Robert Cressionnie - Old Hickory Gun Club

July to September 2014
Volume 1 Issue #3
Quarterly Newsletter
Message from the President
What is a club? MacMillan defines a club as: “an organization for people who have a common interest in a particular activity or subject.”
This is true but it doesn't really explain the full scope of just what is a club. There are probably as
many different definitions as there are members since each member makes the decision to join for
specific reasons.
In the time I've served as president of Old Hickory; I've come to see many more facets of just what a
club really is about.
I've gained a great deal of perspective from our visiting shooters during the registered events and I've
gained an equal perspective from our regular members.
A club is not just a building with facilities. A club takes on a personality as a composite of its member’s personalities. It is this richness that gives every club its persona. A club might be a friendly and
inviting place where members and visitors feel welcome and at ease, or it can just as easily be cold,
unfriendly and uncomfortable.
The feed-back I've received from our visitors and many of our members is that Old Hickory is that
friendly and inviting place where people can come together to share their love and enjoyment of the
shooting sports. Both the experienced and the novice feel at home at Old Hickory.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the hard working members who man the counter, load
the houses, work the events and take care of all the other unseen tasks that are necessary to keep the
club operating.
It is the positives and the team work that are helping to build the name and reputation of Old Hickory Gun Club into a place where people want to go.
Robert Cressionnie
President - OHGC
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PIG PICKIN OPEN - OLD HICKORY GUN CLUB
World Class Shooters Participate in Open
By
Butch
June 20/22, 2014
Hassel
The delightful aroma of a pig being cooked
coupled with sounds of a Skeet Tournament
means it is time for the Pig Pickin' Open in
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Under overcast skies with no wind, the Doubles shooters went at it full bore. Craig Kirkman let a high 3 slip by in the first box. This
gave him a 99 which would win the Doubles
outright. As it turned out, it was to be the only
bird he would miss the during whole weekend.
Katherine Adams was runner up with a 98 and
George De Santo was third. Victoria Stellato
won A-1, Ron Hostinsky B-1, Jim Davis C-1
and John McAuliffe D-1.
“Craig Kirkman w in s Pig Pick in Open w ith a 4 x 4”
Saturday m o r n ing had h ar dly any w in d and a ligh t show er of r ain but th at did not
slow up these shooters. Robert Pope won the 12 Gauge Championship after a shoot off of 100
straights. Kevin Hostinsky was Runner Up and Craig Kirkman was third. Katherine Adams AAA-1,
Victoria Stellato AA-1, George De Santo A-1, Kristen Massencup B-1, John Parker C-1, Troy Wright
D-1 and Rick Peters E-1.
The 20 Gauge event only had two 100 straights but a bunch of 97s, 98s and 99s. When all the shoot
offs were over, this is how it ended up. Craig Kirkman was Gun Champion, Victoria Stellato was
Runner Up and Leroy Wood was third. Kevin Hostinsky AAA-1, Katherine Adams AA-1, David Stevenson A-1, Mitch Simpson B-1,Doug Massencup C-1 and Rick Peters D-1.
Saturday afternoon after the 20 gauge, it was time to sample the 130 lb. pig that had been cooking
all day. Chef Phil McCumbee really out did himself with this one. There was mouth watering pulled
pork flanked by green beans, slaw and hush puppies. After all this your diet was already shot to hell
so let's go pig out on the desert table full of cakes and pies. All of the aforementioned eating ain’t
exactly “low calorie-heart healthy” but it sure was good.
Victoria Stellato - HOA RU
Katherine Adams - HOA Third
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Pig Pickin Open cont’d
Sunday m or ning an d the 28 gauge w as shot
under conditions that were cooler than Saturday
which had been very humid. Craig Kirkman and Chip
Simmons both ran 100 straights. After a shoot off,
Craig won 28 gauge Gun Champion, Chip Simmons
was runner up with Katherine Adams third. George
De Santo was AA-1, Victoria Stellato was A-1, Kristen
Massencup B-1, Leroy Wood C-1 and Rick Peters D-1.
by
The 410 bore has been called the great equalizer in
Skeet Shooting, along with several other names that I
can’t use in this article. When it was all said and
done Craig Kirkman had the lone 100 straight for the
Gun Championship followed by Victoria Stellato winning Runner Up and Kevin Hostinsky third. Katherine Adams AA-1, Bruce Colclough A-1, Mitch Simpson B-1, Leroy Wood C-1, Cassandre Mack D-1.
THE STAFF
The High Over All was won by Craig Kirkman with an
outstanding 4 X 4 and the HAA with 499. That’s outstanding shooting in anybody’s league.
Victoria Stellato w as H OA r u nn er up w ith 394
and Katherine Adams was third with 388 followed by
Kevin HostinskyAA -1 with 388, Robert Pope A-1
with 386, Charles Lawley B-1 with 381, Kirsten Masencup C-1 with 386, Rick Peters D-1 with 368 and
Cassandra Mack E-1 with 332.
