tent in the yard.
Everybody was up by 8 am or so as the porta-potties arrived and were set up in their designated areas. We all set out for breakfast which turned out to be bagels and cream cheese with coffee. Lynn and Jared set up their tent etc. Joe set up the grill and big cauldron for the chili and hamburgers. While waiting around for the 9 o’clock hour and the opening of the range we talked a bit more as a few others arrived. Doc O’Meara had arrived as had Dale (PA) and his 11 year old Daughter Laura. This was the complete turnout for the morning so we were a few short of the original count. Ken Rice showed a bit later on and was welcomed as well. We also had a couple of Local shooters show up Dave and Dale a local cowboy action shooter. We all went down to the range which we had pretty much to our selves. Range rules were laid out and guns unloaded as well as copious amounts of ammo.
I set up a folding table for my handguns so as to allow the others a choice of which they wished to shoot. The others laid out their armament for us to choose from. And Yes I got to shoot doc’s 38-40 New Service. It’s a great gun and I liked shooting it. Nice stag grips too. Dale had brought a variety of guns as had Glen. Glen brought his 50 AE Phillips and Rogers Ruger conversion and we all got to shoot it. Real nice gun. Wish I could afford it. Its for sale if you are interested contact Glen(CAS) on sixgunner .com. The pics will be here for you to check it out. Joe had a variety of steel targets for us to shoot at including my rebounding prairie dog and his dueling tree.
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Lunch was hamburgers and hotdogs up at the house. And a bit of relaxing till we were ready to head back to the range. Now it was time for some Cowboy Action Shooting!
Dale the local cowboy champion put on a short demonstration of what Cowboy action shooting was all about. Then we got the timer and a few guns and holsters and let everybody have a try (or 2) at doing it them selves. Everybody seemed to get into the game and great fun was had by all. The highlight of the cowboy thing was Dales daughter Laura who was watching on the sidelines as the adults were doing the cowboy thing with 38’s and 45’s a bit to large for her hands. An idea came to me quickly as I remembered her shooting my Bearcat earlier that morning. I suggested she shoot the stage with the 2 bearcats (3 of us brought these neat little guns with us) and Doc’s Marlin cowboy 22. You should have seen her face light up. She could do it! We set her up with holsters for the little bearcats and loaded up the guns and explained to her what she was to do. She requited herself very well hitting the majority of the targets and shooting safely as well. She finished with a great big smile on her face.
After a bit more pistol shooting that afternoon we headed on to the rifle range for the long range pistol shoot (100 yards at a Hunters pistol sized Ram target) The contest consisted of 10 shots and the most hits would win. We all dug out our best most accurate pistols but the rules were simple, Revolvers only iron sights only. We got up and shot our 10 rounds. The results? Well here they are : Dale (local ) 4 hits - 45 colt - Ruger. Doc - 3 hits - 45 colt – Colt Deaf Smith – 3 hits – 44 mag – Ruger Super Redhawk – Laura (yes that’s her) – 2 hits – 22 LR - S&W K-22 So Dale the local Cowboy shooter won Lynn’s great trophy and yes we have a picture here somewhere. By this time it was 5 pm and the range closed for the day. We all headed up to the farm house for some of Joe’s great Venison Chili and Joe told us the story of his latest deer kill. The evening was spent sitting around the fire (yes we had a nice campfire) talking and swapping stories till after dark. Doc signed some books he had brought and brought us up to date on when his next book would be due out and how the others were coming. (can’t wait for the H&R book as well as the guns of the gun fighters.) Come July 2001 I will be ready for the new Colt book as well Doc.
I left for home that evening as I had personal business to take care of before I returned on Sunday.
Sunday. This day was a bit colder that Saturday (which was darn rear perfect weather wise) the morning was cloudy and had some dark clouds hovering around the sky. No rain through. We had few folks this day consisting mainly of Lynn, Jamie, Myself, Joe, and Doc. We shot handguns all morning -Mine Lynn’s and Doc’s.
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Doc had to leave early so as to get home and left us about 1:30 that afternoon soon after we went up to the house for lunch. I should mention here we drove our vehicles down to the range and back so as not to have to carry all the ordinance back and forth to the range. Lunch consisted of venison steaks cooked in the house today to get out of the wind. Good too. Sorry you missed them Doc. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Sunday afternoon we went to the 100 yard range to shoot some handguns as well as rifles. We again shot at Lynn’s ram target. You should have seen it at the end of the day. It had at least a dozen holes clear through it (we suspect the guy shooting the 7mm mag for these) as well as being nearly bent in half with the horns cracked and nearly off as well as the front leg shot off too. This poor target was a total loss.
Let me take this opportunity to again thank Lynn for both bringing this target and setting up the long range shoot as well. He also supplied the trophy for the event and desert for dinner Sunday night as well (home made apple pie) He also brought us 2 loves of homemade bread to enjoy with our chili. Thanks again Lynn. It was a great pleasure to meet you and Jamie and I hope to see more of you ar future holidays.
We all went up to the farmhouse at 5 after taking some group shots for the web page (of which mine did not come out. Hoping some one else’s did) for a dinner of venison chili with dumplings and venison steak with Lynn’s sourdough bread. Hmm good we sure do eat good at these things. Sunday evening was a repeat of Fri. & Sat. except we stayed in the house due to the colder weather. We also eat that wonderful apple pie Lynn’s wife made for us (you all saw a pic on sixgunner.com didn’t you?)
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Some of the guns shot |
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I would call the 1st Annual Noreaster Sixgunner Holiday Weekend a success. Joe and I am sure the others there would too. Turnout wasn’t as big as we expected but those who showed were a great bunch and we enjoyed having them. You all are welcome any time. We are currently discussing a second event perhaps in the spring. Let us know what you all think.
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