Week 3 – The Contender

The challenge for this blogger is finding new and unique ways to photograph Mike for the weekly UCB Local 505 Top Gun Award. Mike really hammered the birds once again this evening which makes me start to wonder if he's going to make a big run for the OSC 2012 Top Gun title. How awesome would it be to see a Local 505er on top of the leader board at the end of the season? He's coming for your hat Cale.

UPDATE: to give you an idea of how well Mike is shooting, he has only missed one bird from the 16 yard line in the last five weeks of shooting. That includes the two bank nights and three league nights. Awesome shooting Mike. NOTE TO TERI: please share whatever recipe you are preparing for dinner on Tuesday nights. Thanks.

Curt and Alex had rock solid nights on the line this evening. The Local 505 put a blistering 224 on the score board tonight. Nice shooting brothers.

I'm nominating Jeff Szpak for the most improved Oregon Sportman's Club member. Not only is Jeff killing it on the range he's also slaying them in the clubhouse. Jeff has been a great addition to the club.

UPDATE: Jeff is in the dog house this morning but assures us he's alive and doing well.

A big United Clay Busters of America • Local 505 congratulations to Cale and Ashley. They tied the knot on Saturday and here's wishing them all the best.

OSC Sporting Clay Event

The Oregon Sportsman's Club held a sporting clay event on Saturday. Kevin Hermanson does an amazing job setting up the course. Incredibly challenging and fun as hell to shoot. I now have a love hate relationship with the mini 60mm target. The station threw a report pair straight up in the air. The targets looked like they were 50-yards away but were actually only around 15-yards out. Note to self: Shoot more sporting clays in the future.

Week 2: Kriefski Dominates

Mike earned the Week 2 Top Gun title in a landslide this evening. He and his lady friend (the SKB 12ga) were in tune and on target tonight. The rest of the team did work but not AA quality scores.

The new team colors look outstanding hunkered next to the clubhouse bar. I love it when a plan comes together.

This conversation was not suitable for the general public and was censored from the blog. If you were wondering, Alex was leading the dialog. Chive on Schmalzy.

New Team Swag

A little sneak peak at the United Clay Busters of America Local 505 new team shooting shirts. The new threads should increase our team average by at least 10 birds.

Earn What You Learn

Mike, Cale, Jeff and John took advantage of the holiday bye week and worked out some demons from the handicap line. The highlight of the night was a round of Annie Oakley from the 27-yard line. Good times and good shooting gentlemen.

Week One Sucked Ass

Week one of the 2012 season is in the books but the United Clay Busters of America are wishing they could rewrite this chapter. After a good first round the Local 505 moved back to the 23 yard line which proved to be the great equalizer. Even though the 505 didn't shoot well they made up for it in the clubhouse with a few beers and a ton of camaraderie.

Mike and Alex were co-top guns in week one. They each shot a perfect 25 in the first round. Nice job gentlemen.

Jeff and Cale proudly wear their new OSC hats. Jeff bought his and Cale's was the grand prize for winning his third straight OSC trap shooting title. Cale is kind of a big deal.

It was great to have the team back together. Harps and Hanke keep the good times rollin'.

Big thanks to Alex for the delicious pizza and peanuts tonight. Oh and all the dirty talk was really great as well.

Putting in a little overtime from the 23 yard line.

BANKTASTIC

The United Clay Busters of America's shotgun barrels didn't cool down for their second bank night of the 2012 season. The Local 505 posted their highest bank scores in the teams' eight-year history. Members present: Harper, Kriefski, Krull and Schmalz. Absent: Hanke. Guest shooter: Szpak.

Alex was very nervous before shooting tonight. First night jitters combined with a stiff North West wind left very little pigment in Alex's skin which earned him the new nickname of "Whitey." The combination of no pigment and new Winchester AA shells really seemed to work for Schmalz as he crushed 49 out of 50 targets earning him the Top Gun of the Week award. Stay Calm and Chive On Whitey!

HOT Bank Action

May 8 marked the first bank score night of the 2012 Oregon Sportsman's Club trap league. Only two United Clay Busters of America members made it to the line on this beautiful Tuesday night. John and Mike came oh so close to perfect scores as each of them shot a 49 out of 50. Fine bank scores indeed. Mr. Hanke, Harps and Schmalz were all M.I.A. but as always were with the Local 505 in spirit. Good weather, good scores, cold PBR and a dog dish of peanuts set the tone for a great trap season.

Photo credit: Cale Severson

Tick Tock

Hear ye hear ye. Next Tuesday, May 8, officially kicks off the 2012 trap season. Relax the first two weeks are bank nights. Perfect shooting conditions tonight lead to a clay pigeon massacare. Trust me they had it coming. Dig out your gear and set aside 30 minutes each week for some shotgun blasting, clay target bustin', head-clearing fun.