I shot trap for the first time at Frank Banish's Gun Club, Just off US Route 62 South od New Albany, Ohio. Behind that Red Barn, I shot for Shells, Wads & Primers in 10 bird events, That got me hooked, I shot at numerous gun clubs, including Grove City, 5 Points, and a club off 104 south of Columbus, Shot Buddy Shoots for Years and 50 Bird Calcutta's all over Ohio and Kentucky, I earned yardage at my first ATA handicap, and 1st Class B Singles 200 bird Championship, Mid American, at Middleton Ohio, Jerry Shockcor and I were a buudy shooting team, that were hard to beat, He dropped ATA at his first ATA shoot for giving him 2 yards on Known ability. So he and I continued shooting Calcutta's, made a lot of money, especially at Camp Troy 50 bird Night Shoots during The Ohio State Shoot and the Grand American Week, We shot at Marysville Gun Club, Delaware Gun Club, Madison Lake, Marysville Gun Club off US Route 68, Cowboy Clayton Statons in Ky, 3 of us went, 2 of us broke 50s, Jerry broke a 49 and was out of the money, It was a Hi-Gun shoot. Then in 1970 I went to Kentucky State Shoot, won AA non-resident, then the next day I went to Springfield, Ohio and broke my 100 straight in Hdcp, from 24.5 yards, then in 3 weeks I was on the 27 yard line, and was there for years, got Ydg off then earned it right back, this happened several times, then was given a code for no yardage reductions for 2 years numerous times, kept me there for over 25 yrs straight. I shot doubles several times winning my class almost every time, Believe it or not, but it was always w/ a borrowed guns, An Perazzi MX-8 w/32"in Bbls,, on my first trip to Las Vegas. I won my Class doubles in Ky. using my Model 12 w/a release trigger I built in my Fathers Garage, using his tools, Copied Release/pull. I broke 50 straight the very first time o0n that Release on Hdcp, and was stuck from then on Release Triggers. I was a Chevrolet Certified Master Mechanic from 1962 to 1981. I then went to Work for JC Penney's Distribution Ctr on Scarbourough Blvd, in Columbus, Ohio, I used my Mechanical Ability on Conveyor Systems, on to 360 Ton Chillers on their A/c system, then on to the 4 1200 ton Chillers. Left to start up my own HVAC, Refrigeration systems. And did Ulra-Low Temp Blood Bank Refrigeration Systems, for Red Cross and Hospitals all over Ohio. I made good money and bought a lot of Trapguns over the years, K-80s, Perazzi MX-15s, then Silver Seitz Which I won the Grudge Match with. I should have kept that Seitz but traded it to Jaqua's for a Blaser Combo. I traveled to Las Vegas, Florida Southern Grand, Georgia's first big shoot, that was later taken up by the Silver Dollar. Let's get back to the Handicap shooting, The Missouri Fall Handicap was a BIG money making shoot, I came close 3 times to Placing on a lot of their Preliminary Hdcps. Won my class in Doubles twice there. I eventually quit shooting Dopubles and Singles and concentrated on Handicaps, they were the Money Winningest shoots. After having open Heart Surgery for Aortic Valve replacement in 2002 I cut back a lot, it took several years to get back in shape, I did some shooting until in 2014 I had my left foot Amputated, I was in a nursing home for 20 days and home nursed for almost 6 months befor being fitted w/my Prosthetic, I ran down their Training Path Nurse yelling Stop, your going to Brak that temp Prosthetic, I said I told you I was going to run my Prosthetic. I am the only patient they ever had that did not hold on to their railings. I am now training my Ljutic getting my strength back in my left shoulder, I shoot last Sunday for the first time in a buddy, Tied for 1st, but lost the shootoff. Thanks Guys for the support you gave me!!!!!!!~ Gary Bryant...............................Dr.longshot
To be a good Trapshooter, You need to have Proper Gun Fit. I personally set up my Trapguns, My LOP is 14"inches, If the LOP is too long you will short shoot your angles( BEHIND THE TARGET ) if your LOP is too short you will over swing your (AHEAD OF TARGET ) your gun will swing too fast. Your POI must be perfect for you, every person is different, My Sight picture is Middle Bead at base of front Bead, Over the past years my POI changed Higher & Higher. The reason is as you progress you will mentally define your target Recognition time Faster & Faster, That is why I have my Rib designed to at Least 18"inches high, Why? Because I am shooting a target on the Rise, I do not Ride the Target. If you ride a target the Wind will Drastically affect whether it will be a hit or miss. I believe what Britt Roninson said, The Wind Is My Friend. Have you ever had the Privelige of watching him shoot Handicap Targets? I have and when I was younger and first started shooting I followed him down the Line, I mentally noted every move he made on every angle of target. Britt is a Tall Man, and has long arms, so he shoots a Long LOP. When I set up my stock, I split Hairs, I want the Same Mount, Same Sight Picture Every Time.I mount my Trap Gun w/ Eyes Closed, then open them, I do this hundreds of times, I want that same sight Picture, Time after Time. I used to wear Rx Lenses, 20/100 vision w/o Glasses, I had my Optometrist set me up to 20/10 both eyes for my lenses, He told me I had eyes like a fighter Pilot now. During the examination when I was looking at the SQUARE GRID, I told the Optometrist which lines were the best seen, he kept changing, the lenses till they got the View I Wanted. If you are getting eye exam for shooting glasses YOU WANT PERFECTION, They will be stronger than your everyday Glasses. You never have to wrry about eye strain as you wear them only Hours a day when shooting. You also want your eyes checked for COLOR BLINDNESS, I am not color blind Thank God I do not have to deal with that. But your Optometrist can help you there on Various Target Color/Lens color for Maximum Recognition, If your eyes can see the TARGET RIMS and you can define them, That is what you want. You ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT A BLURRY TARGET, if you have that, go to a HIGHLY REPUTABLE OPTOMETRIST that will work with you. In 1969 I was shooting at Camp Troy, and a shooter there was a lens Grinder at UNION HEALTH CENTER in Dayton, Ohio, He had me come to his office the next day, We went through the complete thorough eye exam, and then he set me up with the Lenses & Frames that Fighter Pilots wear, They were GLASS PHOTO GRAY, lenes that darkened in the sun and clearer as sun went down, I got to wait and watch my lenses getting Ground/Polished, and fitted to my frames, That evening we met at Camp Troy for the evening PURSE SHOOT, I was watching shooters, then one got my attention from Michigan, He was smoking the targets and laughing at every shot he made, He was shooting a Nice Model 12, He Ran the first 25, Moved to the next trap and started off the same way, Hanging Smoke Balls after about 15 targets, the breaks got weaker and weaker, till he missed 3 targets for 47. I asked him when he came off the line, What load are you using, he said my usual money shells, 28 grs Herco 1 1/4 #6s. I Told him the RECOIL got to you didn't it. Well back to my Glasses, That night I put on my new lenses and frames and went to the line, using my 19 grs Red Dot, Federal 12C1 wad in Red AA shells, and SMOKED ALL 50 Targets for the ONLY 50 Straight that night. Just under $6,000. I still have those Glasses and Frames. Later on 10+ years those glasses being HEAVY made my nose sore, and my Script changed, And I went to my Friend for the new Randolph Ranger Frames and lenses, got me 4 different colors, Missouri Brown, Clear, Red, and Light Pink. All in my new Prescription. A couple years later Randolph Ranger came out with a new lens, I went to MY Randolph Ranger guy to order them, He said those are not any good, I will make you mine and you will Like them, I said no. The new RR glasses allowed Navy to see the Red Buoys farther than anything they had. RR then offered them for Trap shooters, I went the Randolph Ranger Factory Rep at The Grand in Vandalia, gave him my Prescription. this was a Tuesday of Grand Week, He ordered my Lenses while I was standing there and said they will be here in 2 Days, Thursday Came and so did the UPS Truck w/my new glasses. He fitted the frames to me, and off I went. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of those Lenses. I shot them for a long time. and my vision changed and I now no longer need any Correction lenses, so I shoot Plano's. So now you can see the correlation of gun fit and Glasses and the results, You need to EXTRA FINE TUNE GUN FIT, as you age your Physique changes and you need to recognize it. I split Hairs fitting my guns. Jerry Phillips and Richie Phillips set up my Silver Seitz, First one had a # 2 1/2 Fixed rib. Later My Seitz's had an Adjustable ribs 90/10 to 140% high. You cannot spend too much time getting your Trap Gun Fitted to you, YOU are the Rear Sight, The Middle and Front are reference points only. I am constantly being asked and used to fit trap Guns to shooters at Clubs I Attend. Gary Bryant...................................Dr.longshot.
Thanks for sharing Dr.longshot. Looks like you have enjoyed many great experiences in shooting over the years and thus have the wisdom to go with it. I hope to be able to shoot for many years to come and to pile-up, as you have, more fond memories to add to the few I have already gained in my short time with shooting trap. May have to change your name to Dr.longstory . Keep smashin' em!
Still having problems w/my left shoulder rotator cuff, I got a lighter Trapgun in a Ljutic Monogun, I put one of my Rear Blade sights on w/Clear Silicone, it now shoots 15+inches High. I did manage to get in a shootoff the first time I shotm it, but managed to lose that shootoff. GB............................DLS
