I couldn't have possibly made the shooting progress I have without the help of the late Master class shooter Todd Murphy. Todd was instrumental in helping me in many way and his wife Jane continues to be. His encouragement, knowledge and enthusiasm seemed to be without bounds and I will cherish my time with him and his words for the rest of my life.
Additionally, I want to thank my many partners that are helping me with my shooting endeavors. Sporting is not an inexpensive sport and their help allows me to train and compete at a higher level then I would be possible without their support.
Every partner produces a product or provides a service I can recommend to you without hesitation. I enjoy or use everyone of them myself and they wouldn't be a partner if I didn't. You have my personal endorsement of great satisfaction of them all and would encourage you to try them for yourself.
More about my partners
Ceasar Guerini
I started my formal sporting career on the advice of Todd with a Guerini Summit sporting. Today I'm shooting the Guerini Summit Limited that Todd left to me. An excellent gun with a customer service department that's second to none. In addition to their sporting guns they produce a wide varity of game guns as well.
Keman Ammunition
I started shooting Kemen ammo last summer with excellent results. I find them to be very clean burning and low recoil in comparison with other top sporting loads I've tried. While not widely available, their ammunition is well worth the effort to locate.
L + M Lenses
What can I say about Mike and Linda, two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Long time clay shooting enthusiasts and competitors, they can set you with with the finest in shooting glasses and custom molded ear protection. While other excellent brands of lenses are available from them, give their signature brand a try and you'll look no farther. I also use both their solid molded plugs and ones compatible with my mp3 player.
SpeedBump StockWorks
Another best of the best in the shooting sports. Ken Rucker produces and installs the best stock mounted recoil device available today. Featured on the televised Shooting USA, Kens products have garnered the attention they deserve. I shoot both his highly adjustable recoil absorption device and also the adjustable comb he installs. His expertise goes beyond those items, includes other stock work and is also know for his excellent gunsmithing skills on Winchester SX 1. His latest brain child is a recoil reducing device that works on semi autos, even those with stocks as short as 13 1/2" without any change to the guns recoil tube.
Tri Tronics
Tri Tronics remote dog training collars are the standard of the industry. I have used them for over 18 years. Their products will address any trainers needs and renound customer service make Tri Tronics the choice for serious amateur, professional trainers or anyone looking to help their dog advance it's skills. Training for a living, I can't afford to not have the best, I won't train with anything else and neither should you!
Upland Almanac
Published quarterly, this is the quintessential magazine for the upland hunting enthusiast. Covering training, destination, equipment and dog health issues, Upland Almanac is a must for anyone interested in the wide variety of topics that are covered in every issue. It's a magazine you'll enjoy not only when new but refer back to for valuable information time and time again.
Upland Outfitters
Located in Bondville VT at the base of the Stratton Mt. access road, Upland Outfitters is a dream store for the avid or casual shooter or fly fisherman. Carrying an excellent line of both game and target shotguns, they also deal in fine used gun. Lars Jacobs is the renaissance man who manages the store and a more knowledgeable person I can't imagine. Best known in shooting circles as a top instructor, Lars can get you shooting to the best of your abilities whether it be for your next shoot or an upcoming hunt. In addition to the gun room, Upland Outfitters has top quality equipment and advice for both the advanced or beginning fly fisherman. A wide selection of outdoor apparel completes the store.
Winter shoots
Wintering for the first time in the Durham North Carolina area, I've been doing some practicing at the trap/skeet club in Buckhorn. http://www.claytargetsonline.com/club.php/63 I found a great group of people there and the $40 a year membership is very reasonable to say the least. They shoot Wed, Sat, and Sun afternoons.
I made the trip to Washington NC area to shoot the East Coast Warm Up at Hunters Point. http://www.hunterspointesportingclays.com/ I can't say enough about the place! I found it spotlessly clean, excellent targets and very friendly hosts, staff and fellow shooters. Perhaps some of the friendliest people I've come across in the sporting world.
The 100 targets of the sporting course were excellent. Every shooting station had very large shooting windows/areas so you could constraint on shooting the targets not just trying to see them. Shooting stands were in excellent condition.
Rushing through the sporting in order to make my 12:00 squad time for FITASC, I shot poorly. Luckily I made up for it in the FITASC tying for first in a small B class field and getting my third punch in A.
