Etiquette

this write up is posted on the AAFTA web site. i would like every shooter to read this please. we all can improve.  some clubs may call it a pure social event. it is a competition event first. socializing 2nd. there can be small talk during a match. this makes for a fun time. however, when your partner sits down, keep it clean. he may not say anything at the moment but after the match, he will justify why he missed so many. don't be the target for his excuses. if you are  good partner, chances are he will pay the same respect to you. :)

Etiquette
Author: Rodney Boyce (R.I.P., 2009)

A definition of Field Target is that it is a freestyle shooting sport that is a
viable alternative to the other existing disciplines such as Ten Meter,
Silhouette and Benchrest. However, the foundation the sport of Field
Target is based on is gentlemanly conduct and good sportsmanship
without which our shooting sport would become at the very best
unpleasant. It behooves us all to not be distractive while others are
shooting. Avoid walking behind and around a shooter trying to
concentrate on range finding and shooting. Save idle chatter to moments
when it does not disturb others. Admittedly, all this is pretty obvious stuff,
but I know that we have all been guilty of lapsing occasionally into a “nothink” state of being distractive.
If a shooter deliberately persists in trying to rattle a fellow competitor a
terrible potential burden is placed on the Match Director. Shoot Rule
No.9 states: "The penalty for deliberate infraction of the Shoot Rules,
unsafe practice, ungentlemanly conduct or any form of cheating is
disqualification." A protest invoking this rule would certainly be a loud
sour note for any match.
The protocol of Field Target requires us to be gentlemen and supportive
of each other. If a shooter makes a good shot, say so. It's music to our
ears even if it's a "gimme".
1. Be quiet while a shooter is in the process of shooting.
2. Be mindful of other shooters while moving from lane to lane so
as not to disturb a shooter in the process of shooting. Stop
movement until the shooter has released his/her shot.
3. Be careful while moving from lane to lane so as not to disturb
others equipment

thank you for reading
Ronnie Easton MD

1-15-2011 Match Report

It was sure nice having some sun shine early in the morning but that was short lived. the fog rolled in as we started to sight in, and the wind was coming from an unusual direction. i would say a steady cross head wind from right to left throwing point of impact (poi) off at least an inch at 40-45 yards if not more for me and my S400 22 cal moving Falcons at just over 800 fps. there is something about open ground shooting that seems to magnify things just a bit. i over heard shooters later in the match saying they had held for wind on there first shot only to find the wind would stall on them before making the next causing a face plate hit. i laughed as it had happen to me as well. :) nothing new there.

we had a great turn out as a spur of the moment shoot. the break in weather from all the rain we have had was nice and 9 total shooters showed. the Prada Cub down south was flooded under water. lucky us for not having as much rain but the grounds were a bit soggy. so it was decided to line up on the conceret. :) everyone seemed to have had a great time. i know i did.

as for the BBQ, we had some tasty burgers with zesty pickles. in the Morning we had Starbucks coffee in one of those gallon jugs for everyone to warm up....decaf of course and i must say, it was some of the best coffee i have had in a while. :)  we missed Jim R's fantastic home made cookies and treats as well as his good humor and sportsmanship. i know he was committed to some prior engagements but looks forward to the next match. :) see ya then.

on the sight in range we had Dum Dums place on the sight in targets. these sucker candies measure 1/2 inch, and Riz was vaporizing them at 55 when no body else could :)  i think it were 3 in a row leaving none for us to look at except a tiny little white stick they came with. lol. great shooting. Riz also ended up nearly cleaning the Pistol course with a score of 27/28 and taking Spring Piston class to boot. great shooting!!!

as the Match progressed the wind had died to just a hint of a breeze. this lead to the pellet not drifting over as much and that ugly face plate sound would ring loud. lol. i just love this course as the wind and open ground hone thy skills.

we had two new shooters show up :) Matt is a local business owner and finds these air guns exciting, and looks forward to shooting at the next Match as he just wanted to observe and learn how other shooters like Jim C take up the sticks and bang em down. Jim scored a 36/48 for the win in Hunter class on what i would call a pretty challenging course as Kevin Y showed up and was placing targets at challenging distances. everyone likes Kevin around as he is not only one of the best shots in the state, but  as a former MD at Diablo FT Club in the Concord area, he knows how to set up a course. so Kevin helped us all out. thanks :) we had a standing lane  with reduced Kz's, and a kneeling lane. one of targets were elevated a few feet off the ground to add a point or two to the Troyer Scale. :)  Kevin brought his Walther out for some fun this time. look forward to having you come again.