The club members that worked the shoot were all
wearing bright yellow T shirts with “Shoot Staff” in
large letters. This group kept the traps full, machines
adjusted and did whatever was necessary to make this
a very successful shoot. My hat is off to all of you because you “done good.”
Tournament Sponsors:
THE SHOOTERS
Additional prize money was provided by Carolina Preci-
sion Firearms, Langley Industrial Machine Company, The Old Hickory Regulators (SASS
Club) and The Old Hickory Gun Club.
Carolina Precision Firearms
Ron Langley of Langley Machine Co. with son Mike
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Thoughts From The OHGC Rifle Range:
by
Charles McCoy - Range Officer
Rifles are interesting - old rifles are interesting - obscure rifles are interesting - military surplus rifles
are interesting - accurate rifles are fun and low cost rifles are a blessing. I would like to introduce you to
a rifle that is all that; actually I hope you buy one. If you are like me, you will like everything about
them.
Top to Bottom 1. Schmidt-Rubin Model 1911 long rifle - considered by some to be
the most accurate “standard issue” rifle in history. 2. The Schmidt-Rubin K-11 basically a 1811 carbine and my personal favorite of all military surplus rifles. 3. A
sporterized K11. 4. The Swiss K31 still in original mil. Configuration with a clamp
on scope.
Left to right .308, 7.5x55, 30-06
“No lifting the bolt …..just slam it straight forward and straight back …. and
I do mean slam ...they work better that way”
The Swiss Schmidt-Rubin rifles are often seen at
our range. The distinguishing characteristics of
the rifles are the straight pull bolts. No lifting the
bolt - just slam it straight forward and straight
back - and I do mean slam - they work better that
way! They come in two basic flavors: the K31 and
the true Schmidt-Rubins. The last straight pull
Swiss rifle was the Karabiner 31 or K31. Mr.
Schmidt and Mr. Rubin were long dead when the
Swiss spec’d a rifle to replace the S-R’s. Basically
they required a carbine in 7.5x55 caliber that was
cheaper to build and as accurate as the S-R 1911
long rifle. The S-R series served the Swiss from
the late 1800’s until 1931 and the K31 from 1931
until 1957 (in very limited use through the early
1990’s).
What will these rifles do with milsurp ammo? The
Swiss surplus ammo is truly match grade and 1.5
MOA is very common with most surplus rifles
shooting the Ruag GP11 ammo. Careful hand
loading can better the surplus ammo, but not by
much. It’s a testament to the precision and care
evident in the production of both the GP11 ammo
and the rifles.
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Swiss Schmidt - Rubin Rifles
Sub MOA results are possible once you get past
the idiosyncrasies of this caliber. There are three
that I know of: 1. The Swiss built the freebore
into the projectile and not so much in the rifle.
There is almost no lead in a K31 chamber. 2. The
7.5x55 caliber is a bit of a misnomer. The actual
bullet diameter of the GP11 ammo is .306 with
nickel coated steel jacketed bullets. Standard
US .308 diameter pills are commonly used with
no issues, assuming safe load development procedures are followed. 3. The bolts on the Swiss
rifles do not have the torque or mechanical advantage of traditional bolts. One must check to
Out of Battery
ensure (particularly with handloads) that rounds
are actually in battery.
The first photo shows the out of battery/not fully
chambered condition with the operating rod projecting from the receiver. The second photo
shows a round fully in battery with the end of the
operating rod flush with the receiver. Attempting to fire a handload that is not fully sized can
cause a no fire, with what appears to be a light
primer strike when actually the round was not
fully in battery.
Fully in Battery
This condition has frustrated many 7.5x55
reloaders. New to 7.5x55 loading? Assure
complete full sizing until you get this thing
figured out! Once you get it figured out satisfying results! Here are three targets
shot during load development.
Cont’d on page 6
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Swiss Schmidt - Rubin Rifles
This author thinks the cartridge, the Ruag GP-11
developed in 1911 and still in production in Europe, was 100 years ahead of its time . The closest
thing to the GP11 projectiles are the Berger VLD
projectiles. The GP11 external ballistics are a
close match to the US Mil. 7.62 M118 long range
round. The base diameter of the case is the same
as a 7mm Rem Mag, the case capacity is identical
to a 30-06, but the length is only a little longer
than the 308; think short magnums. The shoulders of the case are rounded like Weatherby Magnums. A 7.55x55 will equal the projectile weight
and velocity of the 30-06 and do it with less chamber pressure.
Cost? Rifles are typically $300-$400. Internet
sources for surplus GP11 ammo run 50-60 cents
per round and new production is available from
Privi-Partizan, Hornady, and Norma. Rifles can
be found on Gunbroker, Simpsons Ltd., Classic
Firearms, and Widner’s. I particularly like Simpson’s Ltd. and their good descriptions. We have
not seen a Swiss Straight Pull with anything but a
bright shiny and crisp bore! Triggers are works of
cont’d
art. The rifles that appear at OHGC rifle range
span 1896 to 1947. We have seen at least 12 different ones; all have a fabulous 2 stage 3.5 lb. triggers. Fun with a K31 is ejecting a fired case. It
usually travels in a long arc up and over your
head. You can’t help but reach up to catch them.
