(Three officers, six members, and three guests (12 total participants) had a great time at the first ever FCS Sporting Clays Shoot with the National Sporting Clays Association on 3/10/07 - 3/11/07 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. Eleven of us participated just on 3/10/07 and one (our student instructor - FCS officer Joe Schram) participated both days. The shoot went from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM both days and the cost was only $25.00 a day or $12.50 for a half day!
We did not have to be members of the association to participate, although I highly recommend membership. They are a great association that regulates the sporting clay sport and they have a very fine magazine. The cost is $40.00/year.
Located along the edge of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the National Shooting Complex may appear to be nothing more than 671 acres of peaceful rolling hills and picturesque countryside, but to an ever increasing number of firearms enthusiasts throughout the United States and beyond, this multi-million dollar complex has become recognized as the most complete sport shooting facility in the world, fully equipped and ready to facilitate any size event.
And now it has been discovered by FCS.
About 30 practice students (lab rats/guinea pigs) were assembled for the nine instructor trainees to practice and demonstrate their skills. While they were instructing us the “Master Instructors” observed their skills and techniques. The student instructors were then tested and graded each day with the end result of becoming certified Level 1 instructors. Joe instructed at least three of us and did a fine job of setting up the presentations and teaching us to follow through better. They had a no more than 1 student instructor/three lab rats ratio, but really they monitored and instructed each shooter as he/she shot, so it was actually like 1:1.
FCS members enjoyed an excellent day of shooting and some good instruction. I believe everyone came away from this event having learned some good practices that will make us better wing and sporting clay shooters. The participants shot anywhere from five to 12 boxes. If you consider that 12 boxes (six rounds of sporting clays) would have cost you $138 at the Capitol City Trap & Skeet Range and you got the benefit of a student instructor, this was an exceedingly good deal!
Of course no FCS event is complete without food being involved somehow. We had breakfast at Whataburger in south Austin and lunch at a San Antonio Bill Miller BBQ (the choices were limited in that remote SW San Antonio area). The fellowship was good and the tea cold and wet.
Come out to the clay shoot at Capitol City next week and see if anyone shoots better.
Out heartfelt thanks to Glynne Moseley for her tolerance in getting FCS signed up as participants.