NEWS FLASH from the Northeast Classic S x S

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:14 pm

Well, it's been a long three days. I just returned home, got the car unpacked and crashed. Here's some highlights at the NE Classic Side by Side that will be of of particular interest to AHFCA members:

2009 Bo-Whoop Champion - Mike Campbell of western NY. Mike also won our first B-W Event last year. Mike's gun "Anna Nicole" showed her stuff again!

2009 Runner-Up - Paul Plunkett III of NJ. Paul is our AHFCA Treasurer and he also won Runner-Up last year.

2009 - Third Place - J. D. Shank of PA. J. D. is a well known east coast shooter and sporting clays instructor. He's also a new AHFCA member as of a few days ago.

The Runner Up and Third Place champions were decided in a "shoot off" due to tied scores. The first shoot off also resulted in a tie and a second one was needed to make the cuts.

Congratulations are extended to all three shooters for "Excellence in Long Range Shooting" which is the theme of our Bo-Whoop Trophy Event.

Also of note - the FOX team won first place in the Main Event on Sunday, with a combined score of 295. The second place team was Winchester with a combined score of 278. The Fox team also outpaced Parker and L. C. Smith.

The FOX team consisted of the following shooters: (In order) Dick Mider, Mike Campbell, Frank Silvers, Ken Waite Jr. and Paul Plunkett.

Lastly, Fox shooters achieved 3 of the top 5 scores in the Sunday Main Event.

Silvers

bigkev · Post by **bigkev** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:25 pm

Congratulations Mike, I knew you would do it again! Watch out mext year, I may have my Super Fox done by then.

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:33 am

Some pics and additional stats from the NE Side by Side and our Bo-Whoop Trophy shoot.

Ernie mentioned that he had about 280 "sorties" at the Main Event and his Hunter Clays Preliminary courses, 10 thru 410 gauge. That's about 16,000 clay targets - not counting those thrown at the Bo-Whoop, Mad Jack, Flurry, Single Barrel Trap event, 5-stand, or the 10 gauge event.

The AHFCA had 87 shooting attempts at the Bo-Whoop targets (52 last year).

Top PRACTICE shooter on our Bo-Whoop targets was Tom Willoughby with Griffin & Howe. Practice targets were report pairs, not simo/true pairs as for the B-W. Tom was thrilled with the B-W targets and told me they were U.K. style long range targets. He was shooting a Beretta 47E SxS.

In addition to the Bo-Whoop Trophy our Champion Purse was $250. Runner Up Purse was $100.

Mike shot his custom-stocked 32" Sterly he named "Anna Nicole". Anna has been in the pages of our AHFCA newsletter before. Paul shot a 32" Trap SW in factory configuration, same gun he used last year. J.D. fielded a factory 30" SW with Mod and Full chokes.

2009 Bo-Whoop Champion - Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell and Paul Plunkett (Bo-Whoop Runner Up)

Craig Larter presenting third place award to J.D. Shank
(copy of "Game Bag" by Nash Buckingham - donated by John Allen/Game Fair Ltd - Nashville)

Jim Cloninger · Post by **Jim Cloninger** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:30 am

Congratulations Mike, Paul and JD. Did the top score remain 6 for 10?

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:09 pm

Jim, yep the top score shot by Mike was 6 of 10 on Saturday and it held up through Sunday. Both Paul and J.D. shot 4's. As I wrote earlier the first shoot off for B-W Runner-Up resulted in a tie. Paul won the second shoot off.

Good shooting on tough long range targets by all involved! Frank

Dick Jones · Post by **Dick Jones** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:17 pm

I hate that Cherie and I missed it. I had to MC a youth fishing derby this past weekend. We sure missed seeing ya'll.

It's the best side by side event of the year in my opinion. I'm surprized that JD didn't win without Cherie and me there to distract him.

Who won high woman and what was the score?

Dick Jones.

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:33 pm

Dick, I assume you mean High Woman shooter in the Main Event on Sunday. We didn't have Woman Concurrent in our Bo-Whoop event.
As I recall from the awards ceremony, the high woman was Marilyn Behrend. Please don't quote me without confirming that, memory is one of the first things to go. I don't remember her score but do know the top five shooters were 64, 63, 63, 62 and 61. The 63, 62 and 61 score shooters were fielding Fox guns. 64 used a Browning BSS and the other 63 had a Winchester 21 - both single trigger guns.

Ernie Hausmann called earlier to give me the accurate stats. Hidden Hollow had 63 shooters in the Main Event and 220 sorties on the Hunter Clays Preliminary courses. He also said they threw over 4-1/2 pallets of targets. I forgot to ask how many targets are in a pallet; but I've seen pallets of targets and they are huge. Well anyway it sounds like a whole bunch.

I agree the Northeast Side by Side is one heck of an event! And I've been to a few. Frank

FOXIST · Post by **FOXIST** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:10 pm

Here are a couple additional pics of shooters at the Bo Whoop station. Kudos! to Frank (Silvers) on setting up a great pair of targets. Wow!!!

Mike Campbell about to step into the box on his way to history. The famous "Anna Nicole" in tow.

Mike going about business!

J D Shank at the ready!

AHFCA member Rick Simmonds shoots the Bo Whoop

bamboozler · Post by **bamboozler** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 5:25 pm

Congratulations to all and in particular the winners!

It would be interesting to know how long these targets were and if Mike, Paul and J.D. would be willing to share the choke constrictions of their Sterlingworth's and the specific load each used in the competition.

FRBRIT · Post by **FRBRIT** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:45 pm

Wow, You guy's are having to much fun.

Congratulations to everyone!

I only wish I could have been there. I wouldn't offer you much competition but from what I see here I know I would have a good time.

Frank and everyone else keep up the good work and maybe I'll pop for coming back east to meet all of you at next years event.

mike campbell · Post by **mike campbell** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:53 am

Thanks for the kind words and the pics, Guys! And thanks also to our hosts, the Hausmann's, and the Fox officers who are so dedicated to giving our fine guns the exposure they deserve.

Bamboozler,

One thing I'm sure Foxist and I agree on...as well as Silvers who also relishes long targets....is the need for confidence that you have a quality shell and that a little extra speed is your friend.

I set my Fox up as a dedicated clay target gun and I opted for matched chokes of IM/IM. The first target was very fast, but would obviously be engaged at the shorter distance of 40-45 yds. The second would be 60yds +, but slower as it would likely have peaked and be falling somewhat.

So, when I shot for score, I used 1 ounce #7.5 Rem Nitro 27's (nominal 1290 fps) in the first barrel. I wasn't surprised to get very solid, instantaneous breaks on the first target. In deference to the longer, slower second bird, I traded a little speed for some extra shot and used 1 1/8 ounce #7.5 Win SuperHandicap loads (nominal 1250 fps). I only broke one second bird, so I can't say the extra shot helped, but the delay between the shot and the break was noticeable....and unsatisfactory.

After the competition ended, I shot again using only the 1 oz Nitros and managed 3 second birds with no noticeable delay. No doubt, it's all about putting the muzzle in the right place, but I learned once again that the 1 oz Nitro27 is a match for any target I might attempt with Big Ann.

bamboozler · Post by **bamboozler** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:05 pm

Thank you for the reply Mike, your perspective is enlightening. Congratulations once again!

Parker16 · Post by **Parker16** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:16 pm

Congratulations to Mike ,Paul and JD on a job well done. This was my first year at Hidden Hollow and I had a great time!A sincere "Thank You" to you all for your hospitality and good will.

Can,t wait till next year!

Dave.....

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:31 pm

I've shot long range targets while on sporting courses and most recently while helping set up our Bo-Whoop. In my mind the most important cartridge parameters for longish clay targets are: a) use #7.5 size shot versus #8 shot (max downrange energy), and b) use high antimony % shot such as loaded in AA's, STS's, Nitro 27's, Mirage T-4's, etc. (shorter shot string, less flyers, more uniform patterns).

I agree 100% with Mike that 1 ounce premium shells @ 1250 fps or so will break any reasonable clay target with authority. I personally like to use 1-1/8 ouncers for longer ones. Oft quoted local saying "that extra 1/8 ounce has to go somewhere".

For our Bo-Whoop Trophy shoot we allow 1-1/4 ounce loads and I can attest that the AA 3-1/4 dram "Super Pigeon" load with coppered #7.5 shot is awesome if you have a heavier gun and get the barrel in the right spot.

While watching the shooters I did see many of the targets "dusted" but not broken which of course means insufficient # of pellet strikes and energy transfer to the target. Frank

FOXIST · Post by **FOXIST** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:03 pm

bamboozler
Like Mike and Frank I feel the 7 1/2 high speed loads were the best . I was using a c1927 factory 32" Sterlingworth Trap with Full and Fuller (.040-.041) chokes. My shell choice was the Remington Nitro 27 1 1/8oz load that according to the box has 1235 fps. velocity. I used these in both barrels for all my for score rounds with the exception of the final shoot-off round with J. D. when I ran out of them.

I had to fall back on the regular STS 2 3/4 dram light target 7.5's that move at 1145 fps. and they proved good enough to get the job done.
Like Frank I feel many shooters hit the second target and only seemed to bump it along with no chips. The second target had to be near 65 yrds by the time the shot was arriving. It seemed like almost a full second between the report and the hit. When I did manage to hit the second target it was on its way down and I held about 6ft. below and at the 4 o'clock position on the slightly tailing to the right bird. Paul