There’s folklore that you can predict Winter by cutting a persimmon seed in half along the seam. It has to be a local persimmon, one from Tai Hang, China won’t tell the weather in Fairfax, Virginia. Inside the seed, if the kernel is knife shaped, expect a Winter with frigid winds that cut like a knife. If the kernel is shaped like a fork, plan on a mild Winter with powdery, light snow. If the kernel is spoon shaped, expect plenty of snow to shovel. So I got a couple of persimmons from the trees at IWL and cut them open. All four seeds were spoons. Hmmm.
All the Wooly Bears I’ve seen have been black too.
It was a little cloudy but temperatures were only in the upper 60’s and there was just enough wind to move the smoke. Humidity was high so the fouling stayed soft and easy to remove.
The first target at 25 yards was the Cross, with 0’s but no minus scores, for 5 shots. John Marhefka turned in a very impressive 49XX for First Place. A 49X by Tony Sucher got Second Place. Art Twichell did 49 for Third Place. JP Sherkus and Mike Rodzianko timed for Fourth but JP’s closest to the X was 8.25 mm versus 8.50 mm for Mike so JP Sherkus was Fourth.
The Groundhog was next for 3 shots. JP Sherkus took First Place with 29. Second, Third AND Fourth were all 28’s, decided by closest to the X. Second—Dwight Hlustick. Third—John Marhefka. Fourth—Frank Niccoli.
The final target at 25 yards we haven’t seen in a long time: the Dinner Plate for 3 shots. John Marhefka walked away with First Place at 29XX. AGAIN Second, Third and Fourth were all the same, 27, and settled by closest to the X. Second—JP Sherkus. Third—Tony Sucher. Fourth—Art Twichell.
At 50 yards the first target was the Standing Bear. Mike Rodzianko came through with a 41XX for First Place. JP Sherkus shot 41 to take Second Place. Art Twichelland Tony Sucher tied at 37 with Art taking Third Place with closest to the X and Tony at Fourth Place.
Last was the Double Bull Buffalo also for 5 shots. First Place was JP Sherkus with 47. Second Place was Tony Sucher with 42 and closer to the X than Dwight Hlustick with 42 and Third Place. Frank Niccoli took Fourth
Place with 38.
In the pistol competition, After 25 yards it looked like anybody’s game. John Mar-
hefka came in with 48X while JP Sherkus had 45 and Mike Rodzianko had 44. At 50 yards JP made up the four point difference and added two points to finish with 84. JP Sherkus-First Place. John Marhefka-Second Place, 82. Mike Rodzianko-Third Place, 57.
With an Individual Match prizes are awarded for 4, or so, places on the individual targets. Then, by aggregate score, competitors pick prizes from the table. Overall First Place was JP Sherkus with 192. Tony Sucher took Second Place with 181X. Looks like Tony’s shoulder is recovering nicely. Then John Marhefka was in Third Place with 179XXXXX while came Dwight Hlustick in Fourth with
175X. Next was Mike Rodzianko with 174XXXX followed by Art Twichell at 169, Frank Niccoli with 151 and Mike Rybak at 104X.
In the TOP SHOT 2018 competition JP Sherkus is still ahead in points followed by John Marhefka, Frank Niccoli and then Art Twichell. Interestingly John Marhefka has scored more X’s, 14, than anyone else. Sherkus and Rodzianko have only scored 10 each. So now we enter the final quarter for the competition year. Three more shoots to go.
The next match will be October 21, 2018. It will be an AGGREGATE Target Competition. You get 3 of each rifle target and, if competing, three of each pistol targets. Score your own, hand in your best. Please, do not stockpile or delay handing in your targets. You have 3 of each. After you shoot your best score of the three and score your own, turn it in so we can keep the score sheet current. All shots are from the free-standing, off-hand position. Shooting begins at 8 AM and ends at 12 PM.
Relays are approximately 20 minutes each. Any safe muzzle loader (flint, cap, firelock, side slapper, under hammer, inline) may be used. Iron sights (open, peep, aperture) only, no scopes or optics permitted. Spotting scopes may be used.
Subject to change without notice—generally there are 5 targets, some requiring 5 shots, some only 3.Expect the unexpected and have a bundle of fun. Usually distances are 25 and 50 yards.Usually does not mean always. :o) and our Schutzenmeister promises something “interesting”. Cue the evil laughter
Keep yer powder dry.
Tony