So this is my case for an old rifle. Come join us at
the OHGC range.
Here is Jim about to catch a case in mid-air!
OLD HICKORY ANNUAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
The OHGC, members only, club championship will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014.
The format will consist of Skeet, Trap, Rifle and Pistol events. A member may enter any or all
events.
There will be champions declared in each event . Those choosing to enter all four events will
have a shot at the overall Club Championship.
Members must register between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on the day of the event
(Sept. 27th) in order to be eligible to participate.
Skeet will consist of 100 targets - 50 regular format and 50 doubles
Trap will consist of 100 targets -25 Sixteen Yard, 25 Handicap and 50 Doubles
Rifle/Pistol (.22 caliber - open sights): 25 pistol in 5 minutes and 25 rifle in 5 minutes.
There will be a separate category for youth shooters in Trap and Skeet.
Trap handicap yardage established at 16 yard line (Min. 20 yd. Max 25 yd.)
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Junior World Skeet Championship
Ft Bragg NC July 22-24, 2014
Old
Hickory
Youth
Shooters participated in
the Junior World Championships at Fort Bragg
on July 22 -24. Matt
Rhodes, Brandon Matthews, Nathan Byrd,
Cole Bost, David Bunting and Carson Lane
shot in their first National Registered Shoot.
Carson, Matt, Cole,
Brandon and Nathan
had their first “25
straight’ rounds in competition. Although no
medals were won all of
the OHGC Youth shooters did themselves and
Old Hickory proud in
their first competition of
this type. It is great to
see younger shooters
taking an interest in clay
target
shooting.
Matt
Through the leadership
of
Wayne
Rhodes,
OHGC Director, the
Youth Shooting Program at Old Hickory is
beginning to take hold.
There have been several
fund raisers to help defray the cost for the
young shooters and a
few club members have
stepped to the plate with
personal donations.
In addition to those who
participated in the Junior shoot there are other
youth shooters active in
the club in both Trap
and Skeet. Anyone interested in participating
in the program please
contact Wayne.
Nathan
Carson
David
Brandon
Cole
“If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds worth of distance run Yours is the earth and every thing that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a man, my son!”
From “If” by Rudyard Kipling
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SUMMER SKEET LEAGUE
WISH I SAID THAT.
“WHEN YOU ARE FED UP
WITH THE TROUBLESOME PRESENT, TAKE
YOUR GUN, WHISTLE
FOR YOUR DOG, AND GO
TO THE MOUNTAIN”
JOSE ORETGA Y GASSET
“WHAT HE HIT IS HISTORY, WHAT HE MISSED IS
MYSTERY”
THOMAS HOOD
“IT’S JUST NOT POSSIBLE
FOR ME (3,000 MILES
AWAY) TO TELL YOU
WHAT CALIBER GUN TO
HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE.
YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS BETTER THAN I
DO.”
WILL ROGERS
“HERE IS YOUR COUNTRY
- DO NOT LET ANYONE
TAKE IT OR ITS GLORY
AWAY FROM YOU. DO
NOT LET SELFISH MEN
OR GREEDY INTERESTS
SKIM YOUR COUNTRY OF
ITS BEAUTY, ITS RICHES
OR ITS ROMANCE. THE
WORLD AND THE FUTURE AND YOUR VERY
CHILDREN SHALL JUDGE
YOU ACCORDINGLY AS
YOU DEAL WITH THIS
SACRED TRUST.”
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
“IF YOU ARE GOING TO
BE STUPID, YOU HAVE TO
BE TOUGH”
SIGN IN AN ALASKAN
FISHING LODGE
Summer Skeet League Results
George DeSanto 474
Tom Daly
447
Rusty Daughtridge 470
Steve Joyner 417
Simon Smith
448
Don Wise
Matt Rhodes
448
403
NEWSLETTER INFO
DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE NEWSLETTER FILE IT WILL NO
LONGER BE SENT AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE E-MAIL. INSTEAD THE E-MAIL WILL CONTAIN A DIRECT LINK TO THE
NEWSLETTER ON THE OLD HICKORY WEBSITE.
If you would like to contribute, post a notice, write a
story or help in any way with the quarterly newsletter,
your help will be greatly appreciated.
We need contributors for rifle/pistol, and Cowboy Action news. Interesting pictures (jpeg format) of club
events and suggestions for topics are welcome.
Send information to Bud Tremblay, Secretary and
Newsletter Editor OHGC at
[email protected]
OHGC Contact Information
201 Dalewood Drive, Rocky Mount NC 27804
Club Hours:
Wed , Fri & Sun - 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Sat. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Phone 252 977 3231
Web Site : www.oldhickorygunclub.com
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