Guy O. ---- Mr National Champion in WFTF over slept lol and could not make it. hee hee......... we missed ya brother. it is always a pure pleasure having you. see next time. :)

the other new shooter Riz had talked to prior in the week and got him to show. this new shooter seemed really hooked on this AG thing so he joined in for half the shoot and took off back home as he had prior plans. thanks for coming out Allen. Allen is another one of those ringers gifted for shooting. Riz had brought an extra gun for him to try out (very kind btw), and in no time Allen was knocking them over with ease. we all look forward to seeing him again next match.

mean while back on the course Lonnie, Riz, and Frank are battling it out in Spring Piston Land. Lonnie had some poi shifts or just overall form to work on as he has taken off his knee shelf and is trying some new things out before the season really begins. i wonder what  is up his sleeve. :) .Riz on the other hand came ready to rock and slid in for 1st with a score of 36/48. Frank was teamed up with Kevin and both having fun.

Richard is another newer shooter to the club. he had shot only Pistol on the last match but this time he went for it all and entered in both events. he seems really hooked on the sport and a pure pleasure to be around. he gave it a shot in Hunter class with Jim C. Richard was doing fantastic on the course until his gun was over refilled by mistake causing him to miss the next 9 shots in a row. my guess is the excess pressure in his rifle caused the poi to be low until the pressure inside the cylinder dropped. better luck next time bud . :)  you had it going on !!!!!!!

here are some video's of the match

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/6fd7dbd5c2263e1cdd408a9c4d87826d/video/54134111
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/b966867d4f0b5d82f6d62a9712bb742c/video/54137181
http://sharing.theflip.com/session/e6b0a49ee43a24163c7f3da1cd5ab4a1/video/54136311

Ronnie Easton Md

Merry Christmas everyone.

Ronnie Easton MD

Saturday December 4th Match cancelled do to ugly weather :(

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone.

Field Target Match this Saturday at 10am

look forward to seeing everyone again. the weather is getting super cold these days. the days are also getting shorter. for this reason, we will start a bit later than usual giving it time to warm up. bring some coffee or hot drinks to help ya warm up. i will get there around 9am if the weather holds. please check back here the day of the match for weather updates and to see if we are still on.

thanks to everyone for all the support. i had a BLAST this year with ya guys. i look forward to more fun in 2011.

sincerely,
Ronnie Easton MD

November, 13th Match Report

Although we have had some super nice days here at the club, this day had to be the best day on record for f/t shooting all year here in Sacramento. although the morning was quite brisk, the grounds warmed up  real fast with just a hint of a breeze and the high was 72 F. the wind still played a roll as it blew the shot off just a bit when you least expected it.

Jim C had to miss this one. we all missed you brother and look forward to seeing you next time. we hope you had a great time on your adventure.

Jim R showed up first to help out followed by Frank B. thanks guys for helping setting up  the course. it is much appreciated. thanks to everyone for pitching in as well.

we had a new member show up with his FX Ranchero.  Richard and I met at the Sacramento Fun shoot at the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center a few weeks back that Jim C was hosting.. basically  i attended the fun shoot to support Jim C's event, work with Jim R a little, and promoting the club and venue.

Richard seems like a really nice guy and a shooter for sure. perhaps a new ringer and he shoots his FX Ranchero pretty darn good imo. right out of the box Richard is doing well. it sure was nice having you and look forward to seeing ya next time. thank you also for helping tear down the course

Jim R came out of the rough with a score of 38/46 shooting Hunter class and tied my score in Open class. that is just smoken hot!!!! he is the most improved shooter at Easton FTC. he will be a contender at the State level next year for Finals if he so chooses to compete. Jim has a great attitude and finds him self at the other end of what he is used to. as a retired head Coach for a local High School football team, he has lead his team to countless championship wins. his last year went 10 and 0 for a perfect season. he is a team player, and it shows. he knows what it takes to win and how to do it, but most of all having fun at it.

Then Lonnie S. showed up. what a surprise that was. i have been trying to get him to show up for quite a while now, and that he did. to top it all off, he brought 3 beautiful target and donated them to the club. a super big thank you Lonnie. this is just what Easton Field Target Club needed. they are Dick Otton's face plates Lonnie happen to pick up before Dick folded up his business. it is super cool having these mounted on Gamo mechanisms.  the paint job Lonnie did on these face plates are incredible imo. i will have to get the technique on how he does it. on top of all that, Lonnie burned up the lanes with a score of 44/46. wahoooooo. it was his first time on the course and he blew doors on the competition. his performance always stands out where ever he goes. if were not for him over rotating his target turret, he could have very well cleaned the course. please come see us again Lonnie :)

Frank B. showed some out standing shooting using his new Cometa spring gun. what a beauty she is with that custom like stock. i picked it up and the balance is incredible. the wood work is great and the pistol grip is nothing short of excellent. nice find there Frank. perhaps next time i can talk my way into shooting it. :)

now its time for my favorite part......the BBQ :) so i went over and cooked up some yummie hamburgers topped off with mustard, ketchup, and nice juicy sliced pickles. :) Jim R brought some of his prized home made cookies. he had hardly any left at the end of the match and that box was full of em lol. i didn't have any so that ment the five remaining shooters really like em lol.

then came the shoot off between Riz M and Ernie O for second  as they had tied at 42/46. i really liked the way Scotty York ran his shoot off at the Nationals in 2009 and that is placing 2 targets in the mid 30 yard range with a doable kz. the first one to knock there own target down wins. both take a seated position first with a pellet in hand. on the word GO, both shooters loaded and proceed to range and just about the time Ernie was settling in,  Riz's sear broke and the target fell. Riz must have broke that shot in under 7 seconds. Out standing shooting !!! i feel that in a hunting situation one is forced with a quick shot. no time for dilly dallying around. to shoot that quick one has to know his/her rig. hats off to the both of ya. great shooting.

then came the Pistol event. Richard shot Hunter class with Jim R. Jim just strapped on his scope and just set up the last few numbers to give it a go for the shoot. Richard on the other hand came all ready to go and for his very first match takes hunter class with a score of 21. great shooting and look forward to seeing ya next time as all had indicated. :)

Mean while in Open class, Ernie O is tearing it up again and it is a battle for 1st place between Lonnie. Lonnie is loven this open ground shooting and while Ernie is relieved not to see Guy O on his heels, he has a new night mare ----and that is Lonnie S with a borrowed Riz gun. all Riz's pistols run so perfect. i bet that was a pure joy to shoot.  Even though Lonnie showed an an outstanding performance on new ground, Ernie O turned up the heat and defended his title at Easton FTC by only one shot......a nail biter for sure.he says he might go for that new Mrod pistol from Crosman. dito that!. should be a good one. Ernie will be a contender know matter what he picks up. all he has to do is breath on it, and it is magically runen like a Swiss Watch. great shooting.

I Had a Blast!!
Ronnie Easton MD

Match this Saturday the 13th of November

hello everyone. I look forward to having another great time at the next match. we have a really fun group of shooters. we have a new score board for the club and Ernie O has made some new sight in targets for us. a big thank you Ernie for your efforts. Ernie donated 4 of them when the club first opened. they were so good i requested him to make 7 more for a total of 11 on the course. this time  Ernie included brackets on the back side to hold a card board backer, and it then can be dropped in as opposed of using masking tape to hold it on the frame. the result is a more streamed line approach for set up. look forward to seeing them. they should be real nice.

IMPORTANT--

for this month and perhaps next month we will be setting up on trap lane #2 instead of where we usually are on trap lane #6. the range is undergoing a lead abatement process and we have been asked to move over a bit. this will give us some new ground to shoot on so it should be exciting. however, the parking is not so good so park to the left of the retail store and access the firing line through the chain link fence.
or call me at 916 752 6762. you shouldn't have problems finding us though. :) we will have shade too but the weather is indicating the temperature to be in the mid 60's so the morning ought to be brisk. bring a jacket :) we also need to get rolling a bit earlier than what we have been doing. last match was much better on start time, but we need to have the safety meeting at around 930 am. so this means setting up is at least an hour with some sight in practice. i think this can be achieved quite easily and in the end we will end at around 12:30, start a bbq, then go right into Pistol f/t for a 24 shot course and end by 2:00 pm. we can tear down after that and if guys want to hang around and talk for as long as they like is great. i think we will have more shooters attending when we start on time and end on time so they can plan there day accordingly. see ya there. i can't wait to see everyone again


Ronnie Easton